Club History 1 of 6

1. Our Beginning


Our Beginning

Mansfield RFC was formed on St. George’s Day 23rd April 1956 and made its base at the King George V Playing Fields at Black Scotch Lane, socialising afterwards at various venues over the years. Like all Rugby Clubs, from the outset we have always dreamed of owning our own ground and facilities. After several disappointments, we were offered 9 acres of derelict land off Eakring Road. This was finally purchased in 1977. Whilst never used as a tip, several heaps of sand and soil had been dumped on the land. With a fall of 10metres, drastic grading was necessary. A Euclid was hired in September 1977 and an area of sufficient size for two pitches and the Clubhouse were graded. About 30,000 tons of sand were moved involving a cut of up to 3 meters and a fill of up to 4 meters. These two pitches were seeded in April 1978, and were to come into use in September 1980. Our inaugural game was against Mellish RFC (which we won 15-3).
A floor slab 190’ x 38’ for the Clubhouse, changing rooms, and squash courts was laid in June 1978 into which nearly 400 tons of concrete was poured. A Vic Hallam sectional building was purchased in May 1976 and stored at Hucknall then moved to the site and erected by Club Members in July 1978. This building forms the shell of the Clubhouse and has been quite drastically modified with the front brick-faced. The changing rooms were then built and a steel roof fitted. Water and electricity were laid on, and the interior was soon finished. In October 1979 Max Boyce officially opened the clubhouse and planted the first of a thousand trees, supplied by Mansfield Civic Society. The trees were planted during the winter by children from the Manor School, Mansfield Woodhouse.
Since then the club has gone from strength to strength both on and off the pitch. A sports hall and gym were added in 1995 being officially opened by Dean Richards. Since the year 2000, a floodlit 3G Rubber Crumb training pitch has been installed together with floodlighting for all three main pitches and new Tarmac car park. An extension was also made to the North end of the clubhouse creating a new entrance, toilets, shop and larger meeting room. On the field the First XV have seen many good days wining league promotion and NLD Cup wins as well as being the most successful club in the history of the Notts County Cup competition winning it 19 times to date. This is supported by an ever growing youth section that has teams from Under 7 to Under 18 as well as girls rugby. The club is also an O2 Touchbase centre providing twice weekly touch rugby sessions for all. As a family club everyone is welcome and the bar is open every day of the week. Come and watch some rugby and enjoy a beer with us afterwards!


The Development and Progress of Mansfield R.U.F.C

1956 - The foundation of the club
1967 - The addition of a Youth section and formation of a Colts side
1972 - Crown Farm and Pit Tip purchased to provide a 40 acre home for M.R.U.F.C
1978 - On the field the first two county cup triumphs for the club
1980 - The playing strength of the club demonstrated with the addition of Third and Fourth teams
1981 - M.R.U.F.C. install third pitch to mated the demand for both senior and Junior section fixtures
1984 - Floodlights installed on the third pitch
1987 - Mansfield elected to the inaugural Courage Leagues in Midlands Division 1
1988 - Playing side extended to 6 Senior and 3 Youth sides
1989 - The club win the Three Counties cup to qualify for the Pilkington Cup
1990 - Youth section extended to six age related teams
1994 - The Sports Hall and Gym are officially opened by Dean Richards
1996 - North Notts Ladies R.U.F.C. founded based at Eakring Rd.
1997 - Club home to 19 sides covering both sexes and from minis to veterans
1998 - Club retain Midlands League Division 1 status for the twelfth successive season, Club 1st.XV. invited to play in the 1998/9 Tetley Bitter Cup, English sports Council named M.R.U.F.C. the East midlands Volunteer Programme Club of the Year
2001 - County Cup Winners. Three Counties Cup Winners.
2002 - County Cup Winners, 5th placed Mids 2 East.
2003 - 1sts County Cup Winners, 3rd placed Mids 2 East. 2nds Security Plus Group 1 and Ron Rossin Shield winners, 3rds Notts. RFU Pennant Group A winners.

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50 Years of MRUFC

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