Everyone knows this club dates back to 1861…..but do you know the story of the 1936 team?

Wilf Wooller, Claude Davey, Ken Fyffe, Joe Mycock….not exactly household names, but back then they were some of the game’s biggest international stars. Wooller and Sale captain Davey formed Wales’ centre partnership when they beat the All Blacks for the first time in 1935, Fyffe played for Scotland and Mycock captained England.

On Saturday 25^th April, 1936, Sale were the only northern team to take the field at Twickenham in the prestigious Middlesex Sevens competition. It was a tall order but, ever the underdog, the men in blue opened with a big win – 13-0 against St Barts Hospital.

Next up for Davey’s men were Londoners Rosslyn Park, who were dispatched 13-5. London Scottish were up next in the semi-final but they fell the same way – 10-0 with Fyffe and Wooller on the scoresheet.  

Ahead of the final, a full house at rugby union’s historic HQ was treated to a performance from Mr Debroy Somers, who played his eclectic mix of sea songs, hunting medleys traditional English songs and dances.  

And then it was down to business and one last test. Blackheath.  

At 6pm that evening, Sale took to the hallowed Twickenham turf with northern pride on the line. Fyffe scored first, then Wooller and a 18-6 win was wrapped up with a try from skipper Davey to see Sale lift the Kinross Arber Cup.  

Our southern friends, stunned that a northern team played the 15-player code, dubbed our lads ‘the Northern Force’.   

 

Inspired by the story of The Northern Force. We are, one club, united. Setting the standard on and off the field. 

Be part of our new chapter. Join The Northern Force.