The
person credited with being the originator of the Newlyn club was the Rev. Fred
Peel Yates in about 1894. Its players were mostly workers from the fishing and
quarrying industries, an enthusiastic band who used a chalked ball on moonlit
nights to practice. An early player of note was
Tom Hicks, Frank Osborne was the first Secretary, and in 1898-99 they won the
Junior Cup. In 1901 O. Gilbert became the first Newlyn player to play for Cornwall. Relations
between Newlyn and Penzance were often strained and an example of this is quoted
from a 1906 minute stating ‘that we accept no player or committeeman from
Penzance.’ In 1911-12 Newlyn were Cornish Junior
Champions, with it being at about this time that the building of the Ship Institute,
more popularly known as ‘The Mission’, provided the club with amenities
that were previously lacking. Despite having only two players
left at home, Newlyn honoured one fixture against Porthcurno Exiles, following
the outbreak of war in 1914, by including eager volunteers from the Northants
and West Yorks Regiment in their side. Donning Newlyn jerseys for a match played
at a fortified Porthcurno, all were to sadly lose their lives after going across
to France shortly afterwards. Newlyn also lost a number of fine players during
the WW1. 
Newlyn
RFC 1920-21
Top Row L-R - Dicky Harvey, - A. Kelynack, J. Reynolds,
J. Jenkin, 'Lem' Nicholls, S. Willis
2nd row L-R - Tommy Oates, Joe Tonkin,
Jack Jacka, C. Barnes, S. Cocks, C. Gilbert
Front - Alfy Thomas, Tommy Rowe,
- Alfred Greene
During the early twenties four players soon
made their mark and played for Cornwall. They were Jack Matthews, Dick Curnow,
Edwal Rees (who played against the ‘All Blacks’ at Camborne in 1924)
and Nicky Peake, a tremendous virile forward, who played 22 times for the county.
Other stalwart players of the time included Jimmy
Jenkin, Alfred Kelynack and Cedric Barnes, all of whom had sons who later
played for the Pirates. Officials included Joe Carter and Alfred Beckerleg who
were both founders of rugby in Newlyn, and at the latter’s ‘Yarmouth
Stores’ one could see the telegram stuck in the window each Saturday evening
giving the result of Newlyn’s away match. Leading players
in the thirties included Garfield Kneebone, Dick Kitchen and Jack Stafford, whilst
ones who interestingly and deservedly went on to become Life Members of the Pirates
included Marty Williams, Ben Batten and
Banfield Hitchens. George Richards, one of the youngest survivors from the ‘Titanic’
disaster, also played for Newlyn at this time. The ground
was at St. Goulder, which had a pronounced slope of notoriety, and was truly rural.
Blackberries could be picked from its hedge in September, while abundant primroses
graced the hedgerows, and because cows often grazed there in the week it was not
unusual to have a preliminary examination of the pitch to remove as many cowpats
as possible. 
Newlyn
V Penzance at St Goulder Hill 1938
Newlyn has always
had a reputation for producing many fine singers, their players covering a range
from Methodist hymns to rugby songs, especially on away matches. The kick-off
was even delayed on one occasion at Falmouth when the Newlyn team lined up to
sing ‘The Fire Brigade’ before the pavilion. One
of the last games played by Newlyn at St. Ives in December, 1939, which Newlyn
won, included the Batten brothers Ben, Jack and Jim in the side. By
1944, despite time to reflect on matters of Newlyn-Penzance animosity, a strong
desire to amalgamate clearly existed in both camps. The full advantages of fusion
could be seen and much amicable and unofficial discussion took place. Newlyn convenors
included Tom Cotton, Joe Barron, Francis Cattran, Harry Matthews and Leonard North.
The outlined proposals for amalgamation were almost unanimously
received at a well attended public meeting held in St. Peter’s Schoolroom,
and Joe Barron wrote a friendly note immediately after the meeting on November
6th. telling Rex Carr of Penzance that the
Newlyn Committee was unanimously for it. If not yet married, at least the engagement
could be celebrated History of Penzance
Club | 
