Goole Vikings
Club information | |
---|---|
Full name | Goole Vikings Rugby League Football Club |
Nickname(s) | The Seaporters |
Founded | 2018 |
Website | goolevikings.co.uk |
Current details | |
Ground(s) |
|
CEO | James Clark |
Chairman | Anthony Whiteley |
Coach | Scott Taylor |
Captain | Brett Ferres |
Competition | League 1 |
Goole Vikings are a semi-professional rugby league club from Goole, East Riding of Yorkshire, England who compete in the Yorkshire Men's League in the fifth tier of the British rugby league system. From 2025, following a successful application, the club will compete in the RFL League 1.
History
[edit]Formation
[edit]Goole Vikings was founded in 2018 as an amateur club in the Yorkshire Men's League, part of the fifth tier of the British rugby league system.[1] The club is considered the successor club to Goole RLFC which disbanded in 1902.[citation needed]
The club's first ever professional game was a pre-season friendly on Tuesday, 14 January 2025 in a 46-6 defeat to Featherstone Rovers at the Millennium Stadium, with substitute winger Callum Shaw scoring Goole's only try.[2] One week later, in the club's first ever competitive professional match they had a stunning 10-17 victory knocking out a depleted London Broncos side from the Challenge Cup 3rd round, played at the home of Rosslyn Park F.C. in Roehampton, with tries from Tom Halliday, Thomas Minns and Mackenzie Harman.[3]
League 1
[edit]Following the withdrawal of London Skolars from League 1 at the end of the 2023 season, the Rugby Football League (RFL) asked for applications for a replacement club for the 2025 season. Goole Vikings stated their intent to apply on 27 May 2024,[4] and were placed on a three team shortlist along with Anglian Vipers (East Rugby League; Division 5) and Bedford Tigers (Southern Conference League; Division 4) on 3 July.[5][6]
On 18 September 2024, the RFL announced Goole's application had been successful and the club would join League 1 in 2025.[1]
On 1 October 2024, the club announced they had signed Scott Taylor as head coach, and Tom Halliday as their first professional player signing.[7] In January 2025, Goole pulled off a huge upset in the second round of the 2025 Challenge Cup defeating London 17-10.[8]
2025 squad
[edit]First team squad | Coaching staff | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Head coach Assistant coach
|
Head coaches
[edit]- Scott Taylor (2024–present)
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Goole Vikings to join Betfred League One in the 2025 season". rugby-league.com. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ Callum Walker (14 January 2025). "Featherstone Rovers inflict big defeat on Goole Vikings in their first-ever professional game". Total RL.
- ^ "Goole Vikings make history with London Broncos win". BBC Sport. 25 January 2025.
- ^ "Yorkshire-based amateur club announce plans to join League 1 in 2025". Love Rugby League. 27 May 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "Anglian Vipers, Bedford Tigers & Goole Vikings aim to join League 1". BBC Sport. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "Three-team shortlist for new League 1 club revealed, timeline explained". Love Rugby League. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 18 September 2024.
- ^ "Goole Vikings announce head coach and first player as club officially launches".
- ^ "Goole Vikings looking to strengthen after Challenge Cup triumph". www.totalrl.com.
External links
[edit]- Club Profile www.rugby-league.com