Thornhill Trojans
Encyclopedia
Thornhill Trojans are an amateur rugby league
club situated in Thornhill, West Yorkshire
they currently compete in the Pennine Division.
The current coach of the team is James Ratcliffe former York City Knights
coach.
Formation
Thornhill ARLFC was formed in 1988 at a meeting held at Thornhill Edge Club, attended by Thornhill Gate Officials, players and supporters along with Thornhill Lees Juniors parents and officials.
Previously to this, Rugby League in the Thornhill area had been played under the Overthorpe Rangers and Gate Inn Banner. The club started by electing to have Overthorpe Sports Club as the clubs headquarters.
Players still had to get changed in the old council building at the entrance to Overthorpe Park, but a lot of people rallied round and the old dressing rooms were given a facelift in 1994 when a lot of players got involved to improve the facility. This included the fabrication, erecting and welding of new rugby posts, and barriers around the field with an army of helpers. An old joiners shop at the top of the yard was also converted to make 2 more dressing rooms, showering facilities, and a tea room. Overthorpe also had two dressing rooms, so at one specific time three games could actually be played at once.
League Entry
In the summer of 1994 the club applied for National Conference Membership after having good cup runs in the County Cups under Johnny Harpins astute coaching. At Christmas 1994, Thornhill played Blackpool and qualified for the very first time into the Rugby League cup on May 1st. In January 1995 the club drew Hull KR away on Sunday 13th January, but on this occasion the game was called off at approximately 10.30am. The game was rescheduled on Tuesday 15th January at 7.30pm. Seven supporters buses were taken to Humberside for the game and Andy Smith became the first Thornhill player to score a try in the Rugby League Cup, although Thornhill were beaten.
Promotion And League Cup Games
The club secured promotion in its first season in the NCL and at the end of the year also qualified for the clubs only appearance in the County Cup Final versus Skirlaugh at Tetley's Stadium, Dewsbury on December 23rd 1995. In front of 2500 spectators Thornhill were beaten by Skirlaugh who took the trophy winning 11-6 with Steve Barwick scoring Thornhills only try. Further big games were to follow, and Thornhill went to Swinton in 1996, Featherstone in 1997 and Dewsbury in 1998 in the Rugby League Cup. At the beginning of 2000 Thornhill travelled to Sheffield to play the 1998 victors over Wigan and on that January day, Thornhill pulled off the biggest shock by beating the Sheffield Eagles and becoming the toast of the amateur game. This being the first time a Heavy Woollen Club had achieved this.
In the meantime the club were chasing the Lottery to get a grant for a brand new clubhouse. In 2001, Thornhill played Hunslet, in 2003 it was Keighley and then in 2006, Thornhill struck again by beating a professional club. The victims being Workington Town at Rams Stadium. The reward for this was a trip to France to play Catalan Dragons. This was followed by a National Conference final at Mount Pleasant against Oulton, unfortunately losing the game. In 2007 the club played a Russian side in the RL Cup.
The club were relegated from the National Conference Premier Division after registering only 2 wins all season. Robin Jowitt resigned as coach in November 2008. Joint coaches Keith Mason and Richard Butterworth managed to register league wins over Leigh East and East Hull. However, after a home defeat to Skirlaugh the coaching duties were handed over to Andy Kelly.
Under the guidance of Andy Kelly the club competed in the 2009 National Conference Summer League and reached the semi-finals.
The club made a promising start to life in National Conference League Division One and were amongst the early runners for promotion. However, after the departure of coach Andy Kelly the club entered another downward spiral.
Senior player Wayne Loney took over as coach during a difficult period for the club. Despite some encouraging wins over Heworth and Saddleworth the club finished in the relegation zone. The club record defeat was recorded when the lost 102-4 at Thatto Heath.
In 2010 due to a lack of players at Open Age Level and financial difficulties off the field, the club decided to withdraw their membership of the National Conference League and run one team in the Pennine League. The club took up the place in Division 3 of the Pennine League which had been reserved for their defunct 'A' team.
The club restructured off the field during the summer of 2010 to ensure all historic debts could be serviced and began a rebuilding process at Open Age level.
The club ended the 2010/11 season as Pennine League Division 3 Champions.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
club situated in Thornhill, West Yorkshire
Thornhill, West Yorkshire
Thornhill, is a village in Kirklees, West Yorkshire, England. Thornhill was absorbed into Dewsbury County Borough in 1910. It is located on a hill on the south side of the River Calder, and has extensive views of Dewsbury, Ossett and Wakefield...
they currently compete in the Pennine Division.
