North Derbyshire Chargers - Restart in Eckington

Restart in Eckington

Also in 2007 interest was reignited at Eckington school, where the original Eckington Eagles had briefly been based. The school, branded as the Eckington Chargers, entered teams into Champion Schools at years 9 and 11 and into Champion Colleges, with the year 9 team winning the Derbyshire Championship.

Enough interest was seen for there to be discussions about starting a club to develop the juniors as rugby league players. With volunteers and some sponsorship on board, the club was launched in January 2008 with proposed teams at under-14, under-16, open age (based on 6th form players) and a women's section.

Before the 2008 season actually started, it was decided that the club should merge with the Chesterfield Spires to make a stronger, regional club. A link was made with the Sheffield Eagles, now firmly back in the business of schools development, and the club began playing matches in March 2008.

The club ran teams at Open Age in the RL Merit League and at under-16 and under-14 in the Midlands Junior League. The under 16 team also played friendlies against teams from Yorkshire, including a curtain raiser against Hillsborough Hawks at the Don Valley Stadium. The under-14 team played a curtain raiser at Belle Vue before the Super League game between Wakefield Trinity Wildcats and Catalans Dragons

The club moved from Chesterfield RUFC to Mount St Mary's College in Spinkhill and joined the newly formed Midlands Rugby League with teams at Open Age, under-16, under-14 and under-12. The club also started working with Frederick Gent School in South Normanton. The Open Age team reached the Grand Final of the Midlands Rugby League, losing 16-26 to the Birmingham Bulldogs.

In 2010, North Derbyshire linked up with Super League side Wakefield Trinity Wildcats. On April 18, 2010 the club won its first silverware when it took the Midlands 9s title, but fell again at the last hurdle when losing 22-24 to Leicester Storm in the Midlands League Grand Final.

In 2012 the Open Age side once again made the Midlands Division 2 (entry league) final, but again failed to take the trophy, losing 10-46 to Hope Valley Hawks. The under 15s squad took the decision to enter the Yorkshire Junior Rugby League and won division 4 at the first attempt. In this season, Lee Sanders became the first player developed by the club to make his professional debut when he appeared for Sheffield Eagles against Carcassone RL. This season also saw a full time move to Barlborough Country Park.

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