Club History
A few words about Mens Own. The club was founded in 1922 as an offshoot of the Mens Own Fellowship
attached to Doddrige Chapel in Northampton. The Club played for many years at Dallington Park in
Northampton, being housed in a number of clubhouses in Northampton which were either compulsorily
purchased from us or from which we were given notice to quit! In 1980 the club was able to purchase the
Lord Alexander of Tunis sports ground at Ashton and converted the ten acres into a three pitch rugby club;
in the process extending the changing rooms and associated facilities to cope with the needs of the players.
In recent years the Club has been reasonably successful winning the Alliance Cup (for all local sides apart
from the Saints) in 1994, 1995 and 2003 also being in the final in 1987, 1988, 1992, 1998, 2000 and 2006.
With the introduction of leagues to Junior Rugby we were the Courage League East Midlands II
Champions in 1998 and came second in the Courage League East Midlands one in 1990 after some
changes to the league structure we merged with Leicestershire and were East Midlands Leicester Division
One Champions in 1996. After more league changes we found ourselves in Midlands East Division Two
and were Midlands East Two Champions in 1997, other trophies include the Northampton Alliance Paget
Cup 1988, Alliance Sevens Champions 1996 and Michael Whyte Cup Winners in 1994.
The club has also won the East Midlands Referees Society Gordon Bell Trophy in 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000
and 2003 this is awarded to the best-organised and most hospitable Club, in their view, in the East
Midlands.
The Club has a thriving Mini/Junior Section playing on Sundays with training on Sunday morning and
Wednesday evening, coaches are to RFU accreditation standards, they have a Child Protection Officer and
trained first aid people in attendance, they are also working towards the RFU Seal of Approval.
The club has recently hosted the England Deaf Rugby Section and is looking to foster the relationship.