Draft:Leicester Forest RFC

Facilities Clubhouse In 1997, after the amalgamation between West Leicester and Old Bosworthians, Leicester Forest housed themselves on land bought by Old Bosworthians in 1980 between Kirby Muxloe and Leicester Forest East, off of the Hinckley Road. The clubhouse consisted of several portacabins with showers and changing rooms and a bar and social area. Shortly after, on March 23rd 2003, a new, two-story clubhouse was built and opened by British and Irish Lion, England and Leicester Tigers player, who was currently coaching the Leicester Tigers, Dean Richards MBE. The president at the time was West Leicester RFC founding member, Colin Burbage.

The clubhouse, in its original form, included 6 changing rooms with shower facilities, a referee's changing room, toilets, multiple storage rooms and a bar cellar on the ground floor. Above, on the first floor, there were toilets, including disabled facilities, a kitchen, a bar (and dance floor) and a balcony overlooking the then first team pitch. Since its original construction, the club has had multiple make-overs and extensions. A club shop was created out of one of the storage rooms. Most notably a grant from the RFU and local councils saw a new changing room built on the north-eastern side of the building. This included the extension and conversion of one of the existing changing rooms into a gym, and new disabled toilets, toilets and showers were added. The development meant that a section of the downstairs clubhouse could be accessed independently, blocking off the rest of the downstairs area. This was to enable more female games to be played at the club, with the recent creation of a Leicester Forest RFC girls team - a co-venture with Coalville ladies. Above the new changing room sat an extension to the existing balcony and a grand ‘President's Room’ which is used to house committee meetings and other social gatherings. The kitchen area was also extended to provide more space on match days to kitchen staff and increase the club’s ability to host functions. The clubhouse contains an array of trophies and memorabilia from players past and present, including shirts from England representatives and county representative caps. Many plaques from other touring clubs can be found above the bar.

Playing Surfaces

On Friday 23rd February Leicestershire Rugby Union welcomed members of the community to the opening of an artificial playing surface at Leicester Forest RFC. The whole weekend saw minis, juniors, colts and vets rugby showcased. The Rugby 365 initiative was set forward with a £50 million investment from the RFU with over 100 AGP's planned. At a cost to the RFU of just under £1 million, the pitch offers year-round consistent ground conditions to host multiple sports. It is rented out regularly to local sports teams, schools and colleges, including training for some of the age grades of the local junior football team, Kirby Muxloe FC. The AGP’s construction included floodlights enabling nighttime training and matches.

The AGP is located on the north-westerly side of the ground. Previously occupying this space was a floodlit playing area, notorious for flooding due to years of drainage issues. The AGP is currently used as the first team’s priority pitch, taking the accolade from the pitch located to the northeast of the clubhouse. Planning permission could not be attained to position the pitch on this part of the ground due to the bright light pollution of the floodlights. The two north-easterly pitches still stand. High winds in June 2020 saw one of the posts fall down. The AGP was voted for by members of the club. The construction of the pitch was halted briefly when bats were found to be nesting nearby to the planned site. This delayed construction for approximately two months before the pitch was eventually moved in a south-westerly direction by approximately 25 meters.

Parking

The club has decent parking facilities, furthered by the recent development of the AGP, where extra parking was created in addition to the pitch itself. Old Newtonians RFC Old Newtonians RFC is a club that sits less than half a mile away from Leicester Forest RFC. A local rival and old friend, Old Newtonians’ pitches are, on occasion, used by Leicester Forest RFC to host lower age grade matches for their mini and junior section.

