Cinderford RFC was formed in 1886 in the Forest of Dean a mining area in West Gloucestershire situated between the Rivers Severn and Wye. The area, a source of iron ore and coal since pre-Roman times, also provided timber for Nelson’s navy and was seen as remote and the inhabitants as wild and unpredictable.
By the turn of the twentieth century Cinderford were playing leading teams from England and South Wales but after the Great War the club’s fortunes, and the local coal mining industry declined, and many good players ‘went North’ to seek employment in the coalfields and rugby in the ‘Northern Union’. Nevertheless, A D ‘Bumps’ Carpenter gained an England Cap against South Africa in 1931.
The club’s re-emergence after WW2 owes much to the efforts of the late Bob and Mary Beavis. ‘Cinderford White Rose’ a club mainly of miners, had kept rugby going over the war years. When they decided to re-form as Cinderford RFC Mary became Hon. Sec. and remained so for the next fifty years.
The club started league life at level 6 and by 2001 was at level 4. Relegated after just one season Cinderford were back by 2004 and made it to Level 3 in 2007-08 after a nail-biting North/South play-off with Darlington Mowden Park. After eight seasons in National One they were relegated at the end of 2015-16. During that time budding internationalists Freddie Burns, Sam Underhill, Harry Williams and Josh Adams all gained valuable experience as dual-registered players. At the end of season 2017-18 Cinderford, captained by George Porter, regained National One status by becoming National 2 S) Champions with 143 league points from 29 wins and 1 defeat. At the end of 2021/22 season Cinderford, captained by Harry Hone, achieved fifth place in National League One its best place since gaining National One status.
This season Cinderford are in 7th place in the league table having won 10 and drawn 2 of their 21 matches. One of those draws was the corresponding game at the Ferens Ground on November 12th when after a very good game the score was 30-30. Last Saturday Cinderford visited Chinnor were they built up a 22-12 lead by half-time, but they were unable to keep their lead as Chinnor hit back with 2 second half converted tries to win the game by 26-22. Cinderford’s leading score is scrum-half Michael Austin with 181 points making him the second highest points scorer in the division.
Norman Angell
HULL RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB 