Special Feature Limavady RFC Est 1922
It is an honour to present to you the interviews and footage we have compiled and the history of a proud, fun and forward thinking rugby club where each and every single person has welcomed outsiders into their club and who celebrate those who have been with Limavady RFC through thick and thin. There is no particular order other than a general aim to present a mixture of the teams who play the game and the wider Limavady RFCC community with interviews and information from players and supporters and those who enjoy serving the club in various committees. The overall message to anyone who reads this page in some or part of it is that everyone is welcome at Limavady RFCC, there is a big importance given to the social and friendship side of this club all based on the shared love of the game of rugby. We hope you enjoy reading this feature and maybe get some useful contacts and hopefully a feel for a vibrant and successful rugby club.
SPECIAL FEATURE Limavady RFCC Rugby Section
Contents, 1) Intro, I XV, II XV, III XV, Youths, Minis, History
Limavady RFC was established in 1922 (full history at the bottom of this article) , they loved it then and they love it now. Its the rough and tumble, the fight, the friendship and sporting ability required to play the game. There is nothing quite like the adrenaline rush of playing a game of rugby and dealing with all the highs and lows and what you learn from it all is again and again to get back to basics, basics such as be positive, believe, work at it, merge into the team and play for the sheer love of it.
We begin with an interview now with Kenny Bloomfield who is the director of rugby Limavady has a big social side but they are there to play rugby!
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The abiding memory of compiling this feature was the game Limavady RFC v Ballyclare RFC in the 2012/13 season when arriving at the game the intensity of the players and the crowd was off the ricter scale. This is a breed who from this generation have a country man playing in New Zealand John Semple playing some of the greatest rugby in New Zealand and ferby that, he is from Drumsurn up the road from Limavady town where if you want to know how to earn a cap fro the town or any rugby team in Ulster then they will show you where the caps grow at the Demense in Limavady RFCC.
Stanley Nicholl comments now with the experience of a family and local club the standard is so professional and to see all the local guys involved running the club is superb!
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It grows on the pitch after training in a competitive game against opposition when the intensity of battle rages with a frenzy. Rugby is the most physical sport of any in the sense that its 80 full minutes of action and that day gave us the experience to comment on Limavady RFC. Its a bit like the film gravity when at the end Dr Stone says “well here it goes, I’m ready, its gonna be one hell of a ride, I’m ready now!” Limavady RFC go for it right into it, its awesome to play like that”
Robert Dallas who has been in Limavady RFC his entire life enjoyed it throughout and was made chairman of Limavady RFC, he comments on the serious enjoyment of the game and giving time to the club and how wonderful it feels to beat other local teams like Coleraine or City Of Derry just to name a few examples.
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Well its been an honour to gather the footage for this feature, from the old boyz interviews below who would go back and do it all again for one reason only and thats to have the body again to play, really play, really go for it! From those boyz to the younger guys playing from the minis right up to the SNR I XV a club and community of rugby boyz hell bent on winning. Covering those games, seeing the III XV decimate opposition, good opposition, tearing up strips, cutting lines all from the physicality of the tight five, here now and everyday there’s a game on, these guys front up physically and mentally in great sporting excellence. We got the youths on video and interviews with coaches, we have the I, the II, the III XV in video pictures and interviews below we got the old boyz we got the heart of Limavady RFC, the minis coaches and below throughout the message is, hard work, hard games, training, organisation, promotion, all built on something you can take for granted and that is LRFCC will take you on physically. You will be taken on! No matter which team it is and no matter which opposition it is, you will be taken on!
Bobby Rodgers comments on a lifetime of rugby
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I XV
The Senior I XV. An incredible side, playing in Ulster assures that if you are going to make in qualifying rugby then you have to be good. Having played Q1, Q2 for as long now as anyone would care to remember the standard has been set and that high standard is maintained by the players and coaches at all times. This is tight five rugby backed up with some of the best centres and backs in the game. A very welcoming club there are numerous people who have joined the club later in their careers from 22 years up and the club continues to attract great players because of the focus on playing well and also the social scene. Over the years Limavady RFC has been famous for legendary nights in the club.
