History
Birkenshaw ARLFC was formed in August 1978, playing on Sunday mornings in the West Yorkshire League. HQ was at the King’s Arms Hotel, Tong, and for the first two seasons, home games were played at Miry Lane, Hightown, where players changed in the local scout hut and washed in buckets!!!!
Efforts of club members prepared a pitch and changing facilities to the rear of the Kings Arms, including the erection of changing rooms using a disused temporary classroom. However, in 1982, the drainage to this pitch was declared below the standard for the local authority and the club was forced to leave the Kings Arms.
From 1982 to 1984, home matches were played at Birkenshaw Middle School, but again there were no changing facilities available. Thus, in the close season of 1983, a unanimous decision of both players and officials saw the club apply to join the Pennine A.R.L. feeling that Saturday play would provide a better basis for real progress.
Exactly one year later, land was acquired at Cross Lane, Birkenshaw, which the club could use rent free and with security of tenure, in return for maintaining the ground and taking the responsibility for any development costs.
During 1986, changing rooms were built with the aid of volunteers from the club and sports grant worth £5000 together with money raised from the club itself of £7500. Following the construction of the changing rooms, the ground was offered and used by local schools for rugby training and Sunday mornings for coaching sessions with junior players.
After joining the Premier league, the open age side achieved promotion in 8 out of 10 seasons and reached the Premier Division in 1992. With squad numbers increasing, a second team, 'The Warriors', were formed and won the Alliance Division 3 Championship in their first season.
In 1994/95 the open age side reached the final of the Bradford Cup for the first time in its history as well as being promoted back into the Premier Division after relegation the year before. The club then received the news that Cross Lane was to be lost after a compulsory purchase order was placed on it by Bradford Council. The club once again found itself homeless and returned back to Birkenshaw Middle School.
During 1997 the club moved from Birkenshaw Middle School and started to play at East Bierley where we continue to play.
After falling back into Division One the club again won promotion as Champions back into the Premier Division, as well as reaching the Final of both the Bradford Cup and Pennine Cup.
The club then posed a threat in the Premier Division until 2005 and season 2002/3 saw the club’s most successful to date when we gained entry into the Challenge Cup, in which we received a crackerjack draw away to Dublin Blues. Massive fundraising by members enabled us to make the trip a fantastic experience for the club.
While being relegated to Division One in 2005 the Club did win the Bradford Cup for the first time in its existence. The game at Odsal Stadium was a showpiece occasion and a fantastic reward for the countless people who’ve worked hard at the club over the years.
Efforts of club members prepared a pitch and changing facilities to the rear of the Kings Arms, including the erection of changing rooms using a disused temporary classroom. However, in 1982, the drainage to this pitch was declared below the standard for the local authority and the club was forced to leave the Kings Arms.
From 1982 to 1984, home matches were played at Birkenshaw Middle School, but again there were no changing facilities available. Thus, in the close season of 1983, a unanimous decision of both players and officials saw the club apply to join the Pennine A.R.L. feeling that Saturday play would provide a better basis for real progress.
Exactly one year later, land was acquired at Cross Lane, Birkenshaw, which the club could use rent free and with security of tenure, in return for maintaining the ground and taking the responsibility for any development costs.
During 1986, changing rooms were built with the aid of volunteers from the club and sports grant worth £5000 together with money raised from the club itself of £7500. Following the construction of the changing rooms, the ground was offered and used by local schools for rugby training and Sunday mornings for coaching sessions with junior players.
After joining the Premier league, the open age side achieved promotion in 8 out of 10 seasons and reached the Premier Division in 1992. With squad numbers increasing, a second team, 'The Warriors', were formed and won the Alliance Division 3 Championship in their first season.
In 1994/95 the open age side reached the final of the Bradford Cup for the first time in its history as well as being promoted back into the Premier Division after relegation the year before. The club then received the news that Cross Lane was to be lost after a compulsory purchase order was placed on it by Bradford Council. The club once again found itself homeless and returned back to Birkenshaw Middle School.
During 1997 the club moved from Birkenshaw Middle School and started to play at East Bierley where we continue to play.
After falling back into Division One the club again won promotion as Champions back into the Premier Division, as well as reaching the Final of both the Bradford Cup and Pennine Cup.
The club then posed a threat in the Premier Division until 2005 and season 2002/3 saw the club’s most successful to date when we gained entry into the Challenge Cup, in which we received a crackerjack draw away to Dublin Blues. Massive fundraising by members enabled us to make the trip a fantastic experience for the club.
While being relegated to Division One in 2005 the Club did win the Bradford Cup for the first time in its existence. The game at Odsal Stadium was a showpiece occasion and a fantastic reward for the countless people who’ve worked hard at the club over the years.
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