The Club History

Formed in 1963 by a group of Masters and Old Boys from Shipston High School in an area of little Rugby tradition, the initial players were drawn from far afield. For the first season we were a nomadic club with no pitch of our own, relying on the High School facilities and using local pubs for post-match refreshments.

By 1964 we were fielding two sides and, by the generosity of a local farmer, we had a pitch of our own at Darlingscote which was affectionately known as "The Bowl". In 1968 we rented an old barn at the rear of The Bell Inn and after much hard work, modifications and assistance from Whitbread Flowers, we were able to use this for our Clubhouse and bar. In 1973 we had to vacate our Clubhouse behind The Bell Inn. With the assistance of local benefactors, the local council, the County Council, the RFU and Middlesex RFU, not to mention Club members, we drew up plans for a new Clubhouse and ground here at Mayo Road. This building was extended in 1987 and we created three pitches.

Thanks to a huge Club effort and Sport England lottery funding an impressive new Clubhouse was completed in May 2000. In the summer of 2006 floodlights were erected on the main pitch.

The 2002/03 season saw the first team run out at Twickenham for the Powergen Junior Vase Final. Almost one thousand supporters followed the team to the home of English Rugby to watch the boys play on the hallowed turf. The club now runs three senior sides every Saturday with an occasional 4ths, and a side in the South Warks Double Tops competition in which we were runners up last season. The 2007/08 season will see the creation of an U19 Colts side, the nucleus of which played in the successful U17 side that reached the last 16 of the National U17 Bowl last season; some of the players having started playing for Shipston in the mini rugby section back in 1998.

The mini/junior section boasts 230 members in age groups from U7 to U17 training or playing every Sunday from September to April.

Richard Spencer
July 2007