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President - Alan Bent
Chairman - Chris Gaffey
Honorary Secretary - Dave Nicholls
Honorary Treasurer - Greg Wilson
Fixtures Secretary - Don Edmondson
Director of Rugby - Sam Simpson
Safeguarding Officer - Heather Thorpe
D of E Chairman - Mark Baines
Mini & Junior Chairman - Dan Nicholls
Junior Fixtures Secretary - Leeann Aspinall
Ladies Captain - Rowanne Smalley
Mens’ Captain - James Wright
To play rugby Contact:
Mens’ Head Coach Sam Simpson 07935 403171
Ladies Head Coach James Wright 07791 227616
Mini & Junior Chair Dan Nicholls 07789 202189
׉	 7cassandra://yC2-EKNbYjpioi7Z7NDgxQFHBoq-sJW7AAb2yj9Zqd8`̷ c*yμ҇׉EpPRESIDENT’S WELCOME
Welcome to Eccles Rugby Football Club
Dear club members, sponsors and visitors, welcome to Eccles RFC for
what we all hope will be a great season of rugby.
With the long awaited change to the RFU league structure we are able to
welcome clubs and friends we haven’t seen for a while but as I look
through the fixture list I note that during our long history we have entertained
all of you at some point in our past .
Since 1897, Eccles Rugby Club has upheld a proud tradition of producing
homegrown talent. As we strive to bring our young players through the
ranks to populate our senior teams we never lose sight of the fact that
these young men and women that we coach may move onto better
things, and if they have the ability and desire to do so, who are we to
stand in their way.
This year Eccles RFC is celebrating 125th anniversary and this coming
season will be my 50th with the club, so naturally I am delighted to be
appointed as its President. Through all our developments over the years,
we have remained at heart a community rugby club, so if we are a little
rough around the edges, or little over exuberant at times I apologise, but
the one thing I don’t apologise for is the warm welcome and great sense
of belonging that we extend to all our members and guests when spending
time with us.
I’d like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all our sponsors
for supporting us again this season and a very big thank you to all our
hard working volunteers for helping to provide an enjoyable match day
experience. I wish you all good time. Yours in rugby, Benty.
Alan Bent // President // Eccles RFC
׉	 7cassandra://CYrNbKJNs1EmabU6qXFhafumDhKYxQlZMsdgqukBOK8"`̷ c*yμ҈c*yμ҇vבCט   ҁu׉׉	 7cassandra://weScYhKSaGuh9ZELOK2OtSEsflO_LuQRCyU3iAKK6D0 c9`  ׉	 7cassandra://mE7elYgnqIecQXeG4uFJ8EG8SCg7lN2xkj-CiGUxNas͗}`W׉	 7cassandra://C_LQiLguEnCgCZkvDsfCDAnsle0V_p5QT9e2rsF058E( `̷ ׉	 7cassandra://fhCmXaa7dNRklYjJchN98obJCMeT1gKNRWsA6IozUd8]|͠c*yμҶט  ҁu׉׉	 7cassandra://c0duEMwKXh7vvUb2e5EMrm6-XyI9hwVZvsK0675MNSE g3`  ׉	 7cassandra://WoHCvzSf4MFIUsDZTVHYTWe1KpNZEg4ZthBy1TjpNJEͬ` W׉	 7cassandra://vE4WnN7yWN7jdLNas7UajmNnxEkn-ntm453y4IBnDKE&`̷ ׉	 7cassandra://m-PP7TZw0b9fZj9FqFO5iX76L2beL3K_aG7MLyJMKAUF͠c*yμҷ׉ECHAIRMAN’S WELCOME
A warm welcome to all our supporters and visitors at Gorton Street today.
As I write this message with the new 2022/23 season in front of us, I do so with a full
appreciation of the enormous effort that has been put in behind the scenes this
summer, on and off the pitch, to prepare the club for its 125th year of rugby.
Following our Men’s success in winning the Lancashire Plate Trophy in May, there has
been no break in activities, with Marquee and Junior events, Ladies and Girls tournaments,
visitors from Rotterdam, the 3-day Festival, pitch maintenance and several
essential facilities projects to occupy the Eccles devotees.
A club is defined by the commitment and ambition of its members and we have no
shortage of that at Eccles. For a club to survive 125 years it needs determined players,
enthusiastic volunteers and a community of loyal supporters - it needs an association of
people dedicated to a shared goal who come together to contribute their combined
efforts and resources, sticking at it, season after season, through the hard times and the
good. For a club to continue to thrive and grow it needs far more than income to cover
its costs, it needs sustained hard work over a long period and I’d like to pay tribute to all
the people who have put in countless hours over the summer and the years, in support
of Eccles RFC and Rugby Union in our region. We would not be gathered here today to
enjoy a game without you.
An increase in operating costs, brought about through external factors such as inflation
and exorbitant energy price increases mean the club will face financial challenges this
coming season. As our membership fees remain fixed, it is essential we grow our
revenue whilst keeping strict control of our expenditure to put the club in a long-term
sustainable position, so we can invest in capital projects for our future.
