Redcar Rugby Union Football Club

History

The first mention of the club is to be found in a letter to the Evening Gazette dated 23 November 1920 when Mr H.L.De Roper, who was staying at the Coatham Hotel, wrote to the editor suggesting that it was time that the town of Redcar had its own rugby club. "I am only a temporary resident at Redcar, so cannot take the initiative myself, but I am sure a XV could be raised in the town if someone would take the matter in hand. Perhaps, sir, you would help by publishing this letter, and a meeting of anyone interested could be arranged, but as I am leaving the town this week for some time I cannot take the lead myself."

On 19 November 1921 Redcar played West Hartlepool who had beaten Middlesbrough the previous week by 26-8. The Redcar team was full back Johnson three quarters Ridley, Stephenson, Thomas, groves, halves, Macalden, T Callum captain, forwards Edwards, G.Callum, Tomlinson, Irwin, Stevenson, Anderton, Robson and Fletcher. It is a shame to record that the Redcar side lost by 9pts to 3 despite excellent defence throughout.

On 3 December later that year whilst playing against South Bank at the racecourse it was noted that after scoring their opening try Redcar had 16 players on the field and one was asked to leave. Was this the first example of gamesmanship? There were no subs in those days either so where did he come from? Redcar won the game by 18pts to 9.

The name of Mackinlay has been known in rugby circles for many years. Dr. J.E.H. Mackinlay took over The Green House from Colonel Locke in about 1876 and although he did not play rugby in the north, he played three quarter for St George's hospital and the united London hospitals. He went on to play for England as a forward in 1872,73 and 75 and appears on a photo of the England team dated 3 March 1873.

Dr W.H.Mackinlay (after whom Mackinlay park was named) who, because he attended Coatham grammar school never actually played rugby was extremely keen and in 1920 took the first opportunity of helping promote the Redcar rugby club, as we now know it. He became the first president, and J.Lambert (Pinkie) Spence the first chairman.

Like many of the original rugby administrators in this area Pinkie was a Tynesider, and as the Callum's were both at school at Sedbergh their plain chocolate was adopted as the original club colours.

Dr Mackinlay continued as a most regular supporter throughout the 1920s and 1930s and gained great pleasure from two sources. Coatham School changing to rugby and the extremely good side of the late 1930s. He died just after the start of the Second World War and the club closed down for the war years.

The dynasty continued however with Dr Ian Mackinlay who played his first game for the club at Easter 1923 on his return from Durham school. He along with Norman Knudsen (as captain and secretary), Charlie Powell (as rest of the committee) started things up again after the war. Their fund raising activities were based almost exclusively upon the clients of the Royal Standard Hotel. The following year Ken Forster and most of the old crowd returned and the club re constituted. Ian Mackinlay was president and Ken Forster as chairman, a post he was to hold for over 20 years before leaving the area on business.

The next member of the family to become involved was Nick Mackinlay who was captain of the 1st XV in 1973/74/75. . Nick, probably the best scrum half the club has ever seen and a Yorkshire trialist, was a regular member of the side for many years during the late 1960s and 1970s before moving on to play an important part in the rapid promotion of Stirling County, finishing his playing career at Ilkley.

The club on its restart in 1947 had little funds and few players. John Pargeter recalls attending a meeting in the Royal Standard Hotel with the president Dr Ian in the chair; Ken Forster; Norman Knudsen who had been the 1939 skipper; Charlie Powell (who had his hands on the little brass that existed at the time) and a handful of stragglers who had returned from the services.

The ground at the racecourse was still there with its ups and downs, and the little stand, which never had a roof, was also still there. So was the stable where the players changed. The luxury of the wooden clubhouse, so often broken into, was yet to come. But what a tremendous asset that was to be. In it was built the new spirit of rugby in the town, and from it developed the truly magnificent home that the club enjoys today.

Prior to the war it had been the practice that the players were allowed to change in the jockeys weighing room. The club was evicted from that accommodation because the scales used to weigh the 7 stone jockeys were unsurprisingly damaged by the 16 stone rugby forwards checking on the weight of this week's pack. The new accommodation consisted of two loose boxes the floors being covered in straw. A bath of sorts was constructed and filled from the copper boiler. Once everyone was changed, the ladies would provide tea amongst the now somewhat soggy straw, on trestle tables.

The committee were approached by Bill Stainsby who had a small engineering business at South Bank. He offered for sale two former R.A.F. wooden huts and would erect them on the racecourse. Permission was granted and the new home arrived. Doug Smailes a talented young bricklayer was given the job of building a fireplace which when completed became the focal point of the clubhouse. A brewery was approached and it was decided to take a loan from Sam Smiths, who can ever forget Taddy's Ales! In gratitude to the racecourse it was agreed that as the new clubhouse would only be used during the winter, beds would be brought in during the summer for the stable boys and jockeys. Never ones to miss a trick and with due democracy the players wives were volunteered to run the hostel with all moneys going into the rugby clubs funds.

