Cleve RFC
Encyclopedia
Cleve Rugby Football Club is an English
amateur rugby union
club based in Mangotsfield
, Bristol
. It competes in the Tribute South West 1 West division as of the 2011/2012 season and is a member of the Bristol and District Rugby Football Combination
. The club was founded in 1922.
in 1939, because of a housing development, their wooden pavilion went with them.
In 1947 further land was purchased and was farmed by club members, as a source of income. Eventually, to meet the growing local interest in rugby football, more pitches were developed. Then, between 1969 and 1971, members added more facilities, which carried the club through the next 25 years.
The club badge is based of the coat of arms of the Cave Estate, from whom the ground in Downend
was purchased and the ears of wheat acknowledge the club’s farming activity after the War. The club motto ‘We sow to reap’ also records these early events but also reflects the club’s commitment to providing rugby facilities and coaching for children from the age of 6.
The next milestone in Cleve’s history was the club’s move to its new clubhouse and grounds in Mangotsfield
named ‘The Hayfields’ in September 1997. The now club runs 4 senior sides on Saturdays and all mini and junior levels, from under 7’s to colts, as well as girls rugby at under 15 and under 18 age groups on Sundays.
Craig Short, 
Ben Breeze
United XV :
Paul Johnstone, Geraint Lewis
Wanderers XV :
Ross Reeves, 
Yann Amouroux, Pete Apps
4th XV : Ross Reeves, Yann Amouroux, Pete Apps
Chairman : Andy O'Donnell
Hon. Secretary : Roy Price
Hon. Treasurer : Ray Perry
Hon. Fixtures Secretary : Steve (Wilf) Williams
Hon. Match Secretary : Fred Stapleton
Events/Marketing/Commercial : Karen Perrott
Girl's Rugby : Nick Humphreys
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
amateur rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
club based in Mangotsfield
Mangotsfield
Mangotsfield is a village in South Gloucestershire, England, situated north of the Bristol suburb of Kingswood, bounded to the north by the M4 motorway and to the east by the Emersons Green housing estate....
, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
. It competes in the Tribute South West 1 West division as of the 2011/2012 season and is a member of the Bristol and District Rugby Football Combination
Bristol and District Rugby Football Combination
The Bristol and District Rugby Football Combination is an organisation for the promotion of junior rugby union in the city of Bristol, England....
. The club was founded in 1922.
History
Cleve Rugby Football Club was formed in 1922 as “Cleve R.F.C. Downend”. They played their first game in a field in Staple Hill, which is now Staple Hill Park. The club later moved to Vassells Park in Fishponds, the players changing in the back room of the Full Moon Public House. It was at this time that the club became known simply as “Cleve R.F.C”. The club purchased a wooden pavilion in November 1934 for £200. When Cleve were forced to move to Bromley Heath Road in DownendDownend, South Gloucestershire
Downend is a suburb of Bristol in South Gloucestershire, England. It is located to the North East of Bristol and bordered by the Bristol City suburb of Fishponds to its south west and the South Gloucestershire suburbs of Staple Hill to the south, Frenchay to the west and Mangotsfield to the East...
in 1939, because of a housing development, their wooden pavilion went with them.
In 1947 further land was purchased and was farmed by club members, as a source of income. Eventually, to meet the growing local interest in rugby football, more pitches were developed. Then, between 1969 and 1971, members added more facilities, which carried the club through the next 25 years.
The club badge is based of the coat of arms of the Cave Estate, from whom the ground in Downend
Downend, South Gloucestershire
Downend is a suburb of Bristol in South Gloucestershire, England. It is located to the North East of Bristol and bordered by the Bristol City suburb of Fishponds to its south west and the South Gloucestershire suburbs of Staple Hill to the south, Frenchay to the west and Mangotsfield to the East...
was purchased and the ears of wheat acknowledge the club’s farming activity after the War. The club motto ‘We sow to reap’ also records these early events but also reflects the club’s commitment to providing rugby facilities and coaching for children from the age of 6.
The next milestone in Cleve’s history was the club’s move to its new clubhouse and grounds in Mangotsfield
Mangotsfield
Mangotsfield is a village in South Gloucestershire, England, situated north of the Bristol suburb of Kingswood, bounded to the north by the M4 motorway and to the east by the Emersons Green housing estate....
named ‘The Hayfields’ in September 1997. The now club runs 4 senior sides on Saturdays and all mini and junior levels, from under 7’s to colts, as well as girls rugby at under 15 and under 18 age groups on Sundays.
Coaching Staff
1st XV : Craig Short, Ben BreezeBen Breeze
Ben Breeze is an English born rugby union player who repesented England 7's, Wales 7's and Wales A. As a winger, he formally played his club rugby for the Exeter Chiefs having joined from the Welsh regional team Newport Gwent Dragons where he made 55 appearances. Breeze previously played for...
United XV :
Paul Johnstone, Geraint LewisWanderers XV :
Ross Reeves, Yann Amouroux, Pete Apps4th XV :
Ross Reeves, Yann Amouroux, Pete AppsClub Officials
President : Roy PriceChairman : Andy O'Donnell
Hon. Secretary : Roy Price
Hon. Treasurer : Ray Perry
Hon. Fixtures Secretary : Steve (Wilf) Williams
Hon. Match Secretary : Fred Stapleton
Events/Marketing/Commercial : Karen Perrott
Girl's Rugby : Nick Humphreys
Notable Former Players
- Ryan Davis - London WaspsLondon WaspsLondon Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
- James PhillipsJames Phillips (rugby union)James Phillips is a rugby union player for Exeter Chiefs in the Guinness Championship. He plays as a back row or second row....
- Exeter ChiefsExeter ChiefsExeter Rugby Club are a rugby union club based in Exeter, Devon.The Exeter club was formed around 1871 and played its first match in 1873. The first team has been rebranded as the Exeter Chiefs and play in a strip of Black , White ....
- Chris BrookerChris BrookerChris Brooker is an English rugby union player, currently playing for Harlequins in the Aviva Premiership.Brooker's position of choice is as a hooker. He can also operate as a prop.He has previously played for Bath....
- London Harlequins
- Redford PennycookRedford PennycookRedford Pennycook Redford Pennycook Redford Pennycook (born 27 November 1985 is a rugby union player for Newcastle Falcons in the Aviva Premiership. A flanker, Pennycook previously played for Bristol Rugby for 5 seasons. His brother is former Bristol Rugby player Chevvy Pennycook....
- Newcastle FalconsNewcastle FalconsThe Newcastle Falcons is an English rugby union team currently playing in the Aviva Premiership. The club was established in 1877 and played under the name of Gosforth Football Club until 1990. The name was then changed to Newcastle Gosforth and the club began to play at Kingston Park stadium in...
- Chevvy PennycookChevvy PennycookChevvy Pennycook is a rugby union player for Moseley in the RFU Championship, who formerly played for Bristol Rugby in the Guinness Premiership. He plays as a flanker. His brother is Newcastle Falcons player Redford Pennycook.Chevvy represented the England Under 20 side in 2007...
- MoseleyMoseley Rugby Football ClubMoseley Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club, based at Billesley Common in Birmingham, that competes in the RFU Championship. The club was historically the premier rugby club in Birmingham, reaching the final of the John Player Cup three times in the late 1970s and early 1980s...
- Jack Tovey - Bristol RugbyBristol RugbyBristol Rugby is a rugby union club based in Bristol, England. The club currently plays in the RFU Championship and competes in the British and Irish Cup. They rely in large part on the many junior rugby clubs in the region, particularly those from 'the Combination'...