Longton History
Club History 2 of 6

2. Longton History


Our History

Longton Rugby was first formed at Longton High School under the name of Old Longtonians. The Club’s first games were played in the 1930’s in a field off Cocknage Road, Dresden.

During the War all activity ceased and it was not until 1947 that the club was revived.

In 1952 the club was reformed using the facilities at the school along with the pitches on the Meir Aerodrome. Teas were taken at Caverswall Cricket Club and Weston Coyney Social Club.

As the club grew so did its necessity for a permanent home. Thanks to the hard work by the committee and the club’s members, we were able to open the doors to a new ground and clubhouse at Roughcote Lane just prior to the Christmas of 1975.

It was at Roughcote Lane that the club continued to flourish and thrive over the years. The main highlights have been promotion to the National leagues in 2003/2004 and the formation of a highly successful mini/junior section.

The next chapter in the Longton story was a tremendously exciting one and saw the club relocating to a multi million pound complex at Trentham Lakes.

It is thanks to the professionalism and dedication of the people that run the club that has made it possible for this to happen. The new move provided endless expansion opportunities and will enable Longton Rugby to become a centre of excellence that the whole of the Midlands, and indeed the country, can be proud of.

A Potted History
By David Bourne

The first club was formed at Longton High School under the guidance of one of the teachers, Mr. Hirons and took the name of Old Longtonians. It was in the mid nineteen thirties when the club played its first games in a field off Cocknage Road in Dresden, a suburb of Longton. Not a lot is known of these early years, they played some other Old Boys sides and clubs such as Stoke-on-Trent and Stafford. Click for more

An Old Farts Tale
by Brian Groves

Bailes said to me that if he had to have an Old Fart write a piece for the Website he might as well have the oldest Old Fart of all-me! This is not to say that I am the Oldest Old Fart in the club, its just that fifty years ago, I stood on a rugby pitch behind Trentham Hotel and was one of those anxious young men who wished to uphold the honour of Longton against Trentham RUFC. Click for more

All Our Yesterdays

About 15 years ago, Monty Mountford, an old PE Teacher at Longton High School, gave us a dozen old copies of The Phoenix Magazine from the School – dating from 1948 – for safe keeping.

For many years, The Phoenix was the title of the school magazine and contained details and reports of all of the achievements of Longtonians past and present. In the year 1948, (which was edition number 55 in the series), it listed prize winners for the 1946/7 year and notable in the list in class IVc was one D.J.Bourne.

In the 6th Form prizes, not surprisingly, when it came to German, it just said ‘No Award’! Click for more