Our club supports the Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, and poppy donations made at the bar help to provide support to members of the Armed Forces community who have suffered life-changing experiences and families who have lost loved ones on active service.
In tribute to the former players of Eccles RFC and members of our community who lost their lives in WW1 and WW2, members of our U14s Junior team will participate in the civic commemoration, laying a poppy wreath at the cenotaph in Eccles on Sunday morning. The parade forms up behind Eccles Town Hall at 1015am.
In the 1913/14 season Eccles RFC first XV enjoyed gates of over 3,000 supporters and an impressive record of 17 wins with just one home defeat (to Broughton Park by a drop goal) feilding a fine team of young men including Lancashire county players Harold Bowker and Reginald Lightbrown Bolton. Following the outbreak of War, rugby fixtures for the new season were abandoned in September 1914. ‘Pals’ battalions were raised to encourage work colleagues and team mates to serve together and Eccles players were amongst the first to enlist. Many of them would never return home to their families or play rugby again.
Reginald Bolton, Half Back, born in Barton, educated at Manchester University was a partner in his father’s cotton shipping company. In September 1914, he enlisted and rose to the rank of Captain before losing his life at sea, on 3rd August 1918, when the hospital ship ‘Warilda' carrying him home was torpedoed by a U-boat, aged 26.
John (Jack) Bolton, brother of Reggie, Forward and Goal Kicker, well known for his strength and will to win, scored 2 tries, 20 conversions, 8 penalties, 2 drop kicks for Eccles in the 1913/14 season. He enlisted in 9th Bn Lancashire Fusiliers, saw action in France and died of shell blast wounds 3rd October 1917.
Frederick Alexander Murdoch, Forward, played 21 games in 1913/14. Raised in Flixton and studied at St. Johns College York, lived on Peel Green Road and was a teacher at Lewis Street School Patricroft when, in September 1914, aged 24, he enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers, crossed to France in November 1915 and saw action on the Somme at Albert, Bazentin, High Wood and died of wounds, 24th July 1916, aged 25.
Ernest Bateson. Fearless Wing three-quarters, scored 9 tries in 1913/14, lived in Trafford Park and worked as an Analytical Chemist. Enlisted August 1914. On 4th June 1915, in the Dardanelles, Bateson was involved in a heroic bayonet charge and was killed whilst holding a captured trench, aged 25.
Charles Percy Wild. Eccles ‘A' team vice captain 1913/14. Enlisted August 1914, Killed during a charge, 7th August 1915, in the Dardanelles. He was 24 years old.
Harry Plevin. Eccles Scrum-Half, scored 2 tries and 2 goals in 1913/14. Lived on Liverpool Road. Enlisted August 1914, Wounded in action, Dardanelles, died 28th May 1915.
Robert Neville Rawlinson. Scored 4 tries and 1 drop goal in 1913/14 for Eccles. Employed at Parrs Bank in Manchester, served as a Lance- Corporal in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers before being commissioned and attached as 2nd Lt. Lancashire Fusiliers. Wounded by shrapnel to his head, he returned to hospital in Liverpool. Unknown if he returned home.
Richard Henry Quine. Son of a local Doctor, enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers, survived the Battle of the Somme, before taking a commission. As a 2nd Lt. 5th Bn Northumberland Fusiliers he was captured during a German offensive at Aisne, June 1918. Unknown if he returned home.
Thomas L. Whitehead. Eccles Forward and Club Captain 1910-1914. Played 24 games 1913/14, scoring 4 tries and 5 goals. Eldest son of a sales agent, lived in Pendlebury and was almost 30 years old when he volunteered in September 1914. Saw action in France at Ypres, St Quentin and La Motte where he was taken prisoner by the enemy. He was released after the Armistice 1918, returned home February 1919.
Harold Bowker. Renowned Lancashire and Eccles forward, who grew up on Eccles New Road and Rutland Road, enlisted in the Duke of Lancaster's Own Yeomanry, aged 26. Escaped death with horses and men destroyed by artillery fire around him. Transferred to The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment; Became 2nd Lt. in the Royal Flying Corps, taking his Aviator’s qualification in a Biplane, October 1916. He survived the shelling of the Somme and returned home, going on to play for Swinton Lions until 1920.
Norman Shaw, born in Salford, educated at Manchester Grammar School, enlisted in 1915 as a Private in the Seaforth Highlanders, having lied about his age of 17. He saw front line action on the Somme with his school pal Teddy shot by a sniper in December 1917. Norman survived the war and returned home to help rebuild Eccles RFC in the 1920s.
In the aftermath of WW1, with the local community decimated by the loss of so many of its young men, the Eccles rugby club had to start afresh with practically nothing remaining other than its reputation from before the war and, in a permenant change from its original green jersey, adopted navy and white hoops. The resumption of rugby activities began on October 25th 1919 when Eccles played a Fylde XV at Stott Lane. Norman Shaw went on to serve as club Treasurer 1926-1937 and as club President 1935-1939, returning to his post once again 1946-1958 after WW2, when Eccles RFC moved to its Gorton Street home.
