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Tadley R.F.C. – Formed in November, 1985.

A short history.

A meeting was held in the kitchen at 2, Mount Pleasant, Tadley. Founder members were Frank Jose, Roy Mears, John Thomas and Michael Jewell.

The first match was played on 28th September, 1986, at The Hurst School ground, between Tadley and the Chairman’s XV. This game was played in excellent weather, watched by a large crowd. Post match festivities were at the Pineapple Inn, Brimpton Common.

The club was now underway. All matches for the 1986/7 season were played on Sundays and Tadley were the first winners of the Berkshire Sunday Cup, when they beat Old Stonehamians by 13 points to 6. In 1987/8 Saturday fixtures were arranged with just a few Sunday games. Matches were played at the Hurst School ground with a bar in a classroom using plastic glasses and bottled beer. Midway through this season a move was made to the Wellington Arms at Baughurst. As a club Headquarters it was somewhat crowded but it was an enjoyable period in the club’s early history.

In 1988/9 we entered into League Rugby, playing in the Berkshire/Dorset and Wiltshire League III. We finished in mid-league. A second XV was formed in October, 1988. From mid-season in 1988/9 some matches were played on the Green at Tadley and also in 1989/90 but most games were played at Hurst School. In 1990/1 we gained our first promotion this was to Berkshire/Dorset and Wiltshire League II. Also in this season a third XV was formed, to be known as "Biffo’s Bandits".

During our early years the Committee searched for a ground of their own. After suffering many disappointments with hour after hour looking and trekking around fields there was success at last. Thirteen and a half acres at Red Lane, Aldermaston were purchased in April 1992. With great enthusiasm an enormous amount of work was done to get the ground in shape to play on September 1992. Teams continued to change at Hurst School and to feed and drink At the Wellington Arms. By January, 1994 the old barn at Red Lane had been converted into a clubhouse and temporary changing rooms installed. Dennis Easby (Berkshire), President of the Rugby Football Union opened our clubhouse in September 1994. In the summer of 1996 great improvements were made. New toilets were added, also a bar cellar was built and a new block of changing rooms were added. A large new tar-macadamed car park was laid with parking spaces marked out. Also a netball pitch was marked out, with floodlights installed.

Tadley's Results

1st XV League Rugby

2nd XV League Rugby

Cup Rugby

Tadley have played at all three levels of R.F.U. Cup Competitions - The Vase - The NPI Cup - The Senior Cup. The club has regularly played in the Berkshire Knock-Out Cup Competition, winning in 1998/9 and 1999/2000

Tadley RFC are proudly sponsored by