Club History

HISTORY OF TYNEDALE RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB

KEY EVENTS

1876

As a result of a letter addressed to the non-existent "Captain of Hexham Rugby Club", Tynedale RFC was founded by a group of enthusiasts in Hexham Town Hall. Tynedale's first match against Elswick, who later became Northern FC, was played at Hexham on 30th December 1876. The game was won by Tynedale by a goal and two tries to nil.

1880

Tynedale and five other clubs (Northumberland FC, Borough of Tynemouth FC, Northern FC, Gosforth FC and Percy Park FC) founded the Northumberland Rugby Union.

1883

Tynedale appear in their first Northumberland Cup Final but lose to Tynemouth by two tries to nil. The first special train ever run in the North-East for a football match was from Hexham to Tynemouth for this match.

1884

The Gala and Hawick Sevens Sports are won by Tynedale.

1887

Tynedale win the Northumberland Cup for the first time when they beat Northern in front of a crowd of 5000.

1887

Three weeks after their cup success, six other local teams (Hexham Excelsior, Heart of All England, Hexham Wanderers, Tyneside Rovers, Parkhead Rangers and Hexham Violets) merged with Tynedale.

1888

Three Tynedale men play for Northumberland in their 3-3 draw against the first ever New Zealand touring side.

1890

Tynedale failed to fulfil a fixture with Percy Park and the Club Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary resigned.

1894

On Whit Monday, May 21st, on the Sele at Hexham, Tynedale hosted, and won, the first ever Sevens competition to be played in England.

1901

Tynedale First XV won only 2 of their 18 matches and the First Team is disbanded.

1902

After temporary stays at the Sele, Tyne Mills and Brewery Field, a new ground is rented by the Club at Dene Park in the East End of Hexham.

1905

Tynedale fielda side containing five sets of brothers.

1914

Tynedale beat Percy Park 9-6 to win the last Northumberland Cup Final before the First World War.

1918

Forty-nine Tynedale players, past and present, give their lives for their country in Worls War 1.

1919

The building of a new clubhouse at Dene Park, replacing the old ex-Army hut which had been used since the First World War, is celebrated by a match against a County President's XV.

1926

Tynedale's Golden Jubilee is marked by a memorable match against Waterloo which Tynedale win 12-3.

1926

Tynedale buy Dene Park for £1550.

1927

The Northumberland Cup is again lifted by Tynedale, beating Northern 5-3. This is the prelude to the great years of the 'Thirties'.

1933

The Club carry off the Northumberland Senior Cup in four successive seasons from 1933 to 1936.

1936

A Northumberland, Cumberland and Durham side, containing three Tynedale players, lose10-6 to the All Blacks at Gosforth.

1945

World War II ends with 27 Tynedale men having paid the supreme sacrifice.

1947

The Club wins the Northumberland Cup, defeating Northern 15-13 in the final.

1951

The club loses a commemorative 75th anniversary match 23-12 against a South of Scotland team containing a number of internationals.

1966

A new bar lounge is added to the Dene Park clubhouse.

1976

The Club celebrate their Centenary season.

1976

Tynedale move from Dene Park, Hexham to a 35 acre site at Tynedale Park, Corbridge, which was bought from the Tynedale Agricultural Society, costing £140,000 to acquire and develop.

1976

Tynedale play their first ever game in the National Knockout Cup (John Player Cup) at Sale, losing 15-16 in a thriller to the eventual semi-finalists.

1987

Leagues were introduced in England.

1988

Tynedale win the Northumberland Senior Cup after a gap of 40 years - beating Gosforth in the final - the last match to be played at the County Ground.
The 2nd XV and the Grasshoppwers also won their respective cups whilst the 3rdXV were beaten in the final. The Under 16's and Under 13's also won their County Cups in what was a magnificent season.

1992

The Club' s new stand was opened by Danie Serfontein, president of the RFU.

1994

The Centenary Seven's Competition is held at Tynedale - 100 years after Tynedale hosted the first sevens competition in England.

2000

Tynedale win all 22 league matches (and the Northumberland Cup) and are promoted to the National Leagues after 14 years of trying.

2000

Tynedale reach the 4th Round of the National Knockout Cup (then the Tetley Bitter Cup) for the first time but lose to the full-time professionals of Worcester.

2001

Foot and Mouth Disease devastes Northumberland and Tynedale's first season in the National Leagues ends in early February.

2004

The Club is incorporated under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 and changed its name to "Tynedale Rugby Football Club Limited"

2004

Young Tynedale prop Alistair Johnson suffers a serious spinal injury in a league match at Fylde.

2005

Tynedale's ground is under 8 feet of flood water. The social end of the clubhouse is out of action for almost 4 months and 3 portakabins are used as temporary replacement. (view photos)

2005

Tynedale's FirstXV, the Raiders, and the Grasshoppers all win their respective Northumberland Cup competitions.

2008

Tynedale win National League 3 (North) winning 24, drawing 1 and only losing 1 of their 26 matches. The second placed team finished 29 points behind Tynedale.

2010

Following re-structuring of the National Leagues Tynedale finished 5th in National League 1 and consequently are ranked the 29th top team in English Rugby.