As members you can help us face these challenges by renewing your membership and
treating yourself to a pint and a pie throughout the season and encouraging your friends
along to games. Our senior fixtures will continue to be free entry this season and all we
ask for is a small donation towards the cost of producing this programme. To improve the
Saturday match day experience, the club will be looking to make full use of its new
kitchen facilities by hosting lunches in the conference room once that refurbishment
work is completed, so please support this and our other social events when you can.
On a rugby front, despite the national decline in adult participation, our Men's section is
aiming for growth this season with 1XV, 2XV, 3XV, Vets and Senior Colts teams all having
a full programme of fixtures to look forward to. Consistency of team line up and performance
was a problem for our Seniors last season but there’s been good commitment to
preseason training and with the addition of a few new arrivals and former colts stepping
up we're anticipating the exciting prospect of reinvigorated attacking and defensive
vitality as the season progresses. Our rejuvenated Ladies section are also rebuilding at
a promising pace assisted by a productive relationship with Salford University, and our
burgeoning Minis and Juniors section continues to pack out our pitches on a Sunday
morning. The club's website and social media updates will keep you informed on the
progress of your favourite team. Please do join our 5,000 followers to keep up with the
news during the week and join us in the clubhouse at the weekend.
׉	 7cassandra://C_LQiLguEnCgCZkvDsfCDAnsle0V_p5QT9e2rsF058E( `̷ c*yμ҉׉ECHAIRMAN’S WELCOME
Our club has played its rugby in this community since 1897 (our history actually stretches
was back beyond the Northern Union divide to 1878). We moved to our home here at
Gorton Street in 1948 when our modest facilities were a pair of second hand WW2 Army
huts! We’ve come a long way from then. Life has changed, the game has changed and the
club has adapted accordingly.
Last season Eccles RFC worked hard to overcome the set-backs of COVID by promoting
the game within our community and local schools. This paid off with an increase in
players and recruitment will remain a priority for us again this season as we aim to
surpass a membership target of 500. We believe in Rugby for all and developing our own
homegrown talent. Every player with a # proudly indicated against their name on today's
team sheet is a product of our Junior or Colts teams.
Of course, growing and developing our club would not be possible without the invaluable,
continued assistance we receive from our sponsors. I’d like to take this opportunity to
thank them all for their support, which is valued and appreciated especially that from our
neighbour and brewer First Chop who are providing the craft cask beer today and
Sewards Refrigeration who help keep it cool!
This season the club will be putting a renewed emphasis on social events and during the
Autumn we’ll have the Rugby Internationals, the Rugby League World Cup and the FIFA
World Cup on the screen. Below you’ll find a few highlighted dates to give you an indication
of what's in store in the months ahead.
Whichever team you’re supporting this weekend, I hope you enjoy your experience at
Eccles and you return to join us again soon. Thanks for your support.
Chris Gaffey // Chairman // Eccles RFC
September
Saturday 24 - Live Music post-match, RL Grand Final 5:00pm
October
Saturday 22 - Harry Scott’s England Cap unveiled post-match
Saturday 29 - Stars In Your Eyes. A memorable night with some questionable singing
and top quality fancy dress.
November
Saturday 12 - England v Japan 3:15pm
Saturday 19 - Movember fund raiser. Australian Rules Football Charity Tournament.
RLWC Final 4:00pm, England v New Zealand 5:30pm.
Saturday 26 - Ladies Bottomless Brunch and Band. A sparkling pre-match lunch and
post- match live music. Advance Tickets can be purchased at the bar.
December
Thursday 15 - Fossils Festive Gathering
Saturday 17 - Christmas Brass Band and Legends Lunch. Social highlight of the winter
season, pre-match lunch for former players, tickets can be purchased at
the bar priced £5. Post -match we'll roll into our annual Carol Concert with
the Eccles Borough Band.
February
Saturday 4 - Ticket to Ride. Club members and partners trip to Liverpool for food and
drinks at a selection of venues thanks to Revolution bars sponsorship.
Sunday 12 - England v Italy 3.00pm
Saturday 25 - Wales v England 4.45pm
March
Saturday 11 - Sponsors Day. Last home league fixture of the season. Pre-match
hospitality and following the game will be England v France 4.45pm.
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Hello and a very warm welcome to everyone attending Gorton Street today
and reading our match day programme.
Whilst many Rugby Clubs around the country are folding teams due to alarming
high numbers of adult players leaving the game, season on season,
Eccles RFC is meeting this challenge by aiming for growth with its senior
section by entering a 3XV Mens' team into a competitive league this year.
This bold decision, against the trend, comes after a number of seasons
running Casual & Vets games on a monthly basis, attracting new players and
re-engaging past players, we now feel the club has enough bodies to field a
third 15 on a weekly basis, albeit more than likely a different 15 each week!
This new 3XV team will provide an opportunity for more participation players
to have a Saturday experience and also give the club a place for safe development
for lots of our #Homegrown talent, both vital for the future growth
and success of the club.
Another aspect of our senior male growth sees us really push on with our
Vets offer. The Eccles Elephants will have a fixture every month across the
season giving players over the age of 35, who cannot play on a weekly basis,
an opportunity to play a fixture at their level whilst providing these players a
much needed place to be together socially.