VIDEO!!!!!!! InTouch TV Presents: Limavady RFC: On The Charge!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Here are just some of the guys involved in that extended I / II squad
Perry Semple LRFC
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Captain Brian Hamilton
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Ian Campbell
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Kyle Murray
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Stuart Hull & Thomas MaCauley
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Adam Kyle
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John & Ricky MCCollum
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Coach Nigel MCAllister comments below on how things are going at Limavady RFC
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A resurgent club Paul O’Kane comments on how 40-60 guys are at training, how the fitness level is stepping up with fitness coaches in and now with 3 teams up and running and enjoying their rugby. The 2012/13 season was building the foundation again.
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THE PACK & THE FRONT ROW
Coach Andy otherwise known as Brick comments here on some of the work going on with forwards. Basics! As props being solid, thank you Andy we got there with this feature!
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II XV
Incredible focus, hard work, great sporting moments based one one motivation to play and to win or at the very least to show we can play this game. And what does playing this game mean, it means using utmost physicality in fronting up and beating the opposition player physically in order to gain the ground and cross the line, Thats what this team does. Renowned for the white line fever and let alone the precision required to cross the white line in fact that quality often exhibits itself in players who join or even re join the club from the Limavady Grammar School, in the interview next Stuart Hull comments on last years undefeated tour to South Africa where Limavady Grammar School notched up 5 wins out of 5 games in an undefeated tour which was literally amazing although it also goes to show that we are better than a lot of the top countries if not all.
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III XV
Without a doubt the best team in the North West, populated by guys who more or less signle-handedly brought the club to within a hairs bredth of AIL Rugby something that when it came to it the club had really decided to not go up because the whole club had taken a decision that even though they were well well well able for it they decided to build more because their goal is actually 1A so they purposely went back to basics to build the local schools Grammar and High School and contribute to building the structures that would take the next 5 year cycle beyond the last. Just take a Saturday and go and watch this side and you will see players who simply devastate opponents. There’s no other explanation, we went and watched them and within 20 minutes the opposition where on the ropes and then a couple of III XV danger men pulled a couple of moves, swung out on a run, spinned in a sixpence, off load made 30 feet of ground, white line was 10 metres away the pack rolled up with a new back line formed ruck, scrum half spun it out 1st centre dummy take second receives breaks a tackle sells an outrageous dummy draws three players in, off load and the backs are away on a free rugby move and then next thing smashing over the line under the post converted, 7 nil up followed shortly after by another, the clips say it all! This all happened in about 30 seconds. But these guys can also grind out phase after phase of patient rugby building through kicks for territory and then in the red zone opening up in that white line fever which is synonymous with this club.
TREASURER: Herbie Parkhill comments as Treasurer and making the books balance by getting the money in.
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CHAIRMAN: George Brian comments now on coordinating everything and the general management of the club and also being largely responsible ofr getting the sponsors and money in to keep the club going!
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Supporter: Stanley Nicholl
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FIXTURES SECRETARY: Never underestimate the role of fixtures secretary. In a club that communicates and coordinates based around the competitions that each team wants to perform in etc, Billy Heuston comments on organising the fixtures.
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GENERAL SECRETARY: Bob Boyd is an example of someone coming into the club from outside who has not played at the club but who wants to give their time to the club free of charge and comments on bringing new ideas in as general secretary
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SUPPORTER: When you put in 31 years as Ulster Branch representative then you have a right to just go along and be a supporter. Ronnie Clements comment son what he brings to the party,
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Youth
Limavady RFC have an U17 & U15s
As Malcolm MCCurry comments below the youths are very often a mixture of players who stayed on after their mini careers and High school players and also Grammar School player when they have a Saturday off. Limvady Rugby support the Grammar School because Limavady Grammar School is one of the best rugby schools in IReland who are seriously contending for winnin the schools cup. These guys all the youth players become the backbone of the Senior club later on.
