Coventry Bears

Coventry Bears

Club information
Full name	Coventry Bears Rugby League Football Club
Website	www.coventrybears.co.uk
Colours	Light and dark blue
Founded	1996
Current details
Ground(s)	Butts Park Arena
Coach(s)	Alan Robinson
Competition	Rugby League Conference Midlands Premier

Coventry Bears are a rugby league club, formed in 1998. They have a proud history pioneering rugby league in the Midlands, their major honours include winning the National League 3 title in 2004 (now called Rugby League Conference National Division) and the Rugby League Conference in 2002. They play in the Midlands Premier division of the Rugby League Conference and the Midlands Rugby League.

The club, having moved from Coundon Road to Butts Park Arena, has a new home at Old Coventrians RFC and runs two open-age sides as well as a ladies’ team and a selection of youth teams.

History

Coventry Bears were formed in 1998 by a group of University students led by Alan Robinson, Great Britain Student Rugby League captain and full Irish international. They made an approach to Keith Fairbrother, the Coventry rugby union club’s Chairman and one time rugby league player, with a plan to form a team to play from Coundon Road Stadium.

Coventry Bears were admitted into the Rugby League Conference for the 2000 season and were unbeaten by any club within their division. The Bears then won their quarter-final against Manchester before being narrowly defeated by only one point in the semi-finals at Superleague club Warrington Wolves’ Wilderspool Stadium.

Further success followed in 2001 with the Bears reaching the Grand Final at Webb Ellis Road, Rugby, only to lose out by a very narrow margin in a match against the now defunct Teesside.

This was topped when the team won the TotalRL.com Conference Grand Final in September 2002 when they beat Hemel Stags at Cheltenham.

Following on from this success the club applied for, and won, elevation to the newly-formed National League Three. This proved a trying time, but also proved that it was possible to run two sides, even though a good number of the successful 2002 side had left the club.

The Bears went from strength to strength in 2004; not only reaching the National League Three Grand Final but winning comfortably in what proved to be a memorable match.

Sadly, 2005 was equally as memorable – but for the wrong reasons. After a spell of very mixed fortunes, Coventry Bears RLFC made the difficult decision to resign from the National League to take time to rebuild and regroup. Since dropping out of the National Leagues the club has concentrated on building the club up from the bottom and 2006 saw the return of the Bears as a TotalRL Conference premiership side.

Coventry Bears first team claimed second place in their Division, despite having to play a strong South London Storm team in their cross-conference fixtures. They went on to beat Leicester Phoenix in the qualifying semi-final to set up a Midlands Grand Final with Nottingham Outlaws, which ended in defeat.

2007 was a good season for the Bears defeating old rivals Nottingham Outlaws to win the Midlands Premier and also winning the Kilkenny 9s, The Bears went on to finish as runners-up to St Albans Centurions losing 28-20 in the final of the Harry Jephson Trophy

In 2008, the Bears finished as runners up in the Midlands Premier to old rivals Nottingham - who comprehensively beat Coventry. The Bears had an up and down season

The upcoming season sees a few changes at the Bears with the departure of Ty Watson to Leicester and a return to the old school with the introduction of key player and Ireland international Alan Robinson as head coach, The Bears are looking towards the future and will again play in the Midlands Premier. The second grade will fulfil a strong fixture list by playing in the Midlands Rugby League.

In 2010, Coventry linked up with Super League side Wigan Warriors.

Key personnel

Club President: Pop mogul Pete Waterman, a former Director of Salford City Reds, has accepted the position of Club President. Coventry-born Waterman is a staunch rugby league follower and his late son was a regular supporter of the Bears.

Club Patron: Widnes Vikings Chairman Tony Chambers, also from Coventry, has accepted the position of Club Patron and lends his full support to the Bears.

Club Chairman: Ron Banks has been involved with the club from day one and with Alan Robinson the reason why the club is where it is today. Not only has he put in many hours for the Bears but is a tireless performer for rugby league in the Midlands and Nationally. In 2007 Ron was recognised for his hard work by the RFL receiving a lifetime achievement award for his volunteer work.

Notable Players (over 100 appearances for Coventry Bears RL)

• Alan Robinson, former GB student captain and full Ireland International

Former players

• Tom Shaw, Former union journeyman, has played in Australia and USA. Royal Air Force Honours.
• Scott Clendenning-Fenton, Australian half back, former Canberra Raiders, and Newtown Jets
• Alex Brown, former England Students player
• Ty Watson - former coach and key player, has recently took up the coaching reigns at hometown club Leicester Phoenix
• Troy Perkins - NL3 winning player/coach, currently head coach at Hemel Stags

Juniors

Coventry Bears' junior teams take part in the Midlands Junior League. The Bears also have four feeder clubs North Coventry Nightmares, East Coventry Eagle, South Coventry Slayers and West Coventry Wolfpack.

Club honours

• RLC Western Division: 2000
• RLC Midlands Division: 2001, 2002
• Harry Jepson Trophy: 2002
• National League 3: 2004
• RLC Midlands Premier: 2007, 2009, 2010
• Kilkenny 9s: 2007
• Midlands 9s: 2008, 2009
• Women's RLC Plate: 2010
• Women's RLC South Division: 2011

External links

• Official website
• RLC website