History of Knaresborough RUFC


By Ron Bird

"It was during the 1981/82 season that I was asked to play in a social game of rugby for Knaresborough Squash Club. The invitation came from one G.R. Jarret. Bob Jarret along with his wife Aldy, and partners had recently formed the squash club. I was then playing at Wetherby along with such legends as R. Watson, J. Fawcett, G. Gilmour, R. Jackson and S. Ward. Anyway, I digress. Back to this social game which took place at Hay-a-Park on a Sunday morning in mid-February of 1982 against a team of school teachers from King James. I cant recall all those who played but I could never forget some. Barrie Stevenson (scrum-half), Bob Jarret and Paul Scott (second row), Andrew MacMillan (full-back), Alf Wilikinson (wing), Tony Cooper (stand-off half) and Roger Ewing (hooker), my apologies to anyone I have left out. I don't remember the result. After the post-match celebrations I'm surprised I ever remembered anything again.

This match was soon followed by a fixture against Sandal. Again I don't remember the score, only that 50 something to nill rings a bell, needless to say I wasn't playing. Flushed with such success a squash-rugby tour was arranged to my former club in Frome, Somerset. We won the rugby and lost the squash, or was it the other way around??

With all this sporting activity I thought it was about time Knaresborough had its own rugby club. I placed an advertisement in the Knaresborough Post asking anyone interested in forming a new club to attend a meeting at the squash club. This meeting was held on June 24, 1982. Those present were; N. Carlton, P. Drew, A. MacMillan, A. Butler, A. Cooper, R. Jarret, R. Bird, P. Taylor and K. Turner. A committee was formed with Ned Carlton as Chairman, Peter Drew as Secretary, Andrew Butler as Treasurer, Andrew MacMillan as Fixture Secretary, Ron Bird as Club Captain and John Forster as President.

The first training session was held on the playing fields at Wetherby Road, at the beginning of August. Several new faces appeared including Joe Royal and Tim Russell. This training session was also attended by two gentlemen who were destined to help shape the future of the club, Barrie Stevenson and a young Jean-Pierre Rives look-a-like Rodney Stevenson had arrived on the scene.

Within a few weeks we had a full fixture list and our first game was played against Old Thornensians on the 1st Saturday in September, 1982. Knaresborough Rugby Club was born.

Mr. Ron Bird - Chairman

This "Personal History" was written by Mr. Ron Bird and was published in the Knaresborough RUFC 10th Anniversary Season Fixture Book pg. 9. Ron Bird has given his permission for this information to be reproduced on this web-site and the information contained on this page is for use only by Knaresborough RUFC and should NOT be reproduced or copied by any other non-affiliated or non-permitted person(s).