Redcar rugby club

1921 – 1996

A brief history

The first mention of the club is to be found in a letter to the Evening Gazette dated the 23rd November 1920 when Mr H.L.De Roper, who was staying at the Coatham Hotel, wrote to the editor suggesting that it was time that the town of Redcar had its own rugby club.

He said ‘ it seems very remarkable that rugby football has so few supporters in Cleveland, especially as it is so popular across the river in the Hartlepool area. An attempt has been made to form a team in Middlesbrough, but how can it be a success if there are no teams to play against? Possibly this example will set the ball rolling, for I know that the head of the Coatham school intends to introduce rugger into the school if he can be sure the XV will be able to play matches in the district. His suggestion to the other schools in the district met with little success, but it is hoped they will now reconsider the matter.

I am only a temporary resident at Redcar, so cannot take the initiative myself, but I am sure a XV could be raised in the town if someone would take the matter in hand. Perhaps, sir, you would help by publishing this letter, and a meeting of anyone interested could be arranged, but as I am leaving the town this week for some time I cannot take the lead myself.

I have made enquiries in the town and there seems no lack of varsity and public school men who would probably be only too pleased to play. Perhaps some of the following gentlemen would make the preliminary move.

Messrs Coulson, Hutton, Milner, Kerridge, Lord, and Weatherill (Cambridge university) Eves (Durham) Mac, Dickson (Edinburgh), Thompson (Glasgow), Simpson (Liverpool), T and G Callum (Old Sedburghians) and Sillars, Ridley and Welburn (Oundle). I found these names by casual enquiry and you will see there are just fifteen. There must be more public school men in the town, so I see no reason why the Redcar xv could not be playing its first match before Christmas. A rugby match on Christmas day between XV’s from Redcar and Middlesbrough would do much to popularise the game in the district.’

The editorial in the North Eastern Daily Gazette on the 27th of November 1920 endorsed Mr De-Ropers’ view when it posed this question.

" Why can’t Teesside a district delighting in all manly sports conquer an honorable place in rugby annals. Small groups of enthusiasts exist in all the towns’ great and small between Stockton and Saltburn. They want nothing more than a kind word and a push to launch them upon this gallant adventure. With the keenest pleasure the retired player observes that south bank has taken the plunge and Redcar is about to follow. Middlesbrough’s’ turn comes next. Surely the local capital has sufficient enterprise to better the example set by its smaller neighbours and put at least two XV’s on the field. Durham County stands by to help"

In the same article the editor writes," rugby on the other hand is the players affair pure and simple, those who don the jersey and scramble in the mud count first last and all the time" a point well made but often forgotten.

Was it this letter and the subsequent editorial that spurred people into action and resulted in the club being formed?

Stories, rumours, whatever one cares to call them exist about the game being played at Redcar before world war one but they cannot be substantiated or they never have to the satisfaction of local historians

On the 19th of November 1921 Redcar played West Hartlepool who had beaten Middlesbrough the previous week by 26-8. The Redcar team was full back Johnson three quarters Ridley, Stephenson, Thomas, groves, halves, Macalden, T Callum captain, forwards Edwards, G.Callum, Tomlinson, Irwin, Stevenson, Anderton, Robson and Fletcher. It is a shame to record that the Redcar side lost by 9pts to 3 despite excellent defence throughout.

On the 3rd of December later that year whilst playing against South Bank at the racecourse it was noted that after scoring their opening try Redcar had 16 players on the field and one was asked to leave. Was this the first example of gamesmanship? There were no subs in those days either so where did he come from? Redcar won the game by 18pts to 9.

The name of Mackinlay has been known in rugby circles for many years. Dr. J.E.H. Mackinlay took over the green house from Colonel Locke in about 1876 and although he did not play rugby in the north, he played three quarter for St George’s hospital and the united London hospitals. He went on to play for England as a forward in 1872,73 and 75 and appears on a photo of the England team dated 3rd march 1873.

Dr W.H.Mackinlay (after whom Mackinlay park was named) who, because he attended Coatham grammar school never actually played rugby was extremely keen and in 1920 took the first opportunity of helping promote the Redcar rugby club, as we now know it. He became the first president, and J.Lambert (pinkie) Spence the first chairman.

