About Sheffield RUFC

Location & Facilities

The Club is based at The Abbeydale Sports Ground which is located on Abbeydale Road South, Sheffield S17.
The club has a large bar area where supporters meet before and after the game.
The bar has a fine variety of foods available to choose from at the bar at lunchtimes before the game.
The bar area as a beautiful open view from the windows which overlooks the first team pitch.

Pitches & Grounds

The main pitch is located above the all-weather hockey pitch. There are two main car parking areas; the first as you enter the Sports Club and the second (and much larger) is located through the arch under the building.Normally we are very busy during the season but spaces are normally available.

There is a main stand which is shown in the images at the side of this page, has a large number of seats and fully enclosed which can be very useful during the winter.
Both home and away supporters are more than welcome to use all of the facilities.

Pre-match lunch

Before each home game there is a pre-match lunch open to all visitors and supporters. Why not join this ever expanding group for lunch before the home games, meet new faces and get into the mood before the game and help support the club. To make your pre-match lunch reservation please send no later than the Wednesday before the game on Saturday by sending an email for the attention of Andrew Watson pavilion@abbeydalepark.co.uk

The History – Sheffield Rugby Union Football Club.

Sheffield RUFC was founded in 1902 and credited to the efforts of Harold Willey and Billy Gray, the original ground was in the Sandygate area of Sheffield. Sheffield RUFC moved their ground to the other side of Sheffield, Tinsley, in search of better facilities. It wasn’t until 1919, after the Great War that Sheffield RUFC was to find its’ current home at Abbeydale Park, Totley Rise.

The first match to be played on the new ground was against Leicester Westleigh, sadly lost. The rest of the season proved to be more fruitful. 1952 saw the 50th anniversary of the Club and the Golden Jubilee with matches against a Yorkshire XV and Plymouth Albion to celebrate, Sheffield wining both.

It was the 1970’s that saw Rugby Union change quite dramatically and with it Sheffield RUFC. The change from friendlies to a competitive structure was the forerunner to the League system. The 70’s were to be halcyon years seeing such players as Alan Old, Bill Reichwald, Brian Firth, George Kirkpatrick, Steve Newsome, Mike Gange, Chris Sharpe to name a few, playing for the club and winning both county and national honours. Sheffield also qualified for the Northern Merit Table, playing the North’s elite clubs.

The 1980’s saw a great deal of re-building after retirements and players moving away from Sheffield but home grown talent continued to flourish. Players such as Miles Pierce, David Holmes, Robin Goodliffe, Nick Crapper and Simon Mugford graced the field. 1982 saw a memorable highlight in the trip of Sheffield RUFC to play Swansea at St Helens ground, with 9 internationals in their side. This year also saw the Sheffield side to the final of the Yorkshire Cup, narrowly losing to old enemy Wakefield 23-3.

The 1990’s saw Sheffield captained still by Bill Reichwald and including some great talent; Kerry Morley, Dave Fairclough, Ian Wright, Dave Watson and Rob Parr amongst others and playing the likes of Nuneaton, Lydney, Redruth, Sale and Askeans as well as all of our Yorkshire rival clubs and the odd friendly against up and coming sides such as Wharfedale and Rotherham. This decade also saw the changing face of Sheffield Rugby as the both pitch and stand were to be rebuilt to the excellent standard you witness today.

Club Records List

Team stats

Most wins in a season 30 / 1969-70
Most points in a season 995 / 2002-03
Most tries in a season 140 / 2002-03
Most points in a game 92 v Scarborough 2002-03
Most points against in a game 83 v Coventry 1997-98
Biggest win 92-5 v Scarborough 2002-03
Biggest defeat 0-66 v Headlingley 1922-23
Longest winning run 19 games / 1965-66
Longest losing run 17 games / 2004-05

Thanks too the hard work and from Andrew Reichwald has put in to researching and providing the clubs history the author of ‘The History’ – Sheffield Rugby Union Football Club.

