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Club History.
'The pre-war years'
In June 1927 former Sandal St. Helens player, Mr. Claude Beaumont, who had just completed 25 years service with Wakefield R.F.C., came to reside in Sandal. He quickly realised the potential for a Rugby Union Football Club to be established in the suburb and arranged to meet a number of local sportsmen at the Castle Inn to consider this possibility. Amongst those present were C. T. Stubley (Founder President), W. H. Massie (Founder Chairman), J. T. I. Cropper, J. G. McPhail and E. Tindale and from this small gathering it was resolved to convene a further meeting on the 26th August 1927, at which the Sandal R.U.F.C. was born.
In its early years the Club made steady progress. In 1928/29 and 1929/30 the 1st XV reached the final of the 'Seven-a-Side' competition at Skipton. However, when in only its sixth season in 1932/33, the Club won the Yorkshire Shield by beating Scarborough in the final at Bridlington by 13 pts. to 6.
Shield Winning Side 1932/33
Back Row: S. Collins, J. H. Stead, W. Walton, J. N. Smallwood, G. Harmon, P. A. Townsend, J. Balfour, J. D. Richards
Front Row: E. Galvin, R. Harris, J. D. Holdsworth, S. C. Lord (Captain), H. D. Holdsworth, C. K. Harrison, A. Brocklesby
A year later the side eclipsed its previous success by making its way into the final of the Yorkshire Cup affectionately known as the 'T'owd Tin Pot'. Unfortunately the final was lost to Otley at Bradford by 19pts. to 3.
This successful run in the cup placed Sandal on the 'Football Map' and established the Club in the senior ranks of Yorkshire Rugby.
Runners-lip in the Yorkshire R.U. Cnp 1933 / 34
Back Row: G E Lamb. G. K. Harrison, H. D. Holdsworth. J. Balfour, F. S. Marshall, W. Walton, B. A. Stokes, J. Blakey
Front Row: N. Smallwood, H. G. Wilson, W. C. Broadhead, S. C. Lord (Captain), J. Holdsworth. A. Brocklesby, E. Galvin, J. H. Stead
As the Club's fortunes advanced it was felt that a more permanent home should be secured, so negotiations commenced with Sir Thomas Pilkington, and at a Special General Meeting held on the 11th September 1931 it was unanimously decided to purchase the ground known today as the 1st XV field. Attempts had been made to purchase the 'Tetley Field' which had been used for four years but the owner refused to sell. The cost of 3¼ acres of land purchased was £260.00 and to help to meet the cost a loan of £200.00 from the Rugby Football Union was obtained at a nominal interest of 2½% ... repayable over 15 years. Other expenditure including the provision of fencing, sowing the ground and purchase of a small area of land at the entrance amounted to £140.
The levelling work was undertaken by Wakefield Corporation and was affected by the area being used as a domestic tip for several years. The construction of a stand and perimeter pitch fencing was carried out by Fred Iveson.
From its inception the Club obtained the use of an excellent playing area known as the Tetley Field and used a beer store of the original Walnut Tree public house as its changing rooms. The 2nd XV had to change in an adjacent Joiners shop off Barnsley Road.
75th Anniversary: A Pictorial History of Sandal R.U.F.C.
Obtainable from the Club Secretary £10.00
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