Sign in or 
Share this
Rugby
(Taken in part from the Lostock Rugby FC website)Lostock Rugby Club has its origins in the social and sporting camaraderie of the post World War II era of the late 40's and early 50's, when workers from the then De Havilland Propellers, played rugby on an ad-hoc basis against other factories mainly within the De Havilland group. These games were deemed to have great prestige. Obviously, with a vast amount of the 4,000 workers coming from Wigan and the surrounding area, the teams were full of natural talent and were very successful.
Building on this success, in 1956 the Sports and Social club allowed the players to form a rugby section, and rugby at Lostock took off. Fielding 3 teams a week, many successfull years followed, even with the name changes, firstly to Hawker Siddley and then to British Aerospace. The frequent name changes prompted the rugby club to adopt the location of the sports grounds at Lostock as the club name. In the mid 80's the name Lostock was lodged with the Rugby Football Union. For all these years the playing members of the club had only to fund the travelling expenses and the laundry bill, with everything else being provided for by the company and the Sports and Social club.
However in the early 90's, with the ending of the "cold war", things at the Lostock factory changed dramatically. British Aerospace reduced its workforce by nearly 3,000. This left the rugby club struggling for a player base and funding. Eventually, in 1997, British Aerospace withdrew all funding and issued a notice to quit the sports grounds stating that they would develop the grounds for building. Led by the club's senior members, it was decided to fight this threat of development. From that moment on, a small group, mainly rugby players, fought to keep open the sports grounds, and in addition became responsible for the upkeep and maintenance which had previously cost Aerospace £30,000 per annum. At present the club is still fighting the closure of the ground by trying to secure the tenure of the land which would not only allow for the continuation of the club but also the development and extension of the club by including mini rugby and junior / youth teams.
The club currently play in the Miller Homes League Division 5N, and more details on the club, contacts, fixtures results etc., can be found on the club [website]
That is, I hope brief history of the club, and should you feel you would like to support the club in anyway, your assistance would be greatly appreciated by both members and commitee. Barry Jubb
Hon. Chairman, Lostock RFC.
Building on this success, in 1956 the Sports and Social club allowed the players to form a rugby section, and rugby at Lostock took off. Fielding 3 teams a week, many successfull years followed, even with the name changes, firstly to Hawker Siddley and then to British Aerospace. The frequent name changes prompted the rugby club to adopt the location of the sports grounds at Lostock as the club name. In the mid 80's the name Lostock was lodged with the Rugby Football Union. For all these years the playing members of the club had only to fund the travelling expenses and the laundry bill, with everything else being provided for by the company and the Sports and Social club.
However in the early 90's, with the ending of the "cold war", things at the Lostock factory changed dramatically. British Aerospace reduced its workforce by nearly 3,000. This left the rugby club struggling for a player base and funding. Eventually, in 1997, British Aerospace withdrew all funding and issued a notice to quit the sports grounds stating that they would develop the grounds for building. Led by the club's senior members, it was decided to fight this threat of development. From that moment on, a small group, mainly rugby players, fought to keep open the sports grounds, and in addition became responsible for the upkeep and maintenance which had previously cost Aerospace £30,000 per annum. At present the club is still fighting the closure of the ground by trying to secure the tenure of the land which would not only allow for the continuation of the club but also the development and extension of the club by including mini rugby and junior / youth teams.
The club currently play in the Miller Homes League Division 5N, and more details on the club, contacts, fixtures results etc., can be found on the club [website]
That is, I hope brief history of the club, and should you feel you would like to support the club in anyway, your assistance would be greatly appreciated by both members and commitee. Barry Jubb
Hon. Chairman, Lostock RFC.
|
lostock |
Latest page update: made by lostock
, Feb 23 2007, 8:16 AM EST
(about this update
About This Update
Edited by lostock
1 word added view changes - complete history) |
|
Keyword tags:
None
More Info: links to this page
|
There are no threads for this page.
Be the first to start a new thread.
