Castleford RFC (1896)

Castleford RFC was a semi-professional rugby league club based in Castleford in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. They joined the Northern Union in 1896–97 for its second season and remained in the ranks of the (semi) professionals until the end of the 1905–06 season.

Not much is known about the original Castleford club, except that they have no connection whatsoever with the present Castleford Tigers RLFC.

The actual date of the founding of the club is uncertain. There is definitely a Castleford Rugby Union Club in existence long before the Great Schism, and they played in the old Yorkshire Cup competition, winning "T’owd tin pot" once and finishing runners up once before 1900.

As the Northern Union’s second season approached, they decided to split into two regional competitions. This was partly due to the success and increasing number of teams wishing to change codes and join, and partly to cut down on the travelling costs for clubs and spectators alike. For this second season eight new teams joined the league, Bramley, Castleford, Heckmondwike, Holbeck, Leeds Parish Church, Morecambe, Swinton, and Salford.

Castleford joined the ranks of the semi-professional rugby league clubs when they were admitted to the Yorkshire Senior Competition for season 1896–97 and in this their first season finished in mid-table in 9th position out of 16 clubs.

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