Pontefract Rugby Union Football Club

This is not an 'official' page, nevertheless I hope it helps all. The club's site is at pitchero. If you are looking for results, messageboards and news, this is where you want to be.

This page is more to collect some history, so any contributions would be gratefully accepted if they don't require massive amounts of work at this end. Electronic in preference to raw material, text along with the scans, etc. It is inspired by the archive material collated by Pete Furniss & John Buck.

Any errors in accuracy, judgement, selection, interpretation etc etc are my fault. Please Don't let them slide. Tell me!

PONTEFRACT RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB

Purveyors of fine Rugby since 1947

Memories from Trevor Izon

Rugby Union was played at Pontefract well before the second World war. The former club was disbanded in the 1930s with several players moving to Selby.

Those who played before the war included Charles Leach (ex- President) Cyril Heseletine (ex-Senior Vice President) and Eddie Bailey.

Charles Leach often related a story about a fixture in the 1930s at Hessle when the team travelled on a waggon. A thick fog descended and several players walked in front of the waggon leading the way.

Around this era Pontefract area played a game against Castleford area on a pitch opposite the junction hotel in Featherstone, possibly 1927.

The Old Pomfretians was formed in 1947 at a meeting of ex Kings School pupils.

Early success included the Shield victory of 1953, Cup final of 56, and the defeat of top side Bradford in 1956 a notable scalp at the time.

The club created a pitch at Moor Lane in the 1950s and opened the wooden clubhouse in 1960. The club changed its name in 1965 to Pontefract RUFC.

Funding was won in 1966 and the new clubhouse opened in Spring 1967.

Eccentric as ever the old club never closed and the new brick built club was built around it. The wooden structure was removed one Wednesday morning and new building officially opened the following day.

Around this time the club set a record for Yorkshire cup replays having three games against Goole, I at Goole and 2 at Selby.

Goole were victorious scoring in injury time in the third game.

The club opened the new stand with floodlights in 1987 and although now ageing there is no doubt the ground and club retain traditional character along with fantastic memories.

The club has had over the years a reputation for excellent colts rugby. The Colts of the late seventies and early eighties being outstanding.

Trevor Izon

Thanks to Trevor for the history and his continued support of the Friday morning task group as well as the club in general,