Sale FC

Jun 1, 2016

Sale FC is a semi-professional rugby union club based at Heywood Road in Sale, Greater Manchester, England, which plays in National League 1 following promotion from National League 2 North at the end of the 2017–18 season. Premiership club Sale Sharks is a professional offshoot of Sale FC.

History

Formed by a team of sportsmen drawn mainly from Sale Cricket Club, Sale Football Club was founded in 1861 and is the fifth oldest surviving rugby club. In the early days of the club, rules were usually deemed unnecessary and those that were enforced were often made up on the spot. As the game began to evolve, however, the need for specified regulations became apparent and in 1865 the Minute Book was created stipulating the ten rules to be followed by all players. This is reputedly world’s oldest existing rugby rule book[citation needed] and a much treasured possession. Games were originally played on either a rented portion of Sale Cricket Club or on fields owned by local farmers. In 1905, the club bought a field at the end of Heywood Road.

Sale FC have featured many prominent international and county players. Pat Davies became their first England international in 1927 and the 1930s saw an international backline of Hal Sever (England wing), Claude Davey and Wilf Wooller (Wales centres) and Ken Fyfe (Scotland wing). Fran Cotton, Steve Smith, Dewi Morris, Richard Trickey and Jason Robinson also played at Sale.

In 1936, Sale were invited to take part in the Middlesex Sevens Cup and went on to win the competition.

Before World War II, an increase in membership meant that the club had almost outgrown facilities at Heywood Road and an additional site on Woodbourne Road was purchased. Initially this was meant to be a training ground for the junior team, but there were talks to eventually relocate the rest of the club there too, but when war was over it was instead decided to focus efforts on the redevelopment of Heywood Road. Land was sold to fund the project and the ground gradually began to evolve. A new clubhouse was built, the old bath house replaced by squash courts, changing facilities improved, floodlights installed and the commemorative Jim Birtles Stand erected.

Leagues
Cheshire Cup, National 2 North, National One, NCA Cup, Pre-Season
Seasons
2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2021, 2021-2022, 2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025
Home

Fixtures

Summary

14 - 7
National One
Bishop's Stortford

Bishop’s Stortford vs Sale FC

12 - 15
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Leicester Lions

31 - 15
National One
Dings Crusaders

Dings Crusaders vs Sale FC

31 - 27
National One
Blackheath

Blackheath vs Sale FC

33 - 22
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Esher

34 - 38
National One
Darlington Mowden Park

Darlington Mowden Park vs Sale FC

15 - 34
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Rosslyn Park

31 - 27
National One
Richmond

Richmond vs Sale FC

21 - 17
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Rotherham Titans

33 - 0
National One
Rams

Rams vs Sale FC

24 - 18
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Sedgley Park

24 - 28
National One
Plymouth Albion

Plymouth Albion vs Sale FC

14 - 23
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Leicester Lions

22 - 19
National One
Bishop's Stortford

Bishop’s Stortford vs Sale FC

27 - 40
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Taunton Titans

41 - 19
National One
Rosslyn Park

Rosslyn Park vs Sale FC

35 - 24
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Sedgley Park

19 - 36
National One
Rams

Rams vs Sale FC

37 - 31
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Birmingham Moseley

31 - 19
National One
Richmond

Richmond vs Sale FC

31 - 3
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Plymouth Albion

21 - 15
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Cinderford

10 - 21
National One
Blackheath

Blackheath vs Sale FC

10 - 47
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Chinnor

29 - 19
National One
Darlington Mowden Park

Darlington Mowden Park vs Sale FC

8 - 7
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Bishop's Stortford

32 - 56
National One
Taunton Titans

Taunton Titans vs Sale FC

45 - 12
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Rosslyn Park

26 - 11
National One
Sedgley Park

Sedgley Park vs Sale FC

29 - 17
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Rams

22 - 14
National One
Birmingham Moseley

Birmingham Moseley vs Sale FC

15 - 24
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Richmond

36 - 10
National One
Plymouth Albion

Plymouth Albion vs Sale FC

19 - 12
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Blackheath

15 - 12
National One
Cinderford

Cinderford vs Sale FC

36 - 0
National One
Chinnor

Chinnor vs Sale FC

21 - 28
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Darlington Mowden Park

23 - 19
National One
Leicester Lions

Leicester Lions vs Sale FC

15:00
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Birmingham Moseley

19 - 33
National One
Rosslyn Park

Rosslyn Park vs Sale FC

35 - 12
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Rams

10 - 35
National One
Darlington Mowden Park

Darlington Mowden Park vs Sale FC

31 - 7
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Bishop's Stortford

12 - 19
National One
Hull

Hull RUFC vs Sale FC

27 - 17
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Chinnor

27 - 54
National One
Esher

Esher vs Sale FC

24 - 17
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Cinderford

19 - 35
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Cambridge

14 - 19
National One
Taunton Titans

Taunton Titans vs Sale FC

45 - 35
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Plymouth Albion

15 - 20
National One
Headingley

Leeds Tykes vs Sale FC

24 - 15
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Rosslyn Park

24 - 27
National One
Rams

Rams vs Sale FC

34 - 31
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Darlington Mowden Park

