About Bowdon R.U.F.C.

PAST

The opening line of the match report for the first competitive fixture of newly formed Bowdon & Lymm Football Club against Widnes penned by the first secretary Mr.Walter Rycroft.The account of the first game manages to describe not only the game,but also the weather, details of the Bowdon team, changing arrangements (usually a hostelry of some theme), names of officials including the "umpire" Dr. Cartwright and the precise make-up of the final score.Bowdon & Lymm triumphed by 2 goals and 1 try to Widnes's 2 touchdowns and a "disputed" try "which ended the game a little before time".

This first season had its ups and downs, as would be expected, but one of the season's highlight must have been the victory over Sale in the Cheshire Challenge Cup by 1 goal and 2 touchdowns to 2 touchdowns.With a season tally of 4 wins, 4 losses and 3 draws and fixtures against clubs such as Sale, Birkenhead Park and Manchester A, credit is due to Mr Walter Rycroft and his friends Mr H.Maw and Mr B.D.Beever who, together, were instrumental in launching the club and guiding it through the initial difficulties which invariably beset a project of this kind.

Over the initial three years of existence Mr Rycroft's reports provide a valuable insight into both the establishment of the club and the beginnings of Rugby Football in Cheshire.

Prominent in the early reports are the names of Mathieson and Rycroft himself, both playing for Cheshire, and also of H.C.Rowley who went on to play for England whilst still a member of the Bowdon & Lymm Club.During the second season,and following a move from the grounds at Stamford Road in Bowdon, Bowdon's new home at the Devisdale was used in March 1879 for a County match between Lancashire & Cheshire for which entrance was charged at 1 shilling & 6d.

Throughout the 1880's the fixture list was strengthened considerably by the inclusion of Liverpool, Rochdale and New Brighton and the club commenced its representation on the County Committee. Several further players achieved County Honours including fullback F.Wainwright and forwards C Hardy and H.F.Ransome. During these years, owing to difficulties with grounds, the club had a somewhat nomadic existence. After Stamford Road and the Devisdale, Bowdon, a move was made in 1883 to Green Walk Bowdon where changing was at the Griffin Hotel. In 1900 the ground was in Hale and the players used the Bleeding Wolf as their changing facility. A change was made in 1904 when the club relocated to the Hare & Hounds in Timperley.


Subsequent moves were to Heath Road, Hale (1908), South Downs Road (1911), Ashley (1913), where the Greyhound became home, and then to our penultimate home in 1924 the Devisdale, at Lord Stamfords invitation where floodlighting was arranged and the players were able to settle down for a period of fourteen years.

Finally, at a special meeting on January 14th 1938 it was decided to buy a seven acre ground at Clay Lane, Timperley, on which a new clubhouse and, if possible, a stand could be built. Once loans from the RFU and Cheshire County were negotiated the foundations of Bowdon RUFC as it now exists were well and truly laid.

PRESENT

Bowdon RUFC today runs four senior sides, the 1st XV competing in the Powergen North 2 West League, the 2nd XV competing in Miller Homes League 3, the 3rd XV competing in the Miller Homes League 5 (South) and the "A" development team playing selected fixtures throughout the season. With training sessions twice weekly run by specialist forward and back coaches, complimented by a medical, physiotherapy and conditioning team, players of all levels of ability and aptitude are encouraged to develop their skills within a competitive yet supporting and encouraging environment. Training takes place whenever possible on the club floodlit grounds but during the more inclement months of the year the use of an all weather playing facility is available to the club.


Players from all nations, home and overseas, are welcome and wherever possible assisted and supported to settle into the area and life and sport at the club.

The clubhouse and bar, where sky TV is available on "big" screen for most sports viewing, is open Monday to Friday evenings from 18.00hrs and Saturday and Sunday from 12.00hrs.The management of the club constantly strive to provide players, supporters and club members with the best facilities and equipment available for both sport and social pursuits.

With pre-season training camps, the Harvey Orpit Veterans Competition, the annual Bowdon Sevens Competition, the annual Summer Ball, the annual Bowdon Golf Day and of course regular tours there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy your time and your sport at Bowdon RUFC to the fullest.

Having achieved Seal of Approval status Bowdon RUFC currently offers junior and youth rugby on Sunday mornings and Thursday evenings and with strong community ties and school connections are constantly recruiting new members to this vitally important section of the club.

FUTURE

The future of Bowdon RUFC will be determined by a number of factors the first and possibly most important will be the building of a state of the art new clubhouse for which fund raising has been active for the last 10 years in one form or the other. Work is expected to start in January of 2006 and when successfully completed will provide the members and visitors with a whole new experience at Clay Lane.


The second factor will be the clubs commitment to the junior and youth section, schools and the community. This will be the main tool in achieving our stated objective of becoming one of the leading clubs in Cheshire and the North West providing the stepping stone for the stars of the future linking the amateur game, which we all cherish, to the professional modern era of our chosen sport.