Wallsend Eagles
Encyclopedia
Wallsend Eagles are a rugby league
side based in Wallsend
, Newcastle Upon Tyne
. The club runs five teams: open-age who play in the Rugby League Conference
North East Premier
; under-12s, under-14s and under-16s who all play in the North East Junior League
and under-10s who play friendlies.
News of the resurrected club team spread and within weeks there was renewed interest. The new Eagles team went on to play teams such as Sunderland City
, Whitley Bay Barbarians
, Shiney Row Sharks and Gateshead Panthers. Within the first year of starting up again Newcastle Eagles won the league. By 2005 there were two teams.
Newcastle Eagles continued to train and play games at Western Middle School until the building was demolished in 2006. The Eagles then re-located to Wallsend Sports Centre. By 2007 the club had expanded to three teams and Tony Kelly arrived as coach.
In 2008 the club committee decided to change the name of the team from Newcastle Eagles to Wallsend Eagles. It was thought that the new name would reflect on the huge local talent that came out of Wallsend. It was also this year that the Eagles moved to their new home at Benfield sports centre.
By 2009, the Eagles consisted of four age group teams and also saw the Eagles under-16s venture into the Yorkshire league where they finished mid-table. In 2010, the open-age team joined the North East division of the Rugby League Conference
.
Wallsend joined the newly formed North East Premier in 2011.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
side based in Wallsend
Wallsend
Wallsend is an area in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. Wallsend derives its name as the location of the end of Hadrian's Wall. It has a population of 42,842.-Romans:...
, Newcastle Upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne
Newcastle upon Tyne is a city and metropolitan borough of Tyne and Wear, in North East England. Historically a part of Northumberland, it is situated on the north bank of the River Tyne...
. The club runs five teams: open-age who play in the Rugby League Conference
Rugby League Conference
The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...
North East Premier
Rugby League Conference
The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...
; under-12s, under-14s and under-16s who all play in the North East Junior League
North East Junior League
The North East Junior League is a rugby league competition for clubs in the North East of England.It is competed for at under-12, under-14 and under-16 levels. Under-10 sides also exist but only play friendlies...
and under-10s who play friendlies.
History
Newcastle Eagles were founded in 1989 and were based at Western Middle school in Wallsend, North Tyneside. 1998 saw the club close down with lack of players until 2001 when a chance meeting brought Steve Walmsley into contact with Phyllis Thorman and Jan Neighbour. Walmsley was looking for a new challenge after aiding Killingworth Rockets' coach. Soon after, with the help of Phyllis and Jan, he began looking for new players for the Eagles.News of the resurrected club team spread and within weeks there was renewed interest. The new Eagles team went on to play teams such as Sunderland City
Sunderland City
Sunderland City are a rugby league team based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear. They play in the North East Premier division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
, Whitley Bay Barbarians
Whitley Bay Barbarians
Whitley Bay Barbarians are a rugby league team based in Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear. They play in the North East Division, of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
, Shiney Row Sharks and Gateshead Panthers. Within the first year of starting up again Newcastle Eagles won the league. By 2005 there were two teams.
Newcastle Eagles continued to train and play games at Western Middle School until the building was demolished in 2006. The Eagles then re-located to Wallsend Sports Centre. By 2007 the club had expanded to three teams and Tony Kelly arrived as coach.
In 2008 the club committee decided to change the name of the team from Newcastle Eagles to Wallsend Eagles. It was thought that the new name would reflect on the huge local talent that came out of Wallsend. It was also this year that the Eagles moved to their new home at Benfield sports centre.
By 2009, the Eagles consisted of four age group teams and also saw the Eagles under-16s venture into the Yorkshire league where they finished mid-table. In 2010, the open-age team joined the North East division of the Rugby League Conference
Rugby League Conference
The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...
.
Wallsend joined the newly formed North East Premier in 2011.