History
THE “RISE” AND “RISE”
OF HANFORD R.U.F.C.
Hanford rugby club was formed from the demise of the external sports at the Michelin sports club.
In 2000 the M.A.C. decided to stop all external sports in order to lease the grounds to Stoke City F.C. This move by the M.A.C. facilitated the birth of Hanford R.U.F.C. from the demise of the Michelin R.U.F.C.
Our first surrogate club was “Hanford Cricket Club” There we enjoyed bar and changing facilities, but no pitch or training ground. So initially we trained and played at Newcastle Rugby Club. This arrangement lasted for one season. After our inaugural season playing from Newcastle we strengthened our relationship with the cricketers by training at the cricket ground and renting a pitch from (believe it or not the Michelin) with the promise from the cricket club of a piece of land adjacent to the club house which could be purchased and developed into our own pitch and training ground.
When the land purchase did not materialise we made the decision to move.
On leaving the cricket club we entered into an excellent relationship with Stoke-On-Trent R.U.F.C. Where we both played and trained. After several seasons at Stoke and due mainly to the inability to recruit new players we again uprooted and moved back to the M.A.C. after being offered a pitch and the use of a building which could later be converted into changing rooms by the M.A.C. committee.
The first season back at the Michelin proved fruitful on the recruitment front. Due to the unfortunate break-up of Birches Head rugby club we were able to bolster our player base considerably. This recruitment drive has continued with limited success.
Unfortunately the return to the M.A.C. was short lived and after a great deal of negotiation and effort by our former captain Craig Goodall, the start of the 2009 / 2010 season sees Hanford under the new captaincy of Anthony Wright move to our new home at the North Staffs Sports Club, at Whisper lane. The pitch and facilities we are enjoying at Whisper Lane are second to none. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Trentham RUFC for their continual support and the use of their floodlit pitch every thursday night for training. We are now hoping the new facilities and ability to train at Trentham under the guidance of our new coach will encourage an influx of new players.
Hopefully Hanford has now put an end to their “Nomadic” lifestyle and will go from strength to strength.
B.R.Davies. Chairman
OF HANFORD R.U.F.C.
Hanford rugby club was formed from the demise of the external sports at the Michelin sports club.
In 2000 the M.A.C. decided to stop all external sports in order to lease the grounds to Stoke City F.C. This move by the M.A.C. facilitated the birth of Hanford R.U.F.C. from the demise of the Michelin R.U.F.C.
Our first surrogate club was “Hanford Cricket Club” There we enjoyed bar and changing facilities, but no pitch or training ground. So initially we trained and played at Newcastle Rugby Club. This arrangement lasted for one season. After our inaugural season playing from Newcastle we strengthened our relationship with the cricketers by training at the cricket ground and renting a pitch from (believe it or not the Michelin) with the promise from the cricket club of a piece of land adjacent to the club house which could be purchased and developed into our own pitch and training ground.
When the land purchase did not materialise we made the decision to move.
On leaving the cricket club we entered into an excellent relationship with Stoke-On-Trent R.U.F.C. Where we both played and trained. After several seasons at Stoke and due mainly to the inability to recruit new players we again uprooted and moved back to the M.A.C. after being offered a pitch and the use of a building which could later be converted into changing rooms by the M.A.C. committee.
The first season back at the Michelin proved fruitful on the recruitment front. Due to the unfortunate break-up of Birches Head rugby club we were able to bolster our player base considerably. This recruitment drive has continued with limited success.
Unfortunately the return to the M.A.C. was short lived and after a great deal of negotiation and effort by our former captain Craig Goodall, the start of the 2009 / 2010 season sees Hanford under the new captaincy of Anthony Wright move to our new home at the North Staffs Sports Club, at Whisper lane. The pitch and facilities we are enjoying at Whisper Lane are second to none. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Trentham RUFC for their continual support and the use of their floodlit pitch every thursday night for training. We are now hoping the new facilities and ability to train at Trentham under the guidance of our new coach will encourage an influx of new players.
Hopefully Hanford has now put an end to their “Nomadic” lifestyle and will go from strength to strength.
B.R.Davies. Chairman
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