History
Club History
There is evidence that iron production was going on in north Northamptonshire during the Roman era, based on the local low grade iron ore and fuel supplies in the form of charcoal from Rockingham Forest, which covered much of this area. In the 19th century, several small iron making works were set up in the locality and during the economically depressed years of the early 1930's the tube & steel making company, Stewarts and Lloyds Ltd, opened a large new works based on modern processes at Corby, to make steel and steel tube from the local iron ore. The creation of such a large complex (one of the biggest in Europe) requiring many thousands of workers in what was essentially an agricultural area meant that many of the workers were recruited from outside the region. As part of the company strategy, a number of old works were closed in Scotland, Wales and the English Midlands and the workers were encouraged to 'migrate' to Corby. Stewarts and Lloyds built a housing estate to accommodate these workers and their families, and provided recreational facilities at the 'Welfare' in Occupation Road. Sports 'sections' were set up under the umbrella of Stewarts & Lloyds and many, like ourselves, still retain the name to this day.
Corby Rugby Football Club (later to be known as Stewarts & Lloyds) was officially formed in 1936, after the first match against Kettering in October 1935, and because Rugby was well established in Northamptonshire and the surrounding counties, little difficulty was found in arranging fixtures, though there was resistance shown by some to playing a 'works' side. The main organisers in the early days and right into the 60's were two Welshmen and a Scot - Bert Green, Windsor Genner and Arthur Cooper - 'The Three Wise Men'.
During the Second World War the club was, unlike many others, able to keep playing because many of the members were engaged in vital war work and were not subject to 'call-up' into the armed forces. Most of the games were against forces sides and it is estimated that during the period some 16,000 servicemen played with or against the Club. (Servicemen were given selection priority over regular members).
In the 50's the club was considered to have the finest 7-a-side team in the Midlands and in the 1951/52 season the 1st XV captained by Arthur Savage finished with an unbeaten record P 30 W 25 D 5 L 0. Other team members included Bob Morrison (who went on to play for Northampton) and Tim Phillips - Bob is still active in the club 50 years later! Sadly Tim passed away in June 2002 and will be sorely missed. Also, during the decade, Vic Leadbetter played for the club, before going on to play for Northampton, Cambridge University and England (twice).
In the 60's, a team won the Langholm Junior Sevens - a prestigious Scottish Borders competition, and the club undertook its first foreign tour (1965), a visit to Le Creusot which was a fellow steel making town in France. We also began to play annual games against the other Stewarts and Lloyds teams at S&L's Newport and Clydesdale works. The clubhouse was built in 1965, prior to this players had changed in the cellars of the 'Welfare'.
The 70's saw the founding of the Junior Section in 72/73 and this was a major factor in the build up of the senior playing strength from two to four senior XVs, and formation of a Colts XV. The 1st XV were winners in succeeding seasons of the East Northants Cup and the Peterborough & District Cup.
In the 80's we were given financial independence from our then landlords, the British Steel Corporation, and a long lease for the clubhouse and 1st XV pitch was signed. In 83/84, floodlights were installed, largely through the efforts of the members. On the playing side, the 'highlight' was perhaps when we hosted the East Midlands Final in 1984/85, cruelly losing out to Peterborough to an injury time penalty goal converted from the touch line! On a happier note, we celebrated our Golden Jubilee in the following year with, among other events, a memorable visit from Devonport Services and the inauguration of our Floodlit 2nd XV Knockout Cup competition.
In 1991 we signed a 99 year lease for the clubhouse and 3 pitches, thus securing our future at Occupation Road. The 1st XV continued to maintain its position in the League structure, and in the 1998/99 season the Colts were East Midlands runners-up with 5 of the team going on to play for the 1st XV.
The new millennium has started well - we have twice been runners-up in our league, our best position for several years, narrowly losing to Ilkeston in the promotion playoff in 2000 - 2001 and again in the 2001 - 2002 season to Nottingham Moderns.
