History
Club History
The history of St. Mary's Old Boys begins it 1897 when a group of boys from St. Mary's On the Quay Catholic School began playing rugby against many of the emerging local rugby clubs in the Bristol area. The Club was officially inaugurated in 1900 and celebrated it's centenary in the 2000-2001 seasons. With this initial source of players, St. Mary's became known for some time as 'Bristol Irish'. This was obviously helped by the playing colors of Emerald Green and Black Hoops.
Today the club is open! (St. Mary's school no longer exists) and proud of its tradition. The club motto is 'Impavidus' which translates best as 'Fearless'. From our mini's through our juniors to the Senior sides, St. Mary's players fear no one and will always play with the belief and desire it takes to beat the best.
The club ground, Northwood Park, was one of the few flat fields in the Northern green belt fringe of Bristol. Veterans remember running past the current ground when it was a sheep field en-route to the Brickworks run, from the club's first wholly owned ground at Graceland's (now all the remains of Graceland's is St Mary's Way, Bradley Stoke).
With five full size pitches, two netball courts, fully equipped weights room and purpose built clubhouse, Trench Lane, as the Bristol Evening Post insists on calling our ground has some of the best facilities in the Bristol area.
After the War, the enthusiasm of the club to play overcame many post war obstacles including a lack of material for rugby jerseys. The player's wives famously knitted woollen shirts and one of the most successful sides in club history can be seen on the clubhouse wall, kitted out in woollies.
St Mary's Old Boys Ladies were formed in 1997, playing against the likes of Avonmouth, Chew Valley Cats, Gordano & Clifton 2's.
Each year since then the ladies team has gone from strength to strength, not only in the number of players, but the achievements gained over the years.
The ladies team play in the Championship South West 2 division which is at level 3 of the Women's RFU structure allowing the ladies to play against good experienced teams and develop further as a team.
St Mary's Old Boys Ladies have also started a girls section aimed at encouraging girls who are already playing rugby within the mini's & junior leagues, to continue their development at St Mary's. This is also open to beginners as well as girls with any level of experience, with the hope that they can then progress on to feed our Senior Ladies Section.
The history of St. Mary's Old Boys begins it 1897 when a group of boys from St. Mary's On the Quay Catholic School began playing rugby against many of the emerging local rugby clubs in the Bristol area. The Club was officially inaugurated in 1900 and celebrated it's centenary in the 2000-2001 seasons. With this initial source of players, St. Mary's became known for some time as 'Bristol Irish'. This was obviously helped by the playing colors of Emerald Green and Black Hoops.
Today the club is open! (St. Mary's school no longer exists) and proud of its tradition. The club motto is 'Impavidus' which translates best as 'Fearless'. From our mini's through our juniors to the Senior sides, St. Mary's players fear no one and will always play with the belief and desire it takes to beat the best.
The club ground, Northwood Park, was one of the few flat fields in the Northern green belt fringe of Bristol. Veterans remember running past the current ground when it was a sheep field en-route to the Brickworks run, from the club's first wholly owned ground at Graceland's (now all the remains of Graceland's is St Mary's Way, Bradley Stoke).
With five full size pitches, two netball courts, fully equipped weights room and purpose built clubhouse, Trench Lane, as the Bristol Evening Post insists on calling our ground has some of the best facilities in the Bristol area.
After the War, the enthusiasm of the club to play overcame many post war obstacles including a lack of material for rugby jerseys. The player's wives famously knitted woollen shirts and one of the most successful sides in club history can be seen on the clubhouse wall, kitted out in woollies.
St Mary's Old Boys Ladies were formed in 1997, playing against the likes of Avonmouth, Chew Valley Cats, Gordano & Clifton 2's.
Each year since then the ladies team has gone from strength to strength, not only in the number of players, but the achievements gained over the years.
The ladies team play in the Championship South West 2 division which is at level 3 of the Women's RFU structure allowing the ladies to play against good experienced teams and develop further as a team.
St Mary's Old Boys Ladies have also started a girls section aimed at encouraging girls who are already playing rugby within the mini's & junior leagues, to continue their development at St Mary's. This is also open to beginners as well as girls with any level of experience, with the hope that they can then progress on to feed our Senior Ladies Section.
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