22 - 29
National One
Bishop's Stortford

Bishop's Stortford vs Sale FC

34 - 7
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Hull RUFC

18 - 37
National One
Chinnor

Chinnor vs Sale FC

35 - 21
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Esher

27 - 26
National One
Cinderford

Cinderford vs Sale FC

32 - 19
National One
Cambridge

Cambridge vs Sale FC

31 - 24
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Taunton Titans

24 - 27
National One
Plymouth Albion

Plymouth Albion vs Sale FC

56 - 8
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Leeds Tykes

13 - 32
National One
Birmingham Moseley

Birmingham Moseley vs Sale FC

50 - 17
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Chinnor

13 - 9
National One
Caldy

Caldy vs Sale FC

29 - 23
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Blackheath

24 - 43
National One
Birmingham Moseley

Birmingham Moseley vs Sale FC

32 - 17
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Cinderford

Cancelled
National One
Old Elthamians

Old Elthamians vs Sale FC

36 - 14
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Darlington Mowden Park

22 - 21
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Rams

33 - 35
National One
Bishop's Stortford

Bishop’s Stortford vs Sale FC

21 - 17
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Rosslyn Park

40 - 50
National One
Taunton Titans

Taunton Titans vs Sale FC

13 - 17
National One
Leeds Tykes

Leeds Tykes vs Sale FC

7 - 10
National One
Plymouth Albion

Plymouth Albion vs Sale FC

66 - 10
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Tonbridge Juddians

17 - 14
National One
Cambridge

Cambridge vs Sale FC

21 - 26
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Caldy

28 - 34
National One
Blackheath

Blackheath vs Sale FC

24 - 0
National One
Heywood Rd

Sale FC vs Birmingham Moseley

15 - 19
National One
Cinderford

Cinderford vs Sale FC

Cancelled
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Old Elthamians

15 - 32
National One
Darlington Mowden Park

Darlington Mowden Park vs Sale FC

21 - 32
National One
Rams

Rams vs Sale FC

32 - 24
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Bishop's Stortford

20 - 15
National One
Rosslyn Park

Rosslyn Park vs Sale FC

53 - 28
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Taunton Titans

21 - 17
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Leeds Tykes

38 - 27
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Plymouth Albion

30 - 21
National One
Tonbridge Juddians

Tonbridge Juddians vs Sale FC

15 - 7
National One
Sale FC

Sale FC vs Cambridge

34 - 21
National One
Chinnor

Chinnor vs Sale FC

14:30
Pre-Season

Fylde vs Sale FC

14:30
Pre-Season
Sedgley Park

Sedgley Tigers vs Sale FC

14:30
Pre-Season
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Sedgley Park

61 - 12
Pre-Season
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Rotherham Titans

Cancelled
National One
Cinderford

Cinderford vs Sale FC

Cancelled
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Bishop's Stortford

Cancelled
Cheshire Cup
Macclesfield

Sale FC vs Chester

Cancelled
National One
Rams

Rams vs Sale FC

Cancelled
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Hull Ionians

Cancelled
National One
Richmond

Richmond vs Sale FC

26 - 10
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Birmingham Moseley

22 - 19
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Chinnor

34 - 15
National One
Darlington Mowden Park

Darlington Mowden Park vs Sale FC

37 - 31
National One
Cambridge

Cambridge vs Sale FC

26 - 25
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Plymouth Albion

48 - 29
National One
Blackheath

Blackheath vs Sale FC

40 - 21
National One
Rosslyn Park

Rosslyn Park vs Sale FC

33 - 14
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Canterbury

28 - 21
National One
Old Elthamians

Old Elthamians vs Sale FC

47 - 07
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Rotherham

26 - 19
National One
Bishop's Stortford

Bishop’s Stortford vs Sale FC

19 - 26
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Rams

07 - 36
National One
Hull Ionians

Hull Ionians vs Sale FC

8 - 7
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Richmond

38 - 31
National One
Chinnor

Chinnor vs Sale FC

18 - 8
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Darlington Mowden Park

29 - 24
National One
Birmingham

Birmingham Moseley vs Sale FC

20 - 3
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Cambridge

33 - 22
National One
Plymouth

Plymouth Albion vs Sale FC

43 - 18
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Blackheath

13 - 46
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Rosslyn Park

7 - 27
National One
Canterbury

Canterbury vs Sale FC

26 - 15
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Old Elthamians

31 - 20
National One
Rotherham

Rotherham vs Sale FC

22 - 46
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Cinderford

0 - 61
Cheshire Cup
Wirral

Wirral RUFC vs Sale FC Rugby

5 - 24
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC v Cambridge

34 - 24
Winnington Park

Sale FC v Chester RUFC

57 - 12
National One
Ampthill

Ampthill v Sale FC

31 - 22
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC v Plymouth Albion

31 - 29
National One
Esher

Esher v Sale FC

31 - 22
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC v Chinnor

33 - 17
National One
Loughborourgh

Loughborough Students v Sale FC

18 - 32
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC v Blackheath

32 - 27
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC v Darlington Mowden Park