Following the lifting of restrictions post Covid-19, many players wanted to do
other activities weekly, rather than committing to the same thing week in
week out. For the 2022/23 season, Eccles 1XV and 2XV teams will be
looking for more consistency in player availability as we look to build on our
progress of last season. This should be hugely supported by the influx of
new and returning faces we’ve seen in attendance over the course of
preseason, which has gone extremely well. Defensive Coach Andrew Selby
has really benefited from the summer with the lads after arriving at Eccles
halfway through last season, and new Attack Coach Kev Raynor, has quickly
become a strong presence at training, challenging the player's personal skill
development to support the way we want the team to play.
I’d like to finish by thanking everyone who is in attendance today. I hope your
match day experience at Eccles is a really enjoyable one and that you're
excited to return again in the coming weeks. Your support is hugely appreciated
and is needed if we are to achieve what we want to as a club over the
next few years.
Sam Simpson // Director of Rugby // Eccles RFC
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FOR TODAY AND THE 2022/23 SEASON.
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Date
03-Sept-22
10-Sept-22
17-Sept-22
24-Sept-22
15-Oct-22
22-Oct-22
29-Sept-22
05-Nov-22
12-Nov-22
19-Nov-22
26-Nov-22
03-Dec-22
10-Dec-22
17-Dec-22
24-Dec-22
31-Dec-22
07-Jan-23
14-Jan-23
21-Jan-23
28-Jan-23
04-Feb-23
11-Feb-23
18-Feb-23
25-Feb-23
04-Mar-23
11-Mar-23
18-Mar-23
25-Mar-23
01-Apr-22
08-Apr-22
15-Apr-22
22-Apr-22
MENS 1XV HA MENS 2XV HA MENS 3XV HA
Orrell
Heaton Moor
De La Salle
Wigan
Trafford MV
A
H
A
H
A
Liverpoll Collegiate H
Oldham
Ormskirk
Fleetwood
Littleborough
Heaton Moor
Wigan
De La Salle
A
H
A
H
A
A
H
Fylde 3XV
Blackburn 3XV
H
A
Bolton Lostock 2XV A
Kirby Lonsdale Dev H
Leigh 2XV
Preston GH 3XV
Tarleton 3XV
Southport 2XV
Tarleton 3XV
Aldwinians 2XV
Blackburn 3XV
A
H
A
H
A
H
A
Bolton Lostock 2XV H
Crewe & Nantwich 3XV A
Marple 3XV
H
Holmes Chapel 2XV A
Heaton Moor 3XV
H
Manchester Hawks H
Bolton 4XV
Wythenshawe
Bowdon 3XV
Carrington
Bury 3XV
Marple 3XV
A
H
A
A
H
A
Holmes Chapel 2XV H
Heaton Moor 3XV
A
Tyldesley
Trafford MV
H
H
Liverpool Collegiate A
Oldham
H
Ormskirk
Fleetwood
Littleborough
Orrell
A
H
A
H
Chorley
A
Kirby Lonsdale Dev A
Leigh 2XV
Preston GH 3XV
Ormskirk 2XV
Southport 2XV
Tarleton 3XV
Fylde 3XV
H
A
H
A
H
A
Newcastle Staffs 3XV H
Manchester Hawks A
Bolton 4XV
Wythenshawe
Bowdon 3XV
Carrington
Bury 3XV
H
A
H
A
A
Crewe & Nantwich 3XV H
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Date
18-Sept-21
25-Sept-21
02-Oct-22
09-Oct-22
16-Oct-22
22-Oct-22
29-Oct-22
06-Nov-22
13-Nov-22
Ladies HA
Date
27-Aug-22 Liv. Collegiate
04-Sept-22 Burnley
Senior Colts HA
H
A
11-Sept-22 West Park St. Helens H
18-Sept-22 Glossop
Chester Devas H
Vagabonds
A
25-Sept-22 Sedgley Park - CCUP R1 H
02-Oct-22 Hoylake
09-Oct-22
Trafford M.V.
