During the last five or so years I have written a number of contributions to this blog exploring Chorlton-cum-Hardy's various connections to both football and cricket.
I have until now, however, not submitted a story concerning that other popular spectator sport, rugby.
Although the city of Manchester was and is soccer dominated there are, also, a number of rugby clubs in the Greater Manchester area. Rugby League is represented by two clubs in the city of Salford, Swinton and the historically more successful Salford. (1)
Closer at hand there is the Union club Sale (now known as Sale Sharks). What is easy to overlook, however, is that Chorlton- cum-Hardy itself is home to another Rugby Union club of some note; Boughton Park. Indeed, in the 1960’s and 70’s they were one of the premier clubs of England, (2) with their results regularly given in the Rugby Union results broadcast on “Grandstand”; the BBC’S Saturday afternoon sports programme.
One reason Broughton Park’s Chorlton-cum-Hardy heritage is less widely known lies in the club’s name which indicates that when it was formed in 1882 it was based in the Broughton area of Salford and it was not until the mid-1950's that it re-located to Chorlton-cum-Hardy.
This was at Chelsfield Grove for almost half a century until the club’s move to its present ground on the other side of Mauldeth Road at Hough End Crescent in 2004.
Whilst growing up in the area I was aware of a rugby ground off Mauldeth Road as the public footpath (known by some locals as “The Bumps”) which runs between Nell Lane and Mauldeth Road was a favourite playground and gave views across the ground from the “27 Steps” (3) at its far end.
It was not however until I returned to Manchester in 1989 that I attended any matches there. By that time, I had developed a liking for the sport of rugby, stimulated in part by my time spent at University College Cardiff in that hotbed of rugby union, South Wales.
Programme
Although, by the end of the 1980’s the fortunes of Broughton Park R.F.C. had gone into somewhat of a decline as this fixture list from one of 1989-90 seasons programmes shows they could still engage in playing some fairly high-profile clubs.
There were the local derbies against Sale and other home games against the Metropolitan Police and the curiously named Preston Grasshoppers.
The club also had a prestigious away fixture with the West of Scotland. Broughton Park were promoted in this season of 1989-90 but with the impact of the increasing professionalisation of rugby union since 1995, the club has struggled to climb any higher in the sport’s league structure.
They currently play at level 6 in the North West 1 League. The club are, however, the highest ranked rugby union club in the city of Manchester and proud to field 4 men’s and 1 women’s team each week. They have also eagerly embraced “Mini Rugby” and now have teams in all the six year groups from U-6 through to U-12.
Entrance notice board
Tony Goulding © 2020
Location; Chorlton
Pictures, Broughton Park in action December 1959 m 07709 R.E. Stanley, “27 Steps” Mauldeth Road 1959 R.E. Stanley m18106courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass, remaining images courtesy of Tony Goulding
Notes: -
1) Wider afield in Greater Manchester there are other top Rugby League clubs. Wigan being the most prominent having 22 Championship wins and 19 Challenge Cup victories; including 8 successive successes between 1988 and 1995. There is also Leigh and Rochdale, who have always been “Rochdale Hornets” long before the modern trend were all teams have an epithet added to their name.
2) During the 1970’s, Broughton Park not only had the England captain Tony Neary but also could choose from 4 other international players.
3) The “27 Steps” were christened as such in honour of John Buchan’s the “39 steps” and were a place of childhood romance.
 |
| Broughton Park’s present ground at Hough End Crescent |
Although the city of Manchester was and is soccer dominated there are, also, a number of rugby clubs in the Greater Manchester area. Rugby League is represented by two clubs in the city of Salford, Swinton and the historically more successful Salford. (1)
Closer at hand there is the Union club Sale (now known as Sale Sharks). What is easy to overlook, however, is that Chorlton- cum-Hardy itself is home to another Rugby Union club of some note; Boughton Park. Indeed, in the 1960’s and 70’s they were one of the premier clubs of England, (2) with their results regularly given in the Rugby Union results broadcast on “Grandstand”; the BBC’S Saturday afternoon sports programme.
 |
| Broughton Park in action, December 1959 |
This was at Chelsfield Grove for almost half a century until the club’s move to its present ground on the other side of Mauldeth Road at Hough End Crescent in 2004.
 |
| 27 Steps, Mauldeth Road, 1959 |
It was not however until I returned to Manchester in 1989 that I attended any matches there. By that time, I had developed a liking for the sport of rugby, stimulated in part by my time spent at University College Cardiff in that hotbed of rugby union, South Wales.
 |
| Programme, 1989 |
Although, by the end of the 1980’s the fortunes of Broughton Park R.F.C. had gone into somewhat of a decline as this fixture list from one of 1989-90 seasons programmes shows they could still engage in playing some fairly high-profile clubs.
There were the local derbies against Sale and other home games against the Metropolitan Police and the curiously named Preston Grasshoppers.
The club also had a prestigious away fixture with the West of Scotland. Broughton Park were promoted in this season of 1989-90 but with the impact of the increasing professionalisation of rugby union since 1995, the club has struggled to climb any higher in the sport’s league structure.
They currently play at level 6 in the North West 1 League. The club are, however, the highest ranked rugby union club in the city of Manchester and proud to field 4 men’s and 1 women’s team each week. They have also eagerly embraced “Mini Rugby” and now have teams in all the six year groups from U-6 through to U-12.
 |
| Entrance to club, 2020 |
Tony Goulding © 2020
Location; Chorlton
Pictures, Broughton Park in action December 1959 m 07709 R.E. Stanley, “27 Steps” Mauldeth Road 1959 R.E. Stanley m18106courtesy of Manchester Libraries, Information and Archives, Manchester City Council, http://images.manchester.gov.uk/index.php?session=pass, remaining images courtesy of Tony Goulding
Notes: -
1) Wider afield in Greater Manchester there are other top Rugby League clubs. Wigan being the most prominent having 22 Championship wins and 19 Challenge Cup victories; including 8 successive successes between 1988 and 1995. There is also Leigh and Rochdale, who have always been “Rochdale Hornets” long before the modern trend were all teams have an epithet added to their name.
2) During the 1970’s, Broughton Park not only had the England captain Tony Neary but also could choose from 4 other international players.
3) The “27 Steps” were christened as such in honour of John Buchan’s the “39 steps” and were a place of childhood romance.
I was brought up in the house next to the entrance to the club, No. 18 Chelsfield Grove. I saw the new clubhouse being built and the pitches developed. My late stepfather was the groundsman for many years. He met my widowed mother over the garden fence. I helped him put in those white concrete posts around the pitches. His name was Leonard Lang, anyone remember him ? He lived in Darley Avenue and was plumber for the corporation. He was a fireman in the war and died in 1985. Before the club came there were highland cattle in the field.
ReplyDeleteI remember watching a game there in the 1970s, whilst listening on the radio to a Bjorn Borg Wimbledon final.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great piece on a great club full of history, a hidden gem off Mauldeth Road.
ReplyDelete