37 - 30
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC v Birmingham Moseley

31 - 26
National One
Rosslyn Park

Rosslyn Park v Sale FC

32 - 14
National One
Old Elthamians

Old Elthamians v Sale FC

13 - 12
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC v Rotherham

29 - 15
National One
Bishop's Stortford

Bishop’s Stortford v Sale FC

31 - 17
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC v Cinderford

20 - 23
National One
Caldy

Caldy v Sale FC

10 - 27
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC v Ampthill

14 - 7
National One
Plymouth Albion

Plymouth Albion v Sale FC

38 - 44
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC v Esher

28 - 21
National One
Chinnor

Chinnor v Sale FC

38 - 31
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC v Loughborough Students

41 - 24
National One
Blackheath

Blackheath v Sale FC

31 - 22
National One
Birmingham Moseley

Birmingham Moseley v Sale FC

23 - 31
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC v Rosslyn Park

29 - 31
National One
Darlington Mowden Park

Darlington Mowden Park v Sale FC

42 - 38
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC v Old Elthamians

32 - 27
National One
Rotherham

Rotherham v Sale FC

22 - 8
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC v Bishop's Stortford

41 - 30
National One
Cinderford

Cinderford v Sale FC

26 - 24
National One
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC v Caldy

36 - 36
National One
Cambridge

Cambridge v Sale FC

15:00
Doncaster Knights

Doncaster Knights v Sale FC Rugby

22 - 17
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Sale Jets

21 - 22
National 2 North
Luctonians

Luctonians vs Sale FC

5 - 37
National 2 North
Leicester Lions

Leicester Lions vs Sale FC

45 - 10
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Huddersfield

24 - 36
National 2 North
Blaydon

Blaydon vs Sale FC

30 - 28
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Chester

0 - 37
National 2 North
Macclesfield

Macclesfield vs Sale FC

6 - 20
National 2 North
Wharfedale

Wharfedale vs Sale FC

29 - 0
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Stourbridge

7 - 28
National 2 North
Huddersfield

Huddersfield vs Sale FC

59 - 5
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Otley

Postponed
National 2 North
Macclesfield

Macclesfield vs Sale FC

34 - 10
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Tynedale

18 - 26
National 2 North
Hinckley

Hinckley vs Sale FC

37 - 9
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs South Leicester

10 - 47
National 2 North
Sheffield

Sheffield vs Sale FC

16 - 27
National 2 North
Sheffield Tigers

Sheffield Tigers vs Sale FC

20 - 13
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Sedgley Park

54 - 12
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Blaydon

10 - 40
National 2 North
Chester

Chester vs Sale FC

48 - 16
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Wharfedale

16 - 39
National 2 North
Stourbridge

Stourbridge vs Sale FC

48 - 5
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Luctonians

13 - 31
National 2 North
Otley

Otley vs Sale FC

19 - 3
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Macclesfield

7 - 5
National 2 North
Tynedale

Tynedale vs Sale FC

21 - 6
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Hinckley

22 - 22
National 2 North
South Leicester

South Leicester vs Sale FC

31 - 17
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Sheffield

52 - 15
National 2 North
Heywood Rd

Sale FC vs Sheffield Tigers

24 - 16
National 2 North
Sedgley Park

Sedgley Park vs Sale FC

48 - 10
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Leicester Lions

21 - 7
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Chester

14 - 19
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC vs Old Elthamians

59 - 14
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale 1st XV v Preston Grasshoppers

28 - 26
National 2 North
Caldy

Caldy v Sale 1st XV

28 - 19
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC 1st XV v Chester

10 - 42
National 2 North
Sedgley Park

Sedgley Park v Sale 1st XV

63 - 27
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC 1st XV v Wharfedale

10 - 21
National 2 North
Harrogate

Harrogate v Sale FC 1st XV

19 - 40
National 2 North
Stourbridge

Stourbridge v Sale FC 1st XV

35 - 15
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC 1st XV v Sheffield Tigers

18 - 25
National 2 North
Luctonians

Luctonians v Sale FC 1st XV

20 - 14
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC 1st XV v South Leicester

28 - 37
National 2 North
Tynedale

Tynedale v Sale FC 1st XV

25 - 14
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC 1st XV v Hinckley

11 - 28
National 2 North

Preston Grasshopers v Sale FC 1st XV

26 - 38
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC 1st XV v Caldy

5 - 17
National 2 North
Chester

Chester v Sale FC 1st XV

25 - 24
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC 1st XV v Sedgley Park

13 - 18
National 2 North
Wharfedale

Wharfedale v Sale FC 1st XV

37 - 13
National 2 North
Sale FC Rugby

Sale FC 1st XV v Harrogate

23 - 5
National 2 North
Leicester Lions

Leicester Lions v Sale FC 1st XV

27 - 47
National 2 North
Sheffield Tigers

Sheffield Tigers v Sale FC 1st XV

42 - 39
National 2 North
South Leicester

South Leicester v Sale FC

6 - 40
National 2 North
Hinckley

Hinckley v Sale FC 1stXV

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