[Photo above, Fylde v Harrogate, Jan 2011; Oli Brennand swallowed up by ‘Gate defenders with Jason Robinson & Grant Ferguson also involved]
Fylde welcome our old friends and rivals Harrogate RUFC to the Woodlands on Saturday (ko 15.00). The two clubs have met each other in Roses battles for many generations and ‘Gate, one of England’s oldest rugby union clubs, are celebrating their 150th anniversary in 2021-22.
However, since the formation of the serious RFU divisions and the advent of professionalism in the 1990s, the clubs have met each other just 16 times in eight seasons, from 1999-2003 and from 2007-2011. ‘Gate dominated in the first of these periods, Fylde had rather more success in the later sequence. In all, Fylde have won 6, Harrogate 10.
In terms of league status, Harrogate’s principal, sustained success was to have 13 seasons, 1994-2007, in National One, the 3rd tier of the English league hierarchy. Since then they have yo-yo’d between National Two (North) at level 4 and North Premier, level 5. Two relegations to North Premier were followed swiftly by two promotions back to N2N, the latest in 2019-20.
The last time the two clubs met was in Fylde’s promotion campaign in the 2010-11 season which resulted in a very rare double for the Lancastrians – a 20-30 victory at their then Caro Road base and a 35-12 win at the Woodlands.
There had been a long running planning dispute as the Club wanted to move away from the Caro Road site but the local authority would not approve its alternative use and a period of instability for the Club followed. It was eventually settled and in 2015 ‘Gate moved from the centre to the south edge of town to a brand new ground, the Stratstone Stadium on Rudding Lane. This has given the Club excellent, modern and top quality facilities embracing grass and artificial pitches and a thriving clubhouse.
Harrogate’s return to N2N has been rather stuttering in the first three weeks of the season. They opened with a very tough couple of games, losing 21-51 at home to Sedgley Park and then 47-20 at another newly promoted club, Bournville. Last Saturday they notched their first victory by beating another newcomer, Blaydon, by 17-12. They sit in 11th place in the division with four points.
The Director of Rugby is former Premiership star winger David Doherty who also plays regularly at fullback or sometimes wing in N2N games. They have a strong pack who will collectively prove a serious test for the Fylde forwards, with a very solid lock partnership of Sam Brady and Brendan Hannam and a backrow which usually features Martin Dodds and Declan Thompson.
Amongst the backs, playmaker and goal kicker is Sam Fox and there’s attacking prowess in the centre with Mason Knowles and Jordan Cummings. Doherty will always be an acute danger, especially with his broken field running.
A couple of links between the clubs concern former Fylde players who’ve moved from the Fylde Coast to the Harrogate area. Graeme Tasker, a popular member at the Woodlands for many years and a very competitive flanker during the 1990s, joined a Yorkshire veterinary practice, became involved at Caro Road and has made a notable effort in coaching youngsters over a very long period. He had the pleasure a few seasons ago of playing in the same team as his son Hugo.
Former 1st XV skipper and highly talented centre or fly-half Ian Barclay is another Lancashire export to the dark side of the Pennines. One of the three distinguished sons of former Fylde player, President, Chairman and Coach Bob Barclay, Ian, has also been involved with Harrogate RUFC in the past.
