View source for Fylde RFC

{{Short description|English rugby union club}}
{{Refimprove|date=April 2010}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Infobox rugby team
  | teamname    = Fylde Rugby Club
  | image       = Fylde Badge 2022 PNG.png
  | imagesize   = 100
  | fullname    = Fylde Rugby Football Club
  | nickname    = Fylde / #runitfylde
  | location    = [[Lytham St. Annes]], [[Lancashire]], [[England]] 
  | union     = [[Lancashire County Rugby Football Union|Lancashire RFU]] 
  | founded     = {{Start date and age|1919}} <ref name="history">{{cite web |url=http://www.fylderugby.co.uk/Information/history.html |title=History 1919-present Fylde Rugby |publisher=fylderugby.co.uk |access-date=2010-04-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100326212236/http://www.fylderugby.co.uk/Information/history.html |archive-date=26 March 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref>
  | ground      = [[Woodlands Memorial Ground]]
  | capacity    = 9,000 <ref name="stadia">{{cite web | url=http://www.worldstadia.com/stadium/england/woodlands_memorial_ground/8538.php | title=Details for Woodlands Memorial Ground, Lytham St Annes | publisher=worldstadia.com | access-date=2010-04-07}}</ref>
  | chairman    = {{flagicon|New Zealand}} Matt Filipo
  | president   = {{flagicon|England}} Anthony Hoskisson 
  | captain     = {{flagicon|England}} Toby Harrison
  | league      = [[National League 2 North]]
  | season      = [[2024–25 National League 2 North|2024–25]]
  | position    = 4th
  | url         = https://www.fylderugby.co.uk/
|pattern_la1= 
|pattern_b1= _goldwhite stripes
|pattern_ra1= 
|pattern_sh1 = 
|pattern_so1= _hoops gold white
|leftarm1 = 8C0D35
|body1= 8C0D35
|rightarm1 = 8C0D35
|shorts1 = FFFFFF
|socks1= 8C0D35
}}
'''Fylde Rugby Union Club''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|aɪ|l|d}} is a [[rugby union]] club based in [[Lytham St Annes]], on the [[The Fylde|Fylde coast]] in [[Lancashire]], [[England]]. The home venue is the [[Woodlands Memorial Ground]] on Blackpool Road in [[Ansdell]] and the first team play in English rugby's [[National League 2 North]], the fourth tier of the [[English rugby union system]], following their relegation from [[National League 1]] at the end of the 2017–18 season. There are another two senior teams, the Hawks and the Vandals who play in the English North West Leagues; respectively in the NW Premiership and NW3 North. There is also a Colts team. In previous seasons the Colts have played in the Lancashire & Cheshire regional leagues.

In the past, Woodlands Memorial Ground was shared by [[Blackpool Panthers|Blackpool Rugby League Club and Fleetwood Town FC (training)]].

==History==
===Overview===
Fylde Rugby Club was founded on 25 July 1919, literally on the toss of a coin when a group of [[Huddersfield]] businessmen met at Ansdell Institute to discuss the formation of either a rugby union or a [[Association football|football]] club. A coin was tossed and it fell in favour of rugby union. Hence the similarity in kit between clubs. The club grew steadily and achieved a strong fixture list by the 1960s and has been in the [[Rugby union in England|National Leagues]] since the league's inception in 1987.

It takes its name from [[The Fylde]], a roughly 13-mile (20-kilometre) [[Square (geometry)|square]]-shaped [[peninsula]], bounded by [[Morecambe Bay]] to the north, the [[River Ribble|Ribble]] estuary to the south, the [[Irish Sea]] to the west, and the [[Forest of Bowland|Bowland]] hills to the east, with [[Blackpool]] to the north and [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]] to the east.

===Formative years===
In May, 1920 the present Woodlands site was first used for rugby. The admission was 5[[British one penny coin (pre-decimal)|d]] and the first yearly gate receipts amounted to just over £57. In 1922, Harold Brooks was elected President and through his efforts Fylde progressed. He also provided the present stand. In 1924 the club was represented in the [[Lancashire]] team by players such as "Ham" Neville, who was capped 33 times, and "Pop" Ogden. The club was strengthened by the merger with ''Blackpool Old Boys'' in the 1934–35 season.

During the [[World War II]], Fylde, along with many other clubs, had to close as the [[British Army|Army]] took over the ground. In 1946 the President, G.W. Parkes, welcomed back members from the war and by this time the ground had been purchased and named the Woodlands Memorial Ground in recognition of those members who gave their lives during the war.

