Whitchurch Rugby Club
Encyclopedia
Whitchurch RUFC is an amateur rugby union
club in Whitchurch, Shropshire
. The club was formed in 1936 and until the early 1970s relied mainly on the facilities at the local Grammar School.
Mini, junior, colts ladies and more senior teams followed. A major fire in 1986 did not prevent the club celebrating its golden jubilee that year and its diamond ten years later
By the 1980s Whitchurch established themselves as the leading Shropshire
rugby union club; winning 9 from 11 county cups, becoming the first Shropshire club to secure the North Midlands Cup in 1997, again in 1999, and finalists in May 2005. The Senior team was placed in the North Midlands 1 division of the Courage League in 1987 and they progressed to Midlands 1 status in 1994. After the team won all 16 of their games in the 1997/98 season, Whitchurch were promoted to National Division Three North in 1998/99, which was maintained until 2002/3 when they dropped to Midlands 1 and in 2005/06 North 1. The club currently competes in the Midlands 2(West) league.
Investment in clubhouse facilities in 1975 and again in 2004, with the opening of a new stand, ensured that the club maintained their position as one of the leading sporting clubs in the area. Every week four full size pitches accommodate four senior men's sides, 1 ladies XV, under 19's, under 17's plus the mini and junior teams.
Whitchurch RUFC has a dedicated youth structure and has produced some top rugby players over the years. Current Northampton Saints
number eight, Mark Hopley
began his playing career in the mini and junior teams at Whitchurch.
and Sainsburys both plan to build new stores. Tesco's plan though is to build on the current site of Edgely Park combined with the proposed re-development of the rugby club. In a meeting on 1 December 2010 at the club's general meeting the club members voted for the future of Edgely Park. The voting majority was for the deal to go ahead and for Tesco to build on the club's current grounds. The deal for the land is thought to be worth around £1.25 million. A planning application must first be accepted though and will be decided over in the early stages of 2011
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club in Whitchurch, Shropshire
Whitchurch, Shropshire
Whitchurch is a market town in Shropshire, England on the border between England and Wales. It is the oldest continuously inhabited town in Shropshire. According to the 2001 Census, the population of the town is 8,673, with a more recent estimate putting the population of the town at 8,934...
. The club was formed in 1936 and until the early 1970s relied mainly on the facilities at the local Grammar School.
Club history
In 1959 a pre-fabricated club house was opened in the town and then in 1970 a pitch was acquired on Edgeley Park followed in 1974 by a new clubhouse and changing rooms on the same site.Mini, junior, colts ladies and more senior teams followed. A major fire in 1986 did not prevent the club celebrating its golden jubilee that year and its diamond ten years later
By the 1980s Whitchurch established themselves as the leading Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
rugby union club; winning 9 from 11 county cups, becoming the first Shropshire club to secure the North Midlands Cup in 1997, again in 1999, and finalists in May 2005. The Senior team was placed in the North Midlands 1 division of the Courage League in 1987 and they progressed to Midlands 1 status in 1994. After the team won all 16 of their games in the 1997/98 season, Whitchurch were promoted to National Division Three North in 1998/99, which was maintained until 2002/3 when they dropped to Midlands 1 and in 2005/06 North 1. The club currently competes in the Midlands 2(West) league.
Investment in clubhouse facilities in 1975 and again in 2004, with the opening of a new stand, ensured that the club maintained their position as one of the leading sporting clubs in the area. Every week four full size pitches accommodate four senior men's sides, 1 ladies XV, under 19's, under 17's plus the mini and junior teams.
Whitchurch RUFC has a dedicated youth structure and has produced some top rugby players over the years. Current Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints are a professional rugby union club from Northampton, England. The Northampton Saints were formed in 1880. They play in green, black and gold colours. They play their home games at Franklin's Gardens, which has a capacity of 13,591....
number eight, Mark Hopley
Mark Hopley
Mark Hopley is a rugby union player for Northampton Saints in the Guinness Premiership. He plays as a flanker and started his playing career at Whitchurch Rugby Club in Shropshire...
began his playing career in the mini and junior teams at Whitchurch.
Supermarket conflict
Whitchurch has become one of the many towns in a supermarket conflict. Supermarket giants TescoTesco
Tesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
and Sainsburys both plan to build new stores. Tesco's plan though is to build on the current site of Edgely Park combined with the proposed re-development of the rugby club. In a meeting on 1 December 2010 at the club's general meeting the club members voted for the future of Edgely Park. The voting majority was for the deal to go ahead and for Tesco to build on the club's current grounds. The deal for the land is thought to be worth around £1.25 million. A planning application must first be accepted though and will be decided over in the early stages of 2011