The earthy charms of the racecourse with a clubhouse that was prone to flood at the slightest hint of rain were obvious. It was decided however that in order to cope with the larger number of players it would be necessary to make the move from Thrush Road. There was no doubt that many would miss the small friendly atmosphere of their club overshadowed by gasometers, that at one stage were a challenge to the young fit slightly tipsy rugby player. It may be difficult to remember but that generation were young once and it had been a challenge many had taken up. The competition was to run from the clubhouse across Thrush Road, scale the 12 ft high wall and then run up to the top of the gas tanks, touch the top and return to the club, last one buys the drinks.

Still progress had to be made and despite a few dissenters who wondered if we could afford this new ground the decision was taken.

The new ground was to be at Green Lane on farmland owned by Lord Zetland, the contacts that we had made through Dr. Ian Mackinlay and others gave us this opportunity to grow. Willie Wardman farmed the land, Willie remained a member and good friend to many at the club until his death. In 1959 the land was bought and prepared, in 1961 the first games were played at green lane however for the next two years the old club continued to be used for both changing and the entertainment of our guests. Finally in 1963 we moved into the new clubhouse celebrated with a game against a Durham Presidents XV and the ground was formally named Mackinlay Park.

The club itself consisted of the main bar area, the small lounge and two changing rooms and a single bath. The playing field area was the portion of the field to the north of the old ditch line where two pitches could be accommodated. This was luxury. Much of the money needed to fund this move was obtained from our brewers Samuel Smiths. They were always very fair in their dealings with us but their product wasn't universally popular and we then moved onto Scottish and Newcastle.

Some ten years later a small nucleus of players decided that it was time that squash courts were built. After much heart searching it was decided to build two courts and to extend the changing rooms. The project was completed and to celebrate the official opening of this facility Jonah Barrington was invited to open the courts. He was unable to attend and so on Sunday 22 September 1974 at 2.15pm the courts were opened by Mr. John Pargeter. Following the ceremony a rugby match between the Redcar 1st XV and a North Yorkshire side took place. The team of Bernard, Whitehill, Homan, Vickers, Dewar, Wood, Mackinlay, Coulson, Wright, Coyne, Shaw, Pacey, Kerruish, Hartley and Barnacal were defeated by 19pts to 4.

It was the start of a new section and those who worked so hard to see squash come to Redcar will have been delighted by its continued success and the improvements made over the intervening years.

Further developments have taken place over the years with the adding of first the television lounge, then the pool room and kitchen. The biggest and most prestigious of them all being the work that was completed in 1994 costing some £220,000. The club had reached a hiatus, it was becoming drab and despite a new lick of paint from time to time our members were using the club less and less. Hugh MCafferty worked ceaselessly to raise the funding to support what was to be a major re-development.

With grant aid obtained from the foundation for sports and the arts of some £100k it was left to the management committee to raise the remaining capital needed to fund the project. It is history now but after much debate and some heated discussions the decision was taken to go ahead. Due to a great deal of hard work the club was able to open throughout the project and many of us will remember drinking under candle light surrounded on all sides by rubble. All for the good of the club of course.

The addition of the new gymnasium, changing rooms, disabled toilet, medical room and the total refurbishment of the remainder of the club is proving to be a huge success. All credit must go to those with the vision, determination and professional expertise who ensured the project was completed.

The rugby tour has always been a highlight for all of those concerned whether it is a 1st XV, Mariners, Pirates, 4th team, Colts, Mini's or those forever young in the Ancient Mariners. Who can ever forget Grange Over Sands booked into a hotel with no liquor licence or the horrific sight of Jim Thompson's broken leg on the same trip. The international trips to the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Barnard Castle to name but a few. Some would like to forget the 12 lost hours in Fishguard and perhaps rightly so. There are many tales to be told and stories to remember and many secrets known to a chosen few.

It is a tradition, nay a duty, to maintain the secrecy of such matters for it is the unwritten understanding of all who make these journeys that ghosts will not come back to haunt them. The tour bus becomes both the confessional and a place of sanctuary away from the reality of daily life. It is therefore right and proper that the curtain covering those memories remains firmly drawn.

There have many very good players who have been proud to wear the Redcar shirt but few have risen to representative level. We have had our successes particularly with the colts where a number have gone on to play for Yorkshire. Rob Bryce is our only true rugby union international at colt level having played for England in 1989. Paul Wood who you will remember as a very talented fly half did play for England but as a schoolboy when at Sir William Turners.

The only full international and England player who was a member of this club was Ged Dunn. Ged joined Redcar from school and formed a formidable centre partnership with Ron Fletcher. He was a naturally gifted player with an exhilarating burst of speed and when necessary a tenacious tackler. In 1970 he was playing for Redcar at the Bridlington 7's tournament when Hull Kingston rovers spotted him. They followed up their interest and Ged signed a rugby league contract in August 1971 for a four-figure sum. As he says it was a lot of money for a young student teacher worrying how to scrape enough money together for a holiday in St Tropez. He went on to play first for Yorkshire and then England touring to Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea. Ged played 284 games for Hull K.R. and scored 160 tries.

In those days there was strict division between the two codes and when he returned home to Redcar in the early days the R.F.U. Laws banned him from the clubhouse. He used to sit in the changing rooms where he had been smuggled, to drink a pint and share his experiences with his former team mates.

Colts rugby at Redcar has always been strong with dedicated coaches helping to produce the talent of the future. The Stan Cleary memorial board lists all those who have achieved representative honours at colts level.