Silhillians Rugby Union Football Club is a rugby club based at Copt Heath near Solihull in the English West Midlands. They compete in Midlands 2 West (South). The club regularly fields a 1st and 2nd XVs and in the 'Mini and Junior' section teams range from Under 6s to Under 17s and Colts
The club was founded in 1932 as Solihull Old Boys and was exclusively for former pupils of Solihull School, an historic Independent School. The school's headmaster at the time, Mr A R Thompson, was the Club's first President and attended every meeting and fixture until his retirement in 1947. Upon the outbreak of World War II 13 members of the 1st XV were called up meaning that the Club was temporarily defunct but was reformed by Alan Bradbury, Mel Cooper and Claude 'CT' Coton in 1947 as the Old Silhillians (the name given to Old Boys of Solihull School. Coton was selected, at the age of 18, for the Committee immediately after leaving School. 'CTC' went on to captain the 1st XV, served as President twice and was a Committee member for more than 50 years.
In 1953 the Club moved to Dingle Lane in Solihull and the first game on the site was a notable occasion. WC Ramsey, who was the President Elect of the Rugby Football Union 1954-55, sent a WC Ramsey XV to play against the 'Solihull Old Boys' and over 3,000 spectators were in attendance.
School House at Solihull School, where selection took place during the 1930s and '40s and then intermittently during the 1950s and '60s
In 1967 the Old Silhillians moved to their current home at Copt Heath, about 1 mile from the Solihull School campus. This season was a hugely successful one in the Club's history. They won the Birmingham and Warwickshire Old Boys' Rugby Sevens, beating Old Saltleians 13-5 in the final. Captained by Martin Green, they also won 8-3 against the Cambridge University 1st XV. They remained one of the best Old Boys' sides in the Midlands for many years.
One of the most significant points in the history of the club was the decision to go 'open' in 1982, i.e. they accepted members and players who had not attended Solihull School. Thus, they dropped the 'Old' from the name and became Silhillians RUFC.
Recent years
The Sils were promoted to Warwickshire Division One of the 'Courage League' in 1991 under the captaincy of Alan Elliot.
More recently 'The Sils' have enjoyed further promotions; in 1994/96 captained by Nick Savage, 1998/99 when captained by Andrew Durrant, in 2000/01 under the captaincy of Andrew Clutterbuck and in 2012/13 captained by Peter Nicholls.
Undoubtedly the club's greatest achievement to date was their appearance in the 1999 Tetley's Bitter Vase Final at Twickenham. They lost to Billericay Rugby Football Club 19-3 but Silhillians look back fondly on that season and the experience of playing at 'Rugby HQ'.
The 2007/08 season saw the Silhillians RUFC celebrate their 75th Anniversary.
Present day
Silhillians RUFC are located at the Memorial Ground in Copt Heath near Solihull. Although the site is skirted to the south and east by rural land it is only 150 yards from the M42 motorway and the easy access has made Silhillians a popular fixture for touring teams or as a pre-season friendly. The rugby club share the Memorial Clubhouse with the Old Silhillians Association (OSA), the old boys' club of Solihull School. The building houses a gymnasium, squash courts, changing facilities, a rifle range, a function room, a members' bar and administration offices for the rugby club and OSA.
The club is governed by The Committee, which is a functional body who are of importance to the club. Its members are stalwarts of the club as well as several current players and is accessible to all members of the club. Within the club it is considered an honour to serve or have served on The Committee.
The youth system at the club is thriving with 11 'mini and junior' teams regularly turning out on Sundays. The high standard of education in the local area, both state and private, means that many students carry on to university and thus Silhillians 1st XV is deprived of many young player during term time.
Although the club is now open to those who are not former pupils of Solihull School the link between the school and rugby club is still strong and many Old Silhillians represent Silhillians RUFC.
Club Traditions
Easter Tour
In May 1953 Old Silhillians Rugby Club (as then named) travelled to the Southend Rugby Festival. It has since been an annual tradition that all members of the senior squads are invited to tour with the club. Recent tours have been slightly more far-afield than Southend and have been to France, Galway, Krakow and Prague.
Annual Dinner
The Annual Dinner is a black tie event held at the Memorial Clubhouse and it is traditional that selected members of The Committee and the 1st XV captain make speeches and that awards are presented. The Most Improved Player Award, The Peter Styles Trophy and various top try-scorer awards are traditionally given out.
Members' Clock
Those who are later than the predetermined meeting time for a fixture, according to the clock in the Members' Lounge, are fined at the discretion of the senior players.
Captaincy
Captains of the Club will stand down at the end of their second season in the role.
Sils Saxons
The Silhillians 2nd/Development XV is known as the Sils Saxons, in the same way that the England Development XV are known as The Saxons.
The Wedgebury Cup
The Wedgebury Cup is annually contested between Silhillians RUFC and local rivals Solihull RFC. The match takes place on Boxing Day and is a popular day amongst spectators, Club officials and players alike.
