Doncaster Toll Bar
“You can’t stop good Rugby”
To quote Rocky “life is not all sunshine and rainbows” The following shows the clubs history to celebrate most of the success. There has been dark times people not being honest and leaving the club in bad situations. Players, coaches, and volunteers leaving us before their time, but every time the club has managed to carry on and get stronger from those volunteers who care and want the best for the club and its players.
I hope you enjoy learning about the club’s history for the first time or being reminded of events you forgot and maybe recognise those people that made it all happen.
History
- Doncaster Toll Bar Amateur Rugby League Football Club was created in 1993 and opened by Sir Roger Millward. The idea for a purpose-built rugby league club came from some dedicated parents and coaches who were involved With the Doncaster Boys Rugby Club playing out of Bentley. After much negotiation with the local council attempts to develop facilities in Bentley were turned down but an opportunity was presented in Toll Bar. In particular J Cuffling, L Lawton and K Andrews were influential in these negotiations.
- With planning permission approved the development of a newly built clubhouse was under way. In addition, the playing fields at this time were farming land so needed much work in order to make them suitable for playing rugby on. Numerous people were involved in this project ranging from experienced tradesman, volunteers, children and even the local prison inmates. After much blood and sweat the facilities were ready and the club constitution was written.
“Doncaster Boys were formed In December 1987 following an advertisement in the Doncaster star for three weekend training sessions for beginners to Rugby league Football by PC M Ball.
The sessions were very successful with over 100 boys attending and it was decided to carry on training. However, at the next session only four boys attended! we persevered and eventually formed an under 13′ s the first historic match a versus Sheffield, which we won 20 points to 4.
In the first full season 88-89, the under 11 ‘s and 13’s played in the Yorkshire and Humberside schools league. The under 13’s were runner up in their section under 11’s lost every game. The under 9’s joined the Yorkshire League. The highlight of 1989 was undoubtedly playing a curtain raiser, along with boys from Moorends, to the Wigan-Warrington promotion game in America. The trip was in doubt until sponsorship and the intervention of the Doncaster RLFC Chairman Mr John Desmond, enabled the tour to go ahead literally at the eleventh hour. The Doncaster and Moorends boys proved to be excellent ambassadors for the town and the supporters watching the game in the Milwaukee stadium enjoyed their performance so much they were asked to go back on at the half-time interval.
The 1989-90 season proved to be just as eventful with three teams playing in the Yorkshire and Humberside Schools League. The under 11’s won their league, losing just one game. An under 12’s team played a curtain raiser to the Yorkshire Cup beating Sheffield 26 points to nil. The under 9’s team again played in the Yorkshire Junior League.
As a result, of the progress being made at junior level, the Doncaster and Moorends schools were selected at the Yorkshire representatives to play Widnes Schools juniors prior to the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley in April 1989. This was literally minnows against sharks, as the Widnes team had won every competition at schools level that season and had not lost a game. For our team to lose by 36 points to Nil was by no means a disgrace and a wonderful weekend was enjoyed by everyone.
Prior to the 1990-91 season it was felt that to improve our standards we would have to play against stronger teams on a regular basis, therefore a successful application was made for the under 11’s and under 13’s to join the under 9’s in the Yorkshire League
After three seasons this proved to be the correct decision with the club expanding to seven teams ranging from under 8′ s to under 17′ s, with a fair degree of success at all levels. It was obvious that we had outgrown our facilities, and that consideration should be given to moving from Bentley Recreation to our own clubhouse and complex of pitches.
A suitable area was found at Toll Bar and an application was made to the Foundation for Sports and the Arts for a grant, plus a loan from Tetley Brewery and after approximately 18 months, work started.
We now have some of the best facilities in the Amateur game and look forward to all our teams playing at the highest level and becoming one of the top clubs in BARLA.
Praise must be to the second team for doing so well this season and for the six members who moved up to the first team. (Mic Tattersall ’97)