Clifton Rugby Football Club History	index sitemap advanced site search by freefind
	1990-2000

1990-1 Ex Bristol, England and British Lion wing Alan Morley MBE becomes head coach at Clifton.

	INTERNATIONAL RECORD: England Caps 1972-75	Career Record: P7, W2, D0, L5, Tries 2, Cons 0, Pen 0, DropG 0
	3rd June 1972 v South Africa (Ellis Park, Johannesburg) W 18-9 6th January 1973 v New Zealand (Twickenham) L 0-9 20th January 1973 v Wales (Cardiff Arms Park) L 9-25 10th February 1973 v Ireland (Lansdowne Road, Dublin) L 9-18 15th March 1975 v Scotland (Twickenham) W 7-6 24th May 1975 v Australia (Sydney Cricket Ground) L 9-16 31st May 1975 v Australia (Ballymore, Brisbane) L 21-30
	OTHER RECORD: Barbarians Appearances 1974-75	Career Record: P5, W2, D0, L3, Tries 4, Cons 0, Pen 0, DropG 0
	27th March 1974 v Moseley L 22-25 12th April 1974 v Penarth W 73-10 15th April 1974 v Swansea W 16-12 16th April 1974 v Newport L 0-16 29th March 1975 v Cardiff L 19-24

Alan Morley was still at Colston’s when he played for Bristol United. He joined Bristol in 1968 and started as a centre but was moved to the wing by the Bristol coach because 'you don't like passing'. This move was a revelation as Morley could swerve while running at top speed. He was watched by Wales as he qualified for them through a Welsh mother. He opted for England and was selected for their tour of South Africa. He has played for the British Lions, Barbarians and Gloucestershire on 73 occasions. He scored a try on his debut for England against South Africa and another against Scotland in 1975. Amazingly he only received 7 England caps. He scored 5 tries for the Barbarians, 1 against Cardiff, 2 against Swansea and 1 against Moseley. Amazingly out of 73 points against Penarth he didn't score any.

Ex. Bristol captain Peter Polledri joins Clifton.

Ex Clifton player and England captain Colin McFadyean becomes Director of Coaching at Bristol. Unfortunately Bristol had a disastrous season narrowly missing relegation and McFadyean resigned at the end of the season.

In November 1990 Bristol forward Alan Sharp joined Clifton. He returned to Bristol for the 1992/93 season

	INTERNATIONAL RECORD: Scotland Caps 1994	Career Record: P6, W0, D1, L5, Tries 0, Cons 0, Pen 0, DropG 0
	5th February 1994 v England (Murrayfield) (FN) L 14-15 5th March 1994 v Ireland (Lansdowne Road) (FN) D 6-6 19th March 1994 v France (Murrayfield) (FN) L 12-20 4th June 1994 v Argentina (Buenos Aires) L 15-16	11th June 1994 v Argentina (Buenos Aires) L 17-19 19th November 1994 v South Africa (Murrayfield) L 10-34

Alan Sharp had represented England Schools and England B but also represented Scotland u19 and u21. He was selected to play for Scotland against Ireland in 1993 but was diagnosed with a fractured leg on the eve of the match. He commenced playing for Scotland the following season. His international career was regularly interrupted by injuries which made him miss the 1995 World Cup. He left Bristol at the end of the 1995/96 season and joined Coventry, returning once more to help Bristol to promotion from the second division in 1998-99. He retired at the end of the 1999-2000 season and is now landlord of The Bear and Rugged Staff pub on Southmead Road in Bristol.

For more on Alan Sharp click here

	INTERNATIONAL RECORD: Zimbabwe Caps ?	Career Record: P6, W?, D?, L?, Tries 1, Cons 0, Pen 0, DropG 0

Paul Johnstone was born 16th October 1970 in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe to South African parents, he won 6 rugby caps for Zimbabwe before moving to Britain. He started his club rugby at Clifton. Unfortunately he was sold to London Scottish in 1998 before joining Bristol in 1999. He moved to Gloucester in 2003 and in August 2004 joined Dings Crusaders.

In March our 1st team played and beat a Bristol side which was debuting Kyran Bracken. This was the second time they had beaten Bristol this season. Something that last happened in 1954.

