Copyright 2006 Lewes Rugby Club. All Rights Reserved.
LEWES RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
Our History
1930 -1937
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Club founded and played at Mountfield Road, until Mr. Albert Turner presented land to the Borough of Lewes in 1937, in memory of his brother Stanley. This consisted of over 40 acres most of it on the South side of the Cockshut stream. and the then Lewes Borough Council agreed to 'maintain and improve the ..area for 'public recreation'.
About 12 acres were initially developed, and a wooden grandstand ..and changing rooms built - they still stand and are used as changing rooms. The remaining 28 ..acres or so were let by the Council as grazing land to a local farmer - and remain so to this day nearly 70 years later - ..unimproved and un-maintained - so much for 'public recreation'.
The famous England 'flying winger' Prince Obolensky' once played here for the 'Oxford Greyhounds' - a photograph is held in ..the Clubroom, and in 1978, Lewes RFC played Gloucester RFC, led by England Captain John Orwin,in the last 32 of the RFU Senior KO. Cup losing by 24 points to 10
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1939-1945
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Later our President, Richard Rees, then aged 17, helped keep the Club going by arranging games irregularly, with local Servicemen appearing.
Thirteen Club members gave their lives on Active Service during world war II, and are commemorated in the Clubhouse.
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1946-1964
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Two teams were fielded, playing mostly against Sussex Clubs, usually arriving by public transport.. Players were notified by a Card, posted on Sunday, arriving Monday. Players signed the tear-off slip and posted it back, to arrive at the Team Secretary by Wednesday morning! The Club expanded to four senior sides in the early 1960's. A Bar was created in the original 'pagoda' building. 'Lewes Sports Club' was formed with Lewes Priory Cricket Club, and non-resident members, Lewes Hockey Club, and Lewes St. Michaels Cricket Club, to hold the Drinks licence.
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1965-1970
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First tour to Blois (France), the twin town of Lewes. These exchanges continued for over 25 years.. .
At the 1968 AGM, a group of Players dissatisfied with the way things were going, voted the whole Committee off and replaced them with younger members. Two of those 'younger members', Terry Powell and Peter Sealey, remain on the Committee today. Appointment of first Club Coach (Doug Hallums, later followed by Terry Powell) in Sussex and regular floodlit training was reflected in improvement in playing strength. A sixth Senior side fielded occasionally.
Richard Rees was elected President in 1970 - an office he held until 2005.
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1971-1975
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Three pitches in use. First Grandstand in Sussex erected. Lewes RFC was beginning to draw ahead of other Sussex sides, it was difficult to obtain fixtures against the stronger London and Kent sides. To further competition, Lewes R.F.C.presented Sussex RFU with the County Knockout. Trophy in 1970. and instituted an unofficial Merit Table (against the RFU's wishes) ..Five senior and a Colts sides fielded regularly. Competition victories lead to better fixtures. In 1972 the 1st XV score 1000 points and the Club becomes the strongest in Sussex, with all sides winning regularly.
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1976-1981
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..Disaster strikes ! As the Club enters its most successful era, the 1976 drought caused cracks up to 3 feet deep and completely destroyed all 3 pitches. For three years games were played at Priory School, Pop Carr's 'Cowpatch' and on the cricket outfield. Brighton FC (RFU) hosted our Cup matches and could not have been more helpful. Financial crisis as inflation increased playing, travelling and equipment costs, and bar takings drop as most games are played away. First XV unbeaten in Sussex for three years, win County K.O. Trophy for the 7th time. Colts win Sussex Shield K.O. Competition which Lewes R.F.C. present to Sussex R.F.U. Lewes District Council re-lay pitches with 3 feet of chalk from the new Lewes by-pass and partners the Rugby and Cricket Clubs in building a new Clubhouse. Tours made to France and Holland and teams from France, Holland, U.S.A., Portugal and Czechoslovakia are entertained. The Club fields six senior sides, and the Junior section, with Colts, Under 16 and Under 14 teams and Mini rugby is started. Our 50th anniversary celebrated with a dinner in the Town Hall attended by many former members. Jason Butler and Alun Edwards gain England Schools caps.
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1982-1991
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Development of Junior rugby, with Under 14's and 16's teams, Sussex K.O. Cup won for the ..eleventh time. Club reaches later rounds of the RFU Senior KO Cup on 3 occasions, with honourable defeats by St. Ives 10 - 3, Metropolitan Police and Gloucester 24 - 10, With the start of Leagues in 1987, out of the 340 teams in London division, taking part, Lewes, the strongest Sussex Club, are placed in London Division One - (11 clubs) They retain this place for 6 Seasons. The covered stand, still the only one in Sussex. destroyed in the 1987 hurricane but improved and re-built the following season, in memory of Doreen late wife of President Dick Rees and Mark, son of Graham and Carole Thompson.
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1991-1995
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Playing standards (and 'shamateurism') increase.
Lewes are relegated from London Division One to London Division Three, South East.
Twenty-fifth anniversary tour to Blois, and Blois return to Lewes.
Juniors and Minis increasing in strength.
Under 14's and Under 16's flourish. Colts side re-established. Club reaches third round of RFU Senior Cup. Lewes win the most recent of their 12 County KO Cup competitions in 1995,- still more many as any other Sussex Club.
Lewes set up an exchange with a New Zealand club and provide £1500 to send a young Lewes player out for experience. This experiment fails after several years, when returned Lewes player David Cook,shows his loyalty by joining rivals Haywards Heath !