Leigh
20-Nov-22 Halifax
27-Nov-22
04-Dec-22
10-Dec-22
H
A
Southport
A
18-Dec-22 Broughton Park H
24-Dec-22
31-Dec-22
07-Jan-23
15-Jan-23
21-Jan-23
28-Jan-23
04-Feb-23
12-Feb-23
18-Feb-23
Leigh
26-Feb-23 Halifax
05-Mar-23
12-Mar-23 Southport
19-Mar-23
26-Mar-23
02-Apr-23
09-Apr-23
16-Apr-23
23-Apr-22
16-Oct-22 Widnes
23-Oct-22
30-Oct-22
06-Nov-22
County Cup R 2
A
H
A
A
A
A
Chester Devas A
Vagabonds
H
A
H
A
13-Nov-22 Aldwinians
20-Nov-22
27-Nov-22
04-Dec-22
11-Dec-22
18-Dec-22
25-Dec-22
01-Jan-23
08-Jan-23
15-Jan-23
22-Jan-23
29-Jan-23
05-Feb-23
12-Feb-23
19-Feb-23
26-Feb-23
05-Mar-23
12-Mar-23
19-Mar-23
26-Mar-23
02-Apr-23
09-Apr-23
16-Apr-23
23-Apr-23
30-Apr-23
H
League Cup R 1
League Cup R 2
County Cup QF
County Cup SF
League Cup SF
County Cup Finals
League Cup Finals
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Date
04-Sept-22
11-Sept-22
18-Sept-22
25-Sept-22
02-Oct-22 Bury
09-Oct-22
U7s
HA
U8s
HA
U9s
HA
U10s HA
U11s
HA
A Didsbury Toc H
Sedgley Park
23-Oct-22
30-Oct-22 Burnley
06-Nov-22 Sale
13-Nov-22 Rochdale
20-Dec-22
27-Nov-22 Oldham
16-Oct-22 Broughton Park A Broughton Park
H Burnley
A Sale
A Rochdale
A Oldham
H Littleborough
H Crew & Nantwich A Crew & Nantwich A Crew & Nantwich A
H Manchester Festival Manchester Festival Manchester Festival
A Broughton Park
A Broughton Park
H Burnley
A Sale
A Rochdale
A Oldham
H Littleborough
H Burnley
A Sale
A Rochdale
A Oldham
H Littleborough
A Broughton Park A
H Burnley
H Sale
A Rochdale
A Oldham
04-Dec-22 Ashton UL & Leigh H Ashton UL & Leigh H Ashton UL & Leigh H Ashton UL & Leigh H
11-Dec-22 Littleborough
18-Dec-22
25-Dec-22
01-Jan-23
08-Jan-23
H Littleborough
H
H
A
A
H
Tyldesley
A Tyldesley
H Bolton
A Tyldesley
H Bolton
A Tyldesley
H Bolton
A Tyldesley
H Bolton
A
15-Jan-23 Oldham/H-Moor H Oldham/H-Moor H Oldham/H-Moor H Oldham/H-Moor H Oldham/H-Moor H
22-Jan-23 Bolton
29-Jan-23
Trafford MV
05-Feb-23 Sedgley Park
12-Feb-23 Burnley
19-Feb-23
26-Feb-23 Sale
05-Mar-23 Littleborough
A Trafford MV
A Sedgley Park
A Burnley
H Sale
A Littleborough
A Trafford MV
A Sedgley Park
A Burnley
H Sale
A Littleborough
A Trafford MV
A Sedgley Park
A Burnley
H Sale
A Littleborough
A Trafford MV
A Sedgley Park
A Burnley
H Sale
A Littleborough
H
A
A
A
H
A
12-Mar-23 Broughton Park H Broughton Park H Broughton Park H Broughton Park H Broughton Park H
19-Mar-23 Bury/Tyldesley H Bury/Tyldesley H Bury/Tyldesley H Bury/Tyldesley
H Bury/Tyldesley H
26-Mar-23
02-Apr-23 Rochdale
09-Apr-23
16-Apr-23
H Rochdale
H Rochdale
H Rochdale
H Rochdale
H
Aspull/Trafford MV H Aspull/Trafford MV H Aspull/Trafford MV H Aspull/Trafford MV H Aspull/Trafford MV H
22-Apr-23 Wilmslow Festival
30-Apr-23
07-May-23
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04-Sept-22
11-Sept-22
18-Sept-22
25-Sept-22
02-Oct-22
09-Oct-22
U12s
HA
U13s U14s
HA
HA
U15s
Littleborough A
Wigan
V-Tyldesley/Bury A Orrell
Sedgley Park
16-Oct-22 Broughton Park
23-Oct-22
30-Oct-22 Burnley
06-Nov-22 Sale
13-Nov-22
H Bowdon
Rossendale
Ormskirk
Sefton
H Orrell
A
H Bowdon
A Warrington H Aspull
H Burnley
H Bolton
Bury
20-Nov-22 V L/borough/Bolton A
27-Nov-22
04-Dec-22 Ashton UL
11-Dec-22 Littleborough
18-Dec-22
25-Dec-22
01-Jan-23
08-Jan-23
15-Jan-23
H Burnley
A
H Bury
A Leigh
Sedgley Park A Fylde
A Leigh
H Littleborough H Blackburn
H
A Bowdon
HA GIRLS
H
HA
H Broughton Park C1 A
A
Man/Stock Dev Day A
H CA Man-WBP-Bury H
A Sedg Park/Ross H
Wirral DEV
A Trafford MV
Tyldesley
H Bury
H
A Broughton Park C1 A
H
PGH DEV Day
H Liverpool Collegiate H
A Leigh
A
A CA Man-WBP-Bury A
A Liverpool St. Helens H
Sedg Park/Ross A
A
Tyldesley
22-Jan-23 Bolton
29-Jan-23
A Tyldesley
Wigan
H Bolton
05-Feb-23 Sedgley Park
12-Feb-23 Burnley
19-Feb-23
26-Feb-23 Sale
05-Mar-23 Littleborough
H Southport H Tyldesley L-CUP R6 H
A
A Rossendale
A Bolton
Burnley
V L/Borough/Sedg H Trafford MV H Trafford MV A Trafford MV
A
A
A Burnley
A Sale
A Leigh
12-Mar-23 V Rochdale/Tyldesley A Bury
19-Mar-23 Bury/Tyldesley
26-Mar-23
02-Apr-23 Rochdale
09-Apr-23
16-Apr-23
Trafford MV
23-Apr-23 Red Rose Festival
30-Apr-23
07-May-23
Festival Final
H Tyldesley
A Burnley
H Aspull
H Burnley
Lancashire CUP S/F
A Sale
H Lancs Cup R7 H Littleborough
A
A
A Tyldesley
H Rochdale H
H Trafford MV A Trafford MV H Trafford MV
Red Rose Festival Red Rose Festival Red Rose Festival
Festival Day
Finals Day
A
Finals-Plate/Vase
A Tyldesley
A
A
H
H
H
H Bolton Lancs Cup QF A
H
ECCLES JUNIOR FIXTURES
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The Eccles Junior Rugby Revolution has resumed! After recruiting over 100
new members last season, we enjoyed a packed Summer of parties to
presentations, festivals to fun days and even some Touch and Tag training
and a Summer Camp for the die-hards! And we’ve got lots in store for the
new 2022/23 season.
