The Early Years
Trafford MV RFCC is a thriving independent community amateur club, based in Sale, Cheshire and conveniently accessed from all areas of Manchester. Currently there are 3 senior sides and mini and junior sides at all age groups. This, combined with a friendly, welcoming environment makes the club an excellent place to train, play and socialise.
Prior to becoming fully independent, the club was originally formed on May 2nd 1923 by a group of 17 apprentices at an engineering company called Metropolitan Vickers (later becoming AEI Ltd. and eventually becoming GEC Ltd.), to provide a sports facility and the opportunity to play rugby against other companies around the region under the name of Metrovick RFC.
Within four years of forming, the club was fielding four rugby XV's. Originally wearing an all black strip, in the 1927/28 season, the club changed its colours to the black and white hoops and white shorts which the club have stuck with ever since. During these early years, the club were based in Chorlton cum Hardy, paying an annual rent of £7.50 for the hire of the ground. This £7.50 became a constant drain on the clubs resources and the club started to actively seek its own playing arena. One of the potential sites identified, although not much of a playing area initially, proved too much to resist. The idyllic surrounding on the grassy banks of the River Mersey and great potential swayed the club to choose land off Glebelands Road in Sale, Greater Manchester. And so, in 1934, with the help of loans from the company, for the princely sum of £650, the club purchased land and move lock, stock and corner flags to its new playing arena. The club has been ever since.
During the War Years and the cancellation of all pre-arranged fixtures, Metrovick found itself to be a Mecca for Servicemen on leave, along with the many people engaged in engineering work in Trafford Park, and its playing numbers were increasing week on week.
In 1945 club chairman R.D.B. Lauder retired after 22 years in which he had overseen the club's development, which was now going from strength to strength. A great debt is owed to the club's first chairman for the hard work that he put in which laid the solid foundations that today's club is built on.
Prior to becoming fully independent, the club was originally formed on May 2nd 1923 by a group of 17 apprentices at an engineering company called Metropolitan Vickers (later becoming AEI Ltd. and eventually becoming GEC Ltd.), to provide a sports facility and the opportunity to play rugby against other companies around the region under the name of Metrovick RFC.
Within four years of forming, the club was fielding four rugby XV's. Originally wearing an all black strip, in the 1927/28 season, the club changed its colours to the black and white hoops and white shorts which the club have stuck with ever since. During these early years, the club were based in Chorlton cum Hardy, paying an annual rent of £7.50 for the hire of the ground. This £7.50 became a constant drain on the clubs resources and the club started to actively seek its own playing arena. One of the potential sites identified, although not much of a playing area initially, proved too much to resist. The idyllic surrounding on the grassy banks of the River Mersey and great potential swayed the club to choose land off Glebelands Road in Sale, Greater Manchester. And so, in 1934, with the help of loans from the company, for the princely sum of £650, the club purchased land and move lock, stock and corner flags to its new playing arena. The club has been ever since.
During the War Years and the cancellation of all pre-arranged fixtures, Metrovick found itself to be a Mecca for Servicemen on leave, along with the many people engaged in engineering work in Trafford Park, and its playing numbers were increasing week on week.
In 1945 club chairman R.D.B. Lauder retired after 22 years in which he had overseen the club's development, which was now going from strength to strength. A great debt is owed to the club's first chairman for the hard work that he put in which laid the solid foundations that today's club is built on.
After the War
The playing side of the club continued to develop after the war, with players staying loyal to the club. Whilst the rugby section continued to play in friendly matches and gained an excellent reputation, in 1960 the cricket section made a formal application to join the Cheshire Cricket Association, and were accepted.
The 1st and 2nd XI won the 2nd Division titles in 1980, the 1st XI were 1st Division runners-up in 1982 and won the league knock-out competition on three occasions.
There are other significant years in MV's history. In 1980, the club ground was renamed MacPherson Park, in respect to one of it's long serving members, Jim MacPherson who had passed away earlier in the year.
In 1985, with the promotion of structured rugby leagues, the rugby section joined the Girobank League, and were immediately successful in claiming the championship.
In 1989 the cricket section joined the South Lancashire League and, over the following nine seasons, the 1st XI were placed in the top three on four occasions and won the Wilkinson Sword Knock-Out in 1995 and were runners-up on two further occasions. The 2nd XI won their championship in 1990.
With league cricket in the North West facing a complete shake-up in the mid to late 1990's the club saw that it was time to join a more organised structure with the possibility of upward mobility. In this respect it was decided that an application be made to the Cheshire Cricket Alliance, a new alliance between clubs of the old Cheshire Competition and South Cheshire Alliance, and return the club to its Cheshire roots. In 1998, the club was placed in the 2nd Division of the Cheshire Cricket Alliance, effectively the bottom rung of the Cheshire Pyramid, but were immediately successful. The championship was won at a canter and the 1st XI were promoted to the 1st Division. Success for the second XI was only 12 months behind the 1st XI and the 1999 season saw the 2nd XI running out comfortable winners of the B division and were promoted, whilst the 1st XI consolidated their position in the top flight. 2001 saw even more success for the club, with the 2nd XI, under the captaincy of Duncan Eckersall, winning the league comfortably and being beaten finalists in the cup.
After only three seasons in the top flight of the Alliance, 2003 brought even more success to MV with the first XI coming runners up in the Alliance 1st Division and gaining promotion to the Mellor Braggins Cheshire Cricket League. If 2003 was a good year for MV, 2004 was even better. With the intention of establishing themselves in the new league, the 1st XI went on to win the league at a canter by over 40 points and were promoted to the 2nd Division.