Malcolm McCurry Limavady Mini Rugby Primary 4 7-8 years old alot have been playing since 4 years old. The career path is developed from mini rugby through to school or continuing with the rugby club.
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Mini Rugby
At the time of recording David Moss-Bowpitt is the convenor of MiniRugby and you will see from the interview with David below that Limavady Mini rugby has been experiencing a considerable growth in the last few seasons. Due to the incredible success of the province people want their kids to play sport in a safe and progressive environment where kids will have fun and also socialise in the extremely well behaved rugby circles. Kids, they love rugby! Below David comments on the growth, the incredible organisation required to stay on top of all the new members and they are looking forward to lots lots more! Check it!
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Dungiven, Drumsurn, City Of Derry RFC comments on mini rugby players coming from all over, Alan Young comments on instilling a sense of togetherness in the teams from 5 years old!
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Rory Clements Limavady RFC P7s, new players arriving and welcome every day, Rory Clements comments on instilling structure on the pitch starting with fun, safety and respect for the referee, CHECK IT OUT!
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Roger Wilkinson Limavady Mini Rugby P6s, into contact rugby, instilling discipline, no high tackling and listen to the referee even when he/she has made a mistake, above all play as a team, listen to this coach and you will go all the way!
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Nigel Jones Mini Rugby Coach building enthusiasm and enjoyment of the sport so that they will play forever, we don’t focus on winning as coaches the players want to win
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On our travels through the townlands of Limavady we met up with Thomas Deighan who played for the club and he made the following comment
Hazlett Primary School, Mr Thompson, Coleraine and a young lad with Limavady u19s
“1st its a sport a team sport, its character building, I’m sport mad, badmington, squash, tennis, rugby, swimming, the rugby gives you the team ethos, cammararderie, the rugby people mix, its very social and its got al lot of family connections, my mum watched me so its an opportunity for her to see me”
SEE RED & BLACK! The History of Limavady RFCC
One of the top Schools in Ulster rugby is Limavady Grammar School. Next Coach Stephen Barr Limavady GS Coach Comments Post QF Schools’ Cup – “Most Of This Side Are Returning Next Year”
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InTouch TV Interview: Limavady GS Players Darren 2nd Row & Michael No8 Comment On A Good Game But Are Looking For More!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WE GOT THE BLING SHOTS IN THIS ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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InTouch TV Interview: Ian Gallagher Limavady GS Medallion Coach Comments, “Once We Got Our Structures In Place, It Clicked, Good Game.”
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InTouch Rugby TV Presents: Tribute Highlights To A Great Rugby School: Limavady GS ~ Try Time! + Pictures + Interview With Fergus McIntosh
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The grammar school like the rugby club are very forward thinking and rosemary Barr from the Grammar School comments now on how they are always embedding new structures.
InTouch TV Interview: Rosemary Barr Limavady Grammar School Rugby Comments On Rugby @ The School & The Successful Implementation Of Structures From The Players And All Associated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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HISTORY
a brief history of Limavady Rugby Club
Rugby in Limavady started in 1922 at the Derennan home, Carse Hall, with a friendly game between Foyle College and a local side gathered up for the occasion. The occasion seems to have overshadowed the game, however, since the merriment before and after still lives in the memory but the score line has long since been forgotten. Two of that first side still re-side in the town today – Senator J.C. Drennan and Dr. John Keohane.
They both relate an amusing story of a local soccor star drafted into the side who pushed in the scrums with his rear end instead of his shoulders.
An organised club, playing at Roe Mill road, flourished between the years 1923-26 but the supply of rugger players was sparse and was often supplemented by soccor players or indeed sometimes by non-players.
