Heworth A.R.L.F.C.

Heworth A.R.L.F.C. is an amateur rugby league football club based in Heworth, York. The first team plays in the NCL Division One.

Heworth

Club information
Full name	Heworth Amateur Rugby League Football Club
Colours	Black
Founded	1922; 102 years ago (1922)
Website	Official Club Website
Current details
Ground(s)	Elmpark Way
Competition	NCL Division One

In 1986, the club was one of ten founder members of the BARLA National Amateur League (now known as the National Conference League),^[1] and were the winners of the inaugural 1986–87 season.^[2]

Heworth has produced many players who went on to play the game professionally, most notably former internationals Ray Batten, Kenneth Bowman, Gary Divorty, Bill and Jim Drake, Colin Forsyth, David Watkinson and Geoff Wriglesworth.^[2][3]

The club went into decline following their success in the early years of the league, and in 2012 were demoted to NCL Division Three after failing to fulfill one of their fixtures.^[4] In 2015, the club withdrew from the National Conference League altogether due to a lack of playing strength.^[5] The club returned to the National Conference League in 2019.^[6] In 2022, Heworth were NCL Division Two champions.^[7] In 2023, Heworth won the Division One Promotion decider against Oulton Raiders to earn a place in the Premier Division.^[8]

Elmpark Way

Heworth moved to Elmpark way in 1970. ^[2] The site is located beside Monk Stray^[9][10] and is also home to Heworth Cricket Club and the City of York Hockey club.^[11] In the 2000s, the ground hosted the York International 9s tournament. ^[12] In 2015, it became the temporary home of York City Knights between their departure from Huntington Stadium and their ground share with York City F.C. at Bootham Crescent.^[13][14] In 2017, Elmpark Way was the venue for the final of the Women's Challenge Cup^[15]

Honours

• National Conference League Premier Division
  • Winners (1): 1986–87
• National Conference League Division One
  • Winners (1): 1993–94
• National Conference League Division Two
  • Winners (1): 2022
• BARLA Yorkshire Cup
  • Winners (1): 1993–94

References

1. Macklin, Keith (13 May 1986). "Early kick-off for amateur pioneers". Times. London. p. 28.
2. "Grassroots Rugby League news round-up". Total Rugby League. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
3. "History". Heworth ARLFC. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
4. "Hard to find big positives in Heworth ARLC's demotion punishment – Sykes". York Press. 15 December 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
5. Martini, Peter (24 March 2015). "Shock as founder club Heworth ARLC withdraw from National Conference League". York Press. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
6. "Heworth ready to re-enter the elite amateur competition the National Conference League". York Press. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
7. "Heworth win NCL division two title by beating Barrow Island". The Press. 15 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
8. "Heworth win promotion to NCL Premier Division". Rugby-League.com. 25 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
9. "Heworth Stray". City of York Council. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
10. "Common lands and strays". A History of the County of York: the City of York. London: Victoria County History. 1961. pp. 498–506. Retrieved 5 March 2024 – via British History Online.
11. Flett, Dave (10 July 2009). "Heworth Cricket Club celebrate 225th anniversary". The Press. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
12. "York International 9s Festival line-up". The Press. 15 June 2007. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
13. Martini, Peter (4 August 2015). "Knights to play all remaining home games at Heworth as stadium issues continue". The Press. Retrieved 12 May 2019.
14. Martini, Peter (21 July 2016). "Final curtain seemingly coming down on York City Knights". The Press. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
15. "Bradford Bulls win Women's RL Challenge Cup". Telegraph & Argus. 30 July 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2019.

External links

• Club website
• Club information on NCL website