LUTTERWORTH RFC 1987 to 2011 Lutterworth celebrated their 125 Anniversary in 1998. The 125th Annual Dinner was held on 23rd October 1998 and was attended by Peter Trunkfield, RFU President, David Swirles, Leicestershire RFU President and the guest speaker was W.J.McBride. The President at the time was Paul Blake (currently our Chairman) and in his comments on the menu he wrote “ 125th – One Year Late. One of the more endearing traits of our club is our innate sense of punctuality and meticulous adherence to dates and anniversaries, Not only do we forget to organize the bus for our away games, but, from reading our history, we are celebrating this anniversary 1 year late. The clubs first recorded match was on Dec 28th 1872. We celebrated our 50th during season 1923/4, our 75th during season 1947/8, our 100th during season 1973/4 and our 125th during season 1998/9. I’m sure that by the end of the evening most of us will not have the mental agility to carry out the arithmetic. However, I have taken counsel with respect to the mathematics from a number of our more cerebral members, including the Robbins and the Johnsons, and they do not see a problem, so let’s just enjoy the evening” We did. The club became Lutterworth RFC Ltd in 2001 when it was registered under the Industrial & Provident Societies Act 1965. This removed the need for club trustees and the potential liabilities they might have incurred. Seniors On the playing side the 125th season was started by a tour to Canada and a game against a Leicestershire Presidents XV The last 25 years have seen the most profound changes in the game in general since the RFU itself was formed on the 26th January 1871. League rugby was introduced in 1987/8, mini & junior rugby at club level has largely taken over from schools as the introduction to the game for most children and the introduction of Ladies Rugby. The commencement of leagues has encouraged clubs at all levels to introduce coaching which has generally improved skills (some would argue that the social side may have suffered ). The period has also seen playing numbers and number of teams fielded rise, peak and then decline. This certainly applies to us and I’m sure most other junior clubs. We now turn our 3 teams regularly which is what we were doing in the 70’s. In season 92/3, 93/4 and 94/5 we were turning out 5 teams every week with and occasional 6th team. League Rugby for Lutterworth began in Leicestershire Div 1 where they finished in 4th place, next season they won the league and were promoted to Leics/East Midlands league. This equates to National level 7 and with one exception ( season 2000/1 saw them relegated to level 8 but they won immediate promotion the following season) they have remained there ever since. During that period the league has been called Leics/East Midlands, Midlands East 2, Midlands East 1, Midlands 3 East South, Midlands 2 East South. The restructuring took place in 1991/2 1995/6, 2000/1 and 2008/9. The 1st XV in 2010/11 was largely made up of players from the Colts teams of the two previous seasons and it is a testament to the work done by the mini & junior sections over the last 25 years that this has been possible. After a first half of the season that produced one win they subsequently had a run of six consecutive wine to give them a respectable 7th position. The 2nd XV have been playing league rugby for a number of season. In the Clonmell Cup (Rugby & District) they reached the final in2003/4 loosing to Daventry. They won the cup in 2006/7 by beating Rugby St.Andrews 41-0 in the final. They won again in 2007/8 beating O.Laurentians 15-3 and again in 2009/10 beating the same club. In league rugby they won promotion to Leics 2 in 2008/9 and the following season were promoted again to Leics Premier Leage. The 3rds have been ever present during the whole period and in 2010/11 finished 3rd in Liecs 4. The club is indebted to many people during the period, in particular the following:- 1st XV Captains from 87/8 have been:- R.Tranter, T.Walker, I.Johnson, I.Bills, K.Liscombe, N.Hutt, D.Johnson, M.Ellis, D.Hall, P.Wilford, C.Gregory, P.Riley and J. Croucher (some serving for more than one season). Presidents during the same period :- M.Ross, M.Willey, E.Garnett, P.Blake, M.Entwistle, C.Payne and M.Holmes. Treasurers:- P.Blake, E.Barker, J.Spurrier