Girls Rugby at Eccles
Our very own Community Rugby Coach James Wright leads the Greater Manchester
Girls Network for Rugby and following the success of ‘The Open’ Girls
Rugby event this Summer, James has been busy creating a bespoke
Girls-only pathway into Rugby Union at Eccles.
Girls of any age are welcomed at Eccles and can build their experience at Tag
Rugby age and then through our bespoke Touch Rugby Academy, readying
themselves for contact rugby in their own time through skilled and enjoyable
coaching sessions from James and our Ladies Captain Rowanne. If you have
a daughter interested to play or would like to support our girls rugby initiatives,
get in touch and grow our Roses!
M&J Section Trip: Sale Sharks
Over 300 Eccles members attended Sale Sharks across 4 different games
at the end of last season. Our AJ Bell Stadium takeover resumes at half term
when Sale take on Harlequins at 3pm on Sunday 23rd October. Our Minis
will be showcasing their tag rugby skills as part of the half time show so save
the date and let’s get behind our local superstars! Drop us a line if you’d like
to join us for the day, all club members are welcome.
Training Top Time
Membership fees have stayed the same as last season as part of our continued
commitment to Junior rugby at Eccles. All registered members will
receive a new training top this season with an exclusive Eccles design. Look
out for a trendy M&Js strutting their stuff on and off the pitch this Autumn.
Daniel Nicholls // Mini & Junior Chairman // Eccles RFC
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A warm welcome from all of the Ladies section to the 2022/23 season.
Eccles Ladies enters its 26th season this year making us one of the
oldest women's sections who have consistently fielded a club team.
Within this rich history is the legacy of our former players, coaches and
captains written into our DNA. We are a team constantly striving to strike
the perfect balance between high performance and rugby for all, offering
a nurturing, inclusive environment for players of all standards to enjoy
and develop.
This has never been more evident than in our recent seasons since rugby
returned. We currently boast players who have represented their county
at Twickenham playing alongside teammates who are taking their first
steps in the game all contributing equally to this ever improving side. Our
leadership group, built from a cross-section of ages, experiences and
characters ensures we can provide a Rugby offer that supports all and
creates an exciting environment to be involved in.
As we move into the season we will be returning to some familiar local
settings from years gone by ad we are looking forward to making trips to
local rivals; Leigh RUFC and Broughton Park venues that hold great memories
from our previous rise to our highest competitive level. With the
addition of Vagabond Ladies to our league we are also treated to an international
fixture which is sure to be a weekend away we won't forget.
We are very excited about the potential of this group and we welcome any
new member looking to be involved in our journey. Players, Spectators,
Coaches or someone looking to get a little bit fitter, there is a place for
you. We welcome any support down at Gorton Street on Sunday afternoons,
whether you are a seasoned campaigner for the women's game
or if this is your first match experience we truly value your vocal encouragement
from the touchline and hope you enjoy the game.
James Wright // Eccles RFC Women's Head Coach
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The origin of the world famous Eccles
Cake appears to be lost in time.
Spiced cakes were often associated
with church festivals and there was a
certainly a popular bygone fair held
annually in Eccles each August to
celebrate the feast day of St. Mary.
The ancient parish church of St. Mary
the Virgin, has stood on the same site
for at least 800 years and is the
oldest church in the City of Salford.
Eccles itself was founded by Christian
refugees from Mamucium (Manchester)
escaping Roman persecution in
the 4th century. The name of the
settlement probably derived from the
Latin Ecclesia (gathering, assembly)
or the Welsh Eglwys (church). When
the invading Anglo Saxons arrived in
Lancashire many existing British
names for landmarks, such as Eccles
and Irwell, survived and so it came to
pass, that Eccles grew around its
church and the area was sufficiently
remote to remain agricultural and
untroubled by local conflicts for a
millennium. In 1650 the Puritan
reformers abolished religious festivities
including public dancing on the
village green and the eating of cakes.
