The first rugby club in Tyldesley was formed in 1881 when, after a meeting of local businessmen and rugby players from other clubs, they decided to move from Garrett Hall to Tyldesley and become Tyldesley Football Club. In 1891, Tyldesley signed future England International Half-back John "Buff" Berry from Kendal Hornets. He went on to win caps for England while at Tyldesley in 1891 against Wales, Ireland, and Scotland. He continued playing for Tyldesley under the Northern Union rules as a stand-off half. Tyldesley beat Widnes to win the 1895 Lancashire Cup at Wilderspool Stadium, Warrington, in front of around 15,000 spectators.
Northern Union
Prior to the Schism, Tyldesley, like many other clubs from Lancashire, had suffered punishment by the RFU for "broken time" payments. And so Tyldesley, represented by a Mr. G Taylor, attended a meeting at The George Hotel, Huddersfield, together with representatives of 21 other clubs, and agreed to form the Northern Rugby Football Union. After the Great Schism in 1895, Tyldesley were one of the founder members of the new league. In the first season 1895-96the league consisted of 22 clubs and Tyldesley finished in a very creditable 6th position. In season1896-97 the league was divided into Yorkshire and Lancashire, Tyldesley playing in the latter section, where they would stay for the remainder of their professional existence. They again had a quite successful season finishing in 3rd position out of 14 teams In the two following seasons, still in the Lancashire section, season 1897-98 & 1898-99 they could only manage a lowly 12th position. In the final season, 1899-00 they won the wooden spoon, finishing 14th out of 14 teams, with only five pointsthanks to two wins and one draw.
For the 1901–02 season there is no mention of the club, and so it must be assumed that they dropped down to the lower divisions. They do turn up again in 1911 when they become the first club to successfully return to the Rugby Union code after playing Northern Union. They cite as the reason that the "cost prove too much of a burden in the "Professional" game". In 1926, landowning Club President gave the Well Street ground in trust to the Club.
Club League Record
The League positions for Tyldesley for the 5 years in which they played professional Rugby League are given in the following table :- Heading Abbreviations
RL = Single Division; Pl = Games Played: W = Win; D = Draw; L = Lose; PF = Points For; PA = Points Against; Diff = Points Difference ; Pts = League Points
% Pts = A percentage system was used to determine league positions due to clubs playing varying number of fixtures and against different opponents
League points: for win = 2; for draw = 1; for loss = 0.
Several fixtures & results
The following are just a few of Tyldesley's fixtures during the five seasons in which they played professional Rugby League :-