History

Amalgamation

Leicester Forest RFC was formed in 1997 after the amalgamation of two historic clubs in Leicester; Old Bosworthians RFC and West Leicester RFC. A subsequent tour took place to New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, to celebrate the future club. Old Bosworthians RFC Dixie Old Bosworthians, also known as Dixie Old Boys, was founded in 1955 by Bradford Northern (Bradford Bulls), Castleford (Castleford Tigers) and England Loose Forward Frank Mugglestone and then Leicester Tigers players Bob Beason and Reginald Dickinson; subsequently known as Old Bosworthians RFC. Due to playing Rugby League, Mugglestone had a lifetime ban from Rugby Union, therefore he played under the pseudonym Frank Stone in order to keep his identity hidden. Mugglestone later moved to the USA, and finally resided in New Brunswick, Canada, where he died in 2019 aged 94. Beason and Dickinson can still be found regularly making an appearance at Leicester Forest RFC. In 1969, after the Market Bosworth school was closed down, then called Dixie Old Boys decided to change their name back to include ‘Bosworthians’ in the title. In the same year, Old Bosworthians found their first, albeit temporary clubhouse - The Red Lion, Desford. Other locations used include the current site of Bosworth Academy. Old Bosworthians purchased the current site of Leicester Forest RFC in 1980. The land cost £12,000. Access to the Hinckley road set back another £6,000. An article published by the Leicester Mercury on the 19th March 1980 noted this was an ending to Leicestershire’s “last remaining nomadic club”. Old Bosworthians RFC played in a navy and light blue hooped strip. The crest consisted of a snow leopard which can be found also as the crest of the Dixie Grammar School. It is noted on the Dixie Grammar School Association that the snow leopard crest dates back as far as the 6th Century CE, citing one of the semi-nomadic, Euroasian, Bulgar Tribes, the Barsil as a probable starting point[2].

West Leicester RFC

West Leicester RFC was founded in 1962. West Leicester RFC themselves were formed from the amalgamation of Old Ricardians RFC, founded in 1955 and Highfields Medway RFC who began playing in the 1920s. Their home games were played at Western Park. Founding members were G Fox, D Townsend, J Dee, B Bell, D Hackett, C Burbidge, G Bosworth, J Impey and PJ (Chunky) Clayton. West Leicester RFC was founded in the 1962-1963 season playing out of the Westcotes Hotel initially. The home of Old Richardians RFC at Western Park was used as a home ground. The club, at the time, had five pounds in the bank, four balls and three sets of shirts. Three senior teams and a colts XV made up the club for their inaugural season, however, it is noted that only a few games were played this season due to a harsh winter. In 1969 the club moved to The Haunch of Venison (Now The (Orange) Tree) on High Street. The Colts team ceased to exist this year. In 1973 the club acquired its own premises on Granby Street, which can now be found as R Bar. PJ (Chunky) Clayton moved in as club steward, taking all duties regarding the running of the premises on Granby Street. Chunky still works on the bar at Leicester Forest RFC. A fourth team was established. In 1976, West Leicester went on their first tour to Morpeth in Northumberland. Amsterdam and South Wales were also toured, as well as a sixty-two strong group touring to the Isle of Man in 1981. West Leicester wore a red shirt with white shorts for most of their history, however blue; green and white striped; and white with dark inverted chevron kits were also worn. The primary emblem used consisted of a black boar with a banner below containing the Latin phrase ‘In Medias Res’, translating roughly to ‘In The Middle Of Things’; a link to Leicester’s central location within England. Below the banner, ‘West Leicester RFC’ is displayed. Another rarer, emblem used consisted of a coat of arms, centred by a Tudor Rose on a heater shield. Wings flank the shield and above appears a displayed eagle, sitting atop a side portrait of a medieval armet helmet. On a banner below ‘West Leicester RFC’ is displayed. In 1997, prior to the formation of Leicester Forest RFC, West Leicester embarked on a ‘final tour’ to Bridlington. In their final season, West Leicester’s president was Andy Wain, coached by Paul Clayton and captained by Paul Tebbatt - the latter being the ‘18-’19 president of Leicester Forest RFC.

Old Richardians RFC

The black boar of West Leicester’s emblem is a homage to Old Ricardians emblem which consisted of a heater shield, centred by a statant boar, surrounded by a trio of York Roses. Below the shield a banner displays ‘O-R-R-F-C’. Old Richardians RFC was founded in August 1955 by Mr Edward Harper, a teacher at King Richard III School. Former pupils came together, alongside advertisements that ran in the Leicester Mercury, generated a playing base. Two pitches on Western Park were initially used, however, moves to Aylestone Park, the University playing fields, Welford Road, Wigston Fields and then back to Western Park are noted. Public houses, in order of use for post-match entertainments, include; The Mitre and Keys on Applegate Street; The Blue Boar Inn on Southgate Street; The Western Hotel on Western Road; The Braunstone Hotel on Narborough Road; The Richard III on Highcross Street; and The Westcotes Hotel on Latimer Street. After seven years of life, Old Richardians RFC joined forces with Highfields Medway RFC to form West Leicester RFC.

