- Nottingham Moderns R.F.C
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Nottingham Moderns R.F.C 
Full name Nottingham Moderns Rugby Football Club Founded 1956 Location Main Road, Wilford, Nottingham, NG11 7AA Ground(s) Ferryfields Chairman Jeff Mapp President Neil Highfield Coach(es) Nathan Smith League(s) 1st XV:Midlands 2 East (North)
2nd XV: NLD Pennant League Group 2
Team kitOfficial website www.nottinghammodernsrfc.org Nottingham Moderns R.F.C is an amateur Rugby Union team based in Wilford, a suburb of Nottingham, England. The 1st XV currently compete within the RFU English rugby union system, and as of the 2010/2011 season they compete in Midlands 2 East (North).[1] The club plays at their own Ferryfields ground on the banks of the River Trent, close to the Wilford Toll Bridge. The club has been in continuous existence since 1956, enjoying a nomadic existence before settling at their current home in 1975. In the 2010/2011 season the club was awarded a prestigious President's XV award from the RFU, recognising the links the club has formed with the local universities.[2]
Contents
Club History
Inception: the 1950s and 1960s
In 1956 a group of 15 year old school leavers from Players School and Cottesmore School had nowhere to play so they formed their own club. Nottingham Moderns RFC was formed.
The early matches were played on rented pitches around the city.
With the help of old school masters and the youth service, steady progress was made. However, financing the new club was a problem. On most occasions the players would make their way to away matches by public transport, resulting in all day adventures to various parts of the East Midlands.
A good relationship was formed with the local colleges and sports teachers, and with the Welsh Exiles. This led to a period of rapid growth that resulted in sustained fixtures with more established local sides and also games against the 2nd XV teams from the Midlands senior teams.[3]
Settling Down: The 1970s
1975 was a momentous year in the history of the club. The club finally secured a home at Wilford where they remain today. In the same year they became the first club from Nottinghamshire to win the Three Counties Cup (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & Lincolnshire). The 1st XV also reached the semi-final of the Midlands Clubs Championship.
1974/75 was probably the most successful in the clubs history, with the 1st XV, 2nd XV, and 3rd XV losing just three games each all season. The 1st XV and 2nd XV also won the respective County Cup competitions - All of this was accomplished as a nomadic club, with no fixed home, playing on rented parks pitches, and drinking in numerous local public houses to entertain their opposition.
In 1979 the clubhouse was built (extended in 1981) due in no small way to Arthur Luff, then Club President, and a former international referee.
During this successful period, the club produced a number of players who went on to represent many senior rugby clubs and representative sides. Brian Hall captained Leicester [4] as well as representing the Barbarians and The Midlands.
However, the greatest individual achievement from one of the Moderns' players of the time, did not come on the rugby pitch. In 1975, Doug Scott, a founder member of the club, stood alongside Dougal Haston on the summit of Mount Everest - the first Briton to reach the top of the world via the South-West face [3][5]
The 1980s
Further County Cup triumphs followed in the 1980s. The hard work of the players was also rewarded with the inaugural Notts., Lincs., and Derbys. Divisional League Title, together with three Nottinghamshire Shield victories, and success in the final County Cup Final.[3]
The 1990s
1991 proved to be even more successful. The 1st XV lifted the first Three Counties Cup, playing every round away from home and only conceding one try in the process. Not to be outdone, the 2nd XV went the whole season undefeated. At the same time, the club's under-14 side won the Three Counties Cup without conceding a try - a feat they repeated two years later as under-16s while winning the Rugby World Team of the Month award.
Hard work and determination from many members, most particularly David Hargreaves, resulted in increased sponsorship and finance. In 1996 the ground at Wilford was improved and the clubhouse extended. The opening ceremony was hosted by Dean Richards, the former Leicester Tigers Captain, who also brought a team of 'Old Tigers' (The Droglites) to play their first game outside of Leicestershire.
In 1996, the 1st XV won the League and Cup (The Stag & Swan Cup) double, the 2nd XV won the County Shield and the Veterans won the Skegness Trophy and Casuals Trophy.