Club Records – Team & Players

Club Records – Team

Most Wins In A Season 30 1969/70
Most Points In A Season 995 2002/03
Most Tries In A Season 140 2002/03

Biggest Win –
92 – 5 v Scarborough 2002/03
Biggest Defeat –
0 – 66 v Headingley 1922/23

Longest Win Run – 19 games 1965/66
Longest Losing Run – 17 games 2004/05

Club Records – Players

Most Appearances –
515 Bill Reichwald

Most Points –
1667 Alan Old

Most Points In A Season –
334 Jimmy Pearson – 2002/2003

Most Points In A Game –
44 Jamie Morley v Lichfield – 1996/1997

Most Tries –
120 Bernard Wragg

Most Tries In A Season –
39 Wayne Warren – 2002/2003

Most Tries In A Game –
5 B. Wragg

S.P. Dickinson

J.P. Corcoran

D. Milne

K. Lowe

D. Fairclough

Most Penalties In A Season –
57 Chris Thompson 1991/1992

Most Conversions In A Season –
66 Jimmy Pearson 2002/2003

Most Drop Goals In A Season –
6 Rob Pound 1997/1998

Life Members – Outstanding Services to the Club

Binnie, Malcolm
Crapper, Nicholas
Duffy, Kevin
Goulding, Jim
Harrison, Andy
Reichwald, Andy
Reichwald, William
Sempers, David
Shaw, John
Smith, Alan
Tear, Paul
Watson, David
Wilson, Chris

Past Captains 1902-2020

A. Fawdry – 2019-2020
S. Depledge – 2018-2019
D. Parsons – 2015-2018
T. J. H. Pearson – 2014-2015
S. K. Tillyer – 2013-2014
C. Mortimer – 2012 – 2013
A. Kelly – 2009 to Date
R. Amos – 2006 – 2009
C. Cox – 2005 – 2006
D. Porter – 2004 – 2005
T. Youngs – 2003 – 2004
J. Soden – 2002 – 2003
N. Crapper – 2001 – 2002
J. Adams – 2000 – 2001
N. Pearson – 1999 – 2000
J. Morley – 1997 – 1999
N. Crapper – 1995 – 1997
D. Kaye – 1993 – 1995
R.E. Parr – 1991 – 1993
W.M. Reichwald – 1987 – 1991
S. Grieve – 1986 – 1987
G.R. Goodliffe – 1985 – 1986
D. Parsonage – 1984 – 1985
W.M. Reichwald – 1983 – 1984
D. Sherlock – 1982 – 1983
W.M. Reichwald – 1979 – 1982
A.G.B Old – 1977 – 1979
W.M. Reichwald – 1975 – 1977
J. Robinson – 1974 – 1975
J. Goulding – 1972 – 1974
J. Robinson – 1971 – 1972
G. Kirkpatrick – 1970 – 1971
B. Firth – 1967 – 1970
J.S.G Smith – 1966 – 1967
C.E. Heighton – 1962 – 1966
D.Y. Sempers – 1961 – 1962
G.J. Cobb – 1960 – 1961
B.C O’Connor – 1959 – 1960
G.B. Griffiths – 1958 – 1959
E.D. Montgomery – 1957 – 1958
D.R. Smith – 1956 – 1957
P.C. Clarke – 1955 – 1956
P.E. Malone – 1954 – 1955
W.G. Salisbury – 1953 – 1954
C.R. Ransome – 1950 – 1953
B. Moxon – 1948 – 1950
A. Gray – 1946 – 1948
G.C. Watson – 1945 – 1946
Second World War – 1939 – 1945
No Games Played
E.D. Davis – 1938 – 1939
G.D. Swales – 1937 – 1938
H.S. Smith – 1935 – 1937
D.D. Craig – 1934 – 1935
G. Poulson – 1933 – 1934
D.D. Craig – 1932 – 1933
G.B. Thomas – 1931 – 1932
W. Elliott – 1930 – 1931
G.A. Allen – 1928 – 1930
T.N. Boddy – 1927 – 1928
K.S. Dick – 1925 – 1927
G.P. Lockwood – 1924 – 1925
J.H. Thomas – 1922 – 1924
R. Anderson – 1921 – 1922
F. Ludlam – 1920 – 1921
O.E.H. Leslie – 1919 – 1920
First World War – 1914 – 1918
No Games Played
E.I. Scott – 1913 – 1914
J.M.L. Hess – 1911 – 1913
J.W. Richardson – 1910 – 1911
E.H. Field – 1909 – 1910
B. Wragg – 1908 – 1909
H. Willey – 1902 – 1908

