Formed in 1997 was up for players from the 3rd & 4th teams of West Hartlepool for two main reasons. Firstly “West” who were in National Division 1 at the time, had recently “gone professional”. This led to a fear they would not need the lower teams, who wanted to play social rugby. Secondly fixtures were becoming more difficult to find at this level and with the advent of league rugby many Junior clubs with free Saturdays fell dramatically.
By forming the “Ams” social rugby was preserved and the club was able to join the Leagues after joining Durham County RFU after being sponsored by West and Rovers!
The new club played out of Brierton La\ne using strips and kit borrowed from West and success came in the first season 97/98, winning every match to become D & N IV Champions.
The following season they were runners up in the Pyman Cup and when West hit financial difficulties and Brierton Lane was sold for housing development Ams relocated, playing their game at 6th FC at Brinkburn and using the Shakespeare put as “home”
Three years later West joined the Ams at the College site and with the opening on a new club the two clubs once again shared the same home. Natural wastage and a drift of players to other clubs saw the club cease playing regularly and the club continues today to be registered but not playing games.
Date (of image) : 1/9/1997
Donor : West Hartlepool Amateurs RFC
Creator : Unknown
Part of the "West Hartlepool Amateurs RFC" collection
Location
Images over the years from West’s time on Brierton Lane and their rise to National One status.
More detail »Following the introduction of “Colts” Rugby in 1964, the County District Union were disbanded. No arrangements had been made for the playing of the Pyman Cup, so the Cup was not put up for competition. In 1966, whilst sorting the shortage of pitches, the town Clubs agreed to reform the Hartlepool & District Union and took up the challenge of running the Cup. This gallery shows images from the years since the restart,
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Photographs etc. relating to many other clubs playing over the years in the town , especially in Victorian times.
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