Like many of the original rugby administrators in this area Pinkie was a Tynesider, and as the Callum’s were both at school at Sedburgh their plain chocolate was adopted as the original club colours.

Dr Mackinlay continued as a most regular supporter throughout the 20s and 30s and gained great pleasure from two sources. Coatham School changing to rugby and the extremely good side of the late 30s. He died just after the start of the Second World War and the club closed down for the war years.

The dynasty continued however with Dr Ian Mackinlay who played his first game for the club at Easter 1923 on his return from Durham school. He along with Norman Knudsen (as captain and secretary), Charlie Powell (as rest of the committee) started things up again after the war. Their fund raising activities were based almost exclusively upon the clients of the Royal Standard Hotel. The following year Ken Forster and most of the old crowd returned and the club re constituted. Ian Mackinlay was president and Ken Forster as chairman, a post he was to hold for over 20 years before leaving the area on business.

The next member of the family to become involved was Nick Mackinlay who was captain of the 1st XV in 1973/74/75. . Nick, probably the best scrum half the club has ever seen and a Yorkshire trialist, was a regular member of the side for many years during the late 1960’s and 70’s before moving on to play an important part in the rapid promotion of Stirling County, finishing his playing career at Ilkley.

The club on its restart in 1947 had little funds and few players. John Pargeter recalls attending a meeting in the royal standard with the president Dr Ian in the chair; Ken Forster; Norman Knudsen who had been the 1939 skipper; Charlie Powell (who had his hands on the little brass that existed at the time) and a handful of stragglers who had returned from the services.

The ground at the racecourse was still there with its ups and downs, and the little stand, which never had a roof, was still there. So was the stable where the players changed. The luxury of the wooden clubhouse, so often broken into was yet to come. But what a tremendous asset that was to be. In it was built the new spirit of rugby in the town, and from it developed the truly magnificent home that the club enjoys today.

Prior to the war it had been the practice that the players were allowed to change in the jockeys weighing room. The club was evicted from that accommodation because the scales used to weigh the 7 stone jockeys were unsurprisingly damaged by the 16 stone rugby forwards checking on the weight of this weeks pack. The new accommodation consisted of two loose boxes the floors being covered in straw. A bath of sorts was constructed and filled from the copper boiler. The ladies once everyone was changed would provide tea amongst the now somewhat soggy straw on trestle tables.

The committee were approached by Bill Stainsby who had a small engineering business at South Bank. He offered for sale two former R.A.F. wooden huts and would erect them on the racecourse. Permission was granted and the new home arrived. Doug Smailes a talented young bricklayer was given the job of building a fireplace which when completed became the focal point of the clubhouse. A brewery was approached and it was decided to take a loan from Sam Smiths, who can ever forget Taddy’s Ales! In gratitude to the racecourse it was agreed that as the new clubhouse would only be used during the winter, beds would be brought in during the summer for the stable boys and jockeys. Never ones to miss a trick and with due democracy the players wives were volunteered to run the hostel with all moneys going into the rugby clubs funds.

The earthy charms of the racecourse with a clubhouse that was prone to flood at the slightest hint of rain were obvious. It was decided however that in order to cope with the larger number of players it would be necessary to make the move from Thrush Road. There was no doubt that many would miss the small friendly atmosphere of their club overshadowed by gasometers, that at one stage were a challenge to the young fit slightly tipsy rugby player. It may be difficult to remember but that generation were young once and it had been a challenge many had taken up. The competition was to run from the clubhouse across thrush road, scale the 12 ft high wall and then run up to the top of the gas tanks, touch the top and return to the club, last one buys the drinks.

Still progress had to be made and despite a few dissenters who wondered if we could afford this new ground the decision was taken.

The new ground was to be at green lane on farmland owned by Lord Zetland, the contacts that we had made through Ian Mackinlay and others gave us this opportunity to grow. Willie Wardman farmed the land, Willie remained a member and good friend to many at the club until his death a few years ago. In 1959 the land was bought and prepared, in 1961 the first games were played at green lane however for the next two years the old club continued to be used for both changing and the entertainment of our guests. Finally in 1963 we moved into the new clubhouse celebrated with a game against a Durham Presidents XV and the ground was formally named Mackinlay Park.