Lady Captains Past to Present

2019/20 – Megan Dugdale
2018/19 – Megan Dugdale
2017/18 – Elizabeth Cook
2016/17 – Elizabeth Cook
2015/16 – Elizabeth Cook
2014/15 – Charlotte Evans
2013/14 – Charlotte Evans
2012/13 – Charlotte Evans
2011/12 – Charlotte Evans
2010/11 – Charlotte Evans
2009/10 – Charlotte Evans
2008/09 – Jennifer Walton
2007/08 – Jennifer Walton
2006/07 – Jennifer Walton
2005/06 – Ruth Elias & Jennifer Walton
2004/05 – Ruth Elias
2003/04 – Alison Hoskin
2002/03 – Alison Hoskin
2001/02 – Tanya Wills
2000/01 – Tanya Wills
1999/00 – Tanya Wills
1998/99 – Nikki Bridges
1997/98 – Tracy Baldwin
1996/97 – Tracy Baldwin

Honours / Past Players

Yorkshire Cup –
Finalists – 1982 & 1990
Semi-Finalists – 1983-1984,1984-1985 & 1992-1993

Yorkshire Shield –
Finalists – 1947-1948

Sheffield receive two prestigious awards as reward for reaching RFU bench marks for the Club and in the Mini & junior section.”This is a great recognition and a window to the outside world of what Sheffield RUFC is all about in terms of the hard work that goes on inside the club at all our levels” said Adie Posthuma

Honoured Past Players

BILL REICHWALD 1974 – 1995
Played 515 Games
Apperances As Captain 372
Positions Played Fly-Half & Centre
Points Scored 481
Tries 98

DAVE WATSON 1978 – 2000
Played 421 Games
Positions Played – Flanker, No 8 & Lock
Points Scored
Tries

Paul Tear – Obituary

Paul James Tear April 1937- December 2019
It is with great sadness that we have to announce that Paul Tear passed away at home on Monday 23rd December, after a long and brave struggle against cancer.
Paul was born in Liverpool before the second world war, and during the blitz the family moved to Cheshire and then to Sutton Coldfield before returning to Liverpool where Paul attended Merchant Taylors` school as a boarder.
The family moved to Sheffield and on leaving school Paul worked as a trainee manager for the Kenning Group, and then in 1958 joined The Sheffield Smelting Company, (where his father was a Director), on a three year apprenticeship.
He then married Pauline Schonhut from Rotherham and they moved to Hertfordshire where Paul worked as a Technical Sales Representative. However he returned to Sheffield 6 years later in 1967 and founded Solpro Manufacturing, and then acquired The Sheffield Smelting Company in 1984, now known as Thessco Ltd. This was all done with Pauline being his rock and helping to raise two lovely children in Jackie & James, both of whom are in the business today and have 5 children between them.
The Group has developed into one of the largest precious metal groups in the world. During this time Paul became Master Cutler in 1997-1998 and was the first “manufacturing cutler” to hold the master Cutler`s office in over 40 years
Paul had a number of Hobbies he liked to indulge in including Horse racing and Shooting at which he told us he was a good shot. This was subsequently corroborated by his drivers! He was once shooting with Eric Clapton and had to be told who he was, Paul not being into Rock music! Paul also had a particular love of motorsport and Formula 1, in which he had many friends including Sir Jackie Stewart and others.
Paul`s main passion though was his love of rugby, and in particular Sheffield Rugby club and its home Abbeydale Sports club where he became a Director. Paul played for the club and although this was not at a high level his exploits and committee work for the club off the field were immense including employing a number players and members in his various businesses. A list of the positions held tells but a small part of his involvement as an officer of the club and supporter :-
Chairman 6 Seasons – 02/03 -07/08
Deputy Chairman 12 seasons –08/09- 19/20
President 4 Seasons – 87/88- 88/89, 90/91- 91/92
Honorary Secretary 9 Seasons 78/79-86/87
Director Sheffield RUFC Ltd
Chairman Financial & Social Committee
Executive Development Officer
Additional Committee Officer
Paul was never happier than when supporting the team, home and away, as long as it involved spending time with the team and his many rugby friends, especially over a bottle or two in his beloved Range Rover and Pauline`s legendary “Packing Up”. They say a picture paints a thousand words. Well this one was taken at the Post Office pub at junction 38 on the M1 after we played and beat Scarborough in 2010. The next day we suggested to Scarborough RUFC that we would keep the bench,and send the money to have another one made. Luckily they agreed, and this bench is now still outside the clubhouse.
He will be sorely missed by all who knew him at Sheffield RUFC, family and friends