and M.Willey from 1992/3 to date Secretary : C.Hudson Colts Colts fortunes have varied over the years from variations in teams at Junior levels into the early 90’s as it often wasn’t possible to field a colts team. Season 1995/6 saw them reach the semi-final of the County Cup. In 1999/2000 they reached the final but lost to Market Bosworth. In 2008/9 they got to the quarter finals of the National Cup and won 22 of 29 matches played. In 2009/10 they drew with Syston in the County Cup with a score of 15-15, also reached round 3 in the National Plate and finished 4th in the County Colts league A Minis Section For most of the period we have been able to turn teams out at U8,U9,U10,U11,U12 and latterly also at U7. Secretarys during the period have been M.Willey, E.Barker, M.Perks, D.Adams. A.Glanville, P.Littlewood, Harriet Harman, S.Leah, P.Hooseman, D.Randall and Helen Scutt. There is a continual record of success during the whole period. In 1987.88 the U10 won the county festival. In 1990/91 and 1991/2 the U8s, U10s and U11s all won festivals in 1992/3 the U12s went all season unbeaten. In 1993/4 there was an U7 team for the first time. In 1999/2000 the U9 won the County Festival and were unbeaten all season. In 2001/2 the U10s and U11s were county champions. In 2002/3 there were 117 registered players in the section and the U12s were county champions for the fourth year running. In 2003/4 the U8s toured to the Netherlands. The following season there were 124 players. In 2005/6 the U11s were county champions. In 2007/8 both U12s and U13s were county cup winners. In 2008/9 the U7s won the county festival nd the U9s won two festivals and The Tigers Prima Cup. Juniors Section This section struggled in terms of numbers through into the 90’s. There was no U17 until 93/94. In 1994/5 U13 reached county final, U14 had only three losses all season and had 6 in the county squad, U15 were stand alone after being with Westleigh but made it through to county semi final, U16 joined with Sth Leicester to make a team. 1995/6 the U15 were tournament winners but other teams did well.1996/7 the U16 were county finalists and U13 plate winners. Many players won county honours and R.Sands played 2 games for England 16 age group. 1997/8 N.Southern was selected for England A in two games and R.Sands for England 18 group Presidents team In 2002/3 we turned out 5 teams for the first time. Still some problems with numbers but 104 registered players. Eight U14 players made county squads.U17 lost in county semi final. Tour to Ireland at end of season..2003/4 U13 won county cup, nationals 10’s and Sysyton 7’s. U14 lost in semi final of cup. U15 lost in county final to Hinckley. 2004/5 U13 won county plate, U14 went 29 games unbeaten, won Banbury 10’s, county cup and Syston 7’s. After 2 years planning the team went to S.Africa on tour, a fantastic achievement.U15’s won Syston 7’s. U16 toured Italy had 2 players represent Midlands and Tom Collett played for England 16 group. 2005/6 U13 lost in county semi final. U14 had 11 players in county rugby. U15won the county championship for the 7th year. U16 lost in county semi final. 2006/7 U13 lost to Hinckley in county semi final as did U14 who lost to Oadby Wyggs. U15 lost to Loughborough in county final. U16 won county plate, Syston 7’s for the 3rd year. 7 players picked for Midlands, Josh McLaurin selected for two England 1 games. Matt Everard awarded Tigers contract. 2007/8 - U13 were county cup winners, Kenilworth 10’s winners and Syston 7’s winners, U14 Warwickshire Bowl Winners, U16 County Cup finalist, Syston 7’s winners, Ordizia winners, U17 county cup winners and also toured to Australia and Matt Everard selected for England 18 group team. 2008/9 - U17 were league champions with an unbeaten record and also county cup winners.U15 were semi-finalist in county cup and winners of the Leicestershire Invitational Plate, U14s were county champions, Lexus North and Mid East Regional Champions, Exeter tournament winners and Syston 7’s winners. 2009/10 – U13 played 20 games, won 12 and also beat the Dutch National Champions. U14 were county cup winners. U15 were county champions and Syston 7’s winners, George Ball played for the Midlands, U16 played 32 matches and scored 900 points, U17 finished mid table in county league.