Sandbach Rugby Club Unveils Digital Archive Of Club’s History
by Rhys Fullerton
Club preserves its rich history for future generations
Have you ever thought about why Sandbach Rugby Club built its home on Bradwall Road? Have you ever wondered when the club changed its name from the Old Sandbachians to Sandbach RUFC? These answers and much more are all revealed in the club’s new online archive.
A treasure trove of material has been uploaded to the club’s website, to preserve the club’s history for future generations. It contains documents, photographs, newspaper cuttings and other memorabilia, arranged by season. It starts at the formation of the club in 1935 and goes right through to 2020. This is a live archive with more information being added as and when it materialises.
This project was started by Pad Davenport, who also features in the archive. Pad has had a long association with Sandbach RUFC, having made his senior debut for the then Old Sandbachians in 1972 at the age of sixteen. He went on to make over 400 1st XV appearances for the club.
Over the fifty plus years he has been involved at Sandbach RUFC he has undertaken a variety of roles including captain of the colts, club captain, director of rugby and president. During that long association he has acquired a collection of various documents and memorabilia. Over the years, as members sadly passed away, further souvenirs were given to him. Together with information from surviving older club members, who were senior players when he first made his debut, he was able to piece together the sizeable archive.
“For some time now, I have thought these items ought to be preserved for posterity, so that future generations understand the work and achievements that was undertaken by their forerunners and, as we see each week, continues to this day,” Pad said.
The archive covers a period way before Pad’s involvement at the club. Some of the original material is fascinating, particularly when the club formed back in 1935 and reformed after the war in 1956.
One intriguing document is a spreadsheet of original members from 1935/36 and also a document of press clippings that covers 1935 to 1956. One player, Syd J Brassington, who played on the wing and made his debut on 10th December 1935, was a prisoner of war in Germany, where he remained for most of the second world war. At some point Syd wrote to J. L. Hind asking when the next match would take place, showing a true passion for the club and the game. “The old ground has been doing its bit and the goal-posts are waiting to be erected once more for the opening match, which won’t be long now” was the response in a newspaper clipping from 25 December 1943.
Another curious document from 1956 shows Old Sandbachian’s Chairman, F. G Hubbard, writing to Sandbach Town Hall and asking for their “sympathetic consideration” to use the Drill Hall for a dance. This was around the time when the club reformed and they were “finding it extremely difficult to carry on due to lack of funds and facilities”.
For Pad though, the 1980s resonates most with him: “A special personal period for me is the late eighties, when leagues were in their infancy and the club got to the dizzy heights of North 2, only for it to fall back as professionalism hit rugby union.
“Sandbach, having elected to remain an amateur club, saw several quality players leave to seek remuneration for playing. This issue remains to some degree but thankfully having seen several clubs come unstuck pursuing unsustainable payments to players, Sandbach has managed to thrive and develop into arguably one of the best truly amateur clubs in the area.”
What’s interesting is how personal data changed over the years. Contact details of club officials, including addresses, home phone numbers and even business phone numbers, were readily available to members. Although some contact information for current officers will be available now, this level of detail is not required today, especially with modern technology and data privacy.
The archive documents the ups and downs of an amateur rugby club, but if you have enough time to delve deep into the detail, you may be surprised at the progress of Sandbach RUFC over the years. You may also recognise faces and names still visible at the club to this very day.
You can find Sandbach RUFCs online archive at: https://www.sandbachrufc.co.uk/d/documents.html. Scroll down through the years and delve into the club’s rich history.
Macclesfield Castle Rotary Club Annual Swimathon
For more than 20 years the Annual Swimathon organized by the Rotary Club of Macclesfield Castle has become one of the most anticipated community events in early spring in Macclesfield.
This year will be the 24th Swimathon which has so far it has raised over £180,000 for local charities and community organizations. Half of the money raised through sponsorship by teams of swimmers from local community groups and schools goes to their own nominated project or charity. The Rotary Club uses the other half in community projects in Macclesfield. Among those which have directly benefited are The Rossendale Trust, East Cheshire Hospice, Childline, Christies Fighting Cancer, NSPCC, Francis House Hospice, Macclesfield Disability Forum, and East Cheshire Eye Society.
Rotary Club President John Knight says, “I am delighted to announce the date of this year’s Swimathon, on the afternoon of Sunday 8 March at Macclesfield Leisure Centre. The total number of places is limited so if you are a local school or community group, enter a team of swimmers, organise sponsorship and come along and enjoy an afternoon of fun; and at the same time raise some money for your nominated charity. Oh, and don’t forget – bring your supporters to cheer you on.”
Some of the operating costs of the Swimathon are covered by a generous donation from Beaverbrooks the Jewellers, but everyone involved in the organization of the event and on the day is doing it on a voluntary basis in line with the Rotary motto ‘Service above Self’.
For further information or to enter a team please contact Tony by email: tonyrotary1001@gmail.com.
Macclesfield Lantern Festival
by Macclesfield Town Council
Saturday 24 Jan 2026, 4:30pm to 7:30pm
On Saturday 24 January join us in banishing the dark and welcoming back the light!
We’ll be meeting at the Silk Museum from 4:30pm ready to set off for the Lantern Parade at 5pm. This year the parade will finish in Market Place where you’ll be able to enjoy the fire show from Chris Marley, walkabout entertainment, hot drinks and more.
Lantern workshops will take place on the day hosted by Macclesfield Community ArtSpace and the Silk Museum. Both workshops are free but the Silk Museum will need you to book your space in advance here.
Want to make your own lantern at home to bring along to the parade? Check out a few ‘how-to’ ideas here: Lantern-how-to
Lighting Up Macclesfield!
by Macclesfield Town Council
Macclesfield Lantern Festival combines Macclesfield Town Councils Lantern Parade and Northern Light and comes to town on Saturday 24 January 2026.
This FREE event promises to be a feel good afternoon and evening right in the centre of town, with a few familiar faces helping out – giant lobster anyone?!
The Town Council are inviting you to assemble at the Silk Museum from 4:30pm with your lanterns, ready to join the parade and set off at 5pm.
The parade will head up Mill Street and finish at Market Place where there will be a selection of walkabout entertainment, fire and glow performances and more until 7:30pm. R&G’s Beer Vault will be there with their hot drinks stall to help keep out the cold as well as the cafes and bars in the surrounding streets.
If you want to take part in the parade and need to make a lantern, then we’ve got a range of workshops for you.
The Silk Museum will be running workshops on Saturday 24 January - these will be free but spaces are limited so you'll need to book in one of the slots. You can book via their website.
If you miss out on a spot then you can always head to the drop-in session run by Macclesfield Community Artspace in the Grosvenor Centre, 2pm – 4pm in the unit opposite Timpsons. The workshop is free and all kit required to make your milk bottle Elmer lantern will be provided to you.
ArtSpace will also be running an evening session at their Gunco Lane HQ on Tuesday 20 January, 6pm – 8pm, for those interested in making a wire based Elmer lantern, please book via the Artpsace website.
So put on your best light-up trainers, grab a torch and we’ll see you in town, Saturday 24 January, 4:30pm – 7:30pm.
