Northampton Demons: Difference between revisions
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''Nene Valley'' were set up in 1989 and they trained twice weekly at Rushden Sports Centre. The club joined the Midlands and South West Amateur Rugby League Association (MASWARLA) and the Eastern Counties Rugby League (ECRL). Nene Valley became ''Northampton Knights''. |
''Nene Valley'' were set up in 1989 and they trained twice weekly at Rushden Sports Centre. The club joined the Midlands and South West Amateur Rugby League Association (MASWARLA) and the Eastern Counties Rugby League (ECRL). Nene Valley became ''Northampton Knights''. |
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In September 1994 Northampton Knights team entered the [[National Conference League]] Division 2. The team was coached by Paul Johnstone. The club started off playing at Dallington Park but moved to the then council owned Sixfields stadium. |
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Rugby league teams existed in [[Coventry Bears|Coventry]], [[Bedford Tigers|Bedford]] and [[Cambridge Eagles|Cambridge]] and the setting up of a team in Northampton fitted in with the [[RFL]] policy of developing the sport in the [[East Midlands]]. |
Rugby league teams existed in [[Coventry Bears|Coventry]], [[Bedford Tigers|Bedford]] and [[Cambridge Eagles|Cambridge]] and the setting up of a team in Northampton fitted in with the [[RFL]] policy of developing the sport in the [[East Midlands]]. |
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Revision as of 22:17, 17 January 2010
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2007) |
| Club information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Northampton Casuals Rugby League Football Club |
| Colours | Gold with black and white trim |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Website | [www.northamptonrl.co.uk www.northamptonrl.co.uk] |
| Current details | |
| Ground(s) |
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| Competition | Rugby League Conference |
Northampton Casuals is a rugby league club based in Northampton. They play in the Rugby League Conference.
History
Nene Valley were set up in 1989 and they trained twice weekly at Rushden Sports Centre. The club joined the Midlands and South West Amateur Rugby League Association (MASWARLA) and the Eastern Counties Rugby League (ECRL). Nene Valley became Northampton Knights.
In September 1994 Northampton Knights team entered the National Conference League Division 2. The team was coached by Paul Johnstone. The club started off playing at Dallington Park but moved to the then council owned Sixfields stadium.
Rugby league teams existed in Coventry, Bedford and Cambridge and the setting up of a team in Northampton fitted in with the RFL policy of developing the sport in the East Midlands.
In late 2006 a number of articles were placed on various websites about the formation of the rugby league team in the town and offers of assistance were received from Coventry Bears and three other rugby league enthusiasts in Northampton. The founding members met in March 2007 and put in place a plan to set up a team based at the nearby Casuals rugby union club.
As soon as the rugby union season ended, training began for the newly formed team with 18 players attending the first session from local union clubs and the University of Northampton rugby league side.
The club was accepted into the London League which operates on a Merit League basis. Geographically Northampton is some distance from the London teams and due to this fact played fixtures against teams from the RL Merit League, for example Nottingham Outlaws.
The club played its first fixture on May 13 2007, after four training sessions, against a development team from Bedford Tigers losing 56 -12. This was the first time rugby league had been played in Northampton by a non-university side since the mid 1990s. Indeed one of the players from that era, Mick Bryant, had joined the newly formed team. Two weeks later the team recorded its first victory over St Albans Centurions second team.
The club went on to play a further six fixtures in 2007. A victory, a draw and four defeats were the results of those games but the club had been established in the town.
The club joined the Eastern Division of the 2008 Rugby League Conference. They won the division in 2009, beat Devon Sharks in a semi-final held at the Stoop and went on to win the RLC Regional title by beating Jarrow Vikings.
In 2010, Northampton linked up with Super League side Harlequins Rugby League.
Juniors
Following the distributing of the leaflets at the Northampton Saints rugby union game, a parent whose child plays rugby union, contacted Andrew to see if his and other children could play rugby league. Junior development wasn't in the original remit of the club but seeing a great opportunity to grow the club the children joined the club.
As a result 20 juniors are now training and playing rugby league in Northampton. The culmination of this was their entry into the Birmingham Junior rugby league festival in July 2007 where teams at the under-11 and under-13 age groups played against teams from Coventry Bears, Derby City, Nottingham Outlaws, Telford Raiders and Birmingham Bulldogs.
Northampton now enter teams in the Midlands Junior League and the Chilterns Junior League under the name Northampton Knights.
Developing Midlands Rugby League
Far too often teams in development areas fail due to the distances involved in playing matches. The Midlands has a large number of teams: Coventry, Derby, Leicester, Nottingham, Telford, Redditch, Birmingham, Wolverhampton and Burntwood. They are all playing their trade in the Rugby League Conference. The sustainability of these clubs is vital if other clubs are to form in the Midlands.
A Midlands Rugby League Steering Group and an East Midlands Regional Group have been established by clubs in the Midlands. Members of Northampton RL sit on these bodies which both have the aim of developing and strengthening the sport in the Midlands.
Future
A development plan for the club has been formulated which includes areas such as setting up of teams at under-15 to complement the existing under-11 and under-13 age groups, the employment of a Community Sports Coach who will visit the local Sports Colleges and introduce the sport to the education sector, setting up junior feeder clubs and the establishment of a second open age team.
Records
- Tries in a season: 8, Sam Howes
- Tries in a match: 3, Mick Bryant vs St Albans 26/5/7; 3 from Sam Howes vs Bedford 9/6/7
- Goals in a match: 7, Stefan Fowler vs St Albans 26/5/7 & Bedford 28/7/7
- Points in a match: 28, Stefan Fowler, 2 tries and 7 goals
- Points in a season: 72, Stefan Fowler vs St Albans 26/5/7
- Most appearances in a season: 7, James Barford, Luke Makepeace, Matt Dobson, Sam Howes and Stefan Fowler
Club honours
- RLC East Division: 2009
- RLC Regional: 2009