The idea of forming an Old Boys Rugby Club arose probably during 1927 at the time Heath Grammar School changed from Association Football to Rugby Union. Although the first official season was 1928/29, games were played on an “ad hoc” basis during 1927/28, a team of Heath Old Boys and Schoolboys playing both soccer & rugby according to whichever could be arranged.

The Club was put on an official footing by becoming affiliated to the Yorkshire RFU and arranging a full season’s fixtures for 1928/29 under the first team captain, J.G. Jackson. The season commenced with an 8-18 defeat against Halifax Vandals “A” but the team acquitted themselves well for a new club and won 11 and lost 11 games over the season, scoring 297 points against 285. Other local teams playing at that time were Caldene (Mytholmroyd), Brighouse Rangers, Elland, Halifax, Halifax Vandals, Old Crossleyans, Copley & Hebden Bridge Old Boys, the latter two also in their first season.

The ground was at Peat Pitts opposite the Inn and was a wild and windy place with driving rain, ankle deep mud, and snow being regular features. Changing accommodation was in a room at the rear of the Inn and it was necessary to cross the yard to a wash kitchen where facilities consisted of wooden tubs, which were, in fact, beer barrels sawn in half. A gas boiler provided about a bucketful of warm water per tub but the tubs were hardly big enough to sit in and the water quickly got cold before the mud could be washed off! Private transport at that time was rare and the team travelled to home games by tram having met in George Square. For away matches travel was by Hebble coach.

The early Thirties were a great success with victories easily outnumbering defeats. The “A” team beat the Old Rishworthians in their inaugural game in September 1930, which was also the formation year of the Old Brodleians.

The season 1934/35 was the last at Peat Pitts and the players cannot have been sorry. On October 20th the “Green Final” reported that “The ground was waterlogged and a veritable quagmire in one part of the field held up many movements”, whilst for the last game on 20th.April “The conditions were terrible, incessant and heavy rain fell throughout the first half and the ground which was heavy at the outset rapidly developed into a morass”. Things have obviously not changed a great deal over the last 60 odd years!

During the summer of 1935 the Club Treasurer, Rex Fry, who it was said “Could pull strings at the Town Hall” managed to obtain for the Club the lease of Corporation owned land at West Vale. Changing facilities were in another pub, the Bridge Inn, which stood on the left hand side of Rochdale Road. There was a large communal bath built into an outhouse with hot water from an electric water heater. A small stand was presented to the Club in 1937, which provided covered seating accommodation for 100 spectators in bad weather. The crowd for the first match against Leeds Bohemians was said by the “Green Final” to be “Well over 300”. The team reached the Shield semi-final losing to Castleford 10-11 and in the third round of the Yorkshire Cup lost to Bradford at Lidget Green by 3-19 a by no means unsatisfactory performance having only 14 men for the last 15 minutes.

The “Green Final” reported in November 1937 that “the side has long enjoyed a reputation for developing the attractive side of football but the pursuance of such tactics can be a fatal policy” The late Thirties met with reasonable success but with the outbreak of War in September 1939 fixtures were only undertaken locally but the severe Winter curtailed even this modest programme. The ground at West Vale was shared with the Old Crossleyans for that season as the Local Authority had requisitioned their ground at Savile Park. The last match was on March 30th after which the land was ploughed for food production and the Club disbanded.

The Club did not reform until a meeting held in October 1948 and fixtures were not undertaken until the 1949/50 season. There were difficulties in reclaiming the land and early matches took place at Kensington but these were overcome and the first post war game at West Vale took place on 26th.November 1949. The 1951/52 season saw a record of 22 wins 3draws and 9 defeats scoring 403 points against 174. J. P. Horrocks-Taylor a subsequent England International and British Lion played for the Club during this period.

The Club’s Silver Jubilee was celebrated with a Reunion Dinner at the White Swan Hotel and attended by Yorkshire R.F.U. dignitaries and the future appeared to be assured. However, it was not to be and for no known reason membership fell, the “A” team being disbanded halfway through the 1953/54 season and the first team results were disappointing. (There is nothing new in the world!). In August 1954 it was apparent that future fixtures would not be fulfilled due to lack of support and as the situation was no better by April 1955 it was decided to wind up the Club’s affairs. The posts were sold to Longwood R.L.F.C for £6.50 and the stand to Halifax R.U.F.C for £10.