True to
its non-compliant
origins
Eccles appears to have defied the
baking ban because the cakes continued
to be sold when the annual fairs
and wakes were reinstated. The
Jacobite army passed through the
rural village of Eccles in 1745 in its
advance and subsequent retreat (no
doubt returning for a second helping
of cakes) but otherwise all was quiet
until 1761, when the Duke of Bridgewater
opened his canal to float coal
from his mines at Worsley over the
Barton Aqueduct to Manchester,
igniting the Industrial Revolution and
ultimately bringing goods, steam
power and textile production to Eccles
which would soon become a town of
cotton weavers with many workers
being children. In 1772, Elizabeth and
John Raffald, former housekeeper and
head gardener to the Warburton
family at Arley Hall Cheshire, arrived in
Salford to run business ventures
including The Bulls Head Tavern and
the King’s Head coaching Inns.
Elizabeth was an entrepreneur and set
up a business on the Kersal Moor
Racecourse, near the ladies' stand,
selling strawberries with cream, tea
and coffee. There is a plaque dedicated
to Elizabeth on Exchange Street,
Manchester
near
the
site
of
her
premises in Market Place, from where
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she published the first Manchester
Directory listing traders, merchants
and civic figures, and offered cookery
classes alongside her other hospitality
services. In 1769 Elizabeth Raffald
published her cookery book, The Experienced
English House Keeper, based
on her own experience and dedicated
to Lady Warburton, which contained
the first printed records of many now
common recipes, many of which were
plagiarised by other authors, most
notably Mrs Isabella Beeton.
Elizabeth’s recipe for "Sweet Patties" is
believed to be the basis of the Eccles
Cake - “Take the meat of a boiled calf's
foot, 2 large apples, 1 oz. candied
peel. Chop the ingredients very small,
grate half a nutmeg, mix with the yolk
of an egg, a spoonful of French brandy
and 4ozs. of currants. Make a good
puff paste. Roll this into shapes and
fill them. Lay a lid on them and turn up
the edges. They are a pretty side dish
for supper.” Note the use of real meat
as with the original ‘mince pies’.
Eccles cakes were first produced
commercially in 1796 by James Birch
from his shop at 56 Church Street on
the corner of Vicarage Road, opposite
Eccles Parish Church.
In 1811 Birch moved to larger premises
across the road at 29 Church
Street and his new shop displayed a
sign ‘Eccles Cake Makers removed
from across the way’. His enterprising
former apprentice, James William
Bradburn took over the old shop in
1813 so he could claim historic
ownership. Bradburn was the 21 year
old son of the licensee of the Cross
Keys Inn and there was a great rivalry
between the two bakers with
Bradburn proudly displaying his own
shop sign claiming ‘Original and
oldest established Eccles Cake Shop.
Never removed’! Such was the
success that within a decade Eccles
cakes were being sold at all the fairs
and markets around. In September
1830, the world’s first railway,
designed by George Stephenson
between Manchester and Liverpool,
powered into Eccles to provide the
town with access to a seaport. Eccles
cakes were so popular they were
soon exported to America, Australia
and the West Indies, in specially
constructed boxes. In 1836 James
Nasmyth leased land from Thomas
de Trafford alongside the canal and
railway at Patricroft to establish an
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engineering works and foundry and 3
years later he invented the Steam
Hammer, which enabled the mass
manufacture of Eccles cakes for the
growing workforce! The fame of its
cakes was already well established by
1863 when George Bradshaw, a
Pendleton born map engraver,
described Eccles in his famous
Bradshaw Railway Handbook as a
“little village prettily situated on the
northern banks of the Irwell and
environed by some of the most picturesque
rambles. Celebrated for its
cakes”. Clearly, Eccles was changed
irreversibly by the arrival of train and
its residents remained proud of their
connection to the confection. In
November 1882 it was reported in
the Journal that Eccles Rugby Club
‘principal fixture comes off next
Saturday, as they meet Salford who
journey to Cakeland’ and in May
1888, playing at Eccles was referred
to as ‘the Land o' Cakes’. In
1900-1902
Eccles
RFC
were
captained by T.J. Bradburn, a club
founding member, who went on to
become the Hon. Secretary of the
Lancashire Union in the 1920s and
Lancashire county representative at
the RFU. Whether Tommy Bradburn
was related to the infamous Eccles
Cake baking Bradburns is unknown
but what we do know is the Bradburn
shop remained in family ownership for
over a century until 1963 when it was
sold and taken over by Warburtons
Bakery. The ‘Never Removed’ shop
was eventually demolished in 1966 to
make way for the Eccles Precinct with
the shop window stored at Salford
Museum. The only Eccles cakes
baked in Eccles today are hand made
by the Albert Street Artisan Bakery,
run by the Hamer family (Eccles Rugby
legend Gary Hamer take a bow), just a
stone's throw away from the site of the
original James Birch Eccles Cake
shop. Their
small batch ‘Made in
Eccles Cakes’ are made using all-butter
flaky pastry, homemade candied
orange peel, locally grown apples, free
range eggs and delicious Vostizza
currants. The humble Eccles cake is
now a British institution, so it is no
surprise that it goes down very well
with a cup of tea or, as is the post
match tradition at Eccles RFC, woofed
down with a pint of beer!
