Sevens Pioneers
In searching amonst the club's records which were damaged in the January 2005 floods Douglas Hamilton came across a thin sheet of "banda" type transparent paper. Handwritten at the bottom was a note which said "This is the first record of 7-a-side Play" and "Tynedale were the first English club to be invited to a Sevens". Typed on the sheet was the following report:-

16th April 1884
"Success of Tynedale players at a football contest"
A contingent from Tynedale RFC journeyed Saturday last to Galashiels to play in a 7 a side contest for 7 medals in connection with Gala sports club.

There were 8 entries, and each contest had to last 15 minutes, and if, at the end of the game no score had been made on either side, they were to change ends and play on to the first score. Tynedale in the first heat beat Hawick by 2 goals, 1 try to Nil, and for the second heat they got a bye, which put them in the final against the Gala club, who by the way, had Scarborough, late Yorks. Co. man and Clay and Sanderson, both Edinburgh University men.

Notwithstanding this fact the first quarter was played without a score being registered, and after changing ends they played 23 minutes more before Scarborough got in for Gala and thus won the medals.

Tynedale won the place kicking also the drop kicks.

Tynedale team:
R.B.Robb(back), T.Robson, Capt. and J.T.Dodd_backs, W.Robson, G.Bailey, G.H.Bell and Mather, forwards.
Sic

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TYNEDALE V STARGATE - NOVEMBER 28TH 1896

In December 2022 the Club received an extremely interesting E-Mail from David Rice, someone unknown to the Club at the time.
It transpired that David, from Epsom in Surrey, was a collector/researcher of soccer and rugby memorabilia who had recently acquired a fascinating poster advertising a Tynedale v Stargate match to be played on November 28th, 1896 – a small matter of 126 years previously!!

David, who had been collecting football and rugby memorabilia for 20 years, couldn’t remember seeing an original match poster anywhere near this old and he even thought that it might be unique as a 19th century football/ rugby poster. The poster, considering its age, was in reasonably good condition although understandably a little bit on the fragile side.

Very kindly, David offered to donate the poster to the club as long as we suitably mounted and framed it and hung it in a prominent and safe place in the Clubhouse – thinking that it was very fitting that such a very early memento of our Club’s history should be on display at the Club as our 150th anniversary approached.

The poster has now been framed and sits proudly on our bar wall.

The Poster
Looking at the poster itself there are several interesting points:-
• Admission charge of 3d for Gentlemen – Roughly equivalent to £2.00 in today’s money.
• Ladies Admission Free! - Males discriminated against even then.
• Matches played at Bridge End, Hexham.
• Kick Off time of 2.30pm on 28th November but British Summer Time didn’t come in until 1916.
• Chris Armstrong's printer ancestors based in the Market Place, Hexham 126 year ago.

Tynedale v Stargate Rovers (1896-1897)
The match advertised on the poster ended as a 3-3 draw. Below are two small newspaper articles relating to the match.

The Tynedale and Stargate 2nd XV’s played each other at Stargate on the same day, 28th November 1896, with Tynedale winning 3-0.
The return fixture was played at Stargate on January 2nd 1897 and resulted in a narrow 8-5 Tynedale victory.

The Tynedale RFC Fixture/Membership Booklet for the 1896-1897 season, with scores carefully recorded, can be viewed HERE.

Tynedale v Stargate Rovers(1897-1898)
The following season, 1897-1898, Tynedale hosted Stargate on Sept 4th 1897, in the opening fixture of the season, and the match resulted in a 29-0 home win with Stargate playing with only 12 players. . Perhaps the cause of Stargate’s imminent demise can be evidenced from the fact that they could only muster a team of 12 for this particular match.
Two newspaper articles relating to this fixture:-

The return match at Stargate in 1897-1898 resulted in a 16-5 Tynedale victory.

Stargate Rovers

Stargate Rovers played at Stargate which is immediately to the east of Ryton in the Borough of Gateshead.
Stargate Rovers were established c.October 1890 but sadly folded c.November 1898 when they were no longer able to field one full team for their matches. They did, however have some success during their brief life reaching the final of the Durham Junior Cup in February 1897.

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CLUB RULES
The following Club Rules were adopted on Monday 22nd August 1955:-

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County Call-Up - November 1938

The following is a letter from the Secretary of the County, L Edwards, to Tynedale's Jack Suddes informing him of his selection, the arrangements for the match and passing on some useful coaching tips. The text and highlighting of text is taken from the original letter.

November 1938
Dear Sir,
You have been selected to play for this County against Lancashire on Saturday next, the 10th instant, at the County Ground, Gosforth. Kick Off 2.30pm. Meet at the Ground 1.50pm. prompt. Photograph 2.20pm.
You are also invited to lunch with the Lancashire team at the Royal Station Hotel at 12.30pm. Kindly state on the enclosed card if you will attend the lunch - there is no dinner following the game.

Will you please carefully note the following:-
1. Reply by return of post on the enclosed card stating
(i) whether you can play
(ii) whether you can attend the lunch or not
2. Wear clean white shorts.
3. See that your boot laces are good and securely tied and your studs adequate and nails not protruding.
4. Ensure that your training is such that you will last the full 80 minutes of a hard game and that the extra yard of your speed is there.
The Selection Committee were pleased to note a general improvement last Saturday and also desire me to ask you to take note of the following:-

BACK UP, FOLLOW UP, AND COVER UP.

Forwards watch the ball the whole time.

Front Row forwards lock before going down and the whole pack keep tightly locked until the ball is out - even if the opposition have hooked, the extra shove will often regain the ball for you. There were spells of insufficient shoving in the scrums last Saturday, and the ball, when heeled, was not allowed to come out cleanly. The ball must get quicker away from the tight and loose scrums.

At line-outs, jump for the ball, or, if it is not coming to you, dash round to where it is.

Tackling of the opposition backs by forwards must be concentrated upon; this leaves some of their backs on the ground and our backs on their feet with the opportunity of men over, and scoring, available. There must be more tackling by forwards on Saturday next.

When opponents secure the ball, wing forwards in particular must squash their attack at the earliest possible moment.

The whole team, all backs in particular, must tackle hard and low, taking no dummies whatever. Always get your man on the ground.

On attack, go straight. If you go straight you are bound to make ground and you help to draw the opposing defence into mid-field, thus leaving more room for the wings.

Occasionally get the ball out quickly to the wing threequarters, and all backs and wing forwards back up intensively.

When a break through is made by halves or centre threequarters, see that he is supported; it is no excuse to believe that your centre has lost you - the man with the ball is the man to be supported. Backing up was better against Yorkshire, but far from good.

When defensive kicking, find touch. it is more valuable than distance and relieves the forwards.

Keep your eye on the ball the whole time and back up the man with the ball.

The whole team to be on the alert the whole game and always on your toes.

Brogdan will captain the team, and Drummond will lead the forwards.

Good Luck,

Yours sincerely,
L Edwards.

Training Thursday 17th instant, County Grammar School @ 7.00pm