In October 1956 the AGM of the Heath Old Boys Association lamented the fact that the Rugby Club was still defunct and a Sub-Committee comprising Messrs. Gordon Brear, Donald Short, Alan Hartley and Russell Smith was formed to investigate the possibility of reformation. A General Meeting was held in The Bulls Head in December and an opening game against the School took place the same month. Headquarters were re-established at the Bridge Inn until it closed in 1958 when the Club moved to the Shears Inn in West Vale. Results were not brilliant but the Club survived.

In 1960 a 10-year lease was obtained on the ground and plans were drawn up for the erection of a pavilion to be built in two stages. However, the early Sixties were to some extent disastrous. Playing records were poor and problems with changing accommodation meant that in different periods this took place in Clay House, Lumby’s Boiler Works (now the Garden Centre), Heath School and even the Shears for a short time. The lack of a base for social and money raising efforts made fund raising a difficult task and the worst Winter in living memory caused the cancellation of 13 consecutive weeks matches in 1962/63. However, the new changing rooms were ready for use in October 1963 at a cost of £600 but this coincided with the worst season in the Club’s history with only 3 victories and 2 draws from 35 games. The following season was no better despite the acquisition of Peter Warden who represented Great Britain in the 400m hurdles in the Rome Olympics of 1964.

In the following seasons the tide turned with 29 victories out of 35 games in 1966/67 losing in the semi-final of the Shield to the eventual winners and in the fourth round of the Cup at Hull & E.R.The team needed 21 points to top 500 in the last game of the season and beat Pocklington at West Vale by 51-0! The following season saw a defeat to Rodilians by 3-17 in the Shield Final at Morley and a loss to Wharfedale by 3-6 in the 5th round despite scoring the only try. In 1968/69 saw the Club move to it’s final base at the Queens Hotel in West Vale where Stan Bradley looked after us until 1971.

The Summer of 1971 work commenced after much debate on the long-awaited Clubhouse at an estimated cost of £2250.This was officially opened with a game against Roundhay and Pontefract won in the semi-final of the Shield and Bramley were the victors in a fifth round replay in the Cup. In January 1973 the Club entertained a team from Syracuse University in New York who were the first American Team to play in Halifax. Three teams were now being fielded and it was obvious that the existing Clubhouse was too small. An opportune moment to extend arose when the ground was taken over by Yorkshire Water in 1974 and a 28-year lease negotiated. Plans were drawn up for additional changing and bathing facilities, an extension to the bar area and provision for two pitches at a cost of £20,000. In November 1975 it was agreed to drop the “Old Boys” from the Club name and in October 1976 the extensions were opened with a game against a Rugby Press Club XV led by the ex-British Lion John Spencer. In April 1979 during the Golden Jubilee Season the Club won the recently inaugurated Silver Trophy competition by beating Barnsley at Cleckheaton by 17-13.

The Eighties were an average sort of period with steady results but nothing else was won. At the start of the 1987/88 season a terrible accident took place on the M6 near Lancaster which took the lives of several Club men, Mick Hiller Secretary for over 18 years, Tom Park Treasurer between 1963/64 and 1974/75 and Keith Whitaker a First XV Captain in the late Fifties. Amongst the injured was Russell Smith who had been President since 1969/70, Harry Brearley Chairman between 1974/75 and 1984/85 and Keith Johnson, Fixture Secretary since 1957/58. Russell had been on the Sub-Committee that helped with the reformation in 1956 and fully recovered from his injuries as did Harry and both are still to be seen on the touchline at West Vale. Keith never really recovered and spent several years in a Nursing Home before he sadly passed away.

The Club responded positively to this dreadful situation and formed a Disaster Fund, which raised several thousands of pounds for those involved. There were wonderful expressions of help from all over the County and indeed the Country, which made one realise what a splendid sport we participate in.

In 1987/88 Paul Stewart was First XV Captain and he went on to play with Wakefield to great acclaim and to win Yorkshire and North of England honours. In 1990 the Clubhouse was extended again this time at the rear to provide an enlarged kitchen, Bar and Ladies Toilets and in 1998 the side extension to provide a covered entrance, physio facilities and an enlarged clubroom were completed through our association with Thwaites Brewery.

