Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks Article Index for
Sheffield
Shopping
Hillsborough
Website Links For
Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks
 

Information About

Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks




  Emblem Hawk
  Colours Black, yellow and red
  Founded 1989
  Sport Rugby League
  League National League Three
  Ground Hillsborough Arena
  Web wwwhillsboroughhawkscom


Hillsborough Hawks ARLFC is a Rugby League club based in Sheffield , England . The first team plays in National League 3 , with a second team in the Rugby League Conference and a further team playing winter rugby in the Pennine League.

The club has a strong junior setup, with teams at four different age groups, and a ladies' team.


HISTORY

The club was founded under the name 'Junior Eagles' in 1989 as a first attempt to develop rugby league below professional level after the formation of the Sheffield Eagles in 1984 . After three seasons without a base the club found a permanent home in the disused athletics stadium in Hillsborough Park. The Hillsborough Arena Sports Association was set up and began work on grant applications that was to reach fruition with a successful Sports Lottery grant in 1996 .

After beginning with only junior teams, an Open Age team was created that began life in the Pennine League in 1993 . After a difficult start the team got going and by 1998/9 they lost only one game in winning the League title under coaches and Eagles legends Mark Aston and Paul Broadbent. The club then entered the National Conference League (the most prestigious amateur competition in rugby league) but then in 2002 took the bold step of joining the newly created National League 3 , switching from winter to summer rugby in the process. The club has been a regular participant in the play-offs, but has not yet reached the Grand Final.

Another new development in 1994 saw the Sheffield’s Women’s RL team join the club, which by then had changed its name to Sheffield Hillsborough Eagles. In 1997 the Club changed its name to Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks to avoid confusion with the professional club in the media and with the public and in the following year its new facilities were opened at Hillsborough Sports Arena following a £750,000 Lottery grant and a total investment of a million pounds.


EXTERNAL LINKS