Okehampton RFC explained

Teamname:Okehampton RFC
Fullname:Okehampton Rugby Football Club
Nickname:The Okes
Ground:Showground
Capacity:1,120 (120 seats)
Chairman:Robert Barkwell
President:Andy Ewen
Coach:Gareth Evans
Url:http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/okehampton
Season:2023–24
Pattern La1:_yellowhoops
Pattern B1:_yellowhoops
Pattern Ra1:_yellowhoops
Pattern So1:_hoops_yellow
Leftarm1:660000
Body1:660000
Rightarm1:660000
Shorts1:660000
Socks1:660000

Okehampton RFC is an English rugby union club, formed in 1884 and based in Okehampton, Devon. The club has three senior men's teams, a colts team and multiple junior teams (u-7 to u-16).[1] [2] Nicknamed the 'Okes' the club's colours are maroon and gold and they play home games at the Showground. The first team currently play in the Regional 2 South West, a league at tier 6 of the English rugby union system, having being relegated from Regional 1 South West at the end of the 2023–24 season.

History

Early history

Okehampton had a rugby team dating back as far as 1884, and by 1902 had registered with the Devon Rugby Football Union. The club moved grounds several times during the early days, starting at Northams Meadows in 1902, switching to North Road in 1912 and then Cowlands Field at Mill Road in the 1920s. The outbreak of World War II caused the club to close as many players went into the Armed Forces. After the war was over, the club's former ground, Cowlands Field, was sold for housing development, and they had to share with the local football side, Okehampton Argyle, at Simmonds Park. The club had initially suffered a shortage of senior players after the war but the local grammar school provided a stream of new players, while soldiers at the nearby army camp, some of whom would go on to become international players, were available from time to time.[3]

The 1950s saw the club have a period of mixed fortunes. The introduction of rugby union in the secondary modern school would later pave the way for a colts team, while the men's senior team would go unbeaten between 1951 and 1953. By 1955 many of the players had retired and the club had several seasons of poor results but by 1958 they were back on track. By 1961 the club had moved away from Simmons Park to purchase its own ground at Oaklands, where it has remained ever since. This ground had a small grandstand, a bar, changing room facilities, as well as several school pitches across the road from the main ground, where colts and junior games could take place. With a new ground, Okehampton went from strength to strength winning the Devon County Havill Plate competition in 1979, the Devon Merit Table "B" in 1982–83 and the Devon Merit Table "A" in 1983–84.[3]

League rugby

On the advent of league rugby union in 1987, Okehampton were placed in the Western Counties league (tier 7 of the English league system) where they remained until 1996–97 when they gained promotion as champions to South West 2 West.[4] Their stay in tier 6 (the highest level the club have reached) was short lived and they were relegated after just one season in the division.[5] The club also punched well above its weight in the Devon Senior Cup, appearing as losing finalists against Plymouth Albion in 1988 and Barnstaple in 1997.[3] After a period of relative stability the club would drop down the leagues, first being relegation from Tribute Western Counties West in 2002–03 and then being relegated from Tribute Cornwall/Devon in 2004–05 in what would be the club's worst spell in its league history so far.[6] [7]

From the worst spell in its modern history, Okehampton would regroup and enter one of its best. They won a league and cup double in the 2005–06, winning promotion from Devon League 1 and claiming the Devon RFU Junior Cup for the first time, defeating league rivals Cullompton 8–3 in the final.[8] [9] The 2008–09 season saw the club promoted from Tribute/Cornwall Devon in second place and the following season saw them win the inaugural Devon Intermediate Cup defeating Tiverton on the final.[10] In 2016 the club returned to tier 6 by winning the Tribute Western Counties West league title.[11]

In 2019 Okehampton reached the highest level in the club's league history when it won promotion to South West Premier (level 5) after finishing as the 2018–19 Tribute South West 1 West champions. They also made it a league and cup double when they won the inaugural Devon RFU Shield by beating Devonport Services in a closely contested final at the Showground.