League Rugby had arrived in the Nineties and the Club started in Yorkshire Division 4 from where promotion was gained in 1997/98 to Yorkshire 3 as champions. In the following year the Club were promoted again as runners up to York R.I. to Yorkshire 2, winning 13 losing 4 and drawing 1 scoring 374 points against 156.The 1999/2000 season saw consolidation in that league with 7 wins and 11 defeats but due to reorganisation the Club found itself back in Yorkshire 3 for the season 2000/01 where despite being in the top grouping crucial matches were lost and third place was the result. 16 games were won 5 lost and one drawn with 446 points scored against 240.

The Season 2001/02 proved to be the pinnacle of the Club’s rugby history to date. The treble was achieved in winning the Junior Vase at Twickenham, the Yorkshire Silver Trophy and being promoted to Yorkshire Division Two as Champions. The Club was also in the unique position of having 4 sets of brothers playing at the same time and all with surnames beginning with”G”. Mark & Neil Garside,”Alf” & Tom Garnett, Carl & Kelvin Gillespie and “Flash” & Alistair Gordon. This must be unheard of anywhere else in at least Yorkshire if not in the country.

Season 2002/03 was one on consolidation in a much stronger League. The previous season’s efforts had taken their toll with retirements and long standing injuries decimating the squad from a year earlier. However, despite a nail biting end to the season the Club remained in Division Two and with the return of Mark Piper as Coach a second year at this level was being viewed with optimism. David Harrison left the Club to join Cleckheaton as a Coach in furtherance of his career having played at Heath since he joined the Club at 16.

The following season was one of mixed fortunes with the position in the League always being under pressure. The Club won just 6 of their 22 matches but managed to remain in Division Two. The results reflected the transitional phase for rugby at the Club both on and off the field. The most disappointing aspect of the season had been the inability to run a 4th XV through lack of players at all levels. On the positive side, the Club was investing in the future with its junior development work through the efforts of Andrew Pearce & Mark Garside together with the drawing up and implementation of a five year rugby development plan focusing on youth rugby. We also said goodbye to Jim Swanson who had retired as Club Steward and his wife Angie who had done sterling work in the kitchen. We welcomed Bob & Margaret Ashton who had taken over the role.

Season 2004-05 proved to be a long and hard one but despite valiant efforts the Club was relegated to Yorkshire Division Three. Club spirit remained intact and the efforts mentioned previously with regard to junior rugby bore fruit with a reasonable number of Under 16 matches and they produced some good results. The Junior Section took on a more structured appearance with Rachel Ramsden doing sterling work as Secretary. The first year of the Five Year Plan was signed off by the RFU and we gained the accolade of the Seal of Approval. In August we learned that the Club had been given an award in relation to volunteering and this was collected on behalf of the Club by David Grayson, our new Chairman, at a ceremony on the occasion of the Middlesex Sevens.

Great efforts were made in 2005-06 both on and off the field. The Second Year Seal of Approval was granted by the RFU and sterling work was being done by the Junior Section in terms of in school coaching and the organization of junior teams at U15 & U17 levels; Ryan Pier and Giles Hetherington being to the fore in this respect.

The major impact at adult level was the return to Yorkshire Two at the first attempt and as Champions winning 18 and drawing 1 game out of 22, scoring 488 points and conceding 168. The Second XV had another good year but the Thirds struggled due to a lack of players but still completed 25 matches. Mark Piper stood down as Coach after a successful three years and Kevin Plant was his replacement for the coming season.

2006-07 was expected to be tough as previous stays in Yorkshire Two had been short. However, Kevin Plant brought a different emphasis to coaching and after a poor start, the team developed into an exciting attacking formation playing some excellent rugby that was enjoyed by an increasing band of spectators. Promotion to Yorkshire 1, as runners up, was ensured at the last home league game when North Ribblesdale were beaten. This meant that Heath would be playing at the highest level in their history.

