ELBRA CLUB HISTORY

It's universally acknowledged that Ellenborough Rangers evolved from the ashes of legendary Cumbrian giants Brookland Rovers.   While those links are a trite tenuous, there is no doubt that both clubs share the distinction of being powers in their own particular era.  For example, in season 1902-03, the Cumberland County Northern Union Cup competition was first introduced and run on the two-leg principle up to the final tie which was only one leg.  Its first winners?  You've guessed, was Brookland Rovers.   The Rovers had the finest club history in Cumberland, and it is questionable whether any junior club in the three northern counties has ever had a comparable record.

The club was founded in Rugby Union days in 1882.  Their first choice of name was peculiar.  Mr Joseph Falcon, the first secretary, and his committee, canvassing for subscriptions, received the then amazing sum of £5.00 from Mr Peter De Colin, of Brookland House.  It solved all their immediate financial problems in those days, and in honour of the donation, the club called itself 'Brookland Rovers' instead of 'Ellenborough Rangers,' and it was never changed.  The 300 or 400 ardent supporters of the Rovers, however, seldom used the name.  Their encouragement was always invariably 'come on Elbra'

The club collapsed in 1887 after reaching the Cumberland Cup final, but two years later it was revived with Mr John Barnes as secretary, and it had an unbroken history from 1889 until its demise in the early 60's.  It would be possible to fill a dozen times over the allotted space of this particular article with the exploits of the Rovers, but thats a different story entirely.  Suffice to say besides their local dominance they qualified for the Rugby League Challenge Cup on seven separate occasions between 1904 and 1947.

Now it is the era of Ellenborough Rangers that we are interested in.  And to say the club has made a big impression both locally and more recently nationally since its debut in 1968, is to say the least stating the obvious. 

The driving force behind the birth of the club was the late, Mrs A Maguire, landlady of the village's popular watering hole - The Crown Inn.  However, a committee was duly appointed and the new clubs first coach was former Whitehaven professional Tom Short.   Not surprisingly, the new club needed time to find its feet and lean years were experienced during the first decade of its existance.

It wasnt until 1978 that the club gained any tangible rewards for its efforts, winning its first trophy, the Cumberland Cup by beating Egremont Rangers 21-15 at Kells.  It was Kells who in fact denied Ellenborough a 'double' when the Copeland side defeated them 12-4 in the Amateur Cup Final.  It was around this time that a number of Elbra players started catching the eye of the international selectors and it was no surprise when one of them, Colin Porthouse became the clubs first ever BARLA tourist.

The following season 1978-79, Rangers were again denied winners medals in the final of the Amateur Cup, suffering a 30-0 defeat again by Kells.  Silverware was however captured in the shape of the Top-Four Championship Trophy with a 14-0 victory over a powerful Lowca outfit.  A succession of well known coaches have held the reins at Elbra, including 'Smiler' Allen, Jackie Newell, John Shimmings, Dave Courty and Kevin Gartland with varying degrees of success.

The club then began a downward spiral with the only bright spot being Alan Carter's selection for the Great Britain side to tour Papua New Guinea.  The club's youth programme was implemented in 1983, the same year which the club hit rock-bottom and suffered relegation to the Second Division, registering just two victories all season.  They bounced straight back at the end of the following season when they finished runners-up behind Lowca and lost in the Top-Four play-off final to the same side 12-8.

The League Championship was secured for the first time in 1991, which sparked the clubs roller coaster ride of success.  During that time every honour available found its way into the Ellenborough trophy cabinet, culminating in the 1997 BNFL National Cup success and the prized scalps of professional clubs Bramley and Hunslet during a glorious flirtation with the Silk Cut Challenge Cup.  The break up of that side required a major re-building process to be undertaken and under coach Jonty Gorley the club reached the 2000-2001 Championship Final, losing to Wath Brow Hornets.