Morpeth RFC

Morpeth Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club based in Morpeth, Northumberland. The 1st XV team currently plays in North Premier, having reached the national levels of the sport for the first time in 2019. The club operates 4 Senior Men's sides and Colts regularly playing each weekend, plus 'Morpeth Ranters' Vets, a Senior Ladies team and 3 Girls rugby squads, as well as a Minis/Junior rugby setup with teams ranging from U6 > U16.[1]

Morpeth
Full nameMorpeth Rugby Football Club
UnionNorthumberland Rugby Football Union
Founded1947 (1947)
LocationMorpeth, Northumberland, England
Ground(s)Grange House Field (Capacity: 1,000)
PresidentGary Stephenson
League(s)North Premier
2019–2013th (relegated to North 1 East)
Official website
www.morpethrfc.co.uk

History

Morpeth RFC were founded in 1947.[2] The early years of the club were relatively low-key but in 1958 they reached the final of the Northumberland Senior Cup for the very first time, losing 3-9 to Percy Park in a tight game. They would reach four more county cup finals during the 1960s and 1970s but would come up short in each, although the 1974 defeat against Gosforth would set them up for one of the all-time great national cup runs. This occurred during the 1974–75 John Player Cup, when a remarkable sequence of giant-killing victories took Morpeth to within 80 minutes of the John Player Cup final at Twickenham Stadium. In the qualifying round, Morpeth defeated Netherall Old Boys. In the first round, Morpeth beat Stockswood Park 10–0 at Mitford Road. In the second round, Morpeth defeated London Irish 19-3 again at Mitford road. In the quarter final Morpeth, beat Bath 9-13 at the Recreation Ground. In the semi final, Morpeth finally lost at home against Rosslyn Park 6-28.[3][4] In 1998, after seven previous finals without a win, Morpeth finally won the Northumberland Senior Cup, defeating Tynedale 21–13, on what was the 50th anniversary of the club.[5]

Morpeth's league rugby started in North East 1 and in the 1996–97 season won the League and were promoted to North 2. In the 2000–01 season they were placed into North 1 East after the Leagues were split East & West, where they stayed until they suffered relegation at the end of the 2013–14 season.[6] Their stay in Durham/Northumberland 1 was a short one, as although they finished second in the league to Guisborough, they defeated Yorkshire 1 runners up Malton & Norton 14–11 at home to clinch promotion back to North 1 East.[7] At the end of the 2018–19 season Morpeth finished as champions of North 1 East, reaching North Premier, which at level 5, is the highest level the club have reached since the leagues began back in 1987.[8]

Toby Flood (future England International) played 10 games for Morpeth at the start of his rugby career in 2003–04 season. He actually played his last game for Morpeth v Hull on 22nd Nov 2003, the same day England beat Australia to win the 2003 Rugby World Cup! [9]

Ground

Morpeth's play at Grange House Field on Mitford Road, situated next to Newminster Middle School in the north-west of Morpeth, adjutant to the River Wansbeck. The ground consists of a clubhouse and 3 grass pitches (1 floodlit). The club-house has two function rooms, both equipped with bars, capable of hosting up to 250 people, altogether.[10] Capacity around the main pitch is approximately 1,000, all of which is standing. There is parking available at the ground, and Morpeth railway station is just over 1 mile walk away.[11]

As well as hosting club games, the ground has also been used by Northumberland for the County Championships.[12]

Club honours
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References
  1. "TEAMS". Morpeth Rugby Club. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  2. "Turning back the pages on 50 years of rugby". Morpeth Herald. 6 November 2002.
  3. Jenkins, Vivian (1975). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook. Brickfield Publications Ltd. ISBN 0362-00221-5.
  4. "MORPETH RE-LIVE GREAT CUP RUN". Northumberland Rugby. 29 April 2015.
  5. "Club History". Tynedale RFC (Pitchero). Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  6. "Morpeth RFC: One step backwards proves beneficial in the long run". Chronicle Live. 12 November 2014.
  7. "Malton rue near miss as they fall to Morpeth defeat in promotion play-off". The Press. 27 April 2015.
  8. "Morpeth promoted". Morpeth Herald. 8 April 2019.
  9. toby flood morpeth
  10. "FUNCTIONS". Morpeth Rugby Club. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  11. "CONTACT DETAILS". Morpeth Rugby Club. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  12. "Northumberland v East Midlands Seniors". Alnwick RFC (Pitchero). 7 May 2016.
  13. "2018-19 Northern Division". England Rugby. RFU. Retrieved 13 April 2019.
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