The History of West Leeds R.U.F.C.

-formerly the West Leeds Old Boys' R.U.F.C.

The Club was formed in 1926 by Old Boys and Masters of West Leeds High School. The brainchild of the then headmaster, Thomas Curzon, it was based at the school with matches on the School playing fields.Membership was restricted to Old Boys and Teachers of the School, the Club played under the banner of West Leeds High School Old Boys R.U.F.C.

At first only one XV was turned out, but by the outbreak of the Second World War two teams were playing regularly. After the War two teams were once again playing, using the school fields but now based at the White Horse Public House on Armley Town Street.We can only imagine that the reason behind the move of headquarters was because the lads liked a good walk to the game.

Wishing to be more independent of the School, the Club rented a pitch on Lawns Lane, Farnley from Stephenson Farm, with the thoughts of developing their own ground. Unfortunately this did not materialise due to a dispute with the Farmer over the Club installing showers in the Cow Shed.

In the late fifties the Alexander WMC sports ground on Bluehill Lane came on the market. At a meeting held in the West Leeds School Hall sufficient financial support was pledged to buy the site outright at a price of Ł1600. Originally the site was prepared for cricket ( the square being prepared by En Tout Cas who prepared the Playing fields for the Melbourne Olympics) and Rugby. Regrettably the cricket section folded in 1970 due to lack of "off the field" support. A good deal of effort, both in time and money raising was needed before the ground and clubhouse were complete. at first the Clubhouse consisted of a tin hut placed in the top corner of the site, now occupied by the car park. A wooden structure was acquired in 1963 from Ripon Army Barracks, but unhappily the wooden structure was lost in a fire in the early seventies, to be replaced by the current structure, once again after much fund raising. In the early seventies due to falling playing numbers the Club decided to open its doors to non Old Boys, playing under the present name of West Leeds R.U.F.C. The Club was, in fact, the last in Yorkshire to "go open".

Old Boys' 'Club House at Bluehill lane about 1956

Achievements on the field of play include the winning of the Yorkshire Shield in 1954 and the Yorkshire Cup in 1957, finalists of the Tetley Bitter Vase played at Twickenham in 1998, being crowned as Yorkshire Division One 1999/2000 Champions and of course more lately the winning of the Yorkshire Shield in 2003.. Some distinguished players have played at the Club notably the Platt brothers, Keith who went on to play for Yorkshire, the legendary Frank Dobbs, said to be one of the best forwards never to have represented his county, Brian Campsall International Panel Referee and David Breakwell, who represented Yorkshire in the County Final win at Twickenham in 1994. Joe Bedford (now part of our Coaching team) captained England Under 18s Schools Group at Toulouse against France represented England in the U21's World Cup in the summer of 2004. Joe now plays at Leeds Carnegie in the Guinness Premiership.

http://www.westleedsrugby.org.uk/

Brian Campsall
International Rugby Union Referee
(formerly Head Boy of the school in 1966)

The History of West Leeds R.U.F.C.
-formerly the West Leeds Old Boys' R.U.F.C.
The Club was formed in 1926 by Old Boys and Masters of West Leeds High School. The brainchild of the then headmaster, Thomas Curzon, it was based at the school with matches on the School playing fields.Membership was restricted to Old Boys and Teachers of the School, the Club played under the banner of West Leeds High School Old Boys R.U.F.C. At first only one XV was turned out, but by the outbreak of the Second World War two teams were playing regularly. After the War two teams were once again playing, using the school fields but now based at the White Horse Public House on Armley Town Street.We can only imagine that the reason behind the move of headquarters was because the lads liked a good walk to the game. Wishing to be more independent of the School, the Club rented a pitch on Lawns Lane, Farnley from Stephenson Farm, with the thoughts of developing their own ground. Unfortunately this did not materialise due to a dispute with the Farmer over the Club installing showers in the Cow Shed.
In the late fifties the Alexander WMC sports ground on Bluehill Lane came on the market. At a meeting held in the West Leeds School Hall sufficient financial support was pledged to buy the site outright at a price of Ł1600. Originally the site was prepared for cricket ( the square being prepared by En Tout Cas who prepared the Playing fields for the Melbourne Olympics) and Rugby. Regrettably the cricket section folded in 1970 due to lack of "off the field" support. A good deal of effort, both in time and money raising was needed before the ground and clubhouse were complete. at first the Clubhouse consisted of a tin hut placed in the top corner of the site, now occupied by the car park. A wooden structure was acquired in 1963 from Ripon Army Barracks, but unhappily the wooden structure was lost in a fire in the early seventies, to be replaced by the current structure, once again after much fund raising. In the early seventies due to falling playing numbers the Club decided to open its doors to non Old Boys, playing under the present name of West Leeds R.U.F.C. The Club was, in fact, the last in Yorkshire to "go open".	Old Boys' 'Club House at Bluehill lane about 1956
Achievements on the field of play include the winning of the Yorkshire Shield in 1954 and the Yorkshire Cup in 1957, finalists of the Tetley Bitter Vase played at Twickenham in 1998, being crowned as Yorkshire Division One 1999/2000 Champions and of course more lately the winning of the Yorkshire Shield in 2003.. Some distinguished players have played at the Club notably the Platt brothers, Keith who went on to play for Yorkshire, the legendary Frank Dobbs, said to be one of the best forwards never to have represented his county, Brian Campsall International Panel Referee and David Breakwell, who represented Yorkshire in the County Final win at Twickenham in 1994. Joe Bedford (now part of our Coaching team) captained England Under 18s Schools Group at Toulouse against France represented England in the U21's World Cup in the summer of 2004. Joe now plays at Leeds Carnegie in the Guinness Premiership. http://www.westleedsrugby.org.uk/	Brian Campsall International Rugby Union Referee (formerly Head Boy of the school in 1966)