Club History
Club History from 1910
Cooke Rugby Club is the oldest Junior Rugby Club in Belfast founded 1910. Originally based at Upper Galwally until 1991 the first clubhouse was a small black wooden hut.
Cooke Rugby Football 1XVTeam
1910
H. Shipp R. McDowell J. Marshall R. Langtry J. Clow V. Forth
R. W. Reid H. Austin W.R. Ellison W. Paton (Captain)
W. Lyons H. Legate J. Lyons
J. Clow R.O. Stanley
In season 1953/4 Cooke was the first Junior Club to provide the President of the I.R.F.U. (Ulster Branch)
Since then the club has at some time won every competition it has been eligible to enter and the club and five former members have become full Irish internationals: Ronnie Craig, Jack McDowell, Jimmy Ritchie, Ernie Strathdee and Roger Young who also became a member of the British and Irish Lions
After 81 years Cooke moved to its present modern clubhouse and grounds of 36 acres at Shaws Bridge, Belfast in 1991.
Here are a few notes from years gone by. They are taken from the minutes of club meetings dating back to the first year of Cooke RFC.
1910
Cooke Rugby Football Club formed principally from the members of a young people's Bible class belonging to Cooke Centenary Presbyterian Church.
1912
Mr G Gibson then read the treasurer's report. This proved highly favourable carrying a balance of £1 (one pound) to next season - what would this equate to now ?
1913
The decision of the branch to pay 3rd class rail fares for teams travelling to fufill friendly fixtures was warmly approved. 2 XV won the Harden Cup
1920
Mr T Watson elected Treasurer of Cooke RFC having joined the club in 1912. Tom Watson became the first junior club representative to be elected President of the Ulster Branch IRFU for the season 1953/54
1922
Decided to book a 20 seater charabanc for the game against Ballymoney RFC on 4/11/1922. Ballymoney asked to arrange hotel accommodation.
1924
Annual subscription to Northern Branch of IRFU £1-15-0. 2xv on the Harden Cup.
1927
The Secretary was instructed to write to Miss Grimshaw re complaint about some players having a bath in the field, apologising for the occurence. The committee would see it did not happen again.
1935
AGM. Mr Watson said that the club started the season with a debit of 4/9d and finished the season with a debit of 0/9d, so we were better off than when we started the season.
1954
Mr Watson said that the Ulster Branch had accepted our application for the purchase of the ground at Upper Galwally, Belfast for £1200.
1958
The club was honoured by being asked to act as host to the first Canadian side to tour the British Isles.
1965
A small sum of money was received with a religious tract sent anonymously in the form of a postal order by someone who it appears had taken apples from surrounding orchards.
1968
The club obtained a drinks licence made under the Registration of Clubs Act on 5 January 1968.
1970
In recognition of the close links between Cooke Rugby Club and the Masonic Boys School in Dublin a cup named The Cooke Cup has been presented to the Masonic Boys School.
1973
1 XV won the McCrea Cup, Past PLayers Cup & Ballyclare 9-A-side Tournament.
1982
3XV won the Forster Cup.
1987
1XV won the Junior Cup for the first time in the Club history.
1996
6XV won the McCambley Cup.
2006
1XV won the Junior Cup.
Cooke Rugby Club is the oldest Junior Rugby Club in Belfast founded 1910. Originally based at Upper Galwally until 1991 the first clubhouse was a small black wooden hut.
Cooke Rugby Football 1XVTeam
1910
H. Shipp R. McDowell J. Marshall R. Langtry J. Clow V. Forth
R. W. Reid H. Austin W.R. Ellison W. Paton (Captain)
W. Lyons H. Legate J. Lyons
J. Clow R.O. Stanley
In season 1953/4 Cooke was the first Junior Club to provide the President of the I.R.F.U. (Ulster Branch)
Since then the club has at some time won every competition it has been eligible to enter and the club and five former members have become full Irish internationals: Ronnie Craig, Jack McDowell, Jimmy Ritchie, Ernie Strathdee and Roger Young who also became a member of the British and Irish Lions
After 81 years Cooke moved to its present modern clubhouse and grounds of 36 acres at Shaws Bridge, Belfast in 1991.
Here are a few notes from years gone by. They are taken from the minutes of club meetings dating back to the first year of Cooke RFC.
1910
Cooke Rugby Football Club formed principally from the members of a young people's Bible class belonging to Cooke Centenary Presbyterian Church.
1912
Mr G Gibson then read the treasurer's report. This proved highly favourable carrying a balance of £1 (one pound) to next season - what would this equate to now ?
1913
The decision of the branch to pay 3rd class rail fares for teams travelling to fufill friendly fixtures was warmly approved. 2 XV won the Harden Cup
1920
Mr T Watson elected Treasurer of Cooke RFC having joined the club in 1912. Tom Watson became the first junior club representative to be elected President of the Ulster Branch IRFU for the season 1953/54
1922
Decided to book a 20 seater charabanc for the game against Ballymoney RFC on 4/11/1922. Ballymoney asked to arrange hotel accommodation.
1924
Annual subscription to Northern Branch of IRFU £1-15-0. 2xv on the Harden Cup.
1927
The Secretary was instructed to write to Miss Grimshaw re complaint about some players having a bath in the field, apologising for the occurence. The committee would see it did not happen again.
1935
AGM. Mr Watson said that the club started the season with a debit of 4/9d and finished the season with a debit of 0/9d, so we were better off than when we started the season.
1954
Mr Watson said that the Ulster Branch had accepted our application for the purchase of the ground at Upper Galwally, Belfast for £1200.
1958
The club was honoured by being asked to act as host to the first Canadian side to tour the British Isles.
1965
A small sum of money was received with a religious tract sent anonymously in the form of a postal order by someone who it appears had taken apples from surrounding orchards.
1968
The club obtained a drinks licence made under the Registration of Clubs Act on 5 January 1968.
1970
In recognition of the close links between Cooke Rugby Club and the Masonic Boys School in Dublin a cup named The Cooke Cup has been presented to the Masonic Boys School.
1973
1 XV won the McCrea Cup, Past PLayers Cup & Ballyclare 9-A-side Tournament.
1982
3XV won the Forster Cup.
1987
1XV won the Junior Cup for the first time in the Club history.
1996
6XV won the McCambley Cup.
2006
1XV won the Junior Cup.
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