In 1997, the 1st XV won the Cup (The Stag & Swan Cup) and reached the Three Counties Cup Final, the 2nd Xv retained the County Shield and the Veterans retained the Skegness Trophy.[3]
The 2000s
The 2007 season was the most successful recent event with the 1st XV winning both the County Cup and the Three Counties Shield.[3]
In the 2010/2011 season, the club continued to improve its position within Midlands 2 East (North), ending the season above its nearest rivals West Bridgford RFC for the third successive season.[6]
Teams At The Club
As of the 2010/2011 Season Nottingham Moderns have regularly fielded 4 senior teams:
- The 1st XV plays in the RFU league structure, currently in Midlands 2 East (North). This is the seventh tier of English rugby.[6]
- The 2nd XV currently plays in the NLD Security Plus Pennant Leagues, which is mainly a league for 2nd, 3rd and 4th XVs of clubs within Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire and Derbyshire. in the 2010/2011 season the 2nd XV played in Pennant Group 2, having been promoted from group 3 at the end of the 2009/2010 season.
- The 3rd XV (The Mighty) is the clubs' social side, playing a number of friendlies throughout the year.
- The Veterans' XV comprises players aged 35 and over, and plays friendlies every other weekend.
The club has also been developing a Junior Rugby section and currently fields teams from under 7 to under 13 level, with the aim to eventually develop a full Junior/Mini rugby section which will feed into the senior teams.
Club Organisation
The club elects a committee of its members each year. For the 2011/12 Season, the Clubs officers are as follows:[7]
- Club President: Neil highfield
- Club Chairman: Jeff Mapp
- Club Secretary: Stewart Newman
- Club treasurer: Matt Vaughan
- Chairman - Junior Section: Alistair Clark
Playing offices:
- Director of Rugby: Nathan Smith
- Club Captain: Rob Freeston
- 1st XV Captain: Austin Hayes
- 2nd XV Captain: Andy Fitton
Links With Local Universities
In the mid 2000s the club recognised that there was a need to re –establish former links with the local universities, the closest of which was Nottingham Trent University. The Club lies midway between the University's City and Clifton campuses and will be a stop for the proposed Nottingham City Transport Tramline Extension[8] which will link to two university campuses. The Club set out a marketing strategy and embarked on a two year plan which would hopefully benefit both the Club and university. This last season has seen Nottingham Trent University and Nottingham University provide the club with a talented pool of players, with the club in return allowing use of its facilities and providing access to some expert coaching to the universities.
RFU Recognition
In 2011, The club submitted for and won a prestigious RFU Presidents' XV award in the 'Student Rugby-Play On' category.[2] The clubs' blueprint for forming links with students will be used as a case study by the RFU in a report it will send out to every registered rugby club in the country.
Notable Players
- Doug Scott
: Doug's greatest achievements were in mountaineering rather than rugby, but he was a club member when he became the first British man to climb Mount Everest via the South-West face in 1975.[5]
- Brian Hall : Brian played for the club during the 1970s before going to to play for, and Captain, Leicester Tigers. He also represented the Barbarians twice in 1981.[9]
- Nick Carroll
: Evergreen Fly Half Nick has also excelled at touch rugby, representing Wales in the 2011 Touch Rugby World Cup in Scotland
References
- ^ http://www.nldrfu.co.uk/NLDClub.aspx?c=123
- ^ a b http://www.rfu.com/News/2011/March/News%20Articles/240311_PXV_winners.aspx
- ^ a b c d e http://www.nottinghammodernsrfc.org/About/Club-History
- ^ http://www.leicestertigers.com/news/12653.php
- ^ a b http://www.dougscottmountaineering.co.uk/lectures/biographical.html
- ^ a b http://clubs.rfu.com/fixtures/MatchByDivision.aspx?DivID=70002131
- ^ http://www.nottinghammodernsrfc.org/About/Committees
- ^ http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/netphase2/index.aspx?articleid=10436
- ^ http://www.barbarianfc.co.uk/player-archive/profile/585/brian-hall
External links
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