Founded in 2000 as the Killingworth Rockets ARLFC by Steve Beaty Snr, his vision was to create a Rugby League team that offered a safe friendly and enjoyable environment to the Killingworth children and his two sons, Steven and Matthew, and help keep them off the streets. Little did he know that the Rockets were going to be an instant success.

Within its first year the club won the Calcutta Cup, a knock out competition between the best teams from Scotland and North East England, which resulted in an appearance for the Rockets on Sky Sports 1 Weekly Rugby League show. Over the following years the club went on to win three other cup competitions and saw 9 players compete at representative county level. In 2003, with the original U14 team reaching adulthood, endeavours to establish the new U12’s and U11’s teams failed, and the club battled for existence.

In 2006 a new dawn emerged. The club was revitalised by original U14 Rockets Steven Beaty, fresh from playing semi-professional in National League 3 for Gateshead Storm, and Matthew Beaty joining Steve in the running of the team. With a modern and professional approach, Steven took over the existing U11’s.

In his first year Steven guided them to 2nd place in the North East League and Cup runners up, his success leading to an approach from the sports governing body, the Rugby Football League (RFL), to become the youngest ever Team Manager at county level for the North East.

In 2006 a 10 year plan for sustainability was developed to ensure the Rockets never saw the failings of 2003 again. The blue print for success reaped rewards instantly, leading to never seen before back to back North East League Championships.

The club permanently relocated and re-launched as the Cramlington Rockets in March 2009 to keep developing and ensure a firm footing for the clubs future.

With the U11’s now at U15 level, the Rockets have expanded to include a new U9, U11, U12Girls, U13, U14, U14Girls, U15 and U16Girls team in the Junior section and one Open-age team with a potential of a second team in 2013.

Cramlington Rockets RLFC

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