Moseley Rugby Football Club

Moseley

Full name	Moseley Rugby Football Club
Founded	1873
Location	Moseley, Birmingham, England
Ground(s)	Billesley Common
Capacity	650 seated[1] plus standing and hospitality suites
Coach(es)	Ian Smith[2]
Captain(s)	Gareth Taylor[2]
League(s)	RFU Championship
2008-09	8th
1st kit 2nd kit
Official website
www.moseleyrugby.co.uk

Moseley Rugby Football Club are an English rugby union club, based at Billesley Common in Birmingham, that compete in the RFU Championship. The club were historically the premier rugby club in Birmingham, reaching the final of the John Player Cup three times in the late 1970s and early 1980s. They originally played at the Reddings, but after attempting to keep up with the transition to professional rugby, the club ran into financial difficulties and were forced to sell their 125-year home to property developers. An unsuccessful five-year spell based at the University of Birmingham followed, during which time they were relegated to National Division Two. In 2005 the club moved their new home at Billesley Common, and were promoted to National Division One in 2006. Since then they have consolidated their place in the second tier of English rugby and in 2009 won their first cup for 27 years beating Leeds 23–18 in the final of the National Trophy at Twickenham.

History

Origins

Early Days

Moseley and England captain J. F. Byrne c1900

Moseley was founded in 1873 by members of Havelock Cricket Club who wanted a winter sport when the cricket season had finished.^[3] The club debuted its signature red and black colours one year later. The Reddings was leased by the club in 1880 and the club was traditionally called, like many rugby football clubs from either code, simply "Moseley Football Club" (a signpost from Alcester Road along Reddings Road in Moseley, erected by Birmingham City Council, pointed to "Moseley F.C. (R.U.)". This sign has now been re-erected by the main entrance to the club grounds on Yardley Wood Road.) There were major successes at for Moseley in the early days of rugby, including a three-year undefeated run from 1879-82, which included winning the first Midland Counties Challenge Cup, and becoming the first team to defeat the travelling Maoris in 1888.^[3] In 1890 John Rogers was the first Moseley player to win an international cap while at the club.^[3]

Moseley Wanderers

Moseley formed the backbone of the team which represented Great Britain at the 1900 Paris Olympics winning a Bronze medal.^[4] The team, known as Moseley Wanderers, played one game, a 27-8 defeat to France at the Velodrome Municipal at Vincennes. A report in The Times suggested that fatigue was largely to blame, and at least 5 of the players are believed to have played for their respective clubs, in England, the day before the game.

The Golden Years

The club acquired the freehold of The Reddings in 1925 and in 1935 the ground even staged an England trial game. Floodlights were installed in 1965 which allowed for an expanded fixture list and began Moseleys so called 'The Golden Years'. From this time onwards Moseley's fixture list routinely included the top sides in England and Wales, and Moseley players were regularly included in international teams.^[5] The most successful years were the late 1960s and 1970's, this included reaching the RFU Knock-out cup final on three occasions - losing 17-6 to Gloucester and then 15-12 to Leicester before emerging joint winners drawing 12-12 with Gloucester after extra time in 1982.^[6] The team also defeated Fiji and the Barbarians and the club won the Anglo-Welsh Trophy twice - in 1972-1973 and 1976-1977.

When league rugby commenced, the team was placed in the Courage National Division 1, the top division at the time. They ended Bath's astonishing run of 22 unbeaten cup matches in 1988 winning 4-3.

The Professional Era

Building for the Future

The team's relegation from the top division at the end of the 1990-1991 season marked a consolidation period for the club after their fantastic times of the 1970s. In August 1995, when the door to full-scale professionalism opened, the board executives came together to work on plans to move with the idea and find possible financial resources so that the team could play with the best team and best facilities.

It was towards the end of this era that former Bournville School Deputy Headmaster Bernard Malin defrauded Moseley Rugby Football Club and was given a custodial sentence in return.^[7]

Administration - Leaving the Reddings

On 30 January 1998, the club went into administration, after overstretching its financial resources in the early years of professional rugby union.^[8] The Reddings had been sold on a 'delayed sale' basis to Bryant Homes and the future of the club was in jeopardy. However, the club's playing commitments were still fulfilled except in the North Midlands Cup in which the 2nd XV was entered. On 12 June 1998, the club was given another chance to fashion its own destiny when a group of Moseley Rugby Club members, assembled by Simon Cooper, a former club player and official, formed Moseley Ventures Ltd and bought the club out of administration.^[8] In the last 1st XV match at The Reddings on 6 May 2000, Moseley defeated Worcester 34-17 in a National Division One game.^[9]