The purchase of Abbeydale 1919-1920

Sheffield RUFC’s first game at Abbeydale was on Saturday 24th January 1920, exactly 100 years ago today.

The club had been founded in 1902 by cousins Harold Willey and Billy Gray and hadplayed at a number of grounds in the city in the early years of its existence. The first was at Sandygate and this was followed by spells at Tinsley, Millhouses and Handsworth.

In 1911 the Sheffield Amateur Sports Club came into existence. This was at the instigation of Robert Hargreaves, a member of Sheffield Hockey Club, who proposed a loose organisation of the leading amateur sports clubs in the area to pursue their mutual interests and in particular to find a ground upon which they could all play. The clubs involved were Sheffield RUFC, Sheffield Hockey Club, Sheffield Collegiate Cricket club and Sheffield Football club. The new organisation bought some land at Handsworth but bringing the ground up to the required standard was much more expensive than had been thought and the ground was little used.

In the autumn of 1919 the SASC found a piece of land at Dore, part of the Abbeydale Park estate, that was ideal for its purposes. 21 acres of this land were to be auctioned on 18th November and a meeting was hurriedly convened to decide whether or not a bid was possible. It was agreed that the opportunity was too good to miss and that Hargreaves could bid £5000. As it was a bid of £4500 was accepted by the vendor, one Ebenezer Hall.

A lot of work was necessary to bring the grounds up to the required standard and this came at a considerable cost. The funds for this and the purchase came from the sale of the ground at Handsworth, and an issue of shares which yielded £6300 in the first two months. The following summer the board was able to buy a further 13 acres of the estate and Abbeydale Hall itself. The SRUFC contribution to this was easily the biggest of the clubs involved, their members contributing nearly twice as much as the next section ( football ). In addition the original deposit was provided wholly by the rugby club from the sale of the ground at Tinsley years previously.

The first game was against Leicester Westleigh, who later amalgamated with Wigston in 1999 to form the current National League team, Leicester Lions. It did not, unfortunately, match the occasion as a strong wind made open play difficult and a scrappy game was decided by the only try, by J.S. Gordon to give Sheffield their first Abbeydale home win, 3-0.
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Since then we have played here another 1392 times ! The club and the ground are unrecognisable now from 100 years ago. SRUFC have multiple teams instead of just one and provide rugby for all ages and abilities for both sexes, whilst remaining competitive at first team level.

Perhaps the biggest change for the ground is that the main pitch has been flat since 1993, after about 70 years of the infamous ‘ slope ‘ when the bottom touchline was just above the the level of the hockey pitch

Club Charter

Sheffield RUFC has developed and already started to implement a new Club Charter.

You can familiarise yourself with it by downloading the attached document.