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Silhillians Rugby Union Football Club is a rugby club based at Copt Heath near Solihull in the English West Midlands They compete in Midlands 2 West South The club regularly fields a 1st and 2nd XVs and in the Mini and Junior section teams range from Under 6s to Under 17s and ColtsSilhillians RUFCUnionNorth Midlands RFU Warwickshire RFUNickname s Sils Old SilsFounded1932LocationSolihull West Midlands EnglandGround s The Memorial GroundCoach es Gaz TaylorCaptain s Olly BeechLeague s Midlands 2 West South 2019 207thOfficial websitewww wbr silhillians wbr com Contents 1 History 1 1 Origins and Early Days 1 2 Recent years 2 Present day 3 Club Traditions 4 Club Honours 5 External linksHistory EditOrigins and Early Days Edit The club was founded in 1932 as Solihull Old Boys and was exclusively for former pupils of Solihull School an historic Independent School The school s headmaster at the time Mr A R Thompson was the Club s first President and attended every meeting and fixture until his retirement in 1947 Upon the outbreak of World War II 13 members of the 1st XV were called up meaning that the Club was temporarily defunct but was reformed by Alan Bradbury Mel Cooper and Claude CT Coton in 1947 as the Old Silhillians the name given to Old Boys of Solihull School Coton was selected at the age of 18 for the Committee immediately after leaving School CTC went on to captain the 1st XV served as President twice and was a Committee member for more than 50 years In 1953 the Club moved to Dingle Lane in Solihull and the first game on the site was a notable occasion WC Ramsey who was the President Elect of the Rugby Football Union 1954 55 sent a WC Ramsey XV to play against the Solihull Old Boys and over 3 000 spectators were in attendance In 1959 the inaugural Birmingham and Warwickshire Old Boys Rugby Sevens tournament was held for former pupils of notable schools from the region Amongst others Rugby School King Edward VI Aston Solihull School King Edward s School Birmingham Bablake School and Warwick School sent former pupils to compete School House at Solihull School where selection took place during the 1930s and 40s and then intermittently during the 1950s and 60s In 1967 the Old Silhillians moved to their current home at Copt Heath about 1 mile from the Solihull School campus This season was a hugely successful one in the Club s history They won the Birmingham and Warwickshire Old Boys Rugby Sevens beating Old Saltleians 13 5 in the final Captained by Martin Green they also won 8 3 against the Cambridge University 1st XV They remained one of the best Old Boys sides in the Midlands for many years One of the most significant points in the history of the club was the decision to go open in 1982 i e they accepted members and players who had not attended Solihull School Thus they dropped the Old from the name and became Silhillians RUFC Recent years Edit The Sils were promoted to Warwickshire Division One of the Courage League in 1991 under the captaincy of Alan Elliot More recently The Sils have enjoyed further promotions in 1994 96 captained by Nick Savage 1998 99 when captained by Andrew Durrant in 2000 01 under the captaincy of Andrew Clutterbuck and in 2012 13 captained by Peter Nicholls Undoubtedly the club s greatest achievement to date was their appearance in the 1999 Tetley s Bitter Vase Final at Twickenham They lost to Billericay Rugby Football Club 19 3 but Silhillians look back fondly on that season and the experience of playing at Rugby HQ The 2007 08 season saw the Silhillians RUFC celebrate their 75th Anniversary Present day EditSilhillians RUFC are located at the Memorial Ground in Copt Heath near Solihull Although the site is skirted to the south and east by rural land it is only 150 yards from the M42 motorway and the easy access has made Silhillians a popular fixture for touring teams or as a pre season friendly The rugby club share the Memorial Clubhouse with the Old Silhillians Association OSA the old boys club of Solihull School The building houses a gymnasium squash courts changing facilities a rifle range a function room a members bar and administration offices for the rugby club and OSA The club is governed by The Committee which is a functional body who are of importance to the club Its members are stalwarts of the club as well as several current players and is accessible to all members of the club Within the club it is considered an honour to serve or have served on The Committee The youth system at the club is thriving with 11 mini and junior teams regularly turning out on Sundays The high standard of education in the local area both state and private means that many students carry on to university and thus Silhillians 1st XV is deprived of many young player during term time Although the club is now open to those who are not former pupils of Solihull School the link between the school and rugby club is still strong and many Old Silhillians represent Silhillians RUFC Club Traditions EditEaster TourIn May 1953 Old Silhillians Rugby Club as then named travelled to the Southend Rugby Festival It has since been an annual tradition that all members of the senior squads are invited to tour with the club Recent tours have been slightly more far afield than Southend and have been to France Galway Krakow and Prague Annual DinnerThe Annual Dinner is a black tie event held at the Memorial Clubhouse and it is traditional that selected members of The Committee and the 1st XV captain make speeches and that awards are presented The Most Improved Player Award The Peter Styles Trophy and various top try scorer awards are traditionally given out Members ClockThose who are later than the predetermined meeting time for a fixture according to the clock in the Members Lounge are fined at the discretion of the senior players CaptaincyCaptains of the Club will stand down at the end of their second season in the role Sils SaxonsThe Silhillians 2nd Development XV is known as the Sils Saxons in the same way that the England Development XV are known as The Saxons The Wedgebury CupThe Wedgebury Cup is annually contested between Silhillians RUFC and local rivals Solihull RFC The match takes place on Boxing Day and is a popular day amongst spectators Club officials and players alike Club Honours EditStaffordshire Warwickshire 2 champions 1994 95 Staffordshire Warwickshire 1 champions 1998 99 Midlands 4 West South champions 2000 01 Midlands 2 West North champions 2012 13External links Edit Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Silhillians Rugby Union Football Club amp oldid 995963093, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
