Ryhope CA (now Sunderland RCA) - The Beginning » Joe Dixon's Football Memories

Sunday, September 5, 2010

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Ryhope CA (now Sunderland RCA) - The Beginning 1963/1964 Season 1964/1965 Season 1965/1966 Season 1966/1967 Season 1967/1968 Season 1968/1969 Season 1969/1970 Season 1970/1971 Season 1971/1972 Season 1972/1973 Season 1973/1974 Season 1974/1975 Season 75/76 to 77/78 No Team 1978/1979 Season My Ryhope CA Career 1963/79 The Management Personal Highlights Bits and Bobs

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Ryhope CA (now Sunderland RCA) - The Beginning and Brief History - 1963/1979

In 1960 the Ryhope Youth Club (not the football team) was formed and its base was the Welfare Hall. It was run by a lovely gentleman called Bill Bond. As Youth Club leader, Bill was instrumental in the development of all the clubs activities and without his enthusiasm, guidance and help none of the football teams would have been formed.

For a lot of us youngsters a popular activity was the football. Five-a-side games in the hall progressed to games on the 'store' field and then the odd friendly match with other youth clubs. These games were always very competitive and it was decided in the summer of 1962 that the club should apply for membership to the Hetton Junior league. This caused me a big problem. As I was a member of the youth clubs committee I had to explain that I had already committed myself to playing for Dawdon CW Juniors for the coming season. The application was accepted and the junior team was formed for the start of the 1962/63 season. This was the beginning of the 'YC Junior team and it is still going strong today.

The following season, 1963/1964, the Ryhope Youth Club senior football team was formed and we played in the Seaham & District league. Unlike today it was run independently from the junior side. This was the beginning of the Ryhope YC football team and is now known as Sunderland RCA.

It is hard to believe that in 2013 Sunderland RCA will be 50 years old. Although it must be remembered that the club ceased to exist for 3 seasons from 1975.

The Youth Clubs first ever game was against Seaham UDC at the Seaham CW ground, now home to Seaham Red Star, and it was 3-3 draw. I know I scored that day but I can't recall how many and whether or not I scored the clubs first ever goal. I'd like to think it was but I'm just not sure. All the games were played on opponents grounds that season.

The 'YC's first success may have come prior to the 1968/1969 season. I have a couple of old trophies which weren't engraved and may have related to these early seasons.

I do know that 1968/1969 was a successful season as we won the Seaham and District League title, League Cup and the Leukemia Charity Cup. Several players were selected to represent the League side.

1969/1970 was another successful season, when it won the Seaham and District League title, Seaham Aged Miners Cup and Bennison(Houghton Blind) Cup, and again the 'YC had several representitaves in the League side.

To progress it was decided to apply for membership to the Houghton & District League. The application was accepted. However before the season, 1970/1971, started there were problems in that our Manager, Jimmy Clark and Norman Taylor had too many work committments to be involved too much with the club that season. Team building and pre season preparation suffered hence a poor season.

The club changed its name to Ryhope CA at the start of its second season, 1971/1972, in the Houghton & District League. Things were back to normal, Jimmy was back, and this was a good season. We came second in the league and won both the Seaham Aged Miners and Houghton Blind Cups.

The 1972/1973 season was probably my best season with the club scoring 85 goals (some say it was 89). We won the League and Durham Hospitals Cup as well as runners up in the League Cup and Easington Aged Miners Cup. In the process we won 19 consecutive league games. All this coincided with the magic of Sunderland AFC's FA cup success. What a season.

After the 1974/1975 season ended, and we were League Champions again, the 'CA resigned from the Houghton and District league, as was the rule, in order to apply for membership to the Wearside league. Unfortunately the application was turned down and then the Houghton league refused to readmit the club. Three seasons passed before the club reformed in the 1978/1979 season and played in the Northern Alliance league.