The club ceased to function for a period of years, 1926-31, due to the loss of three or four regulars all at once. Two of these, the Drennan brothers Wallace and Matt., returned to this country from New Zealand in 1931 and a few friendly fixtures were arranged. Wallace Drennan who later played for Junior Ulster, prompted the club to adopt an All-Black strip from his experience and admiration of the game in NEw Zealand. The club colours have proudly re-mained unchanged to this day.
In 1932 the club joined the North-West League under Drennan’s captaincy and John thompson, a local schoolmaster, as secretary. Players were still scarce but enthusiasm was unlimited and although club funds were small the expense of bringing members studying in Edinburgh and Dublin for important matches was often thought worthwhile.
The playing arena was now in Killane Road and on the day of a very vital cup match the teams found the way blocked by a police constable. He was acting under orders of a local solicitor and only a mad dash to settle an overdue account enabled the game to take place on schedule.
The highlight of this era in the club’s history was in reaching the Town’s Cup final in 1938. Unfortunately they were defeated by local rivals Coleraine by the score of eleven points to five.
Registration of players for these events was perhaps not as efficient as it is today and rumour has it that the claim for O.B. Glasgow (later to become president of the I.R.F.U.) to be on the Limavady side was that his girlfriend lived in the town.
Play was called to a halt when war broke out but a game was played around 1940 against a Royal Engineers Team. Gus Risman, English rugby league star, played for the Army side and apparently did not relish the hard tackling of Limavady’s John Mark and Billy Moody.
Other prominent players in that decade and still living locally were Tommy Houston, James Shannon, Willie Cooke and Thompson Huey.
In the local Grammar School boys’ numbers were small and hockey and rugby vied for popularity through the years. However, in 1947 rugby restarted in the school after a lapse of sveral years. In the school magazine of 1948-49 the rugby club notes contained this statement: “Is it too much to hope that there will ever again be a Limavady Town XV?”
Soon after after this a meeting took place. Among those present were – John Mark, Matt Drennan, JAss Shannon, Rev. Matt Evans and S.C. Clayden, headmaster of the Grammar School. Training sesions were arranged and the team entered the North-West Minor League.
The Showgrounds in Rathmore Road became the new playing home of the club where, in the early fifties, Ermie Barrett, Fred Wakefield, Billy thompson Bill Bryants, etc, played regularly for the club. Schoolboys of talent were now more readily available, among these being EWarren Trotter and Morrell Lyons.
Warren later playefd for London Irish before returning to serve Limavady again in the early sixties. Morrell unfortunately gave up the game after breaking his leg playing for Ulster.
In the late fifties the organisation of the club fell mainly to Ernie Barrett and john Hunter and during this time Limavady won the North-West Minor LEague and Cup. Many of the players in the side were just out of school and still play today- Jack HEaney, Ken Austin, Stuart Bonar, Doug Archibald, Tom Allen and Tom Barnett.
The season ’60-’61 saw the formation of a second XV which was immediately succesful in its own playing record as well as supplying reserve strength to the first XV. Indeed the only problem which occurres was how to get enough transport if both teams played away on the same day.
The club president at this time was James Shannon and he donated a trophy to be contested annually on Boxing Day between Limavady and Strabane. Each club has since won it three times – Limavady being victorious this year under cpatain, Raymond Kennedy.
A visit to Edinburgh to see the Scotland – Ireland game and to play Leith in a friendly was the highlight of 1961. The game with Leith was definitely the most friendly thing imagined, neither side being fully recovered from their Friday night exertions. However, the weekend was succesful, if perhaps noisy, and the only thing which really dampened spirits was a bumpy flight home.
Around 1960 ex-Grammar School pupils re-turning from colleges, etc., to settle at home, began to make great efforts to raise funds. Debts were cleared off, rents paid and the club moved to its present home at the Demense. Under the captaincy of Tom Barnett the club had a very successful run in the Towns’ Cup in 1963.