Club Crest and Colours

Leicester Forest RFC[1]'s club crest stems from the statant Hog and Snow Leopard of West Leicester and Old Bosworthians respectively. Accompanying them on the heater shield is a tree, to represent the new club - Leicester Forest RFC. Leicester Forest RFC currently play in a strip similar to that of the Old Bosworthians. A hooped dark and light blue shirt is worn with blue shorts and hooped dark and light blue socks. Leicester Forest RFC have worn strips donning traditionally Rugby League esque patterns, along with alternative strips with varying colours including red, pink, black and white. Leicester Forest RFC’s current strip is a homage to the original kit produced in 1997.

President(s) 1997-1998 - Graham Spendlove-Mason 1998-1999 - Ray Bramley 1999-2000 - Ray Bramley 2000-2001 - Phil Vesty 2001-2002 - Colin Burbage 2002-2003 - Colin Burbage 2003-2004 - Jim Trotter 2004-2005 - Jim Trotter 2005-2006 - Michael Higgins 2006-2007 - Michael Higgins 2007-2008 - Darryl Farthing 2008-2009 - Darryl Farthing 2009-2010 - Derek Clarke 2010-2011 - Derek Clarke 2011-2012 - A (Lib) Wanstall 2012-2013 - A (Lib) Wanstall 2013-2014 - A (Lib) Wanstall 2014-2015 - A (Lib) Wanstall 2015-2016 - A (Lib) Wanstall 2016-2017 - A (Lib) Wanstall 2017-2018 - Mick Pike 2018-2019 - Mick Pike 2019-2020 - Paul Tebbatt 2020-2021 - Paul Tebbatt (Covid) 2020-2021 - Paul Tebbatt (CURRENT) Captain(s) 1997-1998 - Michael Beason 1998-1999 - Michael Beason 1999-2000 - Gary Davies 2000-2001 - Craig Nightingale 2001-2002 - Paul Tebbatt 2002-2003 - Jon Saunders 2003-2004 - Steve Piggot 2004-2005 - Deane Mooney 2005-2006 - Deane Mooney 2006-2007 - Deane Mooney 2007-2008 - Tom Vesty 2008-2009 - Deane Mooney 2009-2010 - Gareth Jenkins 2010-2011 - Glyn Johnson 2011-2012 - Liam Warren 2012-2013 - Liam Warren 2013-2014 - James Coulthurst 2014-2015 - James Coulthurst 2015-2016 - James Coulthurst 2016-2017 - Kieran Shuter 2017-2018 - Kieran Shuter 2018-2019 - Ben Husthwaite 2019-2020 - Kieron Stone 2020-2021 - Kieron Stone (Covid) 2021-2022 - Kieron Stone (CURRENT)

Coaching Staff 2021-2022 Season Head Coach Aaron Pike Backs Coach Jonathan Boden

Notable Achievements and Alumni

Leicester Forest RFC was promoted to Midlands 2 East (South) in the 2018/2019 season, along with a strong run in the National Cup, ending with defeat to Northallerton RFC in Middlesbrough. The county bowl was won the year prior. Leicester Forest RFC have a strong mini and junior set up, seeing each age grade compete strongly in the county and national competitions. Leicester Forest RFC’s Under 17 side won the National Plate in 2016. In May 2008 the Classic All Blacks trained at Leicester Forest prior to an exhibition game against Leicester Tigers. Sam Vesty - Leicester Tigers, Bath and England Ollie Smith - Leicester Tigers, Montpellier, Harlequins and England Emily Scarrett - Lichfield and England Taylor Gough - Leicester Tigers Oliver Bee - England Counties U18 Dominic Groom - England Counties U18 Harry Clayton - England Counties U18 Rob Tebbutt - Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints Bob Beason - Leicester Tigers and England Reginald Dickinson - Leicester Tigers Frank Mugglestone - Castleford, Bradford and England Tom Butler - England Schools U18 Richard Beason - England Schools U19 Teams

Leicester Forest RFC, as of the 2021-2022 season, regularly field a First XV, playing in Midlands 2 East (South). A Development XV, playing in Leicestershire Merit B and Colts XV, playing in the Leicestershire Colts League. There is also age-grade rugby from Micros (Under 5s) to Under 16s.