Heworth A.R.L.F.C.

Heworth
Club information
Full nameHeworth
Amateur Rugby League Football Club
ColoursBlack
Founded1922; 102 years ago (1922)
WebsiteOfficial Club Website
Current details
Ground(s)
  • Elmpark Way
CompetitionNCL Division One

Heworth A.R.L.F.C. is an amateur rugby league football club based in Heworth, York. The first team plays in the NCL Division One.

In 1986, the club was one of ten founder members of the BARLA National Amateur League (now known as the National Conference League),[1] and were the winners of the inaugural 1986–87 season.[2]

Heworth has produced many players who went on to play the game professionally, most notably former internationals Ray Batten, Kenneth Bowman, Gary Divorty, Bill and Jim Drake, Colin Forsyth, David Watkinson and Geoff Wriglesworth.[2][3]

The club went into decline following their success in the early years of the league, and in 2012 were demoted to NCL Division Three after failing to fulfill one of their fixtures.[4] In 2015, the club withdrew from the National Conference League altogether due to a lack of playing strength.[5] The club returned to the National Conference League in 2019.[6] In 2022, Heworth were NCL Division Two champions.[7] In 2023, Heworth won the Division One Promotion decider against Oulton Raiders to earn a place in the Premier Division.[8]

  1. ^ Macklin, Keith (13 May 1986). "Early kick-off for amateur pioneers". Times. London. p. 28.
  2. ^ a b "Grassroots Rugby League news round-up". Total Rugby League. 24 April 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2024.
  3. ^ "History". Heworth ARLFC. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Hard to find big positives in Heworth ARLC's demotion punishment – Sykes". York Press. 15 December 2012. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  5. ^ Martini, Peter (24 March 2015). "Shock as founder club Heworth ARLC withdraw from National Conference League". York Press. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  6. ^ "Heworth ready to re-enter the elite amateur competition the National Conference League". York Press. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
  7. ^ "Heworth win NCL division two title by beating Barrow Island". The Press. 15 August 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
  8. ^ "Heworth win promotion to NCL Premier Division". Rugby-League.com. 25 September 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.