Middlesbrough Rugby Union Football Club has celebrated its 150th anniversary with a film of its history.

In November 2022, the club marked the occasion with a review of the club’s achievements and the raising of an anniversary flag at the Acklam Park ground in Green Lane.

And last Friday a specially made film was shown at an event in the clubhouse.

The filmmaker was videographer, Richard Johnston, of Guisborough, who carried out interviews and showed memories of the premier members of the club, present and past.

One of the organisers was Andy Murray, who secured a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the finance for the film. He said: “Richard is a genius.”

Club member Paul Manders worked with Mr Murray and starred in the film, as well as Alan Old, also an England, Yorkshire and Middlesbrough fly-half.

Present was Rory Underwood, MBE DL, who became an England international having joined Middlesbrough in 1980 before moving onto Leicester Tigers in 1983.

He said: “Middlesbrough Rugby Club is a massive part of my development as a player and a person. When I came here in my schooldays it was very formative years for me.

“I was just about to go and join the Air Force and they welcome you with open arms as a family, took me from a boy to man, sent me off to the Air Force on my way to being a rugby player.

“I’ve got very, very, fond affection for the club and the people here and it’s fantastic to be here to celebrate the 150th anniversary.”

President of the club, Bernie Coyne said: “To celebrate 150 years of Middlesbrough Rugby Club, we decided we needed not only to celebrate and enjoy the memories of the past but also promote the future. Tonight is just another of the 150 years celebrations, where we can celebrate the things that we do and have done. And also make sure we have a good evening.”

The club was supported on the evening by the Mayor of Middlesbrough, Andy Preston, who said: “Middlesbrough Rugby Club has been around forever. It’s an absolute leading light for sport inclusion, healthy living, and positive attitude. And I’m fully behind it, everything it’s trying to achieve on and off the field and I know it can be a focal point for such great stuff in Middlesbrough so it’s great to be here a great history but a great future too.”

The club was founded in 1872, when a match was played between a side from Middlesbrough and a team from Northumberland Rugby Football Club.