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1996-1998
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Club embarks on major re-development and re-structuring exercise and wins London League Division Three South East and promotion to London Two South, beating Haywards Heath in the final match.. Sussex Cup finalists 1997 and 1998 and position in London 2 consolidated. Fifth team no longer fielded. Professionalism causes players to move clubs more frequently.
First XV lose 6 players to Brighton (4 of whom return by mid-season).
Womens XV founded.
Negotiations, which are to last over 7 years, start with Lewes District Council and the Charity Commissioners to take a lease on the Stanley Turner Ground and to build a new Clubhouse
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1999-2003
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With a national general decline in the number of players, the Fourth team also folds. Twickenham begins to recognise that Junior clubs need support, but they appear to come second to the professional game. Relegation to London Division Three South-East as the third team relegated with yet another League re-structuring. We launch a club web-site -
www.lewesrfc.org.uk, which quickly becomes a major source of news and communication.
The Junior section goes from strength to strength - Colts win the County K.O. Cup in 2001, with one player reaching the England Under 18 squad.
Two girls reach the England Under 16 squad. In 2002, Ellen Small gains her Under 18 England Cap, and in 2003 both Ellen and Libby Fox represent England.
Chris Brant is named Player of the year, and Tim Bedeau clubman of the year. With the aid of a magnificent donation from a Junior VP, and a grant from the RFU, our old Training lights are replaced, giving vastly improved facilities.
Our youth policy pays off when, with a side containing many ex-Juniors, Lewes win promotion to London Division 2 South, and reach the Sussex Cup Final, losing narrowly to Worthing.
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2004-2006
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We celebrate our 75th season, with success for all teams - none more so than the Womens' XV who become County Champions and the first XV who establish themselves back in London 2 South and again reach the Trophy Final.
Funding for Phase 2 of our development plan - to re-drain Pitches 2 and 3, and extend Training lights to cover Pitch 2, is successfully negotiated and the work will be done before September 2005.
Our greatly respected President for the last 35 year - Dick Rees retires and the club hosts a 'Tribute' dinner attended by 70 members - including 6 from the 1949 First XV which he Captained.
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CLUB PRESIDENTS 1930 to Date
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1931-1936
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Captain John Loder MP
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1936-1946
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Sir John Boughey Bart.
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1946-1949
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Dr. J.W. McK. Nichol MD
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1949-1951
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N.R.J. Bradshaw M.A.
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1951-1955
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W.R.S. Johnson Esq.
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1955-1962
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E.C. Rundle Esq.
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1962-1970
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E. J. Colley Esq.
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1970-2005
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R.B. Rees MRCVS Esq.
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2005 - Present
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Graham P. Thompson FCA Esq.
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CLUB CHAIRMEN 1930 to Date
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1931-1935
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Dr.J.W.McK. Nichol
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1979-1982
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J.M. Bell
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1935-1937
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N.R.J.Bradshaw
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1982-1983
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M.J. Norgrove
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1947-1951
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W.R.S. Johnson
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1983-1988
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R.J. Cork
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1951-1955
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E.C. Rundle
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1988-1992
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G.P. Thompson
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1955-1962
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E.J. Colley
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1992-1994
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N.G. Davies
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1962-1967
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L.A. Turner
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1994-2004
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T.E. Powell
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1967-1968
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G.L. Baird
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2004- Present
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S. Rhodes
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1968-1970
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M.J. Norgrove
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1970-1973
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D.A.W. Wheeler
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1973-1976
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D.J. Sampson
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1976-1979
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P.J.A. Sealey
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CLUB CAPTAINS 1930 to Date
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1931-1932
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A.D. Robinson
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1972-1974
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D. Attwood
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1932-1933
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G. Kent
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1974-1975
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J. Edwards
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1933-1934
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H.R.G. Clements
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1975-1976
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R. Mainstone
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1934-1938
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G. Kent
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1976-1977
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R. Allder
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1938-1940
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H.R.G. Clements
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1977-1980
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D. Randall
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1946-1948
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E.J. Colley
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1981-1982
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R. Wilcox
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1948-1951
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R.B. Rees
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1982-1983
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A. M. Burgan
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1951-1953
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P. Redman
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1983-1984
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R. Pearson
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1953-1954
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J.P. Dewdney
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1984-1985
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R. Pearson,
D. J. Whiting
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1954-1955
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J. Hibbett
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1985-1986
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D. J. Whiting
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1955-1958
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S.J.F. Spence
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1986-1988
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N. J. Hanson
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1958-1960
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I. Currie
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1988-1989
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P.A. Taylor
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1960-1962
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M.G. Siggs
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1989-1992
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R. H. Jackson
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1962-1963
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M.J.W. Thatcher
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1992-1994
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P.A.R. Amerio
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1963-1965
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N. C. McWalter
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1994-2000
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G.J. Denslow
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1965-1967
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J. A. Becvar
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2000-2006
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D. Hemsley
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1967-1968
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D. A. Smith
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2006 to Present
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C. Brant
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1968-1969
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R.R. Cox
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1969-1970
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R. Pearson,
J. Edwards
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1970-1972
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J. Edwards
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Our record in the Sussex Knock-out Trophy
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Winners
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Runners Up
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1971
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1973
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1974
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1980
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1975
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1982
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1977
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1983
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1978
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1989
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1979
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1993
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1981
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1994
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1985
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1997
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1987
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1998
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1990
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2004
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The Sussex Knock-out Trophy
Presented to Sussex Rugby Union
in 1971, by Vice-Presidents of Lewes RFC
Lewes have appeared in 22 out of the 33
Finals since 1971
- winning 12, more than any other club
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1991
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2005
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1995
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LEWES RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
"Serving the sporting community in Lewes for over 75 years"