Another highlight in this season was the defeat of Old Brodleians from Yorkshire 1 in the Yorkshire Shield at West Vale. Colin Sutcliffe stood down as 1st.XV Manager after many years service in that role. The Second XV won their Merit League and the Thirds won more matches than for some time. We said goodbye to Bob & Margaret Ashton in November due to Bob's ill health and Jim Swanson stood in until we were able to appoint Ginny McElroy as our new Club Stewardess. Ginny has taken to the job very well and we are delighted with her contribution. The Third Year Seal of Approval was granted by the RFU who continued to be happy with the Club's progress.

Work started in the close season on a new entrance off Stainland Road and the completion of tiered seating in the stand was undertaken by an anonymous donor to whom we were extremely grateful. The RFU agreed to a grants package for the installation of match floodlighting which was due to be completed for the beginning of the next season.

The new floodlights were completed in October 2007 and were a substantial improvement to the overall facilities. The work involved in creating the new entrance onto Stainland Road continued with the area behind the match day container being cleared of trees, shrubs and the old stone wells. The existing entrance continued to be used, as there were long delays in the granting of planning permission for a whole variety of reasons. By the end of the season, this had still not been finished although much work had been completed.

The First XV had a successful first season in Yorkshire 1 and were certainly not outclassed - finishing in a very respectable mid table position and having won 9 of their 22 matches, drawing 1 and scoring 399 points against 393. A further three games were played winning one and losing the other two. The 2nd XV had a satisfactory season playing 28 games and winning 13 but scoring 405 and conceding 704. The Thirds played 19 wining 7 and scoring 228 against 449.
The Under 17's made their bow playing 27 matches, wining 8, drawing 2 and losing 17 scoring 344 against 533. Paul Sutcliffe's 12 til 12 team of "All Stars" made their bow playing at least once a month throughout the season.

The Fourth Year Seal of Approval was granted by the RFU continuing the good work of earlier years.

In the summer of 2008, major refurbishment work was undertaken on the Clubhouse, which had got to look a little shabby. In this we were assisted with a generous donation from The Stainland Lions Running Club who continued to use the premises as their HQ. The inside was redecorated, carpets and upholstery cleaned, new blinds, the Ladies Toilets upgraded and new lighting installed. A new Score Board was completed with the help of sponsorship from Wilby Ltd. The Club continued to support local Charities by hosting another Live 'Eath Concert in aid of Woodbank Special School. The event raised over £5000. A further Bridge Rats Bikers Rally was held, cementing our relationships with that organization for our mutual benefit.

The entrance to Stainland Road was finally completed in the autumn and new fencing installed to improve the security of the estate. The car park was extended over the old grassed areas and gave much needed space for visitors to leave their vehicles.

The results for the season were mixed with the First XV achieving a very creditable fourth place in Yorkshire 1 but the other two open age teams suffering from a lack of numbers and a run of injuries. Andy Roy did a sterling job as First team manager with Spud Taylor and Simmo running the Seconds and Thirds respectively.

At the 2009 AGM David Grayson stood down as Chairman after three successful years in the post, in which time the Club had made measured progress. A suitable presentation was made to thank him. In addition, the long serving Referee and Fixture Secretary David Littlefair had to relinquish his posts due to ill health and mention was made of his long service to the Club starting in the mid 60's and acting as Captain, the above mentioned posts as well as Team Manager for the famous run to Twickenham in 2002 in the Junior Vase Competition. Luckily, we had two good replacements in Spud Taylor as Referees' Secretary and Michael Downsborough as Fixture Secretary.

The results for the year were as follows:-

It is an opportune time to reflect on how well the Club is served by its Officials who work tirelessly on the Member's behalf.

Another Live 'Eath Concert was held in aid of Ravenscliffe School and over £6,000 was raised for their efforts in helping disadvantaged children. The Bridge Rats Motor Cycle Club held their annual rally in August and the grounds were totally filled with tents and marquees. The Club acknowledges the assistance of the Bridge Rats for supplying qualified stewards which were required for Live 'Eath as a result of the license stipulations.

Finally, the 2009/10 season started in good heart with the addition of Ian Spence as forwards player/coach. All home games were videoed to help with the improvement of team and individual skills. New posts and poles were installed around the First XV pitch to help contain the crowds! In addition, posts and new rope were put around the 2nd/3rd XV field, to continue the improvement to the overall image of the grounds.