Our Club

In December 1961, the outlook for rugby in Bridgnorth was looking grim with the closure of the clubs in Shifnal and at RAF Bridgnorth. Roy Colburn and Phil Bladen, teachers at one of the town’s secondary schools, put an advert in the Bridgnorth Journal asking for potential members for a new Club.

There was a good response and men and boys gathered at Crown Meadow for the inaugural meeting and training session on January 4th 1962. The first Committee meeting of the new Club - Bridgnorth Rugby Union Football Club - was held in the Black Horse Inn the following day. (We've somehow lost the 'Union' bit along the way.)

With the Black Horse as HQ and changing facilities at Bridgnorth Boys' Club, Edgar Davies was elected Chairman, Tom Becke Treasurer, Roy Colburn Secretary, and Derek Procter as Club Captain. Subscriptions were set at 25shillings for Seniors, 10shillings Juniors. Match fees were set at 2/6d. The Clubs colours were originally Black and white hoops - because Derek Proctor had ‘borrowed’ a set of shirts from the defunct RAF Bridgnorth team!

Frank Ward became the Club’s first President and the early co-operation between the Club and the Boys’ Club was to last many years. The Club bought a set of posts and leased a pitch on Severn Park - on the conditions the posts were taken down immediately after the end of each season – and adopted The Black Horse as its first permanent headquarters.

© Bridgnorth Rugby Club