The First XV won the County Senior Cup for the first time in 40 years - beating Gosforth 13-6 in the last match ever to be played at the County Ground. The 1stXV also had a memorable run in the John Player National Cup with three absolutely epic matches against sides with considerable higher league standings.

In what was a great season four senior sides all appeared in their respective County cup-finals - all but the 3rd XV winning. The winning of the U16 and U13 county cups must have made this season the most successful in the club's 112-year history.

1stXV
The 1st XV, as well as winning the County Senior Cup, enjoyed great success in the John Player cup with wins over Vale of Lune (16-15) and London Scottish (11-9), the run ending in a luckless 6-7 memorable defeat at the hands of Coventry.

This season also saw the introduction of league rugby in England with the first season of the Courage Club Championship. Tynedale were positioned in league North1 alongside Harrogate, Hartlepool Rovers, Hull & East Riding, Kendal, Middlesbrough, Otley, West Park(St Helens), Widnes, Wigton and Winnington Park. Each team only played each other once for a total of 10 matches.

The very first league match for Tyndale was against Otley, taking place at Green Cross, Otley on 12th September 1987 with Otley running out comfortable victors by 24-0.
The Tynedale team that day was:-
Iain Harris; Mark Richard, Gary Taylor, Huw Mainwaring, Jonny. Rutherford; Chris Leslie, Gary. Rutherford; Martin White, Alan Gledson, Chris Dixon; Steven Dunn, Richard Cunningham; Jonny Matthews,,Derek Copeland, Graham Yates.
Note: there is some conjecture as to whether Jonny Matthews played – some documentation claim Micky Lee played and not Jonny!

Tynedale ended up mid-table, winning 5 and losing 5, which was perhaps a disappointment after beating the top three sides but losing to the bottom three showed the team's unpredictability.

1stXV County Cup Winners (1987-1988)

(Back) George Haldane(Coach), Micky Lee, Graham Yates, Andrew Murray, Steven Dunn, Edward Robson(President), Jonny Rutherford, Gary Taylor, Aidan Tallantyre, Fred Dickinson, John Shotton(Chairman of Rugby)
(Front) Richard Parker, Martin White, Mark Winham, Chris Leslie, Alan Gleson, Gordon Dodd, Gary Rutherford, Chris Dixon, Mark Richard

2nd XV
The highly successful 2nd XV - which lost only 4 of 34 matches, scoring 853 points against 189 conceded - was the first team to win two J & B Journal team of the month awards in one season. They also won the Team of the Season award.

County
Alan Gledson, Chris Leslie, Iain Harris, Steve Dunn and Chris Dixon represented Northumberland in the County Championship. Richard Parker, Micky Lee, Graham Yates and John Rutherford played for Northumberland B, Gary Rutherford and Martin White were replacements. Andrew Cuthbertson, Philip Caudle, Kevin Marshall and Angus Herdman played for Northumberland Under 21's, Angus Herdman also being in the North of England squad.

North of England

Chris Dixon was a replacement for the North in the Divisional Championships.

Hoppers cup-winning squad with president Edward Robson.

(Back) Andy Matthews, Tony March, Percy Telfer, Chris Richardson, Clive Chadwick, Edward Robson(Pres), Philip Caudle, Tony Coates, Roger Stockdale, Huw Mainwaring
(Front) Alan York, Neils Kristensen, Gordon Cairns, Will Shields (Capt), Nick Barnes, Simon Clayton-Hibbott, Richard Bell, Simon Ricketts

Coaching Team
Coaches - George Haldane, Steve Mullins and Peter Robertson.

Improved Facilities
In the last four years all the club's facilities were improved, with the laying of the new road, the extension of the car-park and the creation of a medical room (kindly donated by Edward Robson). Mains gas was installed in the building to provide better hot-water facilities in the baths with reduced running costs.

John Cunningham
John Cunningham's last year as Chairman of House & Bar Committee.

Ladies Donation
The Ladies' committee donated £4,000 to club funds.

Tynedale Sports Council Awards
Tynedale Sports Council annual awards ceremony -
Sportsman of the year - Iain Harris
Club Certificate of merit - Tynedale 1st XV.
Certificates of Merit - Steven Dunn, John Fletcher and Joe Hudson.

Fixture/Membership Booklet (1987-1988)