The club itself consisted of the main bar area, the small lounge and two changing rooms and a single bath. The playing field area was the portion of the field to the north of the old ditch line where two pitches could be accommodated. This was luxury. Much of the money needed to fund this move was obtained from our brewers Samuel Smiths. They were always very fair in their dealings with us but their product wasn’t universally popular and we then moved onto Scottish and Newcastle.

Some ten years later a small nucleus of players decided that it was time that squash courts were built. After much heart searching it was decided to build two courts and to extend the changing rooms. The project was completed and to celebrate the official opening of this facility Jonah Barrington was invited to open the courts. He was unable to attend and so on Sunday the 22nd of September 1974 at 2.15pm the courts were opened by Mr.John Pargeter. Following the ceremony a rugby match between the Redcar 1st XV and a North Yorkshire side took place. The team of Bernard, Whitehill, Homan, Vickers, Dewar, Wood, Mackinlay, Coulson, Wright, Coyne, Shaw, Pacey, Kerruish, Hartley and Barnacal were defeated by 19pts to 4.

It was the start of a new section and those who worked so hard to see squash come to Redcar will have been delighted by its continued success and the improvements made over the last 22years.

Further developments have taken place over the years with the adding of first the television lounge then the pool room and kitchen. The biggest and most prestigious of them all being the work that was completed in 1994 costing some £220,000. The club had reached a hiatus, it was becoming drab and despite a new lick of paint from time to time our members were using the club less and less. Hugh MCafferty worked ceaselessly to raise the funding to support what was to be a major re-development.

With grant aid obtained from the foundation for sports and the arts of some £100k it was left to the management committee to raise the remaining capital needed to fund the project. It is history now but after much debate and some heated discussions the decision was taken to go ahead. Due to a great deal of hard work the club was able to open throughout the project and many of us will remember drinking under candle light surrounded on all sides by rubble. All for the good of the club of course.

The addition of the new gymnasium, changing rooms, disabled toilet, medical room and the total refurbishment of the remainder of the club is proving to be a huge success. All credit must go to those with the vision, determination and professional expertise who ensured the project was completed.

The rugby tour has always been a highlight for all of those concerned whether it is a 1st XV, Mariners, Pirates, 4th team, Colts, Mini’s or those forever young in the Ancient Mariners. Who can ever forget Grange Over Sands booked into a hotel with no liquor licence or the horrific sight of Jim Thompson’s broken leg on the same trip. The international trips to Holland, Belgium, France, Barnard Castle to name but a few. Some would like to forget the 12 lost hours in Fishguard and perhaps rightly so. There are many tales to be told and stories to remember and many secrets known to a chosen few.

It is a tradition, nay a duty, to maintain the secrecy of such matters for it is the unwritten understanding of all who make these journeys that ghosts will not come back to haunt them. The tour bus becomes both the confessional and a place of sanctuary away from the reality of daily life. It is therefore right and proper that the curtain covering those memories remains firmly drawn.

There have many very good players who have been proud to wear the Redcar shirt but few have risen to representative level. We have had our successes particularly with the colts where a number have gone on to play for Yorkshire. Rob Bryce is our only true rugby union international at colt level having played for England in 1989. Paul Wood who you will remember as a very talented fly half did play for England but as a schoolboy when at Sir William Turners.

The only full international and England player who was a member of this club was Ged Dunn. Ged joined Redcar from school and formed a formidable centre partnership with Ron Fletcher. He was a naturally gifted player with an exhilarating burst of speed and when necessary a tenacious tackler. In 1970 he was playing for Redcar at the Bridlington 7’s tournament when Hull Kingston rovers spotted him. They followed up their interest and Ged signed a rugby league contract in August 1971 for a four-figure sum. As he says it was a lot of money for a young student teacher worrying how to scrape enough money together for a holiday in St Tropez. He went on to play first for Yorkshire and then England touring to Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea. Ged played 284 games for Hull K.R. and scored 160 tries.