׉	 7cassandra://lrBy2_CilEVOIUp3NPC5CLnuyk91ha369kkWQ17SZwc*`̴c*yμқ׉E0WALKING RUGBY
Eccles Walking Rugby started after
an email from Sale Sharks Community
Trust inviting the club to participate
in their initiative. Well we all
know our club. It took less than two
weeks for us to get organised and
have our first session, that was back
in May 2018 and we're still walking
strong now.
Walking Rugby is a new inclusive
sport and an enjoyable way to get
some exercise. It’s a much simpler
and less physical version of the
traditional game which brings
ex-players of a certain age and
those who are completely new to
rugby together.
Now, I know what you’re thinking.
Say “Walking” to a bloke and he
says “not for me”. Say “Rugby” to a
woman and she says “not for me”,
but I say give it a go. We encourage
both men and women, young and
not so young, skilled and not so
skilled to get involved. Ladies with
experience in netball will see it
involves similar handling skills and
agility. Guys, well you never lose it
do you, but if you never had it the
slower pace gives you more time to
think about it. I've developed a
sidestep I never knew I had!
Playing on the AstroTurf allows us to
play in any weather no special
equipment required, although
waterproofs and footwear with grip
is a bonus. Our sessions are well
supported and we regularly get 20+
players. On more than one occasion
the ladies have outnumbered the
men. The game is based on touch
rugby. The attacking side are
allowed 6 tackles (double handed
touch) in which to score. After each
tackle the attacking side has 3
seconds to pass the ball and the
defending side must get back
onside (3 metres). If after 6 tackles
a try has not been scored the ball is
handed over and it starts again.
You soon get the hang of it.
The whole idea is to have fun and
enjoy the banter, reconnect with old
friends and make new ones. The
session is open to all regardless of
skill level. Monday evenings 19.00 -
20.00 with a bragging session in
the bar after if you fancy. It's great
fun and easy. It must be if I can play
it. Turn up and give it a try.
Yours in Rugby, Benty
Alan Bent, Walker, Eccles RFC
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Our Bronze Group finally
move up to Silver, PostPandemic,
having
completed their
expedition.
The DofE award is the world’s
leading youth achievement award,
giving 14-24 year olds who wish to
take up the challenge, the opportunity
to strive to be the best they
can be and gain the confidence to
believe anything they put their
mind to is possible.
The programme takes between
one and four years to complete
and is recognised and valued by
employers and universities alike.
Eccles RFC were the first rugby
club in the UK to offer the DofE
award programme to its players.
The scheme was established in
honour of Christopher Tickle who
was posthumously awarded the
DofE Gold Award by HRH Prince
Phillip in 2010. Since 2011, the
club’s young people have achieved
over 100 Bronze awards, over 60
Silver awards and 48 prestigious
Gold Awards – a testament to the
hard work and dedication of the
participants and the Eccles team
of volunteer leaders.
The DofE programme is a journey
of adventure and discovery that
compliments the ethos of Rugby
by rewarding teamwork, endeavour,
physical activity, learning
skills and community volunteering.
To achieve an award a young
person must show persistence,
commitment, progress and
personal development
over
a
period of time. Every activity must
be successfully completed and
assessed. Activities take a minimum
of one hour a week over a
set period of time, so they can be
fitted in around academic study,
hobbies and social lives.
To commence a Bronze Award you
must be aged 14+ years, 15+
years for Silver and 16+ years to
start a Gold Award. For more
details on the DofE at Eccles RFC
and how to become involved
check out the club website or
email:baines.mark@virginmedia.com.
Mark Baines, DofE Chair,
Eccles RFC
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As many illustrious players of this
historic club can no doubt confirm,
Eccles can be lively, boisterous
town at weekends. But what may
come as a surprise is that the
town’s reputation for rowdy entertainment
actually stretches back
several hundred years to when
Eccles would host a 3-day street
party in late August each year! The
‘Eccles Wakes’ traditionally commenced
on the eve of the feast
day of St Mary, to whom the Parish
Church is dedicated, and had their
origins in the ancient custom of
rush bearing, when villagers would
bring decorated cartloads of
rushes to spread over the church
floor for a vigil mass which began
at sunset on a Saturday, often
called a ‘wake’ due to the late
hour. As these occasions developed
into a secular holiday the
community
celebrations
would
include sports, music, dance and
drinking. Sound familiar?
The Eccles Wakes
When the Barton Aqueduct
designed by James Brindley first
crossed the River Irwell in 1761
the rural existence of Eccles was
changed forever.
By the 19th Century the famous
Eccles Wakes were attracting large
crowds from the surrounding
district and had become a somewhat
less than pious affair. The
recreation area between Barton
Lane, Oxford Road and Pleasant
Road was transformed into a racecourse
where Donkey riders and
ladies would compete in races to
win a smock, and competitions
held along Church Street included
blood sports such as bull and
bear-baiting and cock fighting.
People would dress up for the
event and the revelry would often
result in drunkenness and fighting.
