Fylde Rugby Club
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Fylde Rugby Union Club is a rugby union club based the Northwest of England, playing at the Woodlands Memorial Ground in Lytham St Annes, near Blackpool.
Even many local people do not know the origination of the word ‘Fylde’. In fact, it dates back to Saxon times and means ‘low lying ground between two Estuaries!’ Equally, the story of the Fylde Rugby Club began in July 1919 when it was born literally on the toss of a coin. On July 25th Manchester businessmen met at the Ansdell Institute to discuss the formation of either a rugby or football Club. A coin was tossed and it fell in favour of rugby. The Club grew steadily, achieved a strong fixture list by the 1960s and have been in the national leagues since their inception in the 1980s.
It was in May 1920 that the present Woodlands site, although not in its present state, was used for rugby. In those days the admission was 5d and the first yearly gate receipt amounted to just over £57. In 1922, Harold Brooks was elected President and through his efforts Fylde progressed. He also provided the present stand. As far back as 1924 the Club was represented in the Lancashire team by many famous names such as ‘Ham' Neville, who was capped 33 times, and 'Pop' Ogden, who was classed as the most successful kicker of the time. He was the originator of the ‘round the corner’ style of kicking now used by more or less all kickers worldwide. The Club was strengthened by the merger with Blackpool Old Boys in 1934/5.
Unfortunately, during the War, Fylde had to close (as did many clubs) as the Army took over the ground. In 1946 the President, G.W. Parkes, welcomed back members from the Forces and by this time the ground had been purchased and named the Woodlands Memorial Ground in recognition of those members who gave their lives during the 2nd World War.
In the 1950’s, the dressing rooms were erected and Pop Ogden was elected President of Lancashire. Arthur Bell and Rothwell Bamber were given life memberships for their work with the Club. Bell served for 34 years as the Honorary Secretary.
It was in 1964 that the second England trial was held at Fylde and Sir Laurie Edwards opened not only the new pavilion extension, but presented the Club with a Rugby Union shield which is still to be seen on the Clubhouse wall.
1969 was Fylde’s Jubilee, when they were then fielding six or seven teams every Saturday. Its two most famous players were home grown. Malcolm Phillips, a product of Arnold School, Blackpool, won 25 England caps at centre between 1958 and 1964. He was President of the RFU in 2004/5 and has served on the International Rugby Board for a number of years.
Bill Beaumont was also a one club man having joined Fylde as 17 year old in 1969 and staying with the Club until injury forced him to retire in 1982. His father played for Fylde and he wrote suggesting that his son be given a trial. His first game was in the sixth team as fullback. When they looked at the size of Bill and saw his 6’3” height, he was very quickly made into a forward to play for the first team. He earned 34 times England caps, 21 times as Captain. This included leading the side to the Grand Slam in 1980, as well as skippering the British Lions in South Africa. In retirement he has remained in the public eye as broadcaster and columnist. He is still a regular face at Fylde and much respected throughout the Club. He has also made in major contribution to rugby administration in the UK and internationally as IRB Member, with the RFU and was Manager of the British Lions touring party to New Zealand in 2005.
In the same era, a young Roger Uttley, subsequently to skipper and then manage England, and Brian Ashton, now one of England's leading coaches, also wore the claret and gold. Other more recent internationals associated with Fylde include England wingers Tony Swift and Simon Smith, who were capped in the 1980s after leaving the Club, and locks Steve Bainbridge and Wade Dooley, established internationals who won further caps whilst with Fylde. England 'A' winger Mark Preston, who subsequently starred for Wigan RL, had an amazing strike record scoring 98 tries in 131 appearances. The current first team squad has two internationals; coach Martin Scott has represented Scotland and Dylan O'Grady has been capped by Ireland.
As with so many famous clubs outside the Premiership elite, attendances at home matches have fallen in recent years. Fifteen years or so ago, 2,000 spectators watched local derbys with Preston Grasshoppers on Boxing Day and as many as 5,000 attended the 1982 game with Bill Beaumont’s XV versus Lancashire staged when he retired through injury. But the Club still stages representative games such as the England v Scotland U'19 international in January 2004 which attracted 2,500 spectators. There were 1,500 people at the Fylde v 'Hoppers league match in January 2006.
Today, the teams still go onto the field wearing the colours of claret, gold and white, which were really the colours of the Huddersfield Old Boys. For some reason, this mystery has not been resolved and the colours have not changed, although the design is now rather different.
Recent seasons have seen Fylde move between National One, Two and most recently Three (North). The Club ran up significant debts in trying to compete in National One in the years 1997-9 and had to sell a small portion of the Woodlands grounds in order to re-establish financial health. With the receipts of the sale, a period of re-development of facilities of all kinds at the Woodlands began in January 2005. The new Clubhouse opened in October 2005 and houses 500 people.
The Club finished in 6th place in National Three (North) in 2003/4, 4th in 2004/5 and 7th in 2005/6. The Club's rugby management, including coaches Stuart Connell (ex-Fylde & Cumbria), Martin Scott (ex-Orrell, Fylde & Scotland), and Alistair Atkinson (ex-Orrell & Sedgley Park), is planning a promotion bid back to National Two in the next season or two.
Leading scorers in the 2005/6 season included skipper & fly-half Mike Scott (300 points, and one of the top goal kickers in national rugby), winger Nick Royle (16 tries) and flanker Andy Atkinson (11 tries). The Players' Player of the Season was Paul Newton.
Like so many clubs, Fylde has struggled in the professional era to maintain a balance between a members club, based on traditional local community values and structures, and a professional outfit able to compete for players, regionally and nationally. The Club has reasserted itself as a community-oriented members club, basically amateur, bringing together experienced players in the area, together with nurturing considerable local talent and a sprinkling of overseas players. The Club fields 10 mini/junior sides, a Junior Colts squad and five senior sides in 2006/7.
