Local legend tells of a Berry Hill side as far back as 1889 from the village of that name. However, official recognition came in 1892, so it was not until the 1992/93 season that Berry Hill R.F.C celebrated their centenary.
There are instances shown in both records and local folklore of teams from Berry Hill and the surrounding areas playing as early as 1883, when in the spring of that year Berry Hill ‘boys’ played Mile End ‘boys’. A team played at Wynols Hill until 1898, then in1899/1900 the club moved to the new headquarters at The Globe Inn, Berry Hill under the presidency of the Landlord Mr J.S.Gwilliam and the Captaincy of Mr E.Dohwr.
Berry Hill RFC 1900 - 01
The ground at this time was located in an area in the village known as ‘Crow Ash’, where the team played as the Crescents. In 1905 this club moved to its present ground at Lakers Road with the opening game against local rivals Drybrook. In 1910 the club officially became Berry Hill R.F.C. and is the only village club in England to have played in the National Leagues.
As with many other sports there was no rugby played throughout the First World War. In 1918 the club started playing again and were soon bringing success to the village by winning the Forest of Dean Combination Cup during 1921 and 1923. These successful years between the wars continued for Berry Hill R.F.C winning the Forest of Dean Cup four years in succession between 1932 and 1935. Unfortunately war once again brought rugby playing to a standstill until October 1945.
Berry Hill RFC 1920 -23
After the war success did not come so easily echoing the upheavals of post war Britain. The Forest of Dean Cup was only seen once in 1948, with the next 10 years seeing a steep decline in the clubs fortunes. Luckily in 1958 the club was saved by a very strong junior section, this prevented the club disappearing altogether. A gradual build upon the junior success in the 1960’s saw the club once more moving towards success. This flourishing of the club saw an enormous influx of players and in the early 1970’s the club was able to field 5 or 6 senior teams every week.
Success returned yet again in 1973 the Forest of Dean Combination Cup made it to the Trophy cabinet where it also returned in 1975. The First XV finished as runners up in the 1976 Gloucestershire County Cup. This influx of players and honours increased the financial stability of the club, always a struggle in an amateur sport made even more difficult in a village with a population of 2000. This financial stability allowed the club to build a new clubhouse and install floodlights (something Twickenham only did in 1995).
Berry Hill RFC 1983 - 84
Trophies appeared with great regularity during the early 1980’s with Berry Hill winning the Forest of Dean Cup during the 1983/84/85 and 1986 seasons. The club also won the Gloucestershire County Cup four times from 1983 to 1988. A great highlight was the successful run in the John Player Cup (now the Tetley Bitter Cup) in 1988, when Berry Hill having reached the last 16 clubs, bowed out to a narrow defeat by The Harlequins.
Berry Hill RFC 1984 - 85
The advent of league rugby in 1987 in England saw Berry Hill R.F.C start in South West Division 2, in 1988 promotion was gained to South West Division 1 without losing a game. In 1992 the achievements of the club gained in the 1980’s and early 1990’s was finally rewarded with promotion to National Division 4. Berry Hill finished the 1995/96 season in fifth position, their highest yet, in spite of several talented players leaving the club to join First and Second Division Clubs. In the Season 1996/97 Berry Hill were unlucky to find themselves fourth from bottom of the table, and so were relegated into South-West division One due to the restructuring of the leagues.
The success of the First XV has always been supported by the success of the teams further down the club. The United XV winning the Forest of Dean Combination Cup in 1992 (the 1st XV no longer are eligible), they also swept the board in the 1992/3 season by winning the South West Merit Table for the first time.
The last few years have seen an enormous change in Rugby Football, Internationally, and Nationally and locally with even greater change to follow. The pressure at the top of our sport migrates down. Over recent years the club has lost players to National Division 1 and 2 clubs but are still able to maintain three senior sides, colts and a junior section. Our success will be built on a solid foundation as we look forward to the future of Rugby Football at Berry Hill R.F.C and will continue to ensure to its greatest ability to attain the highest level of rugby, and maybe achieve national recognition once again.
South Africa August 2003 Tour Party