Above programme cover and team sheet from the Clifton v Metropolitan Police match on 23rd February 1991. Clifton won 9-4

The 1st team gain 5th place in Courage Division 3

Courage Division 3 1990-1991
Team	P	W	D	L	For	Against	Diff	Points
West Hartlepool p	12	10	1	1	282	90	192	21
Morley p	12	9	1	2	210	118	92	19
Fylde	12	7	2	3	183	115	68	16
Exeter	12	7	2	3	160	139	21	16
Clifton	12	6	1	5	172	186	-14	13
Askeans	12	4	2	6	141	137	4	10
Nuneaton	12	5	0	7	180	200	-20	10
Broughton Park	12	5	0	7	109	185	-76	10
Roundhay	12	4	1	7	147	166	-19	9
Sheffield	12	4	1	7	193	222	-29	9
Lydney	12	4	1	7	125	188	-63	9
Met. Police r	12	4	0	8	130	188	-58	8
Vale of Lune r	12	3	0	9	123	221	-98	6
r relegated p promoted

Also in this season Clifton u15's and u17's were Gloucestershire County Cup Winners.

Above programme cover and teamsheet of Gloucestershire County Cup final between Clifton and Berry Hill. Played on March 26th 1991 at Kingsholm.

1991-92

Who would have believed it in Round 3 of the Pilkington Cup we're drawn against Bristol. Unfortunately we lost 30-4

Programme cover and team sheet of the 3rd Round of the Pilkington Cup Bristol v Clifton on November 30th 1991. This was the first time the two sides had met in a National Cup competition. This was the 162nd time Clifton had played Bristol and amazingly Clifton had only won 5 times and drawn 6 of those games.

This score didn't bode well for when we'd were scheduled to play Bristol on March 31st 1992 at home. We won 23-7

Above action from that 23-7 home win over Bristol on March 31st 1992. The caption read "Flanker Wayne Hone drives away from a maul against Bristol, supported by second row Tim Edwards (5)".

Above programme cover and team sheet for Clifton v Newbury on 28th December 1991. This match was a friendly arranged against an emerging side who were then in South West One. Newbury are now (2005) in National League Division 2. Clifton won 32-9.

The 1st team narrowly missed promoted from Courage Division 3.

Courage Division 3 1991-1992
Team	P	W	D	L	For	Against	Diff	Points
Richmond p	12	10	1	1	296	124	172	21
Fylde p	12	9	1	2	198	109	89	19
Clifton	12	9	0	3	298	132	166	18
Exeter	12	8	2	2	203	138	65	18
Redruth	12	6	1	5	155	123	32	13
Broughton Park	12	5	1	6	196	157	39	11
Askeans	12	5	1	6	149	203	-54	11
Sheffield	12	5	1	6	146	228	-82	11
Otley	12	5	0	7	177	190	-13	10
Roundhay r	12	3	2	7	161	240	-79	8
Headingley r	12	4	0	8	139	220	-81	8
Nuneaton r	12	1	2	9	153	237	-84	4
Lydney r	12	2	0	10	91	261	-170	4
r relegated p promoted

Note at the end of this season Roundhay and Headingley amalgamated to form Leeds Tykes.

1992-93

This was Alan Morley’s last season as head coach at Clifton.

Back Row: Roger Jordan (Vice President), Mike Anderton (Vice President), Steve Hucker, Alan Kendall, (Membership Secretary), Derek Farley (Vice President), Mike Skinner (Team Manager), Sally Cooper (Physio), Richard John, Nick Collins, Dave Mason, Chris Blake, Mark Wyatt, Paul Cox, Alan Morley (Coac), Pete Smith, Matt Brain, Bob Miller (Assistant Coach), Brian Jordan (Fixture Secretary), Sheridan Smith (Team Secretary). Middle Row: Aftab Hamid, Kerry Lock, Paul Jeffrey, Peter Polledri (Captain), Wayne Hone, Lee Ashford, Mark Beresford, Norman Golding (Chairman). Front Row: Simon Hogg.

Above 1st round Pilkington Cup action v Horsham on 19th September 1992. Clifton won (According to the Rugby Union Club Directory by 431-10 which must be a printing error). In the next round Clifton beat Lydney away 9-6. In the third round we lost to Exeter 3-19.

Above programme cover and team sheet for Clifton v Bristol on 5th December 1992. Bristol won 28-15

Above programme cover and team sheet for Clifton v Plymouth on 13th February 1993. Clifton won 24-8. Plymouth are now in Division 1.

Mens 1st XV gain 8th place in Courage Division 3

Courage Division 3 1992-1993
Team	P	W	D	L	For	Against	Diff	Points
Otley	11	8	1	2	274	118	156	17
Havant	11	8	1	2	185	93	92	17
Exeter	11	8	1	2	247	169	78	17
Redruth	11	7	2	2	175	125	50	16
Sheffield	11	7	0	4	208	134	74	14
Leeds	11	7	0	4	228	220	8	14
Liverpool SH	11	5	0	6	203	130	73	10
Clifton	11	4	2	5	206	175	31	10
Aspatria	11	3	1	7	170	308	-138	7
Askeans	11	3	0	8	132	300	-168	6
Broughton Park	11	2	0	9	136	217	-81	4
Plymouth Albion	11	0	0	11	130	305	-175	0
r relegated p promoted

Clifton u15's and u17's win Gloucestershire Cup.