Ground

Okehampton RFC have been based at the Showground since 1961. The ground is situated on Glendale Road next to Okehampton Primary School in a pleasant residential area in the north-west of town, and consists of a club-house and attached stand, a main pitch and a secondary pitch just across the road for 2nd XV and junior fixtures. The ground is quite compact meaning that the capacity is limited to about 1,000 standing, plus another 120 seats in the grandstand, bringing total capacity to approximately 1,120. Parking is extremely limited in and around the ground, although if you do not mind a 5-10 minute walk (admittedly uphill) then there is plenty of parking in town.

Season summary

SeasonLeagueNational Cup(s)County Cup(s)
Competition/LevelPositionPointsCompetitionPerformanceCompetitionPerformance
1987–88 Western Counties (7) Runners up
1988–89 Western Counties (7) 1st Round
1989–90 Western Counties (7)
1990–91 Western Counties (7)
1991–92 Western Counties (7)
1992–93 Western Counties (7)
1993–94 Western Counties (7)
1994–95 Western Counties (7) 1st Round
1995–96 Western Counties (7) 7th 9
1996–97 Western Counties West (7) 1st (promoted)[12] 33 Runners up
1997–98 South West 2 West (6) 12th (relegated)[13] 4 1st Round
1998–99 Western Counties West (7) 7th[14] 16
1999–00 Western Counties West (7) 7th[15] 17
2000–01 Western Counties West (7) 6th[16] 17
2001–02 Western Counties West (7) 10th[17] 13
2002–03 Western Counties West (7) 11th (relegated)[18] 13
2003–04 Cornwall/Devon (8) 4th[19] 25 2nd Round[20]
2004–05 Cornwall/Devon (8) 10th (relegated)[21] 15
2005–06 1st (promoted)[22] 40 [23] Winners
2006–07 Cornwall/Devon (8) 8th[24] 20 2nd Round[25]
2007–08 Cornwall/Devon (8) 5th[26] 24 [27]
2008–09 Cornwall/Devon (8) 2nd (promoted)[28] 34
2009–10 Western Counties West (7) 5th[29] 34 Winners
2010–11 Western Counties West (7) 5th[30] 78 Semi-finals[31]
2011–12 Western Counties West (7) 5th[32] 86 Runners up
2012–13 Western Counties West (7) 6th[33] 70 1st Round[34]
2013–14 Western Counties West (7) 9th[35] 54 1st Round[36]
2014–15 Western Counties West (7) 7th[37] 66 5th Round[38] Semi-finals[39]
2015–16 Western Counties West (7) 1st (promoted)[40] 108 3rd Round[41] Semi-finals[42]
2016–17 South West 1 West (6) 8th[43] 64 Runners up
2017–18 South West 1 West (6) 5th[44] 68 1st Round[45]
2018–19 South West 1 West (6) 1st (promoted)[46] 109 Winners
2019–20 South West Premier (5) 4th 67.20
2020–21 South West Premier (5) Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.
2021–22 South West Premier (5) 14th 31
Green background stands for either league champions (with promotion) or cup winners. Blue background stands for promotion without winning league or losing cup finalists. Pink background stands for relegation.