1876	As a result of a letter addressed to the non-existent "Captain of Hexham Rugby Club", Tynedale RFC was founded by a group of enthusiasts in Hexham Town Hall. Tynedale's first match against Elswick, who later became Northern FC, was played at Hexham on 30th December 1876. The game was won by Tynedale by a goal and two tries to nil.
1880	Tynedale and five other clubs (Northumberland FC, Borough of Tynemouth FC, Northern FC, Gosforth FC and Percy Park FC) founded the Northumberland Rugby Union.
1883	Tynedale appear in their first Northumberland Cup Final but lose to Tynemouth by two tries to nil. The first special train ever run in the North-East for a football match was from Hexham to Tynemouth for this match.
1884	The Gala and Hawick Sevens Sports are won by Tynedale.
1887	Tynedale win the Northumberland Cup for the first time when they beat Northern in front of a crowd of 5000.
1887	Three weeks after their cup success, six other local teams (Hexham Excelsior, Heart of All England, Hexham Wanderers, Tyneside Rovers, Parkhead Rangers and Hexham Violets) merged with Tynedale.
1888	Three Tynedale men play for Northumberland in their 3-3 draw against the first ever New Zealand touring side.
1890	Tynedale failed to fulfil a fixture with Percy Park and the Club Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary resigned.
1894	On Whit Monday, May 21st, on the Sele at Hexham, Tynedale hosted, and won, the first ever Sevens competition to be played in England.
1901	Tynedale First XV won only 2 of their 18 matches and the First Team is disbanded.
1902	After temporary stays at the Sele, Tyne Mills and Brewery Field, a new ground is rented by the Club at Dene Park in the East End of Hexham.
1905	Tynedale fielda side containing five sets of brothers.
1914	Tynedale beat Percy Park 9-6 to win the last Northumberland Cup Final before the First World War.
1918	Forty-nine Tynedale players, past and present, give their lives for their country in Worls War 1.
1919	The building of a new clubhouse at Dene Park, replacing the old ex-Army hut which had been used since the First World War, is celebrated by a match against a County President's XV.
1926	Tynedale's Golden Jubilee is marked by a memorable match against Waterloo which Tynedale win 12-3.
1926	Tynedale buy Dene Park for £1550.
1927	The Northumberland Cup is again lifted by Tynedale, beating Northern 5-3. This is the prelude to the great years of the 'Thirties'.
1933	The Club carry off the Northumberland Senior Cup in four successive seasons from 1933 to 1936.
1936	A Northumberland, Cumberland and Durham side, containing three Tynedale players, lose10-6 to the All Blacks at Gosforth.
1945	World War II ends with 27 Tynedale men having paid the supreme sacrifice.
1947	The Club wins the Northumberland Cup, defeating Northern 15-13 in the final.
1951	The club loses a commemorative 75th anniversary match 23-12 against a South of Scotland team containing a number of internationals.
1966	A new bar lounge is added to the Dene Park clubhouse.
1976	The Club celebrate their Centenary season.
1976	Tynedale move from Dene Park, Hexham to a 35 acre site at Tynedale Park, Corbridge, which was bought from the Tynedale Agricultural Society, costing £140,000 to acquire and develop.
1976	Tynedale play their first ever game in the National Knockout Cup (John Player Cup) at Sale, losing 15-16 in a thriller to the eventual semi-finalists.
1987	Leagues were introduced in England.
1988	Tynedale win the Northumberland Senior Cup after a gap of 40 years - beating Gosforth in the final - the last match to be played at the County Ground. The 2nd XV and the Grasshoppwers also won their respective cups whilst the 3rdXV were beaten in the final. The Under 16's and Under 13's also won their County Cups in what was a magnificent season.
1992	The Club' s new stand was opened by Danie Serfontein, president of the RFU.
1994	The Centenary Seven's Competition is held at Tynedale - 100 years after Tynedale hosted the first sevens competition in England.
2000	Tynedale win all 22 league matches (and the Northumberland Cup) and are promoted to the National Leagues after 14 years of trying.
2000	Tynedale reach the 4th Round of the National Knockout Cup (then the Tetley Bitter Cup) for the first time but lose to the full-time professionals of Worcester.
2001	Foot and Mouth Disease devastes Northumberland and Tynedale's first season in the National Leagues ends in early February.
2004	The Club is incorporated under the Industrial and Provident Societies Act 1965 and changed its name to "Tynedale Rugby Football Club Limited"
2004	Young Tynedale prop Alistair Johnson suffers a serious spinal injury in a league match at Fylde.
2005	Tynedale's ground is under 8 feet of flood water. The social end of the clubhouse is out of action for almost 4 months and 3 portakabins are used as temporary replacement. (view photos)
2005	Tynedale's FirstXV, the Raiders, and the Grasshoppers all win their respective Northumberland Cup competitions.
2008	Tynedale win National League 3 (North) winning 24, drawing 1 and only losing 1 of their 26 matches. The second placed team finished 29 points behind Tynedale.
2010	Following re-structuring of the National Leagues Tynedale finished 5th in National League 1 and consequently are ranked the 29th top team in English Rugby.