rugby borough football club

club history

Our Journey

Rugby Borough Football Club was founded in 1994 and its history is rich with junior football in Rugby. Borough has grown considerably over the years to the club we are today, with around 60 teams across all ages of boys, girls, men and women. Our award-winning facility at Kilsby Lane has also continued to grow and develop to support our club’s growth in Rugby.

History Timeline

2019

New Stand & Turnstile

Our new Alan Young stand is erected and opened by Coventry City legend and FA Cup winner Steve Ogrizovic. Turnstile work was completed.

The Football Stadia improvement fund helped with the investment with the Sports trust Trustees providing £36,000 towards the project. 

Rugby Borough FC StandRugby Borough Turnstile

2019

2019

ONE CLUB IDENTITY

Rugby Town Juniors change their name to Rugby Borough to align with the rest of the club. The ‘One Club’ identity vision is achieved with Men’s, Women’s, Girls, Boys, Veterans, Pan-ability and age-related sections all set up.

2019

2018

Womens & Girls Club Formed

Rugby Borough Women’s & Girls FC was formed with 5 teams from the existing set up and attracting sponsors Amber Utilities and McDonalds to kit them out. An all-female committee is elected to uniquely dedicate support for this growth area.

2018

2018

Awards & Achievements

The club wins Charter Standard Community Club of the year again. The Men’s team won the Premier division but were denied a place at FA level (step) 6 as a planning application delay ruled that they did not have the time to complete required work at the ground.

Education courses were stepped up with the facility open 7 days a week, providing a centre where people can relax and enjoy their boys or girls playing. 

2018

2017

New First Team

A new first team was formed called Rugby Borough FC playing in the Leicestershire Senior League. They gained promotion from the first division into the premier division. The Club provided football for an additional 8 teams with significant growth in the youth section a U19 team and 4 U18 teams.

2017

2017

New Floodlights

Floodlights were installed on our grass pitch with help from WREN offering opportunities for all to play floodlit football midweek.

2017

2016

Trust Formed

As the club was now becoming a business with over 60 teams playing at the site it was important for the facility to have a structure to maximise income as well as providing football. The club set up Rugby Town Sports Trust Charity and Rugby Town Sports Trust Trading to operate the site.

The Trust negotiated a long-term lease with the local council for a 125 year period making the site secure and sustainable for life.

Funding was sourced for the new astro turf pitch from Sport England, WREN Environment Trust and from a private donor. The Trust also applied to various grant makers for additional funds for equipment for the site and the all-weather pitch.

More history was made as the new full size 3G opened in October 2016 with Mark Pawsey (MP) pulling the curtain back. All our teams moved from their existing venues to their new home for life at Kilsby Lane.

2016

2015

3G Pitch Planning Permission

Space was running out, with games being cancelled so it was important that the club addressed the issues and planning commenced to install a full size 3G pitch. 

2015

2014

Club Developments

The club grew by 9 teams with a significant growth in the girl’s section. The club applied for and gained a grant of £68,000 from Sport England under their Protecting playing fields programme and, in the summer, the 2 x 9v9 pitches were constructed on the site.

The club provided a football for all project meaning anyone can come and play football at whatever ability. Some significant planning conditions were lifted meaning that adults could play on the site. 

2014

2014

Youth Team Win the League

Trophies started to amass with the Youth team winning the league and over 15 titles and cups were won by our teams.

2014

2013

Site Developments

Securing funding from Sport England, the Trust set about its overall plan for the site and develops a 1 – 3 – 5 – year business plan for the site identifying all areas which needed developing, including additional parking and a room where guests and parents could socialise whilst their children are taking part in activities. 

2013

2013

Strachan Football Foundation

The club also welcomed the Strachan Football Foundation to the site providing over 60 players with a football programme.

2013

2013

Club of the Year

Club rewards started to come in the form of cups league titles and even more awards the club being recognised by the local count football association for club of the year. 

2013

2012

New Astros

The small astro’s were constructed and were fully booked out within weeks of them going live. We held a massive Football Festival at the site with over 180 teams entering. The club top’s a record 50 teams for the season.

2012

2011

Planning & Funding Secured for 2 Astros

Planning for the two small astro’s was granted with ASDA Foundation and Biffa support with the club putting the rest of the monies in for construction.

2011

2010

England Girls Trials

Planning application is submitted for 2 small astro pitches. The club becomes an education centre and we hold England Girls trials at the site along with various other football finals.

2010

2009

Womens team promoted

The Women’s team gets promoted and several new girls’ teams are formed and entered into the Leicester City & County Girls League.

Works continued the new site to install drainage.

2009

2008

McDonalds & Nationwide Windows Sponsorship

Sponsorship partnerships agreed with McDonalds and Nationwide Windows investing monies into the facility and kits for new teams. Our floodlit games were up and running.

2008

2007

Developing our Facilities

The club secured investment from Biffa and Tarmac to install floodlights on the main grass pitch and construct a grounds store and toilet block. Team shelters were added to the main pitch.

2007

2006

Facility Renamed as Kilsby Lane

Construction starts on our facility with grants awarded from the Football Foundation and Onyx Environment Trust. We use the facilities at Butlin Road as part of the agreement for training. Trevor Brooking open’s the facility.