Honours

1st team

Colts

Notable former players

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Senior Teams . Okehampton RFC (Pitchero) . 5 February 2017 .
  2. Web site: Junior Teams . Okehampton RFC (Pitchero) . 5 February 2017 .
  3. Web site: History Okehampton RFC . Oke Rugby. 5 February 2017 .
  4. Web site: Final League Tables, 1996–97. Trelawny's Army. 1 September 2014.
  5. Web site: Final League Tables 1997–98. Trelawny's Army. 26 July 2016.
  6. Web site: Final League Tables 2002–2003. Trelawny's Army. 1 September 2014.
  7. Web site: Final League Tables 2004–2005. Trelawny's Army. 1 September 2014.
  8. Web site: Devon 1 2005-06 . England Rugby . 22 April 2006 .
  9. Web site: Hearts of Oke! . Tavistock Times Gazette . 6 April 2006 .
  10. Web site: Okes win Devon Intermediate Cup . Okehampton RFC. 2 May 2010 .
  11. Web site: What a great season to celebrate at Oke RFC . Princetown Gazette. 8 June 2016 .
  12. Web site: Final League Tables, 1996–97. Trelawny's Army. 1 September 2014.
  13. Web site: Final League Tables 1997–98. Trelawny's Army. 26 July 2016.
  14. Web site: Final League Tables 1998–99. Trelawny's Army. 1 September 2014.
  15. Web site: Western Counties West. England Rugby. 3 November 2018.
  16. Web site: Final League Tables 2000–2001. Trelawny's Army. 1 September 2014.
  17. Web site: Final League Tables, 2001–2002. Trelawny's Army. 1 September 2014.
  18. Web site: Final League Tables 2002–2003. Trelawny's Army. 1 September 2014.
  19. Web site: Final League Tables 2003–2004. Trelawny's Army. 26 January 2017.
  20. Web site: Swindon shuffle for Bradford trip . The Wiltshire Gazette & Herald . 17 October 2003 .
  21. Web site: Final League Tables 2004–2005. Trelawny's Army. 26 January 2017.
  22. Web site: 2005-06 South-West Division. England Rugby. RFU. 2 May 2017.
  23. Web site: Powergen Cup Draws . The Wiltshire Gazette & Herald . 17 August 2005 .
  24. Web site: Final League Tables 2006–2007. Trelawny's Army. 26 January 2017.
  25. Web site: Spirited Okes felled by rampant Camels . Okehampton Times . 2 November 2006 .
  26. Web site: Final League Tables 2007–2008. Trelawny's Army. 26 January 2017.
  27. Web site: Westbury drawn at home in Senior Vase . The Wiltshire Gazette & Herald . 13 July 2007 .
  28. Web site: Final League Tables 2008–2009. Trelawny's Army. 26 January 2017.
  29. Web site: Final League Tables, 2009–2010. Trelawny's Army. 1 September 2014.
  30. Web site: Final League Tables, 2010–2011. Trelawny's Army. 1 September 2014.
  31. Web site: Devon RFU OFFICIAL HANDBOOK 2011-12 . Devon RFU. 4 November 2018 .
  32. Web site: Final League Tables 2011–2012. Trelawny's Army. 1 September 2014.
  33. Web site: Final League Tables 2012–2013. Trelawny's Army. 1 September 2014.
  34. Web site: Okes dumped out of cup . Okehampton RFC (Pitchero) . 10 November 2012 .
  35. Web site: Final League Tables, 2013–2014. Trelawny's Army. 1 September 2014.
  36. Web site: Bideford 19 vs. 0 Okehampton . Okehampton RFC (Pitchero) . 21 December 2013 .
  37. Web site: Tribute Western Counties West 2014–2015. England Rugby. 1 September 2014.
  38. Web site: RUGBY: Twickenham dreams end for Penryn . South West Farmer . 27 January 2015 .
  39. Web site: 1st XV through to Devon Cup Final . Kingsbridge RFC . 10 April 2015 .
  40. Web site: Tribute Western Counties West 2015–2016. England Rugby. 1 September 2014.
  41. Web site: South West Division Cups . England Rugby . 2 January 2016 .
  42. Web site: Kings crush Crediton to claim cup . South Hams Gazette. 25 April 2016 .
  43. Web site: Tribute South West 1 West 2016–2017. England Rugby. 26 April 2017.
  44. Web site: Tribute South West 1 West 2017–2018. England Rugby. 21 April 2018.
  45. Web site: 2017/18 Devon Senior & Intermediate Cup/Shield draws . Devon RFU. 4 November 2018 .
  46. Web site: Tribute South West 1 West 2018–2019. England Rugby. 13 April 2018.
  47. Web site: White and Croft return to boost Tigers' cause . This is Devon . 25 February 2011 .