The season began with the club being within a hairs breadth of folding completely and ended with the team winning the County Cup and then the Club merging with several other Hexham Clubs to help secure the long-term future of Tynedale Rugby Football Club (then called Tynedale Football Club).

TYNEDALE WIN NORTHUMBERLAND COUNTY CUP FOR THE FIRST TIME
Saturday 2nd April 1887 at Jesmond, Newcastle

The crowning achievement of the season was the winning of the Senior cup for the first time after being runners-up on two occasions.

Tynedale reached the final by virtue of a bye in the first round and a victory over Percy Park in the second round by a try and 5 minors to 3 minors. The match was played at Hexham on a snow-covered ground, and snow fell heavily during the game.

The final against Northern was played at Jesmond on April 2nd before a crowd estimated at 5,000. A special train ran, starting at Haydon Bridge, to help Tynedale supporters get to the game.

Tynedale appeared for the first time in blue and white jerseys.

Tynedale's team was:-
R. H. Robb - back;
W. Pattinson, T. Robson (capt), J. T. Dodd - threequarters;
F. H. R. Alderson, W. Farthing - half-backs ;
T. E1liot. C. W. Harrison, T Rogan, J. C. Robertson. Dr McKie. G. Bailev, J. J Mcintyre, I. Batey, J Scott - forwards.

Tynedale won a memorable close game by a drop goal, a try and three minors to a try and three minors.
Dodd dropped a goal for Tynedale in the first half, Northern responding with a try, and Eiliot scored an unconverted try in the second half.

The final whistle sparked wild scenes both at Jesmond and back at Hexham where crowds had gathered outside the Post Office to await the result.

The special train conveying the team, the trophy and hundreds of supporters arrived back at Hexham around 9pm. The Mechanics' Band and a great mass of town people welcomed the train. The band struck up 'See the Conquering Hero Comes' and a procession was formed which proceeded to The White Hart Hotel where the team had a celebration supper - the crowds remained outside till after 11pm.

Tynedale Cup-Winning side (1886-1887)

(Back Row) J C Robertson, J J McIntyre, T Elliot, C W Harrison, F H R Alderson, R H Robb, Dr McKie (Middle Row) W Pattinson, G Bailey, T R Robson(capt), T Rogan, J Scott (Front Row) Isaac Baty, J T Dodd, W Farthing

Some interesting fixtures taken from the Durham County Handbook:-

TYNEDALE CRISIS (1886)

Documented in 50th Anniversary Brochure.

The 1886-1887 ended in glory when Tynedale won the Northumberland County Cup for the first time HOWEVER after a relatively short ten year life the club almost folded at the beginning of that same season.

At a sparsely attended meeting in September, 1886, it was stated that membership had dwindled to such an extent that it was impossible to carry on the club. The Honorary Secretary was instructed to cancel all fixtures for the season.

Fortunately there was a group of enthusiasts who were determined not to let the club go down and on Thursday 21st October 1886 a further meeting was held at the White Hart in Hexham. At this meeting a number of players associated with junior clubs in the town promised their help and Club Captain Mr Tom R Robson promised to bring 8 to 10 players from the North.

The optimistic spirit which emanated from the meeting was borne out and Tynedale opened their season on October 30th 1886 when they played against a strong Hawick side on the Tyne Mills field, losing only by a single try.
A crisis had been averted.

CLUB AMALGAMATION

A general meeting of all those interested in football in the Hexham are was held in The White Hart Hotel on Thursday 26th April 1887,
The well-attended meeting agreed that it was difficult to sustain the game across the several clubs currently in the town and to secure and grow the game it would be better to amalgamate into one club.
It was agreed that a single united club should be formed and that club should be called Tynedale.
The amalgamated club would initially have 181 members and It was agreed that the annual subscription should be one shilling per member. The five amalgamated clubs were:-
Rovers (72 members)
Hexham Wanderers (35 members)
Hexham Excelsior (30 members)
The Heart of all England (24 members)
Tynedale (20 members)

Clipping from 'The Evening Chronicle' - 27 April 1887:-