The final most important development in MV's history happened when the club changed it's name. As the decline in the engineering function at the company (now GEC Ltd) became more and more significant, the close ties of the early days between club and company were becoming less and less. In 1993, as the club had no further ties with Metrovick, and along with the desire to promote the club within it's more regional surroundings, the club changed it's name to Trafford MV RFCC. This was the end of a long association with Metrovicks, and as a mark of our past history, the MV was kept in our name.
The club has continued develop year on year, and the club boasts a fine tradition of sporting excellence. The club is proud to state that two current rugby professionals at Sale RFC, were previous members of our junior section and senior teams. This is not where our association with Sale ends. In 1997, Sale have moved their training centre to the club and MV have also hosted the All Blacks national side for training sessions prior to the rugby internationals, as well as hosting Pau Rugby Club from France prior to European Cup games at Sale .
Our playing surface is now one of the best in the area, which has been proved by the levels of rugby teams that continue to use our facilities. The club also has a fully floodlight rugby pitch and training area, which ensures that players can train deep into the late hours if they so desire, or dependant on how bad they performed on the Saturday.
The club also has a thriving junior section, which is the envy of all clubs in the area. This is illustrated by the club producing 5 England schoolboys in the last 6 years. It is from these juniors sections that several of the current rugby 1st XV have developed, and on the cricket side, several of the 1st XI players have played junior cricket at MV. It is this junior base that the club sees as it's long term development, and the club are totally committed to the development of children with the aim of not just unearthing a new England schoolboy, but to provide the facility for all to play and enjoy cricket and rugby.
On the facilities side, the club have recently undertaken a £600k changing facility development which opened in January 2009.
Trafford MV RFCC are proud of its history, and are ready for the 21st Century.
The 1st and 2nd XI won the 2nd Division titles in 1980, the 1st XI were 1st Division runners-up in 1982 and won the league knock-out competition on three occasions.
There are other significant years in MV's history. In 1980, the club ground was renamed MacPherson Park, in respect to one of it's long serving members, Jim MacPherson who had passed away earlier in the year.
In 1985, with the promotion of structured rugby leagues, the rugby section joined the Girobank League, and were immediately successful in claiming the championship.
In 1989 the cricket section joined the South Lancashire League and, over the following nine seasons, the 1st XI were placed in the top three on four occasions and won the Wilkinson Sword Knock-Out in 1995 and were runners-up on two further occasions. The 2nd XI won their championship in 1990.
With league cricket in the North West facing a complete shake-up in the mid to late 1990's the club saw that it was time to join a more organised structure with the possibility of upward mobility. In this respect it was decided that an application be made to the Cheshire Cricket Alliance, a new alliance between clubs of the old Cheshire Competition and South Cheshire Alliance, and return the club to its Cheshire roots. In 1998, the club was placed in the 2nd Division of the Cheshire Cricket Alliance, effectively the bottom rung of the Cheshire Pyramid, but were immediately successful. The championship was won at a canter and the 1st XI were promoted to the 1st Division. Success for the second XI was only 12 months behind the 1st XI and the 1999 season saw the 2nd XI running out comfortable winners of the B division and were promoted, whilst the 1st XI consolidated their position in the top flight. 2001 saw even more success for the club, with the 2nd XI, under the captaincy of Duncan Eckersall, winning the league comfortably and being beaten finalists in the cup.
After only three seasons in the top flight of the Alliance, 2003 brought even more success to MV with the first XI coming runners up in the Alliance 1st Division and gaining promotion to the Mellor Braggins Cheshire Cricket League. If 2003 was a good year for MV, 2004 was even better. With the intention of establishing themselves in the new league, the 1st XI went on to win the league at a canter by over 40 points and were promoted to the 2nd Division.
The final most important development in MV's history happened when the club changed it's name. As the decline in the engineering function at the company (now GEC Ltd) became more and more significant, the close ties of the early days between club and company were becoming less and less. In 1993, as the club had no further ties with Metrovick, and along with the desire to promote the club within it's more regional surroundings, the club changed it's name to Trafford MV RFCC. This was the end of a long association with Metrovicks, and as a mark of our past history, the MV was kept in our name.
The club has continued develop year on year, and the club boasts a fine tradition of sporting excellence. The club is proud to state that two current rugby professionals at Sale RFC, were previous members of our junior section and senior teams. This is not where our association with Sale ends. In 1997, Sale have moved their training centre to the club and MV have also hosted the All Blacks national side for training sessions prior to the rugby internationals, as well as hosting Pau Rugby Club from France prior to European Cup games at Sale .
Our playing surface is now one of the best in the area, which has been proved by the levels of rugby teams that continue to use our facilities. The club also has a fully floodlight rugby pitch and training area, which ensures that players can train deep into the late hours if they so desire, or dependant on how bad they performed on the Saturday.
The club also has a thriving junior section, which is the envy of all clubs in the area. This is illustrated by the club producing 5 England schoolboys in the last 6 years. It is from these juniors sections that several of the current rugby 1st XV have developed, and on the cricket side, several of the 1st XI players have played junior cricket at MV. It is this junior base that the club sees as it's long term development, and the club are totally committed to the development of children with the aim of not just unearthing a new England schoolboy, but to provide the facility for all to play and enjoy cricket and rugby.
On the facilities side, the club have recently undertaken a £600k changing facility development which opened in January 2009.
Trafford MV RFCC are proud of its history, and are ready for the 21st Century.
Jim Ward - Club President
