BRIDGWATER & ALBION EMBARK UPON THEIR 150TH YEAR OF EXISTANCE IN THE 2025/26 SEASON
BRIDGWATER & ALBION RFC EMBARK UPON THEIR 150TH YEAR OF EXISTANCE IN THE 2025/26 SEASON – AND IT IS WORTH REVIEWING WHAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THE CENTENARY IN 1975/76
The historic Bridgwater & Albion RFC is on the eve of its 150th year of existence and will be celebrating the achievement during the 2025/26 season which commences in the next few days with pre-season friendlies already underway.
Bridgwater FC was founded in October 1875 and started playing rugby football soon afterwards; in 1891 Bridgwater Albion FC was formed and the two clubs competed alongside each other on different grounds in the town for many years. However, immediately after the end of the First World War the clubs agreed to merge and this took place in 1919 and the club has been known as Bridgwater & Albion RFC ever since. In the very first season after the merger, Bridgwater & Albion played New Zealand at the Taunton Road ground where a crowd of 3000 witnessed the All Blacks winning by 11-3.
Bridgwater & Albion’s history up to the start of the centenary season has been well-catalogued in an excellent publication produced by the club to celebrate 100 years back in 1975/76. Of course, that publication did not take into account the centenary season itself and accordingly the club’s veteran correspondent Scribe now seeks to set the scene on that season and to remember the events which took place. During the course of the 2025/26 season, Scribe will be periodically reviewing some of the playing activities of the club in the past 50 years.
The Centenary Season 1975/76
In the summer of 1975 Bridgwater & Albion were busily trying to ensure that a £10,000 clubhouse extension was ready for the start of the centenary season – it was. The club was anticipating its busiest playing season with a substantial fixtures list – not only for its 1st XV but for its other sides – United XV, Athletic XV and Colts XV.
In the previous season – 1974/75 – reverted back to playing in “Red, Amber and Black” hoops reminiscent of days of old and the colours which had been contained in badges on Albion’s various coloured shirts worn in the interim. For some time, Albion played in all white (shorts as well); some times a black shirt with white shorts; an alternative red strip; and when flood lights were introduced, green shirts for the nighttime activity.
Somerset County had been a long time staging post for rugby football as the game swept through the country in the mid-1800’s. Bath (1865) is the county’s oldest club closely followed by Wiveliscombe (1872), Wellington (1874) and then all of Bridgwater & Albion, Weston-super-Mare and Taunton who were all formed in 1875. It was perhaps a unique feature that the three neighbouring clubs are all celebrating the same anniversary in the same season.
The 1st XV was led by lock forward Richard Bell who had already made 412 1st XV appearances since his debut in April 1961 and who had been club captain in 1970/71; scrum half Mike Berry captained the United XV; three-quarter David T Baker skippered the Athletic XV; and Jim Trowbridge led the Colts XV. The club President was John Garland who was simultaneously President of Somerset in 1975/76.
Albion kicked off events with three matches in the first week of the season with Wiveliscombe being the first visitors reciprocating the honour which the West Somerset Club had bestowed on Albion to help celebrate their own centenary; similar reciprocation also applied to Wellington a few weeks later. Albion won this opening match comfortably 24-0 but the next famous visitors Birkenhead Park and Richmond were not so kind. The Wirral side formed in 1871 snuck a 7-6 victory whilst Richmond (1861) ran out 26-0 victors. The club then visited Hayle and Redruth on a mini Cornish tour but lost both games and the next victories were recorded against Sidmouth and Wellington with losses to Lydney and Barnstaple. A busy September of ten games concluded with a Somerset Cup first round match against local rivals Morganians which Albion won 15-6.
Moving into October Albion now hit some fine form starting with a 25-8 home victory over fellow celebrants Taunton. In fact, this was the first of four victories over the county town side during the season. Oxford University proudly led by Bridgwater born and bred Charles Kent then visited in mid-week and won 13-6 – Kent was to go on to win England caps in the 1977 Five Nations as it was then. That was Albion’s only defeat in October which contained good wins against Penryn, St Luke’s College, Clifton, Cheltenham and US Portsmouth – as well as advancing in the Somerset Cup by defeating Minehead Barbarians.
Weston-super-Mare soon put an end to that run with a narrow 6-3 victory and whereas Albion had comfortably beaten Taunton, Weston won both of the season’s matches.
At this stage of the season, the United and Athletic XV’s were also enjoying some successful results – both sides unbeaten through September. The Colts XV however having won their opening match against Hornets, then lost several games before their next victory.
Today’s players and supporters may be interested to know that by 31 December Albion had already played 29 1st XV matches.
In mid-November the club staged its Centenary Ball at the Blake Hall – the Syd Lawrence Orchestra providing the music – it was a memorable night but not so good for rugby football the next day as the 1st XV succumbed to Sidcup 9-15; the United XV got away with it somewhat as their game at Stroud was abandoned at half time due to fog – the weather and not the state of the players that is; the Athletic XV also had a difficult journey to Minehead.
1976 opened with a match against a District XV which Albion won 8-6 but January was a torrid month with victories against Abertillery (12-6 – but very welcome) and St Brendans OB in the Somerset Cup (19-0) providing some respite. On and on went the fixtures with the club progressing well in the Somerset Cup with a 19-9 victory over Taunton in February. That took Albion up against mighty Bath in the semi-final of the County Cup and on 24 March 1976 the club gave an excellent performance but went down at the Broadway Ground 7-12. That performance seemed to spur the side into ensuring that the run-in to the end of season was successful and reeled off five wins and a draw from its closing matches. The club staged its traditional three Easter home games with visitors Newbury and Stafford being beaten with a draw against Vale of Lune 13-13 on the Saturday. It might be of interest that the final match of the season was a 13-6 home victory against Worcester.
The full playing record was:-
P53 W27 D2 L24 F734 A566
A massive stint but one well-recognised and enjoyed by those who took part. The United XV record was:-
P36 W21 A1 L14 F559 A414
These number of games for the 1st and 2nd XV’s may seem remarkable now when in the 2024/25 season Albion 1st XV played 22 league games (1 was abandoned after 13 minutes); 1 Somerset Cup match; and 2 Papa John’s Community Cup games.
At the start of the centenary season, Albion staged a Sevens competition which was won by Stroud who defeated Albion 26-16 in the final. The other competing clubs being Clifton, Avon & Somerset Police, President’s VII, North Petherton, Worcester and Barnstaple.
It is also worth noting that the United XV played the 1st XV’s of Burnham on Sea, Swanage & Wareham, Clevedon, Old Redcliffians and North Petherton as well as Jersey more than holding their own in these fixtures against opponents who will have been familiar to Albion’s 1st XV in more recent seasons.
The celebrations were rounded off with an excellent Centenary Dinner as the club set off into the second centenary.
Scribe
Category: Club News
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