FYLDE RUGBY CLUB: MEDIA RELEASE, 28th March 2026
We are extremely sad to report the death of Bob Barclay, a major figure in Fylde RFC’s history in the last 60 years, including roles as Chairman and President, a long time senior IT Manager at the Guardian Assurance Company, a Justice of the Peace on the Fylde Coast and a charity fund raiser in the community.
A product of Kirkham Grammar School, he joined Fylde as a teenager in 1961, ’10 stone 7 wet through’, but with speed and a taste for tackling. He reached the 1st XV within a couple of seasons and stayed involved for a decade, playing more than 100 games on the wing, at centre or as open side wing forward. He appeared for all of the other senior teams over the years, if only for odd games, and also played regularly for the Wednesday XV; that’s eight teams in all.
One of his team mates in his prime was the distinguished England ‘A’ winger, Tony Richards who remembers Bob clearly. He said: “Bob and I played together in the late 60’s and early 70’s and I remember him as a very proud member of the Fylde first team who went on to serve the Club in a variety of capacities, culminating in being its President. He was very much a team player, and never afraid to express his forthright point of view. He will be a major loss to the Club.”
After that came an even longer and even more fulfilling 38 year career in coaching. Bob qualified as a coach and travelled to other Lancashire clubs to coach their players until the advent of Mini-Junior Rugby which he played a major role in starting at the Woodlands alongside Allan Townsend. Over these years he brought many hundreds of players into the game and set them on their way.
Fylde members of a certain vintage remember Bob Barclay as their first coach in rugby; a stern disciplinarian who instilled a great love of and respect for rugby union. They knew him as the stiff-collared centrepiece of every mini rugby session, without whose shrill whistle their Sunday mornings would not have been complete. They would know him later as a referee, a tour organiser and a tireless advocate for Fylde Rugby Club.
Bob was the instigator of the incredibly popular Superstars Sports Days of the late 70s and early 80s, attracting great publicity and sponsorship to the club and enhancing our profile in the community. Bob was behind the British Aerospace 7s competition, the first of its kind, attracting school sides from all over the British Isles, and which ran for many years. In addition to the coaching, the sports days, the 7s competitions, the club bonfires and the many and varied activities that Bob arranged on behalf of the club, was the famous junior disco. Bob outlawed alcohol but encouraged the dancing and the fun, all in a respectful manner of course!
Not everyone would always agree with Bob’s point of view and his approach to the business of rugby and he didn’t suffer fools gladly. But none would accuse him of being anything other than the staunchest supporter of Fylde and the boys that played there. Bob served as both the Club’s Chairman and President, and there can have been no more passionate custodians of Fylde than him or more immaculately dressed! Whether in or out of office Bob fought tooth and nail for what he believed to be the best for Fylde, not least during the years leading up to the club turning professional.
In 2012 in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list Bob received a British Empire Medal for his contribution to young people and sport in the Fylde. Club Chairman at that time, Andy Hiles, said “We’re all so pleased for Bob. Not only has he done so much for the club in the past, especially with his years of coaching young players, but he’s a tremendous ambassador for Fylde as President. I congratulate him and his family on behalf of everyone at the club and his many friends and acquaintances in English rugby. This award couldn’t be more deserved.”
Bob’s wife Janice has also been a mainstay of the club, from creating early replica shirts to chairing the Ladies Committee and feeding 5,000 supporters at Bill Beaumont’s testimonial game in 1982. Bob’s and Janice’s three sons all played for the Club with pride and distinction, with middle son Ian, making 242 1st XV appearances and serving as captain in 1998-99.
Fylde’s Chairman of Rugby Mark Nelson who knew Bob for some 45 years said: “Bob was a rugby man through and through. He loved the game and was passionate about Fylde in all aspects of the Club. His contribution spans the decades and he will be remembered with great respect, affection and appreciation. My thoughts are with Janice, the boys and the family.”
Fylde President Anthony Hoskisson said: “I knew Bob for over 50 years ever since I first attended Mini-Junior rugby in the early Seventies at Fylde. I remember well his passion when coaching teams throughout his many years of involvement. Many of these teams were very successful, winning Lancashire Cups at various age groups. He also arranged many events at The Club, raising much needed funds throughout the years. Bob was a true Fylde Clubman and we will be holding a minute’s silence in his honour prior to our last game of the season on 18th of April.
Everyone associated with Fylde RFC sends their commiserations to Janice, their sons and other family members and friends.
Bob Barclay “Rugby is not a game, it’s a life.”
There will be a minute’s silence in honour of Bob ahead of the 1st XV’s last home game of the season, Fylde v Rossendale, on Saturday, 18th April at the Woodlands.
