Okehampton RFC

Okehampton RFC
Full name Okehampton Rugby Football Club
Union Devon RFU
Nickname(s) The Okes
Founded 1884 (1884)
Location Okehampton, Devon, England
Ground(s) Showfield (Capacity: 750 (120 seated))
Chairman Robert Barkwell
President Andy Ewen
Coach(es) Gareth Evans
League(s) Tribute South West 1 West
2017–18 5th
Team kit
Official website
www.pitchero.com/clubs/okehampton

Okehampton RFC is an English rugby union team formed in 1884, that is based in Okehampton, Devon. The club has three senior men's teams, a colts team and multiple junior teams (u-7 to u-16).[1][2] Nicknamed the 'Okes' the clubs colours are maroon and gold and they play home games at the Showfield. The first team currently plays in Tribute South West 1 West having won promotion in 2015–16.

The Showfield, home of Okehampton RFC

History

Early history

Okehampton had a rugby team dating back as far as 1884, and by 1902 had registered with the Devon Rugby Football Union. The club moved grounds several times during the early days, starting at Northams Meadows in 1902, switching to North Road in 1912 and then Cowlands Field at Mill Road in the 1920s. The outbreak of World War II caused the club to close as many players went into the Armed Forces. After the war was over, the club's former ground, Cowlands Field, was sold for housing development, and they had to share with the local football side, Okehampton Argyle, at Simmonds Park. The club had initially suffered a shortage of senior players after the war but the local grammar school provided a stream of new players, while soldiers at the nearby army camp, some of whom would go on to become international players, were available from time to time.[3]

The 1950s saw the club have a period of mixed fortunes. The introduction of rugby union in the secondary modern school would later pave the way for a colts team, while the men's senior team would go unbeaten between 1951–53. By 1955 many of the players had retired and the club had several seasons of poor results but by 1958 they were back on track. By 1961 the club had moved away from Simmons Park to purchase its own ground at Oaklands, where it has remained ever since. This ground had a small grandstand, a bar, changing room facilities, as well as several school pitches across the road from the main ground, where colts and junior games could take place. With a new ground, Okehampton went from strength to strength winning the Devon County Havill Plate competition in 1979, the Devon Merit Table "B" in 1982–83 and the Devon Merit Table "A" in 1983–84.[3]

League rugby

On the advent of league rugby union in 1987, Okehampton were placed in the Western Counties league (tier 7 of the English league system) where they remained until 1996–97 when they gained promotion as champions to South West 2 West.[4] Their stay in tier 6 (the highest level the club have reached) was short lived and they were relegated after just one season in the division.[5] The club also punched well above its weight in the Devon Senior Cup, appearing as losing finalists against Plymouth Albion in 1988 and Barnstaple in 1997.[3] After a period of relative stability the club would drop down the leagues, first being relegation from Tribute Western Counties West in 2002–03 and then being relegated from Tribute Cornwall/Devon in 2004–05 in what would be the clubs worst spell in its league history so far.[6][7]

From the worst spell in its modern history, Okehampton would regroup and enter one of its best. They won a league and cup double in the 2005–06, winning promotion from Devon League 1 and claiming the Devon RFU Junior Cup for the first time, defeating league rivals Cullompton 8–3 in the final.[8][9] The 2008–09 season saw the club promoted from Tribute/Cornwall Devon in second place and the following season saw them win the inaugural Devon Intermediate Cup defeating Tiverton on the final.[10] In 2016 the club returned to tier 6 by winning the Tribute Western Counties West league title.[11]

Ground

Okehampton RFC have been based at the Showfield since 1961. The ground is situated on Glendale Road next to Okehampton Primary School in a pleasant residential area in the north-west of town, and consists of a club-house and attached stand, a main pitch and a secondary pitch just across the road for 2nd XV and junior fixtures. The ground is quite compact meaning that the capacity is limited to about 750, including 120 seats in the grandstand. Parking is extremely limited in and around the ground, although if you do not mind a 5-10 minute walk (admittedly uphill) then there is plenty of parking in town.

Honours

1st team

Colts

  • Devon Colts Cup: 1982[3]

Notable former players

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Senior Teams". Okehampton RFC (Pitchero). Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  2. ↑ "Junior Teams". Okehampton RFC (Pitchero). Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "History Okehampton RFC". Oke Rugby. Retrieved 5 February 2017.
  4. ↑ "Final League Tables, 1996–97". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  5. ↑ "Final League Tables 1997–98". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  6. ↑ "Final League Tables 2002–2003". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  7. ↑ "Final League Tables 2004–2005". Trelawny's Army. Retrieved 1 September 2014.
  8. ↑ "Devon 1 2005-06". England Rugby. 22 April 2006.
  9. ↑ "Hearts of Oke!". Tavistock Times Gazette. 6 April 2006.
  10. ↑ "Okes win Devon Intermediate Cup". Okehampton RFC. 2 May 2010.
  11. ↑ "What a great season to celebrate at Oke RFC". Princetown Gazette. 8 June 2016.
  12. ↑ "White and Croft return to boost Tigers' cause". This is Devon. 25 February 2011.
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