There is evidence that iron production was going on in north Northamptonshire during the Roman era, based on the local low grade iron ore and fuel supplies in the form of charcoal from Rockingham Forest, which covered much of this area. In the 19th century, several small iron making works were set up in the locality and during the economically depressed years of the early 1930's the tube & steel making company, Stewarts and Lloyds Ltd, opened a large new works based on modern processes at Corby, to make steel and steel tube from the local iron ore. The creation of such a large complex (one of the biggest in Europe) requiring many thousands of workers in what was essentially an agricultural area meant that many of the workers were recruited from outside the region. As part of the company strategy, a number of old works were closed in Scotland, Wales and the English Midlands and the workers were encouraged to 'migrate' to Corby. Stewarts and Lloyds built a housing estate to accommodate these workers and their families, and provided recreational facilities at the 'Welfare' in Occupation Road. Sports 'sections' were set up under the umbrella of Stewarts & Lloyds and many, like ourselves, still retain the name to this day.
Corby Rugby Football Club (later to be known as Stewarts & Lloyds) was officially formed in 1936, after the first match against Kettering in October 1935, and because Rugby was well established in Northamptonshire and the surrounding counties, little difficulty was found in arranging fixtures, though there was resistance shown by some to playing a 'works' side. The main organisers in the early days and right into the 60's were two Welshmen and a Scot - Bert Green, Windsor Genner and Arthur Cooper - 'The Three Wise Men'.
During the Second World War the club was, unlike many others, able to keep playing because many of the members were engaged in vital war work and were not subject to 'call-up' into the armed forces. Most of the games were against forces sides and it is estimated that during the period some 16,000 servicemen played with or against the Club. (Servicemen were given selection priority over regular members).
In the 50's the club was considered to have the finest 7-a-side team in the Midlands and in the 1951/52 season the 1st XV captained by Arthur Savage finished with an unbeaten record P 30 W 25 D 5 L 0. Other team members included Bob Morrison (who went on to play for Northampton) and Tim Phillips - Bob is still active in the club 50 years later! Sadly Tim passed away in June 2002 and will be sorely missed. Also, during the decade, Vic Leadbetter played for the club, before going on to play for Northampton, Cambridge University and England (twice).
In the 60's, a team won the Langholm Junior Sevens - a prestigious Scottish Borders competition, and the club undertook its first foreign tour (1965), a visit to Le Creusot which was a fellow steel making town in France. We also began to play annual games against the other Stewarts and Lloyds teams at S&L's Newport and Clydesdale works. The clubhouse was built in 1965, prior to this players had changed in the cellars of the 'Welfare'.
The 70's saw the founding of the Junior Section in 72/73 and this was a major factor in the build up of the senior playing strength from two to four senior XVs, and formation of a Colts XV. The 1st XV were winners in succeeding seasons of the East Northants Cup and the Peterborough & District Cup.
In the 80's we were given financial independence from our then landlords, the British Steel Corporation, and a long lease for the clubhouse and 1st XV pitch was signed. In 83/84, floodlights were installed, largely through the efforts of the members. On the playing side, the 'highlight' was perhaps when we hosted the East Midlands Final in 1984/85, cruelly losing out to Peterborough to an injury time penalty goal converted from the touch line! On a happier note, we celebrated our Golden Jubilee in the following year with, among other events, a memorable visit from Devonport Services and the inauguration of our Floodlit 2nd XV Knockout Cup competition.
In 1991 we signed a 99 year lease for the clubhouse and 3 pitches, thus securing our future at Occupation Road. The 1st XV continued to maintain its position in the League structure, and in the 1998/99 season the Colts were East Midlands runners-up with 5 of the team going on to play for the 1st XV.
The new millennium has started well - we have twice been runners-up in our league, our best position for several years, narrowly losing to Ilkeston in the promotion playoff in 2000 - 2001 and again in the 2001 - 2002 season to Nottingham Moderns.
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