Aylestone Athletic Rugby Union Football Club
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| Full name | Aylestone Athletic Rugby Football Club |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1919 |
| Location | Leicester, England |
| Ground(s) | Victoria Park (Capacity: 100+) |
| President | Richard Annis |
| Coach(es) | Guillaume Altmeyer |
| Captain(s) | Matt Gunnell |
| League(s) | Midlands 4 East (South) |
| Official website | |
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Aylestone Athletic RFC (nicknamed The Mighty Ath) is an English rugby union club that plays in the Leicestershire Rugby Football Union's Merit League.
"Social Rugby at its Finest"
Aylestone Athletic RFC prides itself as an open, inclusive and welcoming club. The club is built around its social activities, which is perfect given it is based in a fantastic Pub. New players of all standards and experience are always welcome and are encouraged to visit the club website for more information.
History
The club was founded in 1919. The founding members were mainly members of St.James' Church in Lansdowne Road, Leicester. The minister of the Church, B.E.Owen, was the first Club President. The new club's headquarters were established at the Aylestone Baths in Knighton Fields Road West, with the pitch on nearby Saffron Lane Recreation Ground, close to where the Aylestonians Club now play. The season of 1922-23 was a good one for the club with the winning of the Junior Cup and the Junior Combination Cup, during an unbeaten season of 26 wins and 2 draws. The seasons 1935-36 and 36-37 were particularly impressive with not one single defeat. In 1971 the headquarters were transferred to the rear of the Old Horse public house, London Road, with the pitch being on Victoria Park opposite the pub. After the pub was refurbished in the mid-1980s, the club lost the use of the changing and bar facilities at the rear of the pub, and subsequently used the changing facilities at the Park pavilion.
Home Ground
The club plays its home games at Victoria Park. All pre- and post-match socialising is conducted in the Old Horse Public House on London Road.
Squads
1st XV
The club fielded the first team play competitive league rugby to a high standard in the Midlands 4 East (South) division.
In 2007 the club gained promotion from Midlands 6 East (South).
In 2006 and 2008 the club made the local County Shield final, and had good runs in the EDF Junior Vase in 2007 and 2008, beating many local sides, and some from further afield.
2nd XV 'The Thunderbolts'
Playing merit league rugby to a high standard. For the 2012/13 season, 'The Thunderbolts' will compete in Division 4 of the Leicestershire Merit Leagues.
First Team Captains
- 2000 - 2002 = Pat Magriel
- 2002 - 2003 = Mark Flanaghan
- 2003 - 2006 = Neil Weston
- 2006 - 2007 = Mark Corley
- 2007 - 2008 = Darren Watson
- 2008 - 2009 = Mark Flanaghan
- 2009 - 2010 = Ken Vernon
- 2010 - 2012 = Kyle Sargent
- 2012 - 2013 = Nathanael Holden
- 2013 - 2014 = Mark Corley
- 2014 - = Matt Gunnell
Players
Current Players
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under WR eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-WR nationality.
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Tours
- 2001 - Southport, England
- 2002 - Marmsbury, England
- 2003 - Southend, England
- 2004 - Swansea, Wales
- 2005 - Galway, Ireland
- 2006 - Zaragoza, Spain
- 2007 - Amsterdam, Netherlands
- 2008 - Brighton, England
- 2011 - Exeter, England
- 2013 - Skegness, England
- 2014 - Cheltenham & Gloucester, England
- 2015 - Hull, England
- 2016 - Norwich, England
Club Honours
- Junior Cup: 1922-23
- Junior Combination Cup: 1922-23
- Boxing Day Challenge Cup 2001, Tied 2002 & 2003
- Midlands 4 East (South) champions: 2007-08