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Welcome to Shelford Rugby Club PDF Print E-mail
Written by Administrator   
Tuesday, 22 May 2007

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Shelford Rugby Club runs four senior teams, a ladies team and twelve youth teams from under 7s to Colts.

Our 1st team currently plays London Division 1 and competes in the National Trophy. Having gained promotion as champions of London 2 North our aim was to build on our success in 2006/2007 and secure our place in London 1. This was achieved with a 5th place finish.

This season we have built on our strong coaching team, headed up by Sam Tovo and have recruited new players to add strength to our already impressive squad.

Shelford's aim is to be a progressive and dynamic club that combines ambition with traditional rugby values.

Our Development Squad competes in the London based Canterbury Shield Division 4 and our 3rd & 4th teams are in the regional Greene King league and cup competitions. All this enables us to provide all our players with both competitive and enjoyable Rugby

Training is on Tuesday and Thursday evenings starting at 7.00 sharp

The History of Shelford Rugby Club 

The date was 6 October 1933 when an announcement was made through the Cambridge Independent Press - “ A rugby section of Shelford Amateur Sports Association has now definitely been formed.. Club colours will be claret vests with white collars” -  and so the story begins for Shelford Rugby Club. The first ground was loaned to the Club by Mrs Goldsmith- Martin and was close to Shelford Railway Station with changing facilities at the nearby Railway Tavern.

Captains and Vice Captains at that time included R A Collard, R P Davey, whose father P L Davey became great benefactor and long standing President to the Club and T A Arias, who went on to become President of Panama. Teams were put out for Thursday games and Saturday games, and press comments reported good progress for our teams, albeit that on occasion the enthusiasm spilled over with one game between Shelford and Duxford RAF being abandoned with 15 minutes left because of rough play ! 

After 1945, the Recreation Ground at Shelford became the regular playing field and the new “headquarters” became the nearby Peacock Inn – the origins of the Club emblem. New changing rooms were built alongside the Peacock in 1950, thanks to the generosity of the Fordham brothers, the owners of the Peacock. The Club continued to grow during the 50’s and early 60’s . 

In 1965 , the Club reached a major milestone in its development when Mr P J Davey honoured the Club by donating the playing field at Cambridge Road, Gt Shelford – the present home of the Club , which became known as “Davey Field”. The official opening of the ground and new Clubhouse on 19 September 1966 was marked with a game against Andy Hancock’s star-studded team from Northampton. The Club flourished during the 60’s and 70’s from its home at Davey Field.

On the field successes with a string of County Cup victories were matched by off the field improvements –a tradition at Shelford. Another pitch was added from land provided Mr Davey in 1972, and floodlights were added in October 1973. 

Into the 80’s and 90’s, and progress has never faltered with Shelford seeing the start of its hugely successful Youth section in 1989, the formation of its Ladies team.  ,which has gone on to provide numerous international players to the game , and the continuing growth of rugby for senior male players with five sides  turning out on a regular basis. With the help of the Shelford Parish Council, a fourth pitch (the Allotments”) was added in 1995  Into the new millennium and another milestone was reached. Through the determination and hard work of its members, and the support of many sponsors, Shelford opened its new Clubhouse facilities including spectator terracing, which is the best in the County.

To cope with the growth of the Club, further land was bought to add another pitch . This pitch was called “Jakes Field “ after the Clubs long standing Chairman who sadly died in 2002. 

In recent times, the performance on the pitch has also gathered pace following the appointment of , a New Zealander, Sam Tovo as player / coach. Breaking a leg while playing for Rugby Lions did not put him off rugby, and his experience and ideas have brought a fresh approach to the Club. The philosophy of introducing key players, drawn from what seems like an endless supply of rugby playing friends, to add support and experience to local players brought through from Shelfords' youth policy paid dividends during the 2006_7 season as Shelford became Eastern County Cup winners at senior and junior levels, Cambridgeshire County Cup winners, and firmly established themselves in their first season in London   

 

Last Updated ( Saturday, 19 January 2008 )
 
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