In those days there was strict division between the two codes and when he returned home to Redcar in the early days the R.F.U. Laws banned him from the clubhouse. He used to sit in the changing rooms where he had been smuggled, to drink a pint and share his experiences with his former team mates.

Colts rugby at Redcar has always been strong with dedicated coaches helping to produce the talent of the future. The Stan Cleary memorial board lists all those who have achieved representative honours at colts level.

What it doesn’t show is the countless number of young people who were taught how to play this glorious game and went on to play and enjoy rugby at all levels in the club. Those of us who followed that path are eternally grateful to those who were prepared to give up their Saturdays for our benefit. We have reached the finals of the Yorkshire Colt’s cup competition but are yet to be crowned as champions perhaps this year’s team can go all the way in this celebration season.

It would be wrong to forget in all this where we start off and how important mini rugby is to the club. John Oxlee I think started it all in the late 70’s and the baton has been passed down over the years to the present mini organiser Arthur Evans. It is only in the last two years that we are finally seeing the fruits of their labours. We have players who are playing first team rugby who started mini rugby at the tender age of six. To all of you who have children of mini age take them along, encourage their friends to attend.

This is the lifeblood of rugby at Redcar without them we will die. If you have some time to spare on a Sunday morning then I know your help will be welcome.

I have been helped by many people and would like to thank them all. At the end of May I was able to interview Ken Forster who despite his obvious discomfort was able to provide me with invaluable help. Ken our president sadly died on Sunday the 18th of June I reproduce an item I wrote then for the evening gazette.

Ken Forster was born in Redcar in 1916 where he attended Sir William Turner’s grammar school. He first played football at Sir William Turner’s and was a pupil there when the school moved from football to rugby in the 1930’s. He became a member of Redcar rugby club in 1938 and captained the 1st xv in 1948. Ken was chairman of the club for some 20 years before leaving the area on business.

Ken and his wife Sheila moved first to Manchester, then Devon and finally Leeds where he was a member of the Roundhay club. On his return to the area Ken became secretary and then president of the club in 1995.

All his friends at Redcar rugby club will remember Ken with great affection. He was a man with an impish sense of humour who worked hard to ensure that the traditions and values of the founders of the club were maintained, both on and off the field. Our deepest sympathy goes to his wife Sheila.

He will be sadly missed.

So to the future what will the next challenge be? Rugby at the highest level is changing, the onset of professional rugby I hope will have little effect upon us, unless you know a multi millionaire with money to burn. The introduction of the league system has changed the normal Saturday afternoon, winning the game seems to be more important than it used to be. The pressure on both players and coaches has increased, the demands on the club to find more money to pay for additional travel to league games and player’s expenses will increase. The new era will throw up new challenges and I fear plenty of headaches.

There are many people who have given a great deal to ensure the clubs success. I could have written pages on their work and value to the club. I have not mentioned the 1978/79 season the most successful the club has had so far. A complete chapter on the work of the Ladies Section could not do justice to the importance of their contribution.

This was always intended to be a brief history, perhaps if I am still around I will be able to provide a more complete document for our centenary in the year 2021.

This season 96/97 is a celebration, a celebration of 75 years of rugby at Redcar, the club and its members who support it. We have a great deal to be thankful for and as the founders of the club in 1921 have done a legacy to leave to those who will follow us.

Enjoy the rugby, enjoy the celebrations but take a moment to reflect on what has been achieved over the last 75 years.

