1980–81 Fulham RLFC season

The 1980-81 Fulham RLFC season was the first in the club's history. They competed in the 1980–81 Second Division of the Rugby Football League. They also competed in the 1980–81 Challenge Cup and the 1980–81 League Cup. They finished the season in 3rd place and were promoted to the top tier of professional rugby league in the UK.

1980–81 Fulham RLFC season
1980–81 RFL season Rank3rd
Challenge CupFirst Round
1980-81 recordWins: 20; Draws: 0; Losses: 9
Points scoredFor: 447; Against: 237
Team information
ChairmanErnie Clay
Player CoachReg Bowden
Captain
  • Reg Bowden
StadiumCraven Cottage
Avg. Attend.7345
High. Attend.15,013 vs. Leeds
Top scorers
TriesMal Aspey - 16
GoalsIain MacCorquodale - 75
PointsIain MacCorquodale - 171
< None List of seasons 1981-82 >

Birth of Fulham RLFC

In 1980, Fulham Football Club chairman Ernie Clay, set up a rugby league team at Craven Cottage, with the intention of creating another income stream for the football club. Warrington director Harold Genders, who had helped to persuade Clay of the benefits of starting a rugby league club in the capital, resigned from the Warrington board to become managing director of Fulham R.L.F.C. The Rugby Football League (RFL), keen to encourage the expansion of the sport beyond its traditional Northern heartland, accepted the new club with 26 clubs voting in favour, with three abstentions at the League's AGM.[1]

One of the game's leading players, Reg Bowden, was recruited by Genders to act as player-coach. He cost the club £25,000 at a time when the world record transfer fee was £40,000.[2]

The club's first signing was Roy Lester on a free transfer from Warrington. Within nine weeks, Genders and Bowden had assembled a team of experienced players approaching retirement, together with a few promising youngsters.

Nearly 10,000 Londoners turned up for the opening game at Craven Cottage to see the newly formed side convincingly beat highly regarded Wigan 24–5. The new Fulham RL team quickly proved to be very competitive and went on to win promotion at the end of their inaugural season.

Second Division League Table
Club P W D L PF PA Pts
1 York 28 23 0 5 649 331 46
2 Wigan 28 20 3 5 597 293 43
3 Fulham 28 20 0 8 447 237 40
4 Whitehaven 28 19 1 8 409 250 39
5 Huddersfield 28 18 1 9 429 310 37
6 Swinton 28 18 1 9 440 302 36
7 Keighley 28 14 1 13 445 501 29
8 Hunslet 28 13 1 14 447 430 27
9 Bramley 28 13 1 14 433 418 27
10 Rochdale Hornets 28 13 0 15 406 418 26
11 Batley 28 12 0 16 386 432 24
12 Dewsbury 28 11 1 16 346 364 23
13 Doncaster 28 5 0 23 250 562 10
14 Blackpool Borough 28 4 1 23 212 419 9
15 Huyton 28 2 0 26 211 796 4
  Champions   Play-offs   Promoted   Relegated

[3]

Players
NameAppearancesSubstituteTotal AppearancesTriesGoalsDrop GoalsPoints
Dave Allen2322540012
Mal Aspey23427160048
Harry Beverley220222006
Reg Bowden2812940012
Adrian Cambriani26026130039
Joe Doherty5160000
David Eckersley252271251027
Chris Ganley1901980024
Tony Gourley213241003
Martin Herdman76132006
David Hull251262006
Tony Karalius202222006
Roy Lester158233009
Iain MacCorquodale280286753171
Graham Moss2020000
Derek Noonan1801840012
Carl Radbone90923012
John Risman184223009
Peter Souto47111003
Neil Tuffs77143009
Ian van Bellen2032340012
John Wood2322540012
Graham Worgan2020000

[3]

Results
DateCompetitionOppositionVenueResultScoreAttendance
14.09.1980Second DivisionWiganHomeWin24-59554
21.09.1980Second DivisionKeighleyAwayLoss24-133027
28.09.1980Second DivisionSwintonHomeWin25-115589
05.10.1980Second DivisionBlackpoolAwayWin2-15906
12.10.1980Second DivisionHuddersfieldHomeWin30-75971
19.10.1980Second DivisionDoncasterAwayWin16-28672
26.10.1980Second DivisionYorkHomeWin23-57159
09.11.1980Second DivisionBramleyHomeWin10-75405
16.11.1980Second DivisionDewsburyAwayWin7-92500
23.11.1980John Player Trophy Round 1LeedsHomeWin9-312,583
30.11.1980Second DivisionWiganAwayLoss15-28100
07.12.1980John Player Trophy Round 2LeighAwayLoss17-97606
21.12.1980Second DivisionHunsletHomeWin19-55629
28.12.1980Second DivisionBatleyHomeWin15-56237
04.01.1981Second DivisionWhitehavenAwayLoss6-04235
11.01.1981Second DivisionRochdaleHomeLoss8-246162
18.01.1981Second DivisionBramleyAwayWin11-211750
25.01.1981Second DivisionHuytonHomeWin25-45805
01.02.1981Second DivisionHunsletAwayWin11-121842
08.02.1981Second DivisionSwintonAwayLoss13-93550
15.02.1981Challenge Cup Round 1Wakefield TrinityHomeLoss5-915,013
01.03.1981Second DivisionBlackpoolHomeWin8-04715
08.03.1981Second DivisionKeighleyHomeWin24-35285
15.03.1981Second DivisionHuytonAwayWin3-19500
22.03.1981Second DivisionDewsburyHomeWin16-45258
29.03.1981Second DivisionYorkAwayLoss15-107351
05.04.1981Second DivisionWhitehavenHomeWin15-06707
12.04.1981Second DivisionBatleyAwayLoss10-83250
16.04.1981Second DivisionRochdaleAwayWin5-192750
19.04.1981Second DivisionHuddersfieldAwayLoss8-32435
20.04.1981Second DivisionDoncasterHomeWin37-115867
01.05.1981ChallengeBradfordHomeWin20-811,926

[3][4]

References
  1. Huxley, John; Howes, David (1980). Encyclopedia of Rugby League Football. London: Robert Hale. ISBN 0709181337.
  2. Farrar, Dave; Lush, Peter (2000). From Fulham to Wembley. London: London League Publications. ISBN 978-0952606444.
  3. Genders, Harold (2000). The Fulham Dream. London: London League Publications. ISBN 978-0952606499.
  4. Farrar, Dave; Lush, Peter (1995). Touch and Go: A History of Professional Rugby League in London. London: London League Publications. ISBN 978-0952606406.
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