Two seasons ago the First XV had a severe disagreement with the North-West League and consequently with the Ulster Branch. Fortunately the differences were resolved and the club recovered, entering the Belfast Junior League for the first time the following season. This was undoubtedly one of the best things ever done to broaden the outlook and playing ability of the club members.
This season’s captains, Bobby Rodgers, John Reed and Brian Brown, are confident that their respective teams will do even better than in previous seasons. Players in teams cannot afford to be too deeply involved with the running of the club otherwise their game might suffer and it is in this respect that the club is fortunate in having so many past players returning to the fold and anxious to help.
To all those players and officials, past and present, whose names do not appear, rest assured that it is only because the space available is limited.
The Limavady Cricket Club history:
there is no more fitting introduction to this article, “The story of the Limavady Cricket Club”, than the words of that famous American Patrick Henry who said, “I know of no way of judging the future, but by the past.”
When Cricket was first played in Limavady is not known. Little authentic information is available. Unhappily, those who could or did record the early days of the club have passed on and their records were not preserved.
But we do know that those hardy pioneers of bygone days had abounding faith in the value of our great summer game, and that from 1855 to 1875 Limavady was the home of cricket in the North-West.
The Cricket Field, where most of the historic matches took place was located at Chapel Lane and was owned by Major Alexander Boyle, J.P., in whose family possession the field had been for almost 200 years.
In 1855 the Club was known as the New-Town Limavady Cricket Club.
Major Boyle and his three brothers John Boyle, Captain James Boyle and D.G. Boyle, were all team members as was also Mr. robert Marshall, who later became Town Surveyor of that period. All played for a long number of years.
An interesting match was played by Limavady in 1865 at Drenagh Estate, home of the McCausland family. Players for Drenagh included Master Senior, Tom Mercer, Tom Logan and Richard Marshall. The umpires were Mr T C Mccausland and Mr john Martin. This match became an annual fixture and was always keenly contested.
MAtches also took place in this period against Pellipar, Cumber, Foyle College, Castlerock, Feeny and Greencastle (Co. Donegal). Players for Limavsady included JR Beresford, HR Scott, George McClarey, A Lane, JD Ogilby, W Moody, H Church, and the Douglas brothers.
On Friday, 7th July, 1865, the Scottish Club, Greenock, visited Limavady and wre the guests of Mr WS Ross at Barley Park house. This subsequently became part of the old Limavady Technical School.
The match with Greenock took place at Deerpark, where CT McCausland and J Alexander opened for Limavady, who lost by an eight wicket margin.
Limavady boasted the services, of a professional coach in those days and matches were played as late as the last week of October.
Limavady had three players on the County Derry eleven in 1870- the three Boyles. They were included in the team which played Co. Donegal at Letterkenny.
The first winners of the North-West Senior Cup were Limavady in the year 1888. Included in the Limavady side were RJ and Joe Sherrard. The Sherrards, in addition to being members of the Cup winning cricket team, were also in the Limavady Soccer side which played Belfast club Distillery in the finals of the Irish Cup in 1885 and 1886.
During this early period a unique privilege came to Limavady player, Captain James Boyle. Captain Boyle when at Trinity College, Dublin, played against a South of England eleven which included Dr. WG Grace – “The King of Cricket”
after 1900 cricket continued to be played, though games were mainly confined to friendly fixtures. During the 1914-18 war the game died out completely in Limavady.
It was not revived until 1925, when Mr. John Hunter formed a team which competed in local and friendly fixtures. In 1927 the team entered for the North West Junior League matches being played at The Chapel Lane ground.
In 1928, the club entered the Senior League and moved to its present headquarters at Demense.
Possession is a wonderful tonic. True, the grounds were only on a lease from Mr John Hunter, but it was plain that Limavady Cricket Club would never be asked to move. This debt to the Hunter family can never be fully repaid. But for their generosity there would in all probability be no Limavady Club to-day.
