Centenary Dates…join in the birthday celebrations!

It was Saturday July 26 1919 when a group of rugby enthusiasts, led by Rev Henry Gorse, met to form Newark Rugby Union Football Club. That first season, 1919-20, we played 19 games and won 12…

The club has never stopped playing since – even in the Second World War – and will be celebrating the centenary starting in April when England’s World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson will be the guest of honour at the club’s annual Legends Night.

Rev Gorse and co will be toasted at a 100th Centenary Dinner on Friday 26 July when leading figures from the club will talk about their special memories of rugby and the personalities that has made Kelham Road so special.

And before the start of next season, 2019-20, the 1st team squad will be playing Notts, Lincs & Derbys under-20s in a centenary match at Kelham Road on Saturday August 24.
The match will be the feature of a festival of rugby which will be followed in September by a family fun day for the mini and youth squads.

Other events planned include a Newark Sevens on Saturday 18 May, which is part of a new nationwide tournament, and a Summer Party in June 2020 to mark the end of the birthday celebrations.

President John Coles said: “We hope all members and supporters will be able to celebrate the club’s 100th.

The events are designed to embrace the whole membership over the next 12 months or so.

It gives us all the great opportunity to showcase the facilities we have developed at Kelham Road.
It is a testimony to all the members and supporters who are sadly departed that the club enters its centenary year in great heart.

The energy and passion shown all those years ago in launching the club has been matched by the way present members and supporters have re-developed Kelham Road into one of the best junior facilities in the East Midlands.

It’s time to celebrate a very special club which is close to our hearts and which has played a big part in the sporting history of Newark.”