Willie John McBride is set to speak on Saturday the 29th of January at the City Hall in Belfast to friends and members of Cooke RFC will be gather to celebrate and mark the centenary of the formation of Cooke Rugby.
The main speakers on the night are Willie John McBride, Sir Nigel Hamilton (President IRFU Ulster Branch), Nial Armstrong (Cooke).
Also attending of note – The Right Honourable Lord Mayor, Councillor Patrick Convery, Councillor Jim Rodgers, Jim Eastwood (President Referee’s Society), various invited Presidents & representatives from other Rugby Clubs in Ulster, Neil Jackson (representing IRFU), various sponsors, & other guests.
Below is a short history of Cooke Rugby and we look forward to covering the evening.
1910 – Cooke Rugby Football Club was formed principally from the members of a young people’s Bible Class belonging to Cooke Centenary Church on the Ormeau Road, Belfast. Some of its members were also former members of a Club called Rosetta who folded around 1908/09. Cooke played friendlies in its first year pending entrance into the Minor League in its second year during which it was undefeated.
H. Shipp R. McDowell J. Marshall R. Langtry J. Clow V. Forth
R. W. Reid *H. Austin W.R. Ellison W. Paton (Captain)
W. Lyons H. Legate J. Lyons
J. Clow *R.O. Stanley
(* Indicates killed in action)
1913 – Won the Harden Cup.
1914-19 – Rugby suspended due to the First World War in which Cooke had six of its members killed in the conflict.
1919 – The Club was reformed with their home ground first of all at Pirrie Park and later they moved to the now home of Ulster Rugby @ ‘Ravenhill’ Park Gardens.
1923 – Won the Harden Cup.
– Following the purchase of Ravenhill by the IRFU Northern Branch, Cooke moved to play at Flush Park beside Rosetta School.
1927 – Saw Cooke moving to play their rugby at Galwally on grounds owned then by Methodist College with primitive changing conditions in the infamous ‘black hut’ and only the river at the bottom of the hill for washing in.
In the late 1940’s extensive renovations were carried out with the installation of hot and cold water including showers.
1940-42 – Rugby suspended during 2nd World War in which out of a membership of 53, Cooke lost 12 players killed in action.
1954 – The grounds at Upper Galwally were purchased for £1200. This money had been obtained from the Rugby Union through Tom Watson, the first representative of a Junior Club to be elected as President of the Ulster Branch (1953-54).
1963 – Saw the opening of a new prefabricated pavilion at Upper Galwally.
1968 – Resolution passed “that Cooke Rugby Club to sell the Club Ground, Pavilion and ancillary buildings at Upper Galwally, Belfast to Cooke Rugby & Sports Association for the sum of 1/- (one shilling)”
1971 – Saw the opening of a new pavilion adjoining the old ‘Cockpit’ prefab with a match between a Cooke 1 XV & an Ulster U21 XV.
1987 – Won the Junior Cup for the first time in their history.
1991 – Cooke move into their new home at Shaws Bridge with an opening game of
Irish President’s XV v International XV. (Team photos in entrance hallway) This followed a move from their home @ Upper Galwally now home to Castlereagh Council Offices (2nd XV pitch) along with various retail units including Sainsbury’s service station (1XV pitch).
2000 – Ground sharing arrangements agreed between Instonians Club & Cooke Rugby Sports Association to see both Rugby Clubs based at the Shaws Bridge complex.
2007 – Won the Junior Cup
McCrea Cup Winners – 1974, 75, 80, 83, 86, 88, 89, 96, 97, 99, 2000, 02, 03, 07, 08, 09 & 10
International Caps – Ronnie Craig 2 Caps (1937-38), Ernie Strathdee 9 (1946-49), Jimmy Ritchie 2 (1955-56), Kevin Nolan 3 (1996-97) & Neil Best 18.
2010 – Have reached the Semi Final of the All Ireland Junior Cup & play Monivea, 2.30 KO @ Shaws Bridge.
