Puddletown Rugby Football Club
The History of Puddletown Rugby Football Club
Puddletown RFC was formally recognised and elected as a member of the RFU in December 1985. The club was initially formed by Old boys of the former Secondary Modern School, St Mary’s in Puddletown. Originally playing it’s fixtures on farmers land in Puddletown and using one of the local hostelries for changing & refreshment.
The club moved to its present facilities, a former Army based, formally opened in 1982 by Mike Davies. The club during the 80’s cemented their position as one of the foremost clubs in Dorset, eventually purchasing the freehold of their facilities and some 40 acres of land from the Local Authority.
The club has consistently stayed true to its routes as a community driven club, and had great success in the late eighties with two senior teams, U16 & U19 sides. With the advent of the league system, the loss of key individuals saw the club limited to fielding only two senior sides for the majority of the 90s/new millennium and at stages fielding only one senior side.
During that period the club spent much time fund-raising with modifications to their existing clubhouse, changing rooms and pitches and the eventual installations of a fully floodlit pitch (not however to recognised match standards). This was part funded via an RFU Loan.
Puddletown has never been a cash rich club and has always prided itself on its traditional rugby values, being a players club to enjoy and play their rugby in family friendly surroundings.
The club’s membership (playing and social) has never been higher; c. 200 and this is forecast to grow by 10% year on year. With the majority of those members being from the club’s traditional catchment base of rural Dorset.