Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C.

Darlington Mowden Park RFC

Full name	Darlington Mowden Park
Union	Rugby Football Union
Nickname(s)	Park /DMP /MOWDEN
Founded	1945
Location	Darlington, England
Ground(s)	Yiewsley Drive (Capacity: 250 person stand)
Chairman	J. Widdall
Coach(es)	P. Taylor
Captain(s)	D. Brown
League(s)	National Three North
Team kit
Official website
www.dmprfc.com

Darlington Mowden Park R.F.C are a rugby union team in the town of Darlington, County Durham. They currently play in the National Division Three North. Mowden Park's former name, Darlington Grammar School Old Boys, was changed when they moved to their current home of Yiewsley Drive in Mowden.

History

The club emerged in the post World War 2 period and was constituted in 1950.

In 1970–71 the Old Boys, with growing numbers of players and supporters, decieded to buy land and build their own clubhouse and pitches. Mowden was chosen to be the new official home of the rapidly growing Old Boys club. It was deemed appropriate, not least because the club was no longer an "Old Boys Club", to change its name to Mowden Park R.F.C.

In the '90s and '00s Mowden Park (DMPRFC) experienced great success. Mowden rapidly went through the league system until they reached National Three North (now National Two), in which they spent many years. Mowden also had several years of excellent Tetley Bitter Cup runs. The Tetley Bitter Cup, the old 'LV Cup,'included every English Rugby Union club. In 2000, whilst in the old North East 1, Mowden reached the 5th round (Quarter Finals) of the Tetley Bitter cup after beating the prestigious London club Rosslyn Park in the 4th round in front of a home crowd of around 1800+. In the Fifth round they faced premiership opponents in the form of Harlequins RFC at the Twickenham Stoop. The following years also saw further adventures in the National Cup. In 2001 Mowden once again defied league position and reached the 4th round of Cup, only to narrowly lose to Birmingham and Solihull RFC who, at the time, were in Allied- Dunbar Premiership 2. In 2002 they, once again, managed to get to the 4th round, only to narrowly lose at home to Manchester RFC, who were in the old Allied Dunbar Premiership 2. Mowden 'legends' of this era included the likes of Tuihana, Keeligan, Irwin, Mckinnon, Sinclair, Oliphant, Mitchell, Sanderson, Kent and Mattison.

Players in the upper echelons of the game to have graced Yiewlsey Drive and worn the Mowden Shirt, if but for a few games, include Toby Flood (England) and Craig Newby (both Leicester Tigers RFC), Alex Tait(Newcastle Falcons RFC),Peter Browne (Harlequins RFC), Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints RFC), Tim Visser (Edinburgh RFC + The Netherlands National Team)and Richard Arnold (Newcastle Falcons RFC). Epi Taione (Newcastle, Sale Sharks and Racing Metro) put in some 'social' appearances for the club. The club has also had mini and juniors go on to play in the Guinness Premiership- Ross Batty (Bath Rugby), Tom Catterick and Alex Gray (both Newcastle Falcons). These lads also have representated England and will hopefully go on to gain full caps.

With a planned move to a new ground, the club is hoping to further grow at the same time as the first 15 develop and hopefully return to National 2. The new clubhouse is also being designed to keep the clubs social atmosphere.

Mowden are part of the rich fabric of Rugby Union in the North East. Rugby Union is the North East's second sport, behind the round-ball code, with cricket also popular. Mowden have enjoyed many good local rivalries over the years. The club's traditional rivals are Darlington RFC. Another traditional rivalry was with Darlington Railway Athletic RUFC, however Darlington RA RUFC finished operations in the 1990s. Recently, due to league positions, Mowden have had a good rivalry with Blaydon RFC and more recently renewed old rivalries with the likes of West Hartlepool RFC and Middlesbrough RFC.

Mowden Park currently play in National Three North.

Ground

Yiewsley Drive

The first team pitch has a traditional covered stand with a capacity of around 250. There is also a small raised terracing for standing supporters.

Club colours

Home: The traditional colours are a royal blue and white hoops shirt, royal blue shorts and royal blue socks with white.

Away: Maroon shirt with white shorts and white colours.

Mens Seniors

DMPRFC currently have four senior teams and a 7s team.

The first team operate on a semi-professional basis. The Second team plays in the North Eastern 'Candy 'A' league.' The third team is a mixture of youth and veterans. The Antiquarians are the team for the older generation of rugby players and play on an Ad-Hoc basis.

During the off season Mowden enter several 7's competitions, with first and second team players normally making up the teams.

Possibly another senior team will emerge when the proposed move to West Park occurs and the number of pitches increase.

Women Seniors

Darlington Mowden Park Sharks

DMPRFC Sharks are a highly successful women's team. They currently play in the RFU Women's Premiership against clubs such as Bristol, Wasps, Saracens and Richmond. Several of the women are internationally capped such as Tamara Taylor and Katy McLean for England, and Lindsay Wheeler for Scotland. McLean was named captain of the England Elite squad on 18th Jan 2011, succeeding Catherine Spencer after she stepped down. DMP Sharks play on a Sunday and attract a good crowd due the women playing at the highest of club levels. They recently finished 3rd in the 09/10 RFUW Premiership after promotion earlier that year.

Juniors and Minis

DMPRFC provide rugby union at every level.

Boys

DMPRFC have a boys team at every level from under 7s to under 19s. Many of the boys go on to represent county and above at their respective age groups. Once junior level has finished most will move on to the Colts or one of the senior teams.

Girls

DMPRFC also provides separate junior girls teams once mini rugby has finished. The Under 18's and under 15's are very successful teams within the North. There is also the prospect of playing in the Women's Premiership with the Darlington Mowden Park Sharks.

Future developments

DMPRFC has now played on its present ground for over twenty years. However plans have been established to move to a new ground in the West Park area of Darlington which will help the club grow. There will be an increase in pitches in addition to the first team pitch having a large modern stand to better the spectator experience.

(Source: DMPRFC website)

External links

• Darlington Mowden Park RFC (Official Site)
• Local News - Club news from The Northern Echo
• DMP SHARKS women's team