About The Club
North Petherton Rugby Football Club was established as long ago as 1893 and was originally located on the other side of Petherton from the club's current home. This original location was known as Shovel Park, which may have had something to do with the Cows that lived on the ground during the week, only to be moved off every Saturday for matches. It is from this ground that North Petherton became known as 'The Oaks' due to the long row of large oak trees adjacent to the pitch.
In 1973 a number of locals were able to get together enough money to buy some fields on the other side of the town. These were then turned into the rugby pitches that have become the club's current home known as Beggars Brook. In recent years the ground has also become host to the North Petherton Cricket team who play across the second and third pitches during the summer.
The ground underwent some major changes in the summer of 2005 with the old changing rooms and baths being demolished and replaced by four new changing rooms with showers, as well as a new referee's changing room. With funding from the RFU, the club were also able to install new floodlights that are up to the required standard for hosting representative matches in the evenings.
The club has a history of producing players that have progressed to playing at higher levels of the game. Mark Irish, a former Petherton Colt, is currently playing professionally as a member of the Bristol Rugby first team squad, and former Petherton First Teamers Dan Kemmish, Gavin Hancock, and James Carter are currently playing for National League 3 side Bridgwater & Albion. The club also have a number of players who have played at County level for Somerset's Junior and Colt's sides.
Membership Details
A membership form can be downloaded from here.
An explaination of the types of membership can be downloaded from here.
About North Petherton
North Petherton is a small town in Somerset, England, situated on the edge of the eastern foothills of the Quantocks, and close to the edge of the Somerset Levels. The town has a population of 5,190 (2002 estimate). Dating from at least the 10th century and an important settlement in Saxon times, North Petherton became a town only in the late 20th century, until then claiming to be the largest village in England.
North Petherton is situated on one of the historic communication routes through Somerset, and a turnpike through the town was opened between Bridgwater and Taunton in the 1730s. The opening of the nearby M5 motorway in the 1970s which relieved major traffic jams on the A38 through the town, also added to the attraction of the town for commuters and has consequently lead to the construction of several new housing estates. The town lies on the route of the Macmillan Way long-distance footpath.
The town boasts the minster church of St Mary the Virgin, with a highly decorated tower which, at 120 feet / 36m high, is claimed to be one of the tallest towers in the West Country. The building is mainly dated from the 15th century, with a minstrel gallery from 1623, a peel of six bells, and a clock built in Bridgwater in 1807.
The annual North Petherton Carnival is part of the West Country Carnival circuit, and takes place in November, on the Saturday after the first Thursday in November.
If you want to know more about North Petherton, then you can visit the town website here. There is also yet more information that can be found on the Wikipedia website here.
Fixtures
Sat 26/04/08 - Kick-Off 3:00pm
Tour Match
Colts vs Shipston-On-Stour (Home)
Fri 09 - Mon 12/05/08
Tour to Guernsey
Tour XV vs Guernsey XV (Sat 10/05/08)
Tour XV vs St Jacques XV (Sun 11/05/08)
Sat 10/05/08 - Kick-Off 10:30am
Tournament
3rd Annual North Petherton Sevens
Beggars Brook Rugby Association
The BBRA is a new organisation being setup to help benefit the members of NPRFC. Click here to find out more.
Latest News
19/04/08 - North Petherton win at Wiveliscombe to secure promotion
A magnificent second half display by Pethy lifts them into the Somerset Premier division for only the second time in their history
12/04/08 - Victory over the leaders leaves Pethy on verge of promotion
Petherton beat local rivals Burnham for the second time this season in front of a massive home crowd
29/03/08 - Pethy overcome Crewkerne to remain on course for promotion
Petherton grind out a win in the wind and rain to keep hold of second place
21/03/08 - North Petherton lose annual Good Friday cup match
Taunton Seconds regain the Caroline Mitchell Memorial Cup