We enter teams in the MJPL for the first time and another day in the clubs history as we rename the site from land to the rear of Bucknall Crescent to Kilsby Lane.

2006

2005

Award Wins & Nike Partnership

The club goes from strength to strength winning Community Club of the year, Team of the year, Volunteer of the year and Coach of the year. It becomes a Nike Partner Club.

2005

2005

Pavillion & Pitch Funding

Club apply to Onyx Fund for the pitches at the rear of Bucknall Crescent. Ongoing discussions with the Football Foundation led to both clubs in Rugby gaining grants with Rugby Town Juniors gaining just over £1 million to construct their pavilion and pitches.

Our first team become Rugby Town playing out of Butlin Road and our youth team plays at the same stadium.

2005

2004

Football Foundation Bid

Another huge year in the clubs history, the planning application went in, this time with the support of over 200 club members congregating outside the council offices with flags and banners. It was approved which was a massive day for the club. We submitted our Football Foundation bid for £950,000.

2004

2003

One Club for Rugby

Teams continue to grow, and the club are playing out of 13 different venues. Rugby United, the Council and the FA get together to work out logistics of a one club system.

Following lengthy discussions, the first team was merged into Rugby United first team changing the name to Rugby Town they would play in blue with the reserves and youth teams in Tangerine.

2003

2002

Objections to our Planning Application

Planning application is put on hold to address the issues. The Football Foundation intervened as two bids from Rugby had been received for football facilities.

The Foundation wanted the clubs to work together under one name at two venues. This would have to happen otherwise the funding which was over £1.5million would be in jeopardy for the Town.

2002

2001

Community Club of the Year

The club wins the Community Club of the year; however, the planning application is rejected by the local council.

The first team get promoted to the Midland Combination Premier Division.

Junior sides continue to expand with 31 teams entering various leagues throughout the Midlands.

2001

2000

First Team Promotion to Division 1

More for the history books as the first team win promotion from the Midland Combination 2 to Division 1.

The club increased its teams to 27 with an incredible 7 teams being formed at U7. 

2000

2000

Planning Application Submitted

Planning application submitted and the club started to draw up an application to the Football Foundation and other funders.

The planning application receives an initial negative response from residents in the vicinity and it’s clear there is more consultation to be done.

2000

1999

First Team Formed

The Men’s first team was set up playing out of Rugby Lions, Webb Ellis Road and supported by the Junior club to provide a pathway.

More history was made this year as Girls football was introduced as we partnered up with Rugby Girls Football Club with Declan Wheelan as chairman.

The growing club went through a certification programme for all its coaches to become fully FA certified.

1999

1999

Club Purchase Land

A huge year in the clubs history. The club finalised the land deal to the rear of Bucknall Crescent to become its future site and put together a planning application, including an access drive via Kilsby Lane. The club purchased that land for £5,000 and the planning application began.

1999

1998

3 Potential Sites Identified

The club grew its teams to 21 and the Council identified 3 sites for the club to look at. They were at Cawston, one at the rear of St Andrews Rugby Club and one at the end of Bucknall Crescent.

1998

1997

Development Committee Formed

Club continues to grow, and a development committee was set up looking at ways in which we can provide our own facilities.

Rugby Borough Council and Roland Honeybunn supported the scheme and set about looking at current council land that was not used.

1997

1996

Volunteer Investment VIP Award

Awards started to pour in with the club winning a VIP award for Volunteer investment.

A new soccer centre for the club has opened headed by a club legend Sam Jarvis who was instrumental in recruitment of young players.

Over 50 players attended on a Saturday morning over a 3-hour period. 13 teams were entered into various leagues for this season playing and training out of various venues throughout Rugby.

1996

1995

FIrst Grant Awarded

The club received its first grant from Rugby Sports Council for £900 to set up a mini soccer centre.

Our first session at St Andrews Rugby Club was attended by 63 your children. We also had to go through some pain as a local league tried to remove the word Town from our name. We won and kept our name.

1995

1994

Rugby Town Junior Football Club Formed

The history begins and Rugby Town Junior Football Club was formed in February 1994 and joined the Northants Youth Alliance league with 1 team. They were sponsored by J.Gater Design.

1994

our club crest

Our club crest runs through the whole club, from our 4 year old girls development squads right through to our mens first team and is a symbol we wear with pride, boy, girl, man or woman. Unity, one badge – one club!

RBFC Base File
RBWGFC Badge Basefile

The Griffin

A mythical legendary creature with the body, tail and hind legs of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle. Both lords in their respective animal kingdoms but the Griffin is the lord of all creatures, the embodiment of earthly power and majesty. A symbol of divine power and a protector and guardian of the divine.

The Griffin is always drawn to powerful opposition where it displays courage, strength, boldness, intelligence and leadership. It epitomises the way we play, whoever we face, we never give up until the very end.

Victori Spolia

Translates to ‘To The Victor The Spoils’

About The Club

Find out all about our football club and our vision.

Our football facility

Find out all about our facilities and clubhouse at Kilsby Lane.

Want to join a team?

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