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New
Brighton was founded on 20th March 1875 at Fern Hill New Brighton by
Messrs Edward Holt, Walter Petrie and Percy Shaw and the club has graced
no less than five sites since its inception, having to move as the rural
land around New Brighton became more and more in demand for building.
The
resort of New Brighton being a massive attraction in those days for
holiday makers from Liverpool and Lancashire who would arrive in their
thousands by bus train and ferry to have a lovely day on the beaches
and in the two fairgrounds and enjoy their meals on the famous "Egg
& Ham" row of cafes and boarding houses. The ferry would disgorge them
all at the end of the pier and they would see from there the mighty
New Brighton Tower bigger than Blackpool's and which was only demolished
in 19??.
As
the whole area prospered from the great shipping lines such as Cunard,
Elder Dempster, The Blue Funnel Line and P&O and from the huge cloth
making factories of Lancashire so New Brighton Football Club prospered
as well. The first fixture was against Egremont, unfortunately the result
is lost I the mists of time, for those Cumbrians who might read this
the Egremont in question was an area of Wallasey down by the banks of
the Mersey where a ferry pier was situated.
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The
club has been honored by no fewer than ten Internationals (England,
Wales & Ireland), several Barbarians one British Lion, many Oxbridge
"Blues", Northern Counties Caps, the Army, the British Fire Brigades
and dozens & dozens of county capped players for many counties most
especially Cheshire and Lancashire. Being heavily represented the three
times Cheshire have won the Championship most recently, in the
1998/1999 season
with no less than 11 New Brighton representatives one of whom, Kevin
Brookman, captained the side and has captained New Brighton for no less
than eight years!
Over
the some players changed codes and were equally successful in Rugby
League.
One
of the most memorable modern times was when the Springboks were touring
in 1969. They were troubled by anti apartheid demonstrators and were
due to play in Northern Ireland but there was a Foot & Mouth scare to
add to their woes. New Brighton were playing the famous Irish club "North
of Ireland" and in secret talks we were offered a game against the Springboks
if we would combine the two sides. A day that those who were lucky enough
to get on the combined team will never forget. The Boks won I think.
Hard to believe that isn't it?
When
Merit tables came in to being New Brighton didn't take them seriously
enough and perhaps thought that we would keep all the quality fixtures
that we had enjoyed for many years. The net result of that was that
we ended up in a fairly lowly position when the leagues were first published
in 1991, being placed in North West One League (level eight) and the
days of struggle began. But not to be beaten, and after one demotion
(and being saved a couple of times be league restructuring), a few forward
thinking guys got together to stop the rot.
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Recruitment
was a priority, especially the position of coach, so it was in 1991
that we recruited Laurie "Lol" Connor from Waterloo. With his pedigree
we surely couldn't go wrong and in truth with Lol at the helm of coaching
and with other recruits to the playing strength and other coaches arriving
we have never looked back. Currently in Jewson's National League Two
North (level four) and doing well, we have enjoyed three promotions
in six years, have won the Cheshire Cup for the last three years. Wade Dooley spent the 1997-98 season playing
in New Brighton's colours and who knows we may find ourselves with more
past masters like him giving the club the boost up the ladder to the
premiership leagues.
There
is lot more to the club than this potted history, we have toured widely
around the world, Canada (twice), USA, The Czech Republic, Romania,
Scandinavia, Belgium, Holland, Portugal, Eire, Jersey, France even the
Isle of Man and Cyprus. We have hosted teams from South Africa, America,
Russia, Canada,
Argentina, Tonga, New Brighton New Zealand, Australia and from all over
the European Continent. We have eight squash courts, two bars, a restaurant,
sauna, floodlights, a growing Junior section and a Women's team and
a straight line connection to Liverpool's two Universities where our
personnel coach! What more can a person ask for?
If
you are interested in joining the club as a player or a socialite please
feel free and call 0151 677 2442, or e-mail office@newbrightonrugby.co.uk for information.
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