In 1959, a group of former students from St. Joseph’s College, Blackpool, formed a rugby club known initially as the Old Josephians. Over time, the club evolved, first becoming the Josephians and later transforming into what is now known as Blackpool Rugby Club. The genesis of the club can be credited to Jack McCann, a distinguished member of the Manchester and District Society of Referees and an alumnus of St. Joseph’s College. Upon returning to the area in the late 1950s, McCann became an active member of the St. Joseph’s College Old Boys Association. He brought with him a fresh perspective and a wealth of enthusiasm, proposing the idea of forming an Old Boys Rugby Club.
Initially, the suggestion was met with scepticism. Practical challenges loomed large: How would they assemble a team? Could they secure enough fixtures? Who would be willing to play? Where would they play? Questions about jerseys, transport, referees, and refreshments compounded the doubts. However, McCann’s persistence paid off, and during his tenure as President of the Old Boys Association in 1959, the decision to establish the club was finally made. Thus, the St. Joseph’s College Old Boys RUFC came into existence. The club’s first home ground was the ‘bottom field’ at St. Joseph’s College, with the school generously offering its facilities for changing and refreshments, thanks to the support of the Headmaster at the time, Brother Carroll. Unfortunately, no minutes or records from those formative meetings and early seasons have survived, leaving much of their history undocumented.
In its infancy, the club struggled to field a full team, often relying on schoolboys and occasional ‘guest’ players to make up the numbers. Despite these challenges, they ambitiously faced formidable opponents. Fixtures were arranged by the Rugby Refereeing President, who believed the team should aim high from the outset. As a result, they played against some of the North West’s strongest rugby sides, including Oldham, Tyldesley, Southport, Davenport, Prestwich, De Havilland, and St. Edward’s Old Boys. The disparities between the teams were stark. While their opponents boasted tall, well-built players weighing between 13 and 16 stone, the fledgling St. Joseph’s Old Boys team comprised players of varying sizes, often weighing between 7 and 11 stone “wet through.” Despite being significantly outmatched, these early days laid the foundation for what would become a respected local rugby institution. Jack McCann’s vision and determination had sparked the creation of a club that would endure for decades.
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