The current coach of the team is James Ratcliffe former York City Knights
York City Knights
York City Knights Rugby League Club is a British professional rugby league club hailing from York. They play at the Huntington Stadium, situated to the north of York city centre...
coach.
Formation
Thornhill ARLFC was formed in 1988 at a meeting held at Thornhill Edge Club, attended by Thornhill Gate Officials, players and supporters along with Thornhill Lees Juniors parents and officials.
Previously to this, Rugby League in the Thornhill area had been played under the Overthorpe Rangers and Gate Inn Banner. The club started by electing to have Overthorpe Sports Club as the clubs headquarters.
Players still had to get changed in the old council building at the entrance to Overthorpe Park, but a lot of people rallied round and the old dressing rooms were given a facelift in 1994 when a lot of players got involved to improve the facility. This included the fabrication, erecting and welding of new rugby posts, and barriers around the field with an army of helpers. An old joiners shop at the top of the yard was also converted to make 2 more dressing rooms, showering facilities, and a tea room. Overthorpe also had two dressing rooms, so at one specific time three games could actually be played at once.
League Entry
In the summer of 1994 the club applied for National Conference Membership after having good cup runs in the County Cups under Johnny Harpins astute coaching. At Christmas 1994, Thornhill played Blackpool and qualified for the very first time into the Rugby League cup on May 1st. In January 1995 the club drew Hull KR away on Sunday 13th January, but on this occasion the game was called off at approximately 10.30am. The game was rescheduled on Tuesday 15th January at 7.30pm. Seven supporters buses were taken to Humberside for the game and Andy Smith became the first Thornhill player to score a try in the Rugby League Cup, although Thornhill were beaten.
Promotion And League Cup Games
The club secured promotion in its first season in the NCL and at the end of the year also qualified for the clubs only appearance in the County Cup Final versus Skirlaugh at Tetley's Stadium, Dewsbury on December 23rd 1995. In front of 2500 spectators Thornhill were beaten by Skirlaugh who took the trophy winning 11-6 with Steve Barwick scoring Thornhills only try. Further big games were to follow, and Thornhill went to Swinton in 1996, Featherstone in 1997 and Dewsbury in 1998 in the Rugby League Cup. At the beginning of 2000 Thornhill travelled to Sheffield to play the 1998 victors over Wigan and on that January day, Thornhill pulled off the biggest shock by beating the Sheffield Eagles and becoming the toast of the amateur game. This being the first time a Heavy Woollen Club had achieved this.
In the meantime the club were chasing the Lottery to get a grant for a brand new clubhouse. In 2001, Thornhill played Hunslet, in 2003 it was Keighley and then in 2006, Thornhill struck again by beating a professional club. The victims being Workington Town at Rams Stadium. The reward for this was a trip to France to play Catalan Dragons. This was followed by a National Conference final at Mount Pleasant against Oulton, unfortunately losing the game. In 2007 the club played a Russian side in the RL Cup.
The club were relegated from the National Conference Premier Division after registering only 2 wins all season. Robin Jowitt resigned as coach in November 2008. Joint coaches Keith Mason and Richard Butterworth managed to register league wins over Leigh East and East Hull. However, after a home defeat to Skirlaugh the coaching duties were handed over to Andy Kelly.
Under the guidance of Andy Kelly the club competed in the 2009 National Conference Summer League and reached the semi-finals.
The club made a promising start to life in National Conference League Division One and were amongst the early runners for promotion. However, after the departure of coach Andy Kelly the club entered another downward spiral.
Senior player Wayne Loney took over as coach during a difficult period for the club. Despite some encouraging wins over Heworth and Saddleworth the club finished in the relegation zone. The club record defeat was recorded when the lost 102-4 at Thatto Heath.
In 2010 due to a lack of players at Open Age Level and financial difficulties off the field, the club decided to withdraw their membership of the National Conference League and run one team in the Pennine League. The club took up the place in Division 3 of the Pennine League which had been reserved for their defunct 'A' team.
The club restructured off the field during the summer of 2010 to ensure all historic debts could be serviced and began a rebuilding process at Open Age level.
The club ended the 2010/11 season as Pennine League Division 3 Champions.