History: Pocklington Rugby from 1879

The first rugby game in Pocklington took place on West Green on Wednesday 12th November 1879 between "Pocklington Town and District" and "Pocklington Grammar School". For the next few years School and Town combined forces in a handful of fixtures each season, before the game lapsed at the School and the first Pocklington rugby club - Pocklington FC - was formed in 1885.

Playing at Feathers Field, Percy Road, Pocklington FC established the game in the town and flourished until a rival outfit, Pocklington Parish Church FC sprung up in 1897 on West Green. The two clubs continued in the town until 1899 when Pocklington FC gave up. After switching to northern rugby union, the "Parish" club went on to dominate local rugby in the early 1900's. They produced many notable players and won several trophies, including the York and District Challenge Cup in successive years in 1904 and 1905.

The club started to struggle just before the First World War, but was reformed straight after the war as Pocklington RFC. Rugby returned to Percy Road in 1922 when PRFC leased the ground from the Kilnwick Estate. The side enjoyed considerable success, including winning the Hull & District Cup in 1923, before financial problems saw Pocklington RFC sell out to the newly formed Pocklington RUFC in 1928.

PRUFC did well in its early seasons and bought Percy Road in 1932. Hard work saw the club survive through the Second World War and then prosper in the post war period. A record season coincided with the clubhouse being built in 1948 and the boom period continued into the fifties, though the side was unlucky to lose successive Yorkshire Shield finals in 1953 and 1954.

The club was not as successful during the 1960's but continued to grow and develop. An upsurge began in the early seventies when several new points-scoring records were established and the side went on to win the Yorkshire Shield in 1976.

The club has steadily improved and developed its facilities and its standing in rugby circles, with regular highlights being provided by some memorable cup runs and triumphs (particularly in the Yorkshire Cup and RI Floodlit Cup).

1985-86 saw the Centenary of Rugby at Pocklington (CRAP) celebrated in style with a series of outstanding events capped by the 1st XV winning 27 games and lifting the Camerons' Yorkshire Clubs Merit Table title.


During the 1990s the club has made further improvements to Percy Road and maintained its standing as one of Yorkshire's leading junior clubs. And the thriving junior section has further developed to become a production line of young talent that is admired throughout the county. The success of the club's youth is demonstrated by the fact three Pocklington's sides (the Under 13s in 1991, Under 9s in 1992 and Under l2s in 1995) became their county age group champions while some 30 juniors have played for county and country in the last few years.

In the 1995-96 season a record 30 out of 34 games were won, leading to the Yorkshire Division One League Championship. In addition Pocklington won their own Good Friday Pock Sevens, one of the country's biggest sevens competitions, for the first time at the 37th attempt.

Since then the club has further consolidated its position in North East rugby further improved its facilities. An additional ground has been purchased and developed on Kilnwick Road, while in the 1997-98 season Pocklington pulled off a league and sevens double for the second time in three years. Pocklington became North East Division Three champions on the last day of the season, and a month earlier had lifted the trophy at another bumper Good Friday Sevens at Percy Road.

After such success Pocklington struggled over the next few seasons, resulting in them being relegated two seasons in a row. The club finally found there feet in Yorkshire 3 during the 2003/04 season, winning the league in a crunch match against Castleford in the last game of the season.

A digital record of over 150 1st XV and 2nd XV photographs and documents going back to the 1880s is now available for purchase on CD.
Savour this trip through time, remember and reflect on players past and present all at a bargain price of £15.00. Please contact John Eastwood who has compiled it all at john@eastwoodj.freeserve.co.uk