Demense was opened on Saturday, 9th May, 1928. The occasion was a Sion mills first eleven visit to Limavady in the Senior League. The game was won by Sion who scored 132 to Limavady’s 73. top scorer was Irish International, Andy McFarland, who hit 52 for Sion before being stumped by Charles MCGuinness off the bowling of Ted Rimmer.
Limavady spent two seasons in the Senior ranks. In 1930 the club decided to play in the intermediate league. They remained in this until the war caused the team to be withdrawn in 1940.
During this period the Intermediate LEague was won twice and the Cup once, under the cpatinacy of Mr John hunter.
In their last league match in 1940, Limavady travelled to Sion Mills whom they defeated by 240 runs to 217. Thier team was J hunter (c), R Platt, Jim McMichael, P Doherty, J Duffy, J McCann, H. Thompson, T Mailey, John MCMichael, E McMichael and A O’Kane.
For Limavady, Jim duffy made 75 and Jim Quigley hit 116 for Sion, before falling to the bowling of Archie O’Kane, who served the club for many years as groundsman and official umpire.
When war ended, Limavady re-formed and entered the Fughanvale League and Cup. The Cup was won by the narrow margin of one run, the succesful team being, Tom Mailey (c), P Kearbey, P gibbons, W J Campbell, A Love, H hunter, W McGill, J Beattie, W Austin, J Marshall, J Hunter.
In 1946 the club re-entered the Intermediate league under tom Mailey as captain and R M Campbell as vice-cpatian.
Archie McSparron became captain of the team which in 1948 reached the semi-final of the intermediate cup, only to be beaten by Faughan Valley, captained by Paddy Moore.
Limavady won the Intermediate League on 1953, under William Madden, and in 1957 under Syd Curry, who again skippered the team, which in the following season, won both Cup and LEague.
Season 1959 saw the club gain promotion to the Senior LEague, after a lapse of 30 years. The team had as captain, J A hunter, son of the captain of the 1928-29 Senior LEague eleven and now President of the Limavady Club.
John Hunter has remained as the helm, under him Limavady won the Senior LEague in 1961 and Senior Cup in 1965.
During the years since 1946, Limavady had also several successes in various Mid-Week Leagues and Knock-out Cup Competitions, under the leadership of Tom Mailey, Jack Semple, Rob Nicholl, Fred Wakefield and Victor Semple.
The second eleven, formed in 1960, have also had their succeses under Brian Hunter and John Loughrey.
Demense, opened in 1928, had to wait until the appearance of Desmond Loughrey, to see its first individual century. Des achieved this distinction in his first season with the club. Against Strabane on 12th May, 1962, he made 128. Desmond is in good company, as Garry Sobers, the West Indies captain, is the only other century maker at Demense. Gary hit 106, when with fellow test star, Rohan Kanhai, he played for Limavady in a civic week game on the 23rd May, 1967.
The present Limavady pavillion was opened on Wednesday, 29th May 1963, by Mr john H Semple, JP
The nature of this article is such that there are bound to be many glaring omissions. For instance, there is only one reference to that excellent bowler of the pre-war era, Ted rimmer, and very little is said about Blair Austin, Victor Love, Tom Allen, JAck Semple or Bill Miller
Other good players are barley mentioned, some possible not at all.
If despite its shortcommings, this “history” of Limavady Cricket Club has given some pleasure to lovers of the game, it will have achieved its purpose for:-
“the game is more than the players of the game,
The ship is more than the crew.”
Jason McMullan Memorial Game @ Limavady Rugby Club – Team & Presentation Images
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Pictures Now Live!!!!!!!!!! Limavady Rugby Club Notes: I XV 25 v Larne Rugby Club I XV 17: Report
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Limavady Rugby Club Notes: U17 I XV v Lisburn RFC U17 I XV
Limavady Rugby Club Notes: U17 I XV v Ballymena U17 XV
Limavady Rugby Club: U17 XV v Coleraine U17 XV
Limavady Rugby Club: I XV v Portadown Rugby Club I XV + Pictures v Cooke Rugby Club I XV
