Machen Rugby - History

In 1870, groups of men met in a public house and discussed the growing game of Rugby Football. Amongst them were ‘new’ English workers who had played or watched a few games. This interest led to the establishment of a team that played several fixtures in 1871 against neighbouring, mainly work’s sides, like those at Pontymoile (Pontypool) and Tredegorville (Cardiff). These games were played to uncertain rules and by varying number of player. The natural leader and captian in these early games was Frank Purdon who went on to play for Wales and some say Ireland.

By the 1880’s the Machen team was well know and established. Team photographs were taken and many can be seen in our clubhouse. These photos give us a great insight to the old Machen teams although many names were missing. However, the faces were easily identifiable as most coming from old village families, many of them are still with us: Davies, Everson, Green, Harris, Hicks, Moses, Anthony, Phillips, Richards, Jones, Edmunds, Thomas and many others. They have all formed the backbone of Machen RFC.

By this time the Welsh Rugby Union had been formed and standards raised. Several visiting teams had complained about the slope of the Ffwrrm field on which Machen RFC played. These grumbles ended when, in 1891, as the Welsh Athlete reported, “Machen’s new pitch is equal to any within a 20 mile radius”.

The turn of the century saw several very successful seasons and Machen Greys became the Monmouthshire League Champions with a formidable reputation. Stan Green told me, he wore one of those Famous jerseys as a youngster in Bedwas Colliery, all he had for work in 1926. It had been given to him by old Uncle Woodruff.

The first World War saw a suspension of fixtures, as did the second. During the depression years several Machen players 2went north”. One was Alban Davies who played for Huddersfield. During the wartime army service Alban was allowed to play for Wales, against England at Gloucester, in 1940.

In the 1930’s, the keen rivalry between Machen and Bedwas intensified. Stories of great “battles” between the Davies brothers of Machen – Shon, Chip, Ron and Alban – and three Bedwas brothers, even after the war. The rivalry has continued to the present day, as it has with Risca. One of the Risca Games in the 50’s finished 12-11 to Risca – not the score, the number of players left on the field after injuries and dismissals.

No account would be complete without a mention of ‘Shon’ Jack Davies. After playing several seasons he made an immense contribution to the club’s survival after the war. His wife, Ella, made the post war shorts from blackout material, overcoming the clothes coupons problem. Shon rounded up the available men between 16 and 40 years old, throughout the years 1945-1958. he was club secretary for 36 years and a life long serving member of the W.R.U general committee. His ability to raise funds for the club from VIP’s whilst roundly cursing them was legendary. His influence, continued even after his death. His ashes were scattered on the pitch shortly before a match and within seconds of the kick-off the comment was heard “ that’s the first time anyone has walked over Shon”. The downstairs bar now commemorates Him.
The late 1950’s saw the amalgamation of the Machen Junior Club (The Harlequins) with our own. They were a very successful team and were most welcome as we had started a few games with 14 men. Tjhese were the days when committeemen and ‘passing’ players were pressed into service. Even an ex-league player slipped in, one “Dai” Nutland, and we made the national papers.

In the 1960’s the club prospered and three senior side were fielded for several seasons.

The Old Reading Room, which had become our headquarters, was purchased from Bedwas and Machen Urban District Council for the princely sum of £1. It has been improved and extended and its opening was celebrated with a game against an International XV.

Machen RFC History ( 1970’s )

The 1970’s Welsh rugby was entering a Golden Era and Machen RFC a very good era.

First we welcomed our first foreign visitors Minorange of Paris France in 1970 a visit reiprocated by Machen going to Paris in ,, playing in the shadow of the new Parc de Prince Stadium.
1971 was our club Centenary season culminating in a match against Newport RFC who brought a number of Welsh Internationals in their XV. to play at the Rec.
1971/2 saw us meeting our “Old Enemies” Bedwas in the Monmouthshire RFU Ben Francis Cup Final quite a prestigious Cup in those days.

Up to this time all the team training was run by the Club Captain of the year.
Team Coaching genrally was frowned upon in those days but 1972 saw the introduction of the first committee appointed coach, Mr.Des Winters a former Ebbw Vale prop who quickly developed a very strong successful Machen XV .
However the teams weres still selected by a committee with the coach only having one vote. How times have changed...

During the Seventies we played in the big WRU cup competition the Schweppes Cup against first class club opposition as it was then.
Swansea at St Helens, Pontypridd at Sardis Rd Maesteg at Llynfi Rd , Abertillery at Machen
 
In 1979/80 Machen reached the 3rd round before going down to the eventual winners Bridgend RFC at the Rec, before a crowd of over 2000.
Included in the Bridgend X V of that day were the famous JPR Williams, Steve Fenwick and Ike Stephens.all Britis Lions and Wales caps.

Machen had traditionallyused the Ffwrwm Ishta pub for their after match entertaining but the 70’s saw the expansion of the clubhouse and Machen became self sufficient when a licenced bar was introduced into the clubhouse, initially to be run by committee volunteers.

Our thanks go to Chairman John Hicks Secretary , Jack Davies”Shwn” Davies and Vice chairman Dennis “Butts” Perrett, who steered us through these difficult development years

1975 saw the introduction of Mini rugby when an amazing 120 boys turned up on the first training day; the club was growing rapidly and the mini’s have continued to this day.
This was quickly followed by the development of a successful Youth XV some of whom went on to be eventually committeemen themselves.
The Youith XV besides playing well brought more honour to the club when stalwart prop Matthew Curtis earned his Welsh Youth cap in 1979 v France
We are pleased to say Stuart Barnes John Callard both Bath and England and Stephen Jones The Times Rugby correspondent all wore Machen Youth colours

The club was now fielding three senior sides and a youth XV regularly, our 3rd XV won the Newport & District Cup

Another popular addition to our fixures was the Annual club tours started up intially to Bournemouth and Plymouth and carrying on to be a favourite of the players year after year.

Internationally at Machen we played clubs from Creggs RFC Ireland., Edmonton Tigers Canada, Annan RFC Scotland, and Caussade RFC France . The latter we visited on tour in our first four day foreign venture in the Midi Pyrenees France making friendships made have lasted till today.

Plus Dai “fats” Williams a former captain working in Italy brought an Italian team to Machen in the summer to give them a taste of Welsh hospitality they actually lived i..e. slept and cooked in the Clubhouse for a week or more.

Our next big venture was the erection floodlights, these were installed by club members and this enabled us to stretch our fixture list even further with mid week night matches.

We moved into the 80’s with a major loss to the club and a very sad occasion; the death of the indefatigable Jack”Shwn” Davies, our Honorary Club Secretary for 35years, since the 1940 -45 War Shwn was also a member of the WRU general committee for many years; a man highly respected in Welsh rugby circles.