History Suttonians RFC

1 history

1.1 beginning
1.2 re-birth
1.3 colours
1.4 crest , motto
1.5 station road
1.6 1930s
1.7 1940s
1.8 1946/47 - metropolitan cup
1.9 1950s
1.10 1960s
1.11 1970s
1.12 1980s
1.13 1990s
1.14 2000s
1.15 2010s

history
beginning

the hill of howth overlooks northern shores of dublin bay. situated on howth peninsula , slopes down old village of sutton. in sutton in september 1899 club founded sutton rugby football club. largely made of members of police force , coast guards. great war responsible disbandment of club , scattering of members. club re-formed in 1924 suttonians rugby football club.

the famous tin shed clubhouse, located @ main howth road entrance grounds, remained in use until new clubhouse built in present location on station road in 1970/71, through support of jack mc dowell.

re-birth

with little or no direct association old club group of young men banded in summer of 1924 reform club new name of suttonians rugby football club membership of eighteen. local politician senator andrew jameson provided financial assistance , assistance in procurement of playing grounds howth castle, off saxe lane, sutton. suttonians rfc became affiliated leinster branch of irish rugby football union in 1927 , has since taken part in branch competitions @ levels.

colours

by 1930 membership had expanded include on fifty players turning out in club’s strip of time blue shirt emblazoned white star. strip abandoned in or 1932/1933 , present colours of royal blue, white , emerald green adopted. these colours worn jack mc dowell s horse caughoo in winning english grand national in 1947.

crest , motto

the club crest , motto (which include mottoless dublin , part of st. lawrence coats of arms) adopted club @ general meeting held in royal hotel howth presided on w.h.s. campbell, president during 1950s. “fag bealach” translates gaelic “clear way”, chosen club motto. used war cry royal irish fusiliers , faugh ballagh.

station road

in 1934 club moved saxe lane present location @ station road, sutton. excavated sand pit there made available , enormous effort on part of members turned playing field. remains club’s main pitch day although has been filled in. first match played on against neighbouring malahide r.f.c. on november 24, 1934.

the 1930s

the affairs of club during first fifteen years largely dominated number of personalities on administration side. there such names sen. andrew jameson (club president reincarnation 1941), harry patton (club chairman 1925 1973) , ray watson (who acted club secretary 1931 1940). on team sheets names of freddie spencer, malcolm o’grady, jack mcdowell, billy cambell , paddy lavery regularly appeared. under captaincy of jack mcdowell 1st xv beaten finalists in minor (nowadays referred junior 2) league 1932/33 season.

the 1940s

the 1940s years of great triumphs suttonians. decade opened quietly gradually formidable team welded under guidance of seamus henry. ambition club achieving impossible dream, winning metropolitan cup (competed annually dublin’s junior 1 teams). coveted trophy monopolized senior clubs 2nd xvs. junior club win task (and remains) difficult; minor club take home cup heroic effort required. hopes high coming 1946/47 season.

1946/47 - metropolitan cup

during 1946/47 season team narrowly beaten in time in minor league final ucd 3rd xv, having overcome such names blackrock college, terenure college, old belvedere, cyms , palmerstown throughout campaign. in metropolitan cup competition suttonians, growing in confidence , experience, disposed of monkstown, ucd , belvedere before overcoming clontarf in “local derby” cup final.

the met cup had come sutton in fulfilment of dream conceived seamas henry , realised efforts of players tom geary, brendan mcclancy, walter scott , oliver campbell - son graced rugby fields of world in more recent times - name few. in year 1st xv played 22 matches, won 20, drew 1 , lost one, accumulating 191 points while conceding 59. no mean performance!

the 1950s

the success strengthen club: won minor league titles in 1949/1950 , again in 1951/1952. after second of theses victories team promot ed ranks of junior rugby.

the 1960s

during next decade club went decline many players going senior clubs , loss of top pitch. in 1964 club put spencer memorial cup (commemorating former club captain died result of injury received while playing rugby). annual competition initiated, restricted metropolitan clubs of junior status or below.

the 1970s

in 1971 new pavilion, situated @ new location on station road, opened robert ganly, president of leinster branch of irfu. committee hoped redress standing of club in area providing better facilities. foxfield youth rfc arrived train , practice @ sutton time. won mcauley cup (u15s) in 1976 , shortly afterwards merged identity suttonians enabling club boast strong juvenile section. in 1978 won harry gale cup (u19s), 1979 mcauley cup , culliton cup (u18s) in 1987 @ juvenile level.

the 1980s

in 1981 under captaincy of mark shatwell won spencer first time, cup brought sutton again in 1988 under captaincy of dave cassidy. in 1982 second pitch adjoining station road purchased. clubhouse extensively damaged in fire @ start of 1984 season. redesigned , rebuilt during following season.

the 1990s

in 1993/94 season club won leinster league, spencer cup , finalists in metropolitan cup. club won leinster league during 95/96 season , promoted 4th division of ireland league. in 1997 club won 4th division of ireland league 100% record, 1 of 3 teams have ever achieved in division.

the 2000s

for first time club involved in division 3 playoffs after creditable fourth-place finish during 04/05 season, losing out runaway division 3 winners greystones. in 2005/06 season suttonians achieved historic feat of gaining promotion ireland league division 2, progressing semi-final of leddin finance leinster senior cup , competed in inaugural ireland cup 1 of 5 sides representing leinster. club finished thirteenth in first season of ail division 2 having risen lofty heights of joint third @ christmas break.

the 2010s

the new decade began suttonians finishing in ninth position of ail division 3. team won games bar final match against newly promoted midleton. 2010/ 11 notable emergence of clutch of new young homegrown players.

darragh mulligan, senior player suttonians