===Post-war years===
In the 1950s, the dressing rooms were built and Pop Ogden was elected President of Lancashire. Arthur Bell and Rothwell Bamber were given life memberships for their work with the club. Bell served for 34 years as the Honorary Secretary.

In 1964 the second [[England national rugby union team|England]] trial was held at Fylde and Sir Laurie Edwards opened the new pavilion extension and presented the club with a rugby union shield which is still on the clubhouse wall.

1969 was Fylde's [[Golden Jubilee|jubilee]] year, when they were fielding six or seven teams every Saturday. The club's two most famous players were home grown, Malcolm Phillips and [[Bill Beaumont]]. Phillips, who attended [[Arnold School]] in [[Blackpool]], won 25 England caps at centre between 1958 and 1964. He was President of the [[Rugby Football Union]] (RFU) from 2004 to 2005 and has served on the [[International Rugby Board]] (IRB) for a number of years. Beaumont was also a one club man having joined Fylde as a 17-year-old in 1969 and stayed with the club until injury forced him to retire in 1982. His father had also played for Fylde and he wrote suggesting that his son be given a trial. His first game was in the sixth team as fullback. With his size and his 6'3" height, he was very quickly made into a forward to play for the first team. He earned 34 England caps between 1975 and 1982, 21 of them as captain. This included leading the side to the [[Grand Slam (rugby union)|Grand Slam]] in 1980, as well as skippering the [[1980 British Lions tour to South Africa]]. In retirement he has remained in the public eye as a broadcaster and columnist. He is still a regular face at Fylde. He has also made major contribution to rugby administration in the [[United Kingdom]] and internationally as an IRB Member, with the RFU and he was manager of the [[2005 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand]].

In the same era, a young [[Roger Uttley]], subsequently to skipper and then manage England, and [[Brian Ashton (rugby union)|Brian Ashton]], England's [[Coach (sport)|Head Coach]], also played for Fylde. Other more recent internationals associated with Fylde include England wingers Tony Swift and Simon Smith, who were capped in the 1980s after leaving the club and locks [[Steve Bainbridge]] and [[Wade Dooley]], established internationals who won further caps whilst with Fylde.

England 'A' winger Mark Preston had a record of scoring 98 tries in 131 appearances. He subsequently made a similar impact in rugby league with [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] and [[Halifax RLFC|Halifax]].

===Present day===
As with many former top-flight clubs outside the [[Guinness Premiership]], attendances at home matches have fallen in recent years. In the early 1990s, 2,000 spectators would watch local derbies with [[Preston Grasshoppers R.F.C.|Preston Grasshoppers]] and as many as 5,000 attended in 1982 to see Bill Beaumont's XV play Lancashire, staged when he retired through injury. But the club still stages representative games such as the England v [[Scotland]] Under 19 international in January 2004 which attracted 2,500 spectators. There were 1,500 people at the Fylde v Preston Grasshoppers league match in December 2006.

Today, the teams still go onto the field wearing the colours of claret, gold and white, which were originally the colours of the Huddersfield Old Boys following the origins of Fylde’s formation by Huddersfield businessmen. The colours have not changed, although the design is now modernised.

Recent seasons have seen Fylde move between [[RFU Championship|National Division One]], [[National League 1|National Division Two]] and more recently [[National League 2 North|National Division Three North]] (from which the club gained promotion during the 2010–11 season). The club ran up significant debts in trying to compete in National One from 1997 to 1999 and had to sell a small portion of the Woodlands' grounds in order to re-establish financial health. With the receipts of the sale, a period of redevelopment of various facilities at Woodlands began in January 2005. The new clubhouse opened in October 2005 and can house more than 600 people.

The club finished in sixth place in National Division Three North in the 2003–04 season, fourth in 2004–05 and seventh in 2005–06. The club's then rugby management, including coaches Stuart Connell, who used to play for Fylde and Cumbria, Martin Scott, who played for [[Orrell R.U.F.C.|Orrell]], Fylde and Scotland, as well as Alistair Atkinson who played for Orrell and [[Sedgley Park R.U.F.C.|Sedgley Park]]. They planned a promotion bid back to National Division Two. Leading scorers in the 2005–06 season included skipper and [[fly-half]] Mike Scott with 300 points, and one of the top goal kickers in national rugby, winger Nick Royle with 16 tries and flanker Andy Atkinson  with 11 tries. The Players' Player of the Season was Paul Newton who was appointed skipper for the 2006–07 season.