A Try was increased from 4 points to 5 points.

In 1993 a 120 years of County Cricket was celebrated. Above First Day Cover signed by ex Clifton RFC player, Gloucestershire and England Cricketer Chris Board. Also signed by Gloucestershire and West Indies cricketer Courtney Walsh.

1993 - 1994 - 1st team promoted from National League Division 4. We became the first club to complete an unbeaten season in the National leagues on a home and away basis.

Back Row: Mike Anderton (Vice President), Sheridan Smith (Team Sec.), Mike Skinner (Team Manager), Derek Farley (Vice President), Simon Swales, Andy Heywood, Mark Wyatt, Chris Blake, Andy Fisher, Peter Naivalurua, Grant Watson (President), Fred Cannon (Vice President), Norman Golding (Chairman), Bob Miller (Assistant Coach), Brian Jordan (Fixtures Sec). Middle Row: Charles Newyh, Paul Cox, Paul Jeffrey, Wayne Hone (Captain), Kerry Lock, Richard John, Mark Beresford, Peter Polledri (Coach). Front Row: Phil Cue (Assistant Coach), John Phillips, Trevor Davies, Mike Cotton, Simon Hogg.

Above programme cover and team sheet for the Clifton v Bridgwater & Albion match on 27th November 1993. This was a Pilkington Cup match. Bridgwater qualified for this round by beating Old Redcliffians 21-5 in the Somerset Cup Final and reached the third round with wins over Old Mid-Whitgiftians and Camborne. Having taken 1,000 spectators to Camborne, they went in front by a point with 15 minutes remaining and hung on to win 21-20 with the home side missing a last minute penalty.

Above programme cover and team sheet for Clifton v Bristol on 1st March 1994.

Courage Division 4 1993-1994
Team	P	W	D	L	For	Against	Diff	Points
Clifton p	18	16	2	0	477	204	273	34
Harrogate p	18	14	2	2	479	211	268	30
Liverpool St Helens	18	11	1	6	396	275	121	23
Plymouth	18	9	0	9	286	416	-130	18
Aspatria	18	8	0	10	295	372	-77	16
Leeds	18	7	0	11	243	318	-75	14
Askeans	18	6	1	11	268	358	-90	13
Broughton Park	18	6	0	12	243	356	-113	12
Sheffield	18	5	1	12	287	310	-23	11
Sudbury	18	4	1	13	240	393	-153	9
r relegated p promoted

Above the Courage Division 4 Winners Shield.

Above 1993/94 player of the year Kerry Lock. In this picture standing in front of player/coach Pete Polledri. Kerry was a product of the clubs prolific and successful junior section gained County honours at Colts and u21 level before moving to Bristol in 1989 and after limited appearances he returned to Clifton in September 1992.

In this season our second team, the Wanderers, were Champions West of England 2nd Team Merit Table. The u18's were runners-up in the Gloucester u18's cup.

5 members of our Ladies XV played at the World Cup. This World Cup was originally scheduled to be held in the Netherlands between April 10-24, but was cancelled. However, a replacement competition was organised around the same dates in Scotland. England won the final against the USA 38-23. No Southern Hemisphere sides took part in this competition.

1994 - 1995

Back: Grant Watson (President), John Phillips, Mike Skinner (Team Manager), Lee Ashford, Mark Beresford, Matt Todds, Mark Wyatt, Lee Waddon, Simon Swales, Richard Clifton (Committed Supporter), Fred Cannon (Vice President), Derek Farley (Vice President), Alan Kendall (Membership Secretary) Brian Jordan (Fixtures Secretary). Middle: Bob Miller (Assistant Coach), Adam Burns, Paul Crocker, Norman Golding (Chairman), Wayne Hone (Captain), Dean Dewdney, Paul Futter, Peter Polledri (Coach). Front: Charles Newth, Paul Jeffrey, Peter Naivalura, Matt Brain, Simon Hogg, Kevin Borgira, Paul Cox.

Dean Dewdney, born Bindura, Zimbabwe, went on to play for Bristol. He played 3 times for Zimbabwe. He later joined Neath and now plays for Cardiff Blues.

