York Rugby League Club

• York Rugby League Club; 1868-present

• York Football Club (1868 - 1883); amalgamated with York Melbourne Club 1883; The Dreadnoughts (1918 - ????), Northern Rugby Football Union ( - c.1927); York Rugby League Club (1927 - 1990); Ryedale-York (1990-1996); York Wasps (1996 - c2002); York City Knights RLFC (c2003-current).

Founded 1868. From 1895, the York Rugby League was one of 22 groups from across Yorkshire which formed the Northern Rugby League. In 1901 they were first admitted to the national Rugby Football League

The York Rugby League Club was founded in 1868, and initially played both association and rugby football. The team colours are amber and black. The Club played on the Gentleman's Grounds on Wigginton Road until they were forced out by financial problems in early 1880s, after which they played on Poad's Fields for a short time. In 1885 York Lunatic Asylum leased them a piece of land at the end of Clarence Street to use as playing grounds.
In 1895, the Club purchased the Waterman's Mission Hut on Fishergate, which was their first grandstand and included dressing rooms and up until 1931, the Club had it's Headquarters at the Exchange Hotel on St Sampson's Square.

Initially, the Rugby League Club was not particularly well-known or successful. However, in the mid-1870s, the team began to attract a higher standard of player. In 1877 they were one of several regional teams to inaugurate the Yorkshire Challenge Cup.
After the First World War, the enthusiasm and support of Alderman Sir W.A. Forster Todd, who was also the Club's president, significantly raised the Club's profile. By 1922 they claimed to be the premier winter sport organization in the city, and this was supported by the large crowds of supporters who turned out for games at the Clarence Street grounds. The Forster Todd Challenge Cup was established to raise money for local charities.

The Club has had several different names during its history. Until c.1927, the team was known as the Northern Rugby Football Union, which itself was the successor to the York Rugby Union Club. Due to financial problems in the 1980s, the club was forced to sell the Clarence Street grounds in 1990. They moved to Huntington Stadium (formerly Ryedale Stadium) and became known as Ryedale-York. Following the move to summer rugby in 1996, the team was re-named the York Wasps.

Founded 1868. From 1895, the York Rugby League was one of 22 groups from across Yorkshire which formed the Northern Rugby League. In 1901 they were first admitted to the national Rugby Football League

International Standard Archival Authority Record for Corporate Bodies, Persons and Families - ISAAR(CPF) - Ottawa

Wikipedia
www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk (York Herald 30/08/1895)
York Directories