18. Tynedale Fixture/Membership Booklets

We have been delving into our archives again to dig out Tynedale RFC Fixture/Membership Booklets from years gone by. (Links to scans of these booklets below)
The earliest fixture card we have in our archives is from the 1877-1878 season, the season after the club was founded. Since then the Club's fixture/membership 'booklets' have taken on a wide variety of colours and sizes.
In recent years perhaps the need for such booklets has ceased as the digital media 'takes over' but the current day's membership card looks quite pitiful when compared to it's predecessors.

Here are a few interesting points taken from past fixture/membership booklets:-

• (1877-1878) Tynedale had two fixtures against Reedwater.
• (1887-1888) Tynedale 2ndXV had two fixtures against Haltwhistle.
• (1892-1893) The Tynedale fixture list included matches against Brampton, Eden Wanderers, Brighton (definitely not the south coast version), Stargate, Tudhoe and Summerhill.
• (1893-1894) The Tynedale ground was at Bridge End, Hexham.
• (1894-1895) The Tynedale Headquarters was at the Grey Bull in Hexham.
• (1896-1897) The 1stXV had a home fixture on Easter Saturday against Douglas, Isle of Man - Tynedale winning 25-0. An Easter Tour in the nineteenth century!
• (1896-1897) The Headquarters and Dressing Rooms were at the Tynedale Restaurant, Market Place, Hexham while the ground was at the Bridge End, Hexham. Membership Subscriptions, due in September, were one shilling (5p).
• (1904-1905) The Headquarters and Dressing Rooms were at the North Eastern Hotel, Market Place Hexham (to the left of the Forum) whilst the ground was now at Dene Park (opposite Halliwell Dene).
• (1905-1906) Member Passes were available for five shillings (25p) ‘upwards’ admitting members to all matches except cup-ties.
• (1906-1907) Tynedale 1stXV opened the season with a match against Bellingham at Bellingham, Tynedale winning 6-5. Member Passes were available for seven shillings and sixpence (37.5p)(Ground and Stand) or five shillings(25p) (Ground Only)
• (1909-1910) The Tynedale 1stXV had two matches against Border Rovers, Tynedale winning both matches. Membership subscriptions increased dramatically from one shilling (5p) to two shillings and sixpence. (12.5p) – due 1st September.
• (1919-1920) The Tynedale Headquarters were at the North Eastern Hotel in the Market Place, the Dressing Rooms were at the North British Arms opposite the station, and the Ground was at Dene Park, so the club was well spread out!
• (1920-1921) The Tynedale 1stXV fixtures included an away match against Greenside (won 29-5) and a home match against Wakefield (lost). The Dressing Rooms were now at Dene Park but the headquarters were still at the North Eastern Hotel. Member Passes were now fifteen shillings (75p)(Ground and Stand), and seven shillings and sixpence(37.5p) (Ground only).
• (1923-1924) Tynedale had home Easter fixtures against Broughton Park(Manchester) and Old Whitgiftians (Croydon).
• (1924-1925) the Club’s headquarters were now at the Royal Hotel, Hexham.
• (1926-1927) Both Tynedale 2ndXV and Tynedale 3rdXV had two fixtures against West Wylam.
• (1928-1929) Tynedale 3rdXV had four fixtures against Haltwhistle whilst the Tynedale 2ndXV had two fixtures against Brampton.
• (1937-1938) 'Standard' Kick-Off Times were listed as changing six times during the season varying between 2.30, 2.45, 3.00 and 3.15! Nowadays we kick off at either 2.00 or 3.00.
• (1958-1959) Playing Jerseys were available for purchase at the "Courant" Office, price 30 shillings (£1.50) or 20 shillings (£1) for new members. Player membership was 10 shillings (50p) a year plus 2 shillings(10p) per match (1stXV), 1 shilling and sixpence(7.5p)(2ndXV) or 1 shilling (5p)(3rd and 4th XV)
• (1972-1973) The booklet contained the following two messages to the Club's members: "Members are expected to support the Committee and the Officials of the Club in all activities. They put in a lot of time and work for the Club and anything that can be done to alleviate their job will be appreciated."
"Remember out opponents are our guests for the day, so arrange to stay and entertain them."
• (1978-1979) Tynedale Grasshoppers appeared in the fixture lists for the first time. The Club were now fielding five senior sides and three U18/Colts sides.
• (1993-1994) Tynedale Hadrian appeared on the fixture lists. The Hadrians were intended to be made up of younger players and to play at a similar level to the Grasshoppers.
• Crowd trouble/behaviour was obviously a feature at rugby matches in the early 20th century with an appeal for good behaviour appearing in most fixture booklets.
• Fixture Booklets in the late 19th early 20th century included a message to their members informing them that the Committee met every Monday evening at 8 o’clock. Was that an invitation to their members or just 'for information'?

LINKS TO FIXTURE/MEMBERSHIP BOOKLETS:-