Simon Hogg, above, had previously played for Bristol and scored 115 points for them, the 9th all-time highest for the club. He now teaches rugby at Taunton School.

Above programme cover and team sheet for the Clifton v Blackheath match played on 1st April 1995. Blackheath won 25-12. This was Dean Dewdney's 1st full home game for Clifton.

Courage Division 3 1994-1995
Team	P	W	D	L	For	Against	Diff	Points
Bedford	18	13	1	4	421	250	171	27
Blackheath	18	12	2	4	299	190	109	26
Rugby	18	11	0	7	355	271	84	22
Rosslyn Park	18	10	0	8	313	280	33	20
Morley	18	9	2	7	277	326	-49	20
Otley	18	9	0	9	278	258	20	18
Harrogate	18	7	2	9	275	404	-129	16
Richmond	18	6	1	11	319	290	29	13
Clifton r	18	5	1	12	242	344	-102	11
Exeter r	18	3	1	14	153	319	-166	7
r relegated p promoted

1995 -1996

Back Row (L-R): Richard Clifton (Committed Supporter), Simon Burton, Adam Reuben, Iain Neary, Chris Blake, Mike Crane, Geoff Crane, Henry Burlington, Phill Allen, Mike Cotton (Manager), Peter Polledri (Coach), Derek Farley (Vice President), Mark Hough, Brian Jordan (Fix Sec). Front Row: Simon Hodges, Aftab Hamid, Mark Wyatt, Paul Jeffrey, Jim Hanks, Paul Futter, Mark Buckingham.

Adam Reuban, above, went on to gain 2 Blues at Oxford University click here

 

Courage Division 4 1995-1996
Team	P	W	D	L	For	Against	Diff	Points
Exeter	18	14	0	4	448	230	218	28
London Welsh	18	12	0	6	424	269	155	24
Liverpool St H	18	11	1	6	471	343	128	23
Walsall	18	10	0	8	406	324	82	20
Leeds	18	9	1	8	312	347	-35	19
Clifton	18	7	2	9	283	298	-15	16
Redruth	18	7	2	9	358	392	-34	16
Havant	18	7	1	10	287	368	-81	15
Aspatria	18	5	1	12	356	497	-141	11
Plymouth	18	4	0	14	268	545	-277	8
r relegated p promoted

Above programme cover and team sheet for Clifton v Aspatria on 9th March 1996. It was a 25-25 draw. Mark Beresford and Mark Crane each scored a try and Simon Hogg kicked 5 penalties.

1996-1997

Above James Max Michael Averis gains a rugby blue in the 1996 Varsity match. Born 28th May 1974 in Bristol. He was educated at Bristol Cathedral School and Portsmouth University. He also played rugby for Bristol.

Back Row (L-R): John Raine (Chairman), Wayne Hone, Derek Farley (Vice President), Rob Amphlett, Alan Montgomery, Ryan Bent, Trevor Davis, Tony Hussey, Janik Hendriksz, Mark Buckingham, Simon Dugan, Matt Snellus, Brian Jordan (Vice President and Fixture Secretary). Front Row: Norman Golding (Vice President), Phil O'Sullivan, Jon Phillips, Ray Wood, Paul Jeffrey, Lee Ashford (Captain), Nick Lloyd, Kerry Lock, Dan Craven, Jo Seddon (Physio).

Forced to rebuild this season through departures and retirements and a string of injuries caused Clifton to get relegated. Clifton's 63 was the most players ever used in a National League season. We gave League debuts to 39 players. Conceded more tries, 184, in this season than the previous nine added together - 173. Some of the scores were embarrassing.

Above programme cover and teamsheet from the Reading v Clifton match played on 1st March 1997. Reading won 75-12

07.12.96	(A)	v Leeds	L	0-80
15.02.97	(A)	v Liverpool StH	L	13-89
22.03.97	(H)	v Exeter	L	3-60
29.03.97	(A)	v Lydney	L	13-56
05.04.97	(A)	v Harrogate	L	7-79

The scoreline said it all 84-9. A record away win by the amalgamated Roundhay and Headingley side renamed Leeds Tykes on April 12th 1997. They were so jubilant they had special envelopes printed. Note 1991 is the date Leeds Tykes were formed.

