News & EventsLatest NewsCalendar
Mystery Solved!

Mystery Solved!

Rob Long7 Jun 2018 - 17:01
Share via
FacebookTwitter
https://www.yorkrufc.co.uk/new

The mystery surrounding the 'founding' of York RUFC has been solved.

Recently, Don Butler found a photograph of a York Rugby Union second team of 1885 who had won the Yorkshire Junior Cup.
This prompted a lot of head scratching at the club as it cast doubt on the date of 1928 as when the club was founded.

The head scratching is over thanks to Stuart Copeland, who explained the cause of all the confusion:
"I am sure many members will have answered your history question. York FC was a member of the original Yorkshire County Football Club (now Yorkshire RFU). When, following a dispute over split time payments, the Northern Union was created York FC became York RLFC and played Rugby League. A new York RUFC was then created in 1928.
In 1878 York played Halifax in the first Yorkshire Cup Final. In 1978, I along with many other older York members re-enacted the match at Otley prior to that year’s final. We were all in period kit, I remember the tights were provided by Damart. Don refereed in a resplendent striped blazer. There should be some photos in the press archives."

Many thanks to Stuart for solving the mystery!

Further reading