Morley R.F.C.

Morley Rugby Union Football Club is a rugby union club based in Morley, West Yorkshire. England. The club are famous for playing in a maroon kit and thus are nicknamed "The Maroons". They currently play in North 1 East, a level six league in the English rugby union league system, following their relegation at the end of the 2017-18 season.

Morley R.F.C
Full nameMorley Rugby Football Club
UnionYorkshire RFU
Nickname(s)The Maroons
Founded1878 (1878)
LocationMorley, West Yorkshire, England
Ground(s)Scatcherd Lane
ChairmanRobyn Richmond
PresidentDavid Richmond
Coach(es)Colin Stephens, Mark Burrow, John Firth
Captain(s)Craig Field
Most caps2 flat caps
Top scorerCraig Field
League(s)North 1 East
2019–206th
Team kit
Official website
www.morleyrfc.co.uk

Club history

Morley played and won its first match on the 9 November 1878, against Dewsbury Birkdale. Morley was a member of the Northern Union, however, when the Northern Union clubs broke away from the RFU to form what is now rugby league, the Morley representatives missed the train to Huddersfield as they were still in the pub. As a result, Morley remained with the RFU and rugby union.

Ben Gronow was the coach for Morley R.F.C. in the 1930s, however when a history of the club was produced some years later, due to his previous rugby league associations, he was identified as 'unknown' in a team photograph.[1]

When the club won the Yorkshire Cup for the first time in 1932 in its fourth final, Morley borough council granted permission for the municipal coat of arms to be worn on the club's jerseys. The figures and devices on the coat of arms were symbolic of the principal industries of the Borough - the manufacture of woollen cloth, coal mining and quarrying.

When Morley celebrated its centenary in 1978, a rugby ball bearing the club's foundation date replaced the maxim Industria Omnia Vincit (Work Conquers All) beneath the shield.

Scatcherd Lane; Morley's ground

Morley have won the Yorkshire Cup 11 times, and 3 times in a row in the 1970s. They also hold claim to being the longest-enduring holders of the cup, having won it in 1938 and 1939. The cup was not contested again until 1947 due to the Second World War. During the war years, the trophy was in held in safe keeping, in a box under the club secretary's bed.

In the early 1990s the club climbed to the national second division (which is now National Division One), the division immediately below today's Premiership. However, by 1996 they had dropped down to the third tier, then called National Division three which today would be National League 1.

2005 was a historic year for Morley as they defeated Westoe RFC to win The Powergen Intermediate Cup at Twickenham. The victory capped a Yorkshire hat trick as on the same day Sheffield Tigers won the Powergen Junior Vase and Leeds Tykes defeated Bath in the final of the Powergen Cup.

In 2005–06 the club was promoted as champions from the Powergen League North 1 and in 2006 Morley were again at Twickenham reaching the cup final for the second successive year. However, they failed in attempting to become the first team to retain the cup, losing 11-6 to Stockport in a below par performance. However, the season was still a great success as Morley finished as league champions and clinched promotion.

In the 2006–07 season the team finished 6th in the league (a mid-table position). However, in the 2007–08 season Morley were relegated from National Division Three North to North 1. In the 2008–09 season despite a slow start Morley finished strongly and ended the season in 3rd position in the league, narrowly missing out on promotion.

In the 2009–10 season Morley had an excellent season, losing just 3 league games. As a result, they finished top of the league and gained promotion into National Division 2 North for 2010–11 season.

Recent seasons have been less kind to the club and they were soon back in National 3 North and have been relegated again and for the 2012–13 season found themselves in the sixth tier, North 1 East. Since then they have been a "yo-yo" team, going between levels five and six. Each relegation brought instant promotion (all be it via the play offs) but Morley has been unable to consolidate their position at level five and are once again (2018-19) at level 6, North 1 East.

Notable former players

Honours
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References
  1. David Lawrenson (2007). "The Rugby League Miscellany [Page-59]". Vision Sports Publishing. ISBN 978-1-905326-30-3
  2. Article from 'The Independent', 20 September 1998: "Orwin's country pursuit"
  3. Craig Emmerson joins coaching team
  4. Article from 'The Irish Times', May 4, 2019 "Learning a key factor in Dan McFarland’s Ulster growth plan"
  5. Article from 'Morley Observer and Advertiser', 8 October 2003: "Binksy set to play again for Maroons"
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