Courage Division 3 1996-1997
Team	P	W	D	L	For	Against	Diff	Points
Exeter p	30	25	0	5	923	443	480	50
Flyde	30	24	1	5	813	439	374	49
Leeds	30	24	0	6	1209	432	777	48
Morley	30	22	0	8	928	572	356	44
Harrogate	30	18	0	12	832	599	233	36
Reading	30	17	1	12	869	631	238	35
Wharfedale	30	17	0	13	710	635	75	34
Rosslyn Park	30	17	0	13	630	620	10	34
Otley	30	13	0	17	720	766	-46	26
Lydney	30	13	0	17	668	766	-98	26
London Welsh	30	12	0	18	634	777	-143	24
Liverpool St. H	30	9	0	21	665	827	-162	18
Walsall	30	8	0	22	640	980	-340	16
Havant	30	8	0	22	590	954	-364	16
Redruth r	30	8	0	22	565	1116	-551	16
Clifton r	30	4	0	26	518	1347	-829	8
r relegated p promoted

1997-1998

National Division 2 South 1997-1998
Team	P	W	D	L	For	Against	Diff	Points
Camberley p	26	23	1	2	803	372	431	47
Henley p	26	22	0	4	772	384	388	44
Barking	26	19	0	7	762	450	312	38
Esher	26	18	1	7	651	448	203	37
Cheltenham	26	14	1	11	627	516	111	29
Tabard	26	14	0	12	556	532	-24	28
North Walsham	26	12	1	13	431	373	58	25
Bridgwater & Albion	26	12	0	14	535	664	-129	24
Redruth	26	10	0	16	720	580	140	20
Weston	26	10	0	16	468	651	-183	20
Clifton	26	7	1	18	414	611	-197	15
Havant	26
Plymouth Albion	26	6	0	20	472	756	-284	12
Metropolitan Police r	26	2	0	24	320	941	-621	4
r relegated p promoted

1998 - 1999 Ex Bristol second-row Andy Blackmore joins Clifton. He made his 1st XV debut for Bristol against Clifton in October 1984. He had also played for the South, South West, Gloucestershire, England Schools, England u23, England B. He toured North America with England in 1993, and played in both test matches against Canada. He toured South Africa with England in 1994 but didn't play. He left Bristol in January 1995 and joined Coventry. He is now player/manager of Bristol Saracens and RFU Rugby Development Officer for Bristol and District.

 

Back Row (L-R): Gozie Ezulike, Mark Harraway, Andy Collins, Eddie Smith, Stuart Roberts, Alex Adams, Adam Barnes, Nick Cooper, Andy Blackmore, Ralph Knibbs (Captain), Peter Polledri (Director of Coaching). Front Row: Justin Morris, Duncan Jeffrey, Barnaby Kent, Andy Stephens, Tony Hussey, Rhys Oakley, Mark Wyatt, Nick Lloyd, Marl Lloyd, Jason Packer.

Perhaps this season was most memorable as being Rhys Oakleys start in the first team after moving up through the junior teams. In his first season, and still at school, he became Clifton's second highest points scorer in a season with 156 points. He played in every position in the back two rows of the pack and settled at No8. He was soon recruited by Bristol and made a huge impact on his debut for them against Montferrand in the Heineken Cup, which was televised live, he was Man of the Match. He moved on at the end of the 2002-2003 season to Newport Gwent Dragons after Malcolm Pearce withdrew funding from the Bristol club.

National Division 2 South 1998-1999
Team	P	W	D	L	For	Against	Diff	Points
Bracknell p	26	23	1	2	631	317	314	47
Esher p	26	23	0	3	864	308	556	46
North Walsham	26	22	0	4	627	306	321	44
Barking	26	19	1	6	644	327	317	39
Met Police	26	14	1	11	470	545	-75	29
Norwich	26	11	0	15	383	429	-46	22
Clifton	26	10	1	15	415	483	-68	21
Tabard	26	9	1	16	461	501	-40	19
Weston-s-Mare	26	9	1	16	415	588	-173	19
Bridgwater	26	8	2	16	463	624	-162	18
Redruth	26	8	1	17	503	652	-149	17
Plymouth	26	7	1	18	457	666	-209	15
Cheltenham r	26	7	0	19	335	608	-273	14
Havant r	26	7	0	19	361	675	-314	14
r relegated p promoted

Above the programme cover from the 1999 Ladies European Championship in Italy which featured Clifton Ladies players Philippa Georgina Spivey and Georgina Ruth Stevens for England and Sue Calnan for Wales.

1999-2000

Above Clifton RFC player Andy Collins wins his second Blue at Oxford playing in the 1999 Varsity match. He was educated at King Edward's, Bath and Swansea University before going to Oxford as a postgraduate. MPhil in Social Anthropology. He has represented Somerset, the South-West and England at u18, 19 and 21 level.He has also played for England Students and his previous clubs were Bath, Bristol (while at Bristol Uni) and Ponypridd. He then moved on to Worcester and Pertemp Bee's.