Like so many clubs, Fylde has struggled in the professional era to maintain a balance between a members' club, based on traditional local community values and structures, and a professional outfit able to compete for players, regionally and nationally. The club, following this era, reasserted itself as a community-oriented members' club, basically amateur, bringing together experienced players in the area, together with nurturing considerable local talent and a sprinkling of overseas players. Since this period of reorganisation the club has promoted and excelled promoting young local and regional players, along with the promotion of former mini junior players to drive the club forward providing an exciting attacking form of rugby and hence the more recent moniker of #runitfylde. 

The club fields eleven mini/junior sides, a Junior Colts squad and three other senior teams, the Hawks, the Saracens and the Vandals. In more recent seasons the club has also promoted more community rugby teams to promote rugby across all ages and abilities such as walking rugby. It further has a flourishing community rugby set up to promote, encourage and develop rugby in the surrounding community especially in the more disadvantaged areas at both junior and senior level. 

Apart from a new clubhouse completed in September 2005, the club has developed an all weather pitch, upgraded facilities and non-rugby items and activities forming a core to the local and regional community. 

Midway through the 2007–08 season the coaches Stuart Connell and Martin Scott were replaced with Mark Nelson the Lancashire coach who has previous experience of coaching at the club along with a successful spell as backs coach at [[Sale Sharks|Sale]]. Nelson recruited a number of high calibre players including England Counties' Steve Nutt, Craig Aikman and David Wilks. He has also rekindled the club's relationship with [[Sale Sharks|Sale]] which has allowed him to call on some of the Premiership club's young players whilst Sale have also given game time to Fylde's [[Nick Royle]]. 

In June 2010, it was  announced that former {{nrut|England}} manager [[Brian Ashton (rugby union)|Brian Ashton]] would be a coaching consultant for his former club.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mairs|first=Gavin|title=Brian Ashton to help coach Fylde|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/7860656/Former-England-manager-Brian-Ashton-to-help-coach-Fylde.html|publisher=The Telegraph|access-date=4 July 2010 | location=London | date=29 June 2010}}</ref> On the 26 July 2010, it was announced that former {{nrut|England}} international [[Jason Robinson (rugby)|Jason Robinson]] would be making his comeback at the club.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jason Robinson to make comeback for Fylde|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/8854680.stm|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=27 July 2010 | date=26 July 2010}}</ref>

In June 2012, Sam Beaumont stepped down from his role as the skipper of Fylde.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/18598987|title= Sam Beaumont|work= BBC Sport|access-date=2012-06-26}}</ref>

==Current standings==
{{2025–26 National League 2 North}}

==Honours==
'''1st team:'''
* [[Glengarth Sevens]] Davenport Shield winners 1976
* [[Lancashire Cup (rugby union)|Lancashire Cup]] winners (4 times): 1995, 2009, 2010, 2011
* [[National League 2 North]] champions: [[2010–11 National League 2 North|2010–11]]

'''Fylde Saracens (2nd tam):'''
*[[North Lancashire 2|North Lancs 2]] champions: 2000–01

'''Fylde Vandals (4th team):'''
*NOWIRUL Plate winners 2017

==Current squad==
''2016–17''
{{rugby squad start}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=[[Tom Burtonwood]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=[[Ben Gregory]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=[[Alex Loney]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=HK | name=[[Danny Maher (rugby union)|Danny Maher]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Simon Griffiths]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Adam Lewis (rugby union)|Adam Lewis]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Jake Pope]] [[Sale Sharks|(D/R)]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Sam Simpson (rugby union)|Sam Simpson]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Oli Trippier]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=PR | name=[[Jonny Wild]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Paul Arnold (rugby lock)|Paul Arnold]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Matt Garrod]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[Nick Gray]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=LK | name=[[George Nott]] [[Sale Sharks|(D/R)]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=NZL | pos=LK | name=[[Jack Turley]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FL | name=[[George Blackwell (rugby union)|George Blackwell]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FL | name=[[Jamie Brookes]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FL | name=[[David Fairbrother]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FL | name=[[Matt Lamprey]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FL | name=[[Evan Stewart (rugby union)|Evan Stewart]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FL | name=[[Ben Vernon]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=N8 | name=[[Mark Goodman (rugby union)|Mark Goodman]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=N8 | name=[[Andy Hughes (rugby back-row)|Andy Hughes]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=N8 | name=[[Matt Rogerson]] [[Sale Sharks|(D/R)]]}}
{{rugby squad mid}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=SH | name=[[Connor Dever]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=SH | name=[[Greg Nicholls]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FH | name=[[Jack Harrison (rugby union)|Jack Harrison]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=FH | name=[[Greg Smith (english fly-half)|Greg Smith]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=[[Scott Armstrong (rugby union)|Scott Armstrong]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=[[Sam Bedlow]] [[Sale Sharks|(D/R)]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=[[Chris Briers]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=[[Ralph Dowds]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=[[Scott Rawlings]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=CE | name=[[Connor Wilkinson (rugby union)|Connor Wilkinson]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name=[[James Bailey (rugby winger)|James Bailey]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name=[[Anthony Bingham]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name=[[Oli Brennand]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ENG | pos=WG | name=[[Jordan Dorrington]]}}
{{rugby squad player | nat=ITA | pos=FB | name='''[[Warren Spragg]]'''}}
{{rugby squad end}}

