North Shore Albions

The North Shore Albions were a rugby league club based on the North Shore of Auckland in Devonport before moving to Bayswater at a later time. They began in 1909 and folded in the early 2000s due to a lack of playing numbers. At the start of the 1920 season they were renamed Devonport United when they amalgamated with the Sunnyside club.[2] It was proposed at the merger that they be known as North Shore Albions but Sunnyside objected and the name of Devonport United was chosen. In 1937, 17 years later at their annual general meeting they decided to revert back to the name "North Shore Albions" as they had been commonly referred to as "shore" for many years.[3] Chairman H Mann made the proposal and it was adopted by the club. Aside from Northcote they were the only club on the North Shore at that time. They closed their doors in 2005.[4] The only remaining club connected to them are the Northern Brothers who are based at Ngataringa Bay Sports Field. Their senior team is an amalgamation of East Coast Bays Barracudas and Glenfield Greyhounds but are based more in the North Shore Albions traditional area which includes the navy ground which has provided many players and teams over the years. The predominant colours are black and green which have been common colours of all the North Shore clubs over the decades.

North Shore Albions
Club information
Full nameNorth Shore Albions Rugby League Football Club
ColoursBlack and White
Founded1909[1]
Exited2005
Former details
Ground(s)
  • Bayswater Park
  • Devonport Domain
CompetitionAuckland Rugby League
Records
Premierships1913, 1914, 1928, 1932, 1933, 1941
Minor premiership1940, 1941, 1946, 1955,
Stormont Shield1930, 1931, 1933, 1940, 1945, 1954,
Roope Rooster1915, 1931, 1945, 1954
Norton Cup1931, 1973, 1990, 1991

History

They were formed in 1909 when the Auckland Rugby League competition was in its infancy, having its own first General Meeting that same season.

They were officially born on the evening of 23 July 1909 when a meeting was held at the Devonport Council Chambers. The following people were elected officers for the inaugural season: President – Dr. Guinness, Vice Presidents – Dr. Bennett, Captain Pilkington, Mr W. Swinnerton, Mr. A. Goldwater, and Mr. D. W. McLean, Committee – Mr. F. Gladding, Mr. P. Gerrard, Mr. Clark, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Wells, and Mr. Powell, with Mr. A. J. Powley the Secretary and Treasurer.[5]

They played in the first ever rugby league match between two Auckland club teams when they played City Rovers at Eagleton's Paddock in Epsom. North Shore put out a strong side and won the match by 44 points to 22.[6] Their team was made up of the following players: F. Neighbour, F. Gladding, Richard Wynyard, Gerrard, George Seagar, Frank Woodward, Griffin, B. Wells, Allen, C. Wells, Percival, Shaw, McReynolds, Marshall, Powell, William Wynyard, McDonald, and Stevens.

They also played one match on the Devonport Domain that year against a combined town team which they won by 26 points to 10.[7]

Titles

They were particularly successful in their early years. They won the senior grade 6 times from 1913[8] to 1941, while they won the minor premiership (Rukutai Shield) 4 times from 1940 to 1955. As Auckland grew and the North Shore gentrified North Shore struggled to remain the power house it once was and it dropped down the grades. Its last notable title was the Norton Cup which they won in 1990 and 1991.

Notable players

References
  1. "The Northern Union Game/Auckland Rugby Football League". The New Zealand Herald. XLVI (14117). 20 July 1920. p. 7. Retrieved 13 November 2019 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  2. "Two Clubs Amalgamate". The New Zealand Herald. LVII (17436). 5 March 1920. p. 6. Retrieved 10 August 2019 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  3. "Devonport United/North Shore Albions". Auckland Star. LXVIII (65). 5 March 1920. p. 23. Retrieved 25 March 2020 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  4. "New Acquisitions" (PDF). Devonport Historical and Museum Society Newsletter. 6 (2). 1 October 2005. p. 2. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  5. "Northern Union Football". Auckland Star. XL (174). 23 July 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 13 November 2019 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  6. "Northern Union Game/First League Match/Some Heavy Scoring". The New Zealand Herald. XLVI (14122). 26 July 1909. p. 7. Retrieved 1 October 2019 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  7. "The Northern Union Game/North Shore V Combined Town". The New Zealand Herald. XLVI (14140). 16 August 1909. p. 7. Retrieved 1 October 2019 – via National Library of New Zealand.
  8. "The 'Knockout' Competition/Champions Beaten by Newton/City Defeat Ponsonby". The New Zealand Herald. L (15335). 23 June 1913. p. 9. Retrieved 12 August 2019 – via National Library of New Zealand.
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