THE HISTORY

Folly Lane ARLFC was formed just after the second world war in 1949. The team began playing on a pitch by an old sewage works on Folly Lane in Swinton accordingly adopting the name Folly Lane Rugby Club. In 1955 it was decided to run a junior team separately from the openage team and a under 18's team called Folly Juniors was formed. With a new name, the juniors moved to the Blue Ribbon Playing fields, which is where the club plays today. As time moved on and the club progressed, the junior tag was dropped and the openage team joined back with the juniors at the Blue Ribbon and once again became known as Folly Lane. This period saw all teams both junior and openage level, move into the Northwest Counties leagues. It was from this period that Folly Lane began stamping their presence on Northern rugby league and wave after wave of trophies and honours came to Folly along with the club producing many professional players.

THE PROFESSIONALS & INTERNATIONALS

Folly Lane ARLFC has a proud reputation of producing not only top class amateur players, but also top class players for the international and professional codes of Rugby League. The list of players that Folly has produced that have either played professional, international or both is endless. Below is several that many will remember:

Derek Whitehead (Lance Todd Trophy winner); Alan Buckley (Swinton & Great Britain); Dave Robinson (Swinton, Wigan and Great Britain); Les Holiday (Great Britain); Don Preston (Swinton); Jim Hope (Folly Lane club Chairman and ex-Swinton captain); Mark Barratt (Salford); Barry Simpson (Swinton)

As stated, the above list is by no means conclusive and there are many other professional players Folly has produced. More recent times have seen players such as Paul Southern sign for Salford and play for Ireland and Ian Blease play for Salford and Swinton. Three of our coaching staff are also past professionals, Steve Whittle (Swinton); Paul Brownbill (StHelens) and Shane Hansen (Salford, Swinton and New Zealand Maoris International) all bring their own vast experience to training and developing players at Folly. 

THE PRESENT DAY

Today sees Folly Lane entering the new millennium with a strong openage squad and a very strong youth organisation. However, in order to be as successful as Folly on the pitch, a committed and successful back room team is also needed. Folly Lane ARLFC is run by a committee of dedicated people. The key members of the committee are:

• Secretary and Treasurer - Graham Warrington

• General Committee members - Jim Carey, Sam Carey and Frank Hope

• Youth Chairman - George Hayden

• Youth Secretary - Lee Spencer

• Ladies Secretary - Jenny McCafferey

These people, along with other dedicated back room staff, are responsible for ensuring that Folly Lane Rugby Club is run efficiently and that the correct facilities can be provided to the players to ensure training and development is to the highest standards. Duties such as preparing match day food to organisation fund raising parties are carried out by these people and the jobs that they do and essential to Folly Lane Rugby Club.

THE FACILITIES

Folly Lane are still playing at the same ground that they moved back to in 1955, the Blue Ribbon Playing Fields in Swinton. In November 1995, an arson attack on the changing rooms completely destroyed them along with all the training equipment and many playing kits. This sort of disaster would have led to many lesser clubs folding, however with great community spirit the club pulled together and was given a Sports Council Grant to rebuild the changing facilities.

These new changing facilities are modern and are one of the best in amateur rugby league and are the envy of most clubs. With help from Salford Council, the Northwest Counties RL authorities, neighbouring teams, local charities and of course all club members pulling together, the future of Folly Lane ARLFC is very promising and great things will follow.

It goes without saying that after the game, everyone is made to feel at home in the Folly Club on Station Road, which in the past was the club house for Swinton Lions RLFC, but is now the base for Folly Lane. In here you can enjoy a drink and relax whilst Folly Lane make both players and visitors feel very welcome. The Folly is where most fund raising evenings and end of season presentation ceremonies are held and where Folly Lane players enjoy socialising whether it is playing snooker or darts, or just relaxing with friends. Like all Rugby Clubs, the atmosphere is second to non and there are many different characters in the place to make people laugh and have fun, young or old.

 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Last year (2000), Folly Lane was given permission by the local council to use the coat of arms of the borough of Swinton as its club badge. This coat of arms goes back over two hundred years and it is with great pride that Folly Lane ARLFC will be the only club allowed to display it on their kits and use it as the club emblem.

As has already been stated, at Folly Lane we are very committed to the development of our youth section. It is therefore with some pride that the following lads have been short listed for the English Schoolboys under 16's tour of Australia in 2001. These players are: Harrison Hansen, Dave Gilligan, Tom East and Andy Munday. It goes without saying that everyone at the club wishes these lads the best of luck and we are convinced that they will represent England and Folly Lane ARLFC with pride. Good Luck lads.