==Notable former players==

===Lions Tourists===
The following Fylde players have been selected for the [[British & Irish Lions|Lions tours]] while at the club:

[[Bill Beaumont]] ([[1977 British Lions tour to New Zealand|1977]] & [[1980 British Lions tour to South Africa|1980]]), tour captain in 

===Rugby World Cup===
The following are players which have represented their countries at the [[Rugby World Cup]] whilst playing for Fylde:
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
!Tournament
!Players selected
!{{nrut|England}} players
!Other national team players
|-
|[[1987 Rugby World Cup|1987]]
|2
|[[Steve Bainbridge]], [[Wade Dooley]]
|
|}

===Other notable former players===
*{{ru|England}} – [[Peter Altham]] – England Deaf.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cravenherald.co.uk/news/5013280.International_debut_for_deaf_rugby_player/|title=International debut for deaf rugby player|website=Craven Herald|date=18 February 2010 }}</ref>
*{{ru|England}} – [[Brian Ashton (rugby union)|Brian Ashton]] – managed England to [[2007 Rugby World Cup]] final.
*{{ru|England}} – [[Steve Bainbridge]], [[1983 British Lions tour to New Zealand]] and [[1987 Rugby World Cup]].
*{{ru|England}} – [[Jason Robinson (rugby)|Jason Robinson]] – won 51 England caps, 2001 and 2005 British Lions, won 13 Great Britain caps (RL)
*{{rl|GB}} (RL), and {{rl|England}} (RL) – [[Bill Burgess (rugby, born 1939)|William "Bill" Burgess]]
*{{ru|England}} – [[Chris Jones (rugby union)|Chris Jones]]
*{{ru|Ireland}} – [[Dylan O'Grady]]
*{{ru|Scotland}} – [[Eric Peters (rugby union)|Eric Peters]]
*{{ru|England}} – [[Malcolm Phillips]] – won 25 England caps at centre between 1958 and 1964. He was President of the RFU in 2004/5
*{{ru|Namibia}} – [[Ryan De La Harpe]] – won 9 caps for Namibia and played in the [[2011 Rugby World Cup]] in New Zealand. The first Namibian to play for the [[Barbarian F.C.]] in 2014.
*{{ru|England}} – [[Mark Preston (rugby)|Mark Preston]], England 'A' winger who subsequently played for [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] (RL)
*{{ru|England}}  – [[Nick Royle]] –  played 11 times for [[England Sevens]]
*{{ru|England}} – [[Simon Smith (rugby union)|Simon Smith]]
*{{rl|GB}} (RL) – [[David Stephenson (rugby league, born 1958)|David Stephenson]]
*{{ru|England}} – [[Tony Swift]]
*{{ru|England}} – [[Roger Uttley]] – captained and managed England
*{{ru|USA}} (RL) – [[Taylor Welch]] – represented the United States at the [[2013 Rugby League World Cup]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website}}
* [http://www.napit.co.uk/viewus/infobank/rugby/rugbyengdiv3/fylde.php Fixture list]

{{National League 2 North}}

[[Category:Lytham St Annes]]
[[Category:Rugby union teams in England]]
[[Category:Rugby clubs established in 1919]]
[[Category:Rugby union clubs in Lancashire]]
[[Category:Sport in the Borough of Fylde]]
[[Category:1919 establishments in England]]