Hugh Bernard

REDCAR RUFC TEAM CAPTAINS 1921 - 1996
Season	1st XV	2nd XV	3rdXV	4th XV	Pirates
1921	T CALLUM
1922	C.H.G.RIDLEY
1923	C.H.G.RIDLEY
1924	C.H.G.RIDLEY
1925	D.A.TOMLINSON
1926	D.A.TOMLINSON
1927	J HUTCHINSON
1928	J HUTCHINSON
1929	J HUTCHINSON
1930	H.L.GOUGLAS
1931	R.F.BATTY (R)J THOMPSON
1932	J THOMPSON
1933	J LANNY(R)J THOMPSON
1934	A KNUDSEN
1935	A KNUDSEN
1936	A KNUDSEN
1937	E.R. COPEMAN
1938	S.R.MAYNE
1945	N KNUDSEN
1946	A BOWMAN
1947	R PEIRCE	G MASON
1948	K.H.FORSTER	R.A.MASON
1949	A.S.C.WALKER
1950	A.S.C.WALKER	D SIVYER
1951	A SALMOND
1952	A.S.C.WALKER
1953	T.H.JACKSON	F STANGROOM
1954	F.NELSON	D THOMAS
1955	P.J.O.BEAN	C OVER
1956	P.J.O.BEAN	C OVER
1957	P.J.O.BEAN	J McGUIRE	M.C.HALL
1958	C.GASKELL	J McGUIRE	F STANGROOM
1959	G RIDLEY	K.L.BRANTON	P DORN
1960	K.L.BRANTON
1961	M.J.WRIGHTSON	P.W.WOODHOUSE	J.S.FAWCETT
1962	M.J.WRIGHTSON	P.W.WOODHOUSE	J.S.FAWCETT
1963	P.W.WOODHOUSE	R BOWEN	K.L.BRANTON
1964	P.W.WOODHOUSE	W BLANEY	K.L.BRANTON
1965	M JACKSON	M GOODRUM	P.J.O.BEAN	D CATLOW
1966	H.L.CALVELEY	M GOODRUM	P.J.O.BEAN
1967	J.B.COWELL	M JACKSON	N TAYLOR	D CATLOW
1968	J.B.COWELL	P MARSH	S HIBBERD	T WALSHAW
1969	A ROBINSON	B LONGDEN	J.S.FAWCETT	P ROONEY
1970	A ROBINSON	J LAWS	P MARSH	N TAYLOR
1971	F HARTLEY	S CLEARY	A THOMAS	N TAYLOR	P MCANESPIE
1972	F HARTLEY	W.A.COFFEY	M JACKSON	D.S.PARKER
1973	N MACKINLAY	M.D.HOWELLS	S CLEARY	J.S.FAWCETT
1974	N MACKINLAY	R GEORGE	K ROLPH	J.S.FAWCETT
1975	N MACKINLAY (R) F HARTLEY	T REED	M DIXON	J.S.FAWCETT
1976	F LEVEY	D GIDNEY	W.A.COFFEY	P ALMOND
1977	F HARTLEY	M.D.HOWELLS	N STINCHCOMBE	D PEARSON	T.J.BAXTER
1978	F LEVEY	D HALL	N STINCHCOMBE	E SMART	J RIGBY
1979	D STOVELL	A LEWIS	N STINCHCOMBE	R HOWLETT	J WILDMAN
1980	C BEER	T REED	C WRIGHT	R HOWLETT(R) E SMART	G FAWCETT(R) S FOOT
1981	C HUNTER	T SIDDELL	D PEARSON	A.P.BARKER	I GALLETLEY
1982	R BISHOP	G.R.HOLLIDAY	J GAINES-BURRILL	A.P.BARKER(R) E SMART	I GALLETLEY
1983	I HAYTON	F HARTLEY	A EVANS	A.P.BARKER	H McCAFFERTY
1984	F SILL	P.E.MOULD	D.I.BEARSHAW	J NOZEDAR	H McCAFFERTY
1985	K DAVIES	G STONEHOUSE	D.I.BEARSHAW	J NOZEDAR	J VICKERS
1986	N PATTINSON	S BAMBER	D PEARSON	E SMART
1987	A EVANS	B GILL	J.M.WALKER	E SMART
1988	M TRODDEN(R) A EVANS	J ENGLISH	J.M.WALKER	E SMART
1989	A EVANS	G EVANS	D BOVILLE	A.P.BARKER
1990	A EVANS	F WARNOCK	D RAE	W JONES
1991	A EVANS	R DAGLISH	D RAE	J ENGLISH
1992	P BEAL	R DAGLISH	A MOCKETT	T PINK
1993	P BEAL	A RODGERS(R) C HALL	A MOCKETT	M SYKES (R)  G EVANS
1994	A TATE	C HALL	A MOCKETT	W JONES
1995	A TATE	J ENGLISH	D TRAVILL	C WILDMAN
1996	G EVANS	P DALGARNO	P CLITHEROE	S UNWIN