The Bournbrook Era - Crisis and Final Rescue

On 7 October Moseley defeated Exeter 27-18 in the first match at its new home at the University of Birmingham in Bournbrook. However long-term permissions for a clubhouse and hospitality boxes were not granted and in consequence Moseley Ventures found it more difficult than expected to raise the necessary finance. Merger plans were discussed and an offer was made by Firoz Kassam, the chairman of Oxford United Football Club with a proposal to buy out the club and take it to his new stadium in Oxford.^[8] Supporters organized a major media and political campaign and this became the catalyst for a consortium of Moseley stalwarts to come forward to raise finance to defeat the Kassam offer. At a predictably traumatic meeting at the Grand Hotel on 26 July 2002, the consortium gained the support of the creditors by a narrow 1.7% majority^[8][10] regarded by some as a Pyrrhic victory. However, the consortium’s business plan was approved by the RFU and with additional backing by the politicians of the City of Birmingham and the North Midlands RFU, the club survived in Birmingham. So a new Moseley Rugby Club was born and appointed David Warren as Chief Executive and former players John Beale and Derek Nutt as Director of Rugby and Head Coach respectively. Negotiations for planning permission for a new stadium at Billesley Common, in the same postal district as The Reddings, began and permission was obtained.

However, despite the success of the consortium in keeping the club in Birmingham a large number of first-team regulars had left the club at the end of the 2001/02 season.^[8] The team hastily assembled from more junior ranks after the rescue was inevitably relegated from National Division One (after 14 seasons in the top two divisions).^[8] After a difficult first few months in National Division Two the team began to gel, and a decent run of results in the new year saw mid-table respectability achieved for the 2003/2004 season.^[8]

Further improvement during the 2004/2005 season saw Moseley finishing third in the table, narrowly missing promotion behind Doncaster and Newbury. Nonetheless, the season saw many club records broken, and the era of lodging at Birmingham University ended with much optimism for the future.

The records broken were:

• Most team points: 665 points
• Most Consecutive Victories: 6
• Most individual points in a season: 328 (Ollie Thomas)
• Most conversions in a season: 48 (Ollie Thomas)
• Most penalties in a season: 62 (Ollie Thomas)
• Most drop goals in a season: 7 (Ollie Thomas)
• Most consecutive scoring matches (points): 15 (Ollie Thomas)
• Most league appearances: 161 (Andy Binns)
• Most penalties in a career: 62 (Ollie Thomas)
• Most consecutive matches: 70 (and counting - Gareth Taylor)

Recent Seasons

2005/2006 season

The first season at the new stadium on Billesley Common saw Moseley installed as favourites to gain promotion to higher echelons of the English game. Coaches Ian Smith and Don Caskie, along with Director of Rugby John Beale assembled an exceptionally strong team, now including ex-Premiership players Neil Mason and Daren O'Leary. Moseley topped the table for much of the season and indeed finished as champions ahead of Waterloo. Both teams gained promotion to National Division One.

2006/2007 season

After the euphoria of promotion, the new season was much more difficult for the club. Most of the promotion-winning squad was retained, and with some additions the team showed showed promise in the early games, including a defeat of highly-fancied Bedford. However, a string of defeats up to Christmas against top teams, with even bonus points being hard to come by, left Moseley facing a difficult task to survive. A brief rally in December and January, including a win against traditional "best enemies" Coventry proved vital in the long run, and towards the end of the season, with Waterloo already doomed, Otley flagged badly enough for Moseley to overhaul them and win a second season in National One.

2007/2008 season

Moseley against Northampton in December 2007 at Billesley

For this season, a highly imaginative agreement was made with Gloucester whereby all of Gloucester's England Academy players were dual-registered with Moseley, enabling them to get competitive match experience when not required by the Gloucester 1st XV.^[11] The club finished the season in an improved 10th place with 12 wins and a draw, beating every side from 7th downwards either home or away. Two victories against top six sides included Nottingham (3rd) away and Cornish Pirates (5th) at home. A lack of bonus points meant that whilst they had the same playing record (W12 D1) they finished 6 points adrift of 8th placed Plymouth.

