1. History

A Brief History...

In compiling this draft copy of a brief history of the Combination, it has been necessary to spend quite a number of hours pouring over old minute books, not a second of that time would I regard as wasted.

Old minute books are always a fascinating glimpse into history. Legendary figures from the sporting past of Gloucester and its surrounds leap into view. Sometimes we have a faded photograph to put a name to often seen in reports, but never brought to life. We hope to publish some of these photos in the near future.

As I began by saying, this will initially be a brief history, however it is my intention to flesh out the story as time goes by.

We have to rely on "The Citizen" to tell us that the first Combination meeting took place in 1912. It is a matter of record that there were six clubs at the inaugural meeting, but we can only be sure of the names of three of them, Painswick, Tredworth and Gordon League. What if doesn't tell us is how many clubs were in the Combination at that time.

By the time of the Jubilee in 1962, the total was twenty one clubs, and records show a maximum of twenty six at its peak. Presently we have sixteen members, a fairly healthy state of affairs when we consider how many have been lost to the game in recent years.

Particularly fascinating is the sheer number of clubs that have existed in the Combination's past. Consider some of these names All Blues, Fielding's, Gordon League, Tredworth, Gas Co. Listers, Spartans, Gloucester Civil Service, Widden Old Boys, Great Western Railways, Naunton Park Old Boys, Students Union, R.N.O.C.A, Coney Hill, Old Centralians, West End, St Gregorys, Wagon Works, Gloucester Old Boys, Atlas Works, Brockworth Aero, Stroud, Painswick, Ex Scholars, Barnwood, Gloucester Post Office, Shire Hall, Gloucestershire Regiment, Gloucester Aircraft Company, B.N.S. Old Cryptians, Old Richians, Cheltenham North, Armstrong Siddeley, Longlevens, Matson, Dowtys, Hucclecote, Chosen Hill, Cheltenham Civil Service, Churchdown, Brockworth, Longlevens Old Boys, Permali, T Wall, Aircomponents, Gloucester, Newent, RAF Innsworth, Cainscross and Westbury. I make no claims that this list is any way exhaustive or complete, as I am sure that more names will come to light. Where a club has changed its name but remained essentially the same club, I have not included it twice.

The next logical step would be to make a similar list of outstanding names of former players.......that one you will have to wait for.

But why a Combination at all? What was its purpose and what were its aims?

It seems apparent that the six clubs responsible for the first meeting had some clear goals in sight. There was a clear need for some liaison organisation to act between local clubs and the county RFU. There was also a need arising for a body that could arbitrate between clubs in the event of dispute. But probably the principal reason for the birth of the Combination was that our local players were becoming more competitive and had a desire to improve their game. They wanted competition, so the NGC Cup competition was born !!!!

Previous Cup Winners...