In 1877 local residents had
enough of the excessive, riotous
behaviour and at
the
request
of the Local Board the Home
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Secretary banned the Eccles
Wakes.
British Artist Joseph Parry
(1744–1826) moved from Liverpool
to Manchester in 1790 and
went on to paint several large
historical compositions, often
depicting scenes of everyday life
featuring hundreds of figures most
infamously a series of paintings
that captured the typical Ale
House, Race Course and Town
Square experience of the Eccles
Wakes festival.
The village wakes flourished in
Lancashire and became notorious
for massive scale public disorder
and associated as holidays for
tradesmen.
At Salford Wakes in 1819, there
was a “Jack Ass Race for a Purse
of Gold” a “Foot Race of a mile for
a good hat” “ Ribbons to be
danced for by Old Maids” and
other events included chasing a
greased pig, thick porridge eating,
and a race for "Wooden Legged
Men”! At the Prestwich Wakes of
1832 competitions included “an
eating match of 3lb of treacle and
bread” and “a smoking match for
ten old women”! Some great ideas
there to adopt for next year’s
Eccles Beer & Gin Festival!
׉	 7cassandra://qAziADCVdEBesbgs908-wognubv3n8fmwiaMtWaO4W4(l`̴c*yμҪc*yμҩvבCט   u׉׉	 7cassandra://ruv1bcD-2wtL7UpY32WT3vzGBhlKoFirIyx-l5FPSiI %`׉	 7cassandra://BQCITQIPvUl28h1N6Dji11V00HQi8dKGf74ISAeM0Tw_`R׉	 7cassandra://MUCTERSpNrfUZ2TD0JcwNbrEl7WAYO42lMqyb18P914"`̴׉	 7cassandra://MHuYnYHR3PxS0E6n2Ns4LtWDHQ7GD8Z8-_e5jb_mFWA ͠c*yμט  u׉׉	 7cassandra://o-DlGO9l7p6Sgb85rgqOLYZjUUcq5_IowzFASJiEiec t`׉	 7cassandra://RZdVGitCP3xX04JgpOLSS-0AtSXiwAiZZC4zzbHGMAg͉`R׉	 7cassandra://vse0wgb9E-s0uFgOgTbzkWXKb179RCK4mvqumvtM0o4-`̴׉	 7cassandra://qbHLdJgAbhuJE2gti7RATa7niamRRPY4kQKdJne9CK4 K.͠c*yμנc*yμ 'g̭9ׁHhttp://EasyFundraising.co.ukׁׁЈי	׉H /https://www.facebook.com/bainesplumbingheating/Gc*(mCW| ~נc*yμ r*9ׁH #mailto:sponsorship@ecclesrfc.org.ukׁׁЈ׉EeProfessional, Reliable CAD Service
We provide great value Planning Drawings, Extension Designs and Building
Plans for Planning Permission and Building Regs Applications.
Wishing all the teams at Eccles RFC a successful season ahead!
For all enquiries, please contact us at enquiries@plans2buildmcr.co.uk or call us on
Adam 07899 988 562
Lewis 07535 807 532
׉	 7cassandra://MUCTERSpNrfUZ2TD0JcwNbrEl7WAYO42lMqyb18P914"`̴c*yμҫ׉ESPONSORSHIP
AND FUNDING
Eccles RFC is run by dedicated volunteers.
With over 120 years behind us we are a resilient,
ambitious, progressive, inclusive, community
rugby club and welcome support from businesses
who share our ambition and passion.
Sponsorship opportunities 2022/23
Community Coaching sponsorship - £15k
Platinum Club Sponsorship - £10k
Duke of Edinburgh Award Sponsorship - £10k
Senior Team Sponsorship - £5k
Junior Team Sponsorship - £3k
Pitch-side Advertising boards - £500
Programme advertisement - £250
Senior Player Sponsorship - £150
Our sponsorship packages are flexible.
For more information please email us at
sponsorship@ecclesrfc.org.uk
1897
You can raise money for Eccles RFC every time you
shop online by using EasyFundraising.co.uk
Just register on the website, name us as your cause
and shop as normal. The club receives a donation
for the purchases you make. Easy.
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Eccles Rugby Football Club encourage
Spectators to:
• Act as a positive role model to all.
• Behave with dignity and generosity.
• Support your club’s efforts to uphold its reputation.
• Respect Rugby’s values. Discipline and Sportsmanship
define our game.
• Respect the match officials' decisions, even if they
appear to make a mistake. Remember, they are volunteers
and without them there would be no game.
• Encourage all players irrespective of their ability.
Never ridicule a player, regardless of the shirt they
wear.
• Appreciate good performance and achievement
from all players, irrespective of their team.
• Acknowledge effort and endeavour rather than the
desire to 'win at all cost'.
• Support the players. Shout ‘for’ them not ‘at’ them.
• Never verbally abuse players, coaches, match officials
or fellow spectators; such negative behaviour
affects the players and referee’s performance and
attitude.
• Remain behind the barriers. The field is for the
competitors.
Remember children play rugby for their own
enjoyment, not for that of the spectators.
1897
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