2008/2009 season

The season commenced with the dual-registration agreement with Gloucester still in place, although refined in detail, and the bulk of the previous season's squad retained with some judicious recruitment in particular positions.^[12][13] Together with the heavily criticised plan to reduce National Division One from 16 to 12 teams and a fixture backlog caused by a number cancellations, the team hovered just above and around the relegation zone for most of the season. Despite facing the threat of relegation they won the National Trophy beating National Division One runners up Exeter Chiefs in the semi-final and the division winners Leeds Carnegie in the final.^[14][15][16]. A final league position of 8th represented continued upward progress over a period of 5 seasons.

Facilities

Moseley play at Billesley Common, on a section of the common leased from Birmingham City Council. The facilities include (temporary) clubhouse, covered stand (from September 2007), changing facilities, club shop, hospitality boxes and educational facility. The first XV pitch is extremely highly-rated for its playing surface. There are also pitches for 2nd/development XV, colts, women, minis and juniors, and an all-weather pitch featuring the latest rubber-crumb technology.

Development?

Plans have been drawn up for the replacement of the temporary facilities by permanent buildings within the limits of the existing stadium. These were exhibited to the general public in July 2007, and will enable the club to expand its visitor capacity and improve hospitality facilities. Outline permission has been granted by Birmingham City Council for these facilities.

Club honours

Mens Domestic

Cups

• Anglo-Welsh Trophy
  • Winners 1973, 1977

• The National Cup
  • Winners 1982 (joint holders)
  • Runners-up 1972, 1979

• The National Trophy
  • Winners 2009

League

• National Division Two
  • Winners 2006

Womens Domestic

• National Challenge Midlands 1
  • Winners 2009

• National Challenge 2 Midlands West
  • Winners 2008

Teams

Moseley field a full range of teams from the professional level of the 1st XV through all age groups. These are as follows:

1. 1st XV - Professional team, competing in the RFU Championship, the second tier of the RFU league "pyramid".
2. 2nd XV - During 2007/08 this was run jointly with Gloucester Rugby, playing in the Guinness "A" League, but with Gloucester's withdrawal from that league, new arrangements will be necessary.
3. Development XV - Overlaps with 2nd team, providing opportunities for younger/aspiring players in challenging fixtures
4. Women's XV - Champions of RFUW National Challenge Midlands 1 2008/09, will play in RFUW Championship Midlands 2 from 2009/10.
5. Moseley Oak (formerly Selly Oak RUFC) - Amateur XV affiliated to Moseley, also playing at Billesley Common, in RFU Midlands Div 3 West (North).
6. Colts - U19 and U17 age groups, competing in National and County competitions.
7. Juniors - U16, U15, U14 and U13 age group teams, playing friendly games against other local clubs .
8. Minis - U7 to U12, and Micros for the very youngest. All except micros play friendly matches against other local clubs. Girls and boys play in the same teams up to U12.

Current 1st XV squad

This list includes players on loan as well as permanent squad members.

Nat. Position Player PR Nathan Williams PR Jack Gilding PR Yann Thomas PR Rupert Harden PR Shaun Knight PR Terry Sigley HK Adam Caves HK Danny Oselton HK Richard Protherough HK Adrian Duncan LK Ally Muldowney LK Richard Stott LK Andy Hall LK Dan Williams LK David Lyons FL Neil Mason FL Mark Evans FL Chevvy Pennycook FL Harry Rowland N8 James Rodwell N8 Ryan Wilson

Nat. Position Player SH Gareth Taylor SH Andy Williams SH Jordi Pasqualin SH Louis Silver FH Tristan Roberts FH Freddie Burns FH Andrew Borgen CE Andy Reay CE Bryn Keys CE Callum MacBurnie CE Henry Trinder CE Jonny May WG Nathan Bressington WG Justin Mensah-Coker WG Mike Gillick WG Charlie Sharples WG Charlie Simpson-Daniel FB Rob Thirlby

Notable former players

* Capped by country while at the club
§ Captain of England
† British Lions international cap

Sam Doble

Perhaps Moseley's most famous player, Sam Doble was a record points scorer for the club who died of cancer in 1977 at the age of 33. His life was honoured in a special match between an International XV and Moseley, played to a packed Reddings.

When Moseley moved to their new ground at nearby Billesley Common in 2005, 28 years later, many suggested that it should be called the Sam Doble Stadium.

Games played against international opposition

Year	Date	Opponent	Result	Score	Tour
1888	October 13	New Zealand Māori	Win	6-4	1888-1889 New Zealand Natives football team tour
1973	September 22	Fiji	Win	25-12	1973 Fiji Tour to the British Isles

References

External links

• Moseley Rugby Football Club website
• Club details on Sports Club UK