Bromsgrove Rugby Football Club, one of the oldest rugby union clubs in the country was formed on 28 September 1872. However their first real game though was played on the 22nd November 1873 against Kidderminster on the Recreation Ground in front of a large crowd. Kick off was at 3:00pm and despite strenuous efforts by both sides, time was called at 4:50pm neither side having scored! Subsequent early records are sketchy but it seems that the club’s foundations were laid due to a close association with Bromsgrove School, an association that has continued to the present day.

It wasn’t until 1955 that the Bromsgrove moved to its present ground at Finstall Park, albeit with only one pitch. The ground was purchased with the aid of a loan from the RFU and a great deal of the levelling and drainage was carried out by club members. Two later years, after using a number of hostelries and private houses the club moved into its own clubhouse. Since then the club has extended and now has four pitches, a training area and the clubhouse much extended.
The two sides first met in the 2011-12 season. In their final game of the previous season Bromsgrove had a three-point advantage over second-placed Longton, who had a game in hand. Longton lost at Sheffield Tigers while Bromsgrove defeated Newport (Salop) at home to secure the title and an automatic promotion place.

Bromsgrove secured a creditable 7th position in N2N after their first season (Otley came 12th), although in the subsequent season the position were effectively reversed when Bromsgrove finished 11th while Otley were 5th. This season the fortunes for both teams have meant that at the business end of the season, we were flirting with relegation. Regrettably Bromsgrove’s relegation was confirmed last month when they went down 14-24 at home to Sedgley Park. Our position in N2N was only confirmed last week when we beat Hull RUFC 45-0.

Bromsgrove, like Otley, is a market town that has become satellite town for the surrounding conurbations has retained a friendly rugby club attitude. Otley have always been well received at Finstall Park, and our overall record is P5, W3, D1 and L1. Both sides will be looking to end the season with a win, and let’s hope for an exciting game of rugby on Saturday.

Go Otley!!