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These accounts of the clubs history were compiled by the late Jack Storey before his passing in 2018.

The club was formed in 1878 (three years before the formation of the W.R.U.) after the R.F.U. had produced a set of rules. Hacking and the forward pass had been banned and some semblance of back play had materialised, whilst 15va side was now the norm. Founder members included H.P. Senhouse, J.W. Dickson, J.M. Hayton, G. Gibson, M.J. Moordaff, J. Soulby, L. Williamson and four members from the Wyndham family.

Rugby football was heralded into Cockermouth on the 22nd November, 1879, when a match against Keswick club was played on the snow covered cricket field at Sandair (home of Cockermouth Cricket Club to this day). L. Williamson was captain of the Cockermouth side that won by a try (J. Nicholson) and a goal (C. Lister) to nil. Team, Full Back, J. Asbridge; Half backs, C. Wyndham, J. Drummond; Quarter Backs, C. Lister, J.C. Nicholson; Forwards, J. Young, W. McQuhae, J. Mumberson, J.M. Hayton, T. Jackson, W. Holmes, D. Rowe, J. Barwise, J. Smails and Harrison. During the 1879-80 season, nine matches were played, four being won, one drawn and four lost.

All early club records have been lost and this account of the club's early history was compiled from reports appearing in the West Cumberland Times. "It is obvious that the sides from this early period were bestowed with quick, agile backs and small but determined forwards".

The first Annual General Meeting took place in the Court House on the 24th January, 1880: 40 members attended and elected J. Nicholson as team captain, J. Moordaff as secretary and J. Smails as treasurer. During the season 1880-81, C.H. Lister and J.C. Nicholson played for the Cumberland side against Northumberland; both these players featured prominently at halfback during the early seasons in the club's history.

During the season 1881-82 the club colours of yellow jerseys was adopted and the clubs sides became known as the "Wasps".

The club supplied three county players, G. Gibson, W. Holmes and J. Harrison, in 1883 and a continuous list of county players have followed. By the time Cockermouth hosted Workington on March 8th, 1884, the team list has a more conventional list and the side of Back, C.H. Lister; Three Quarter Backs, Drummond, McQuhae, Moore and Hefford; Half Backs, Holmes and Miller; Forwards, Gibson, Nettleton, T. Todhunter, E. Todhunter, Mumberson, Dardy, Graves and W. Blacklock; won by three tries and a touchdown to none. The game was officiated by an impartial referee and two umpires. On March 22nd they went down to Whitehaven by two tries, two penalties and two dead balls to nil with J. Birkett replacing J. Blacklock who moved to Three Quarter to replace Drummond.

The number of fixtures continued to increase, much to the annoyance of the cricket club, until in 1885 a new ground had to be found. This was across the river from Sandair at Broomfield. Broomfield and the neighbouring Lowfield were used for the next 10 years and during this period results obtained by the 1st XV were extremely poor. In 1894 following a move to a new ground at Town Head the results obtained on the field of play improved with 11 of the 24 games played being won with 8 lost.

The Ship Inn was used as Headquarters in 1896 and facilities at Town Head consisted of a tent erected each Saturday for the convenience of players and spectators.

Season 1896-97 brought the first appearance in Cumberland Cup Final, a much weakened side being beaten 14-0 by Seaton.

The promise shown in 1897 was not continued and due to pressures caused by the Boar War the club ceased to function from 1899 - 1906. Revival came in 1905-06 under the captaincy of Col. J.E. Musgrave and the presidency of H.P. Senhouse. Lairthwaite became the new home ground and in 1907 a grandstand was built at a cost of £100, funds being raised as twenty five pound debentures. The stand was first used for the county game vs Cheshire when the cost of a seat was 3d., a full season ticket being available for half a crown.

Season 1908-09 saw an improvement in team spirit and performances and in 1909-10 the first trophy was won, the Cumberland Shield being brought to Cockermouth for the first time after beating Wigton 6-3, thanks to tries from M. Topp and C. McDowell.