 | ||
| Club information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Bramley Buffaloes Rugby League Community Club | |
| Colours | Amber and black | |
| Founded | 2000 | |
| Website | bramleybuffs.com | |
| Current details | ||
| Ground(s) |
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| Competition | Yorkshire Men's League | |
| Uniforms | ||
| ||
Bramley Buffaloes RLFC is a rugby league club from the Bramley area of West Leeds in West Yorkshire, England.
History
At the end of the 1999 season Bramley RLFC resigned from the Northern Ford Premiership after financial issues and playing outside of Bramley, with the intention to become a feeder team for Leeds Rhinos. However this never materialised and the club applied to rejoin the Northern Ford Premiership in 2000 but were rejected over a bid from Gateshead Thunder.
A new supporter owned club was quickly formed and applied again the join the Northern Ford Premiership in 2001 which would have seen the club move closer to Bramley by playing out of Farsley Celtics Throstle Nest stadium, however the RFL rejected the bid over the ground not meeting minimum standards.[1]
The new club tried again to apply to play in the newly formed third division National League Two in 2003, this time ground sharing with Morley Rugby Union Club. The club was once again rejected despite the ground meeting minimum standards, the RFL were unhappy the club was playing outside of Bramley. In the end the RFL accepted the club into National League Three, the highest level of amateur rugby league, for the 2004 season.
The first game against Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks drew a crowd of more than 1,200. In that first season, coached by Phil Hellewell, the club reached the National League Three semi-finals, losing at eventual champions Coventry Bears. In 2005 the Buffaloes went a step further reaching the Grand Final at Widnes, losing to Bradford Dudley Hill.
The third season saw Paul Cook take over as head coach. He took Buffaloes to the Grand Final at the Halliwell Jones Stadium where the Buffaloes beat Hemel Stags 30–8.
In 2007 the Buffaloes finished top again to take the Minor Premiers Trophy, but were beaten by Featherstone Lions in the final held at Headingley.
In November 2008, Paul Cook left his post as head coach of Bramley Buffaloes to take up an assistant coach role at Huddersfield. Mark Butterill was appointed head coach with Jon Nicholls being appointed assistant coach. Buffaloes were again crowned Minor Premiers, finishing top once more but lost to Celtic Crusaders Colts in the Grand Final despite beating them three times during the season.
The Buffaloes would win the Conference for a second time in 2010 before a poor season in 2011 where they finished bottom.
In 2012 the amateur game switched to summer and the Rugby League Conference was rebranded the National Conference League. Bramley finished 5th in NCL Division 3 before losing in the playoffs to Warrington Wizards.
In the post season Bramleys application to stay in the National Conference League was rejected and they were played into the newly formed Yorkshire Mens League for the 2013 season.
Ahead of the 2014 YML season Bramley merged with Rodley Rockets retaining their Bramley identity but playing out of Rodleys Canal Bank ground. The Buffaloes would go onto win the YML Premier Division that season.
Despite a successful season the year previous, on 16 April 2015, the club announced that they had to pull out of the Yorkshire Men's League for the 2015 season (due to having no coach and a lack of players).
The club returned in 2016, playing in Bramley for the first time since 1995 having agreed with Bramley Phoenix Rugby Union Club to use their ground. The club were placed in Division 5 and appointed Steve Langton, the ex Hunslet and Carlisle player. Langton has brought a new vigour to the club and the club has refound its impetus.
Honours
- Rugby League Conference National Division: 20061, 2009
- Yorkshire Men's League Premier Division Champions 2014
1 Then known as National League Three.
Past coaches
Also see Category:Bramley Buffaloes coaches
- Phil Hellewell 2004–05
- Paul Cook 2006–08
- Mark Butterill 2009–10
- Peter Roe Jan 2011 – April 2011
- Chris Gardner April 2011
- Craig Lingard 2012
- Steve Gill 2013 – 2015
- Steve Langton 2016
Records
Player records
- Most goals in a match: 13 by Paul Drake vs Coventry Bears, 24 April 2005
- Most points in a match: 36 by Paul Drake vs Underbank Rangers, 4 September 2005
- Most goals in a season: 146 by Paul Drake, 2005
- Most points in a season: 382 by Paul Drake, 2005
Club records
- Highest score for: 86–0 vs Essex Eels, 19 June 2005
Bibliography
References
- ↑ "Rugby League: Outdated game set for radical changes". The Independent. 23 October 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2021.