BADGE
Unable to use the Matson Coat of Arms, Matson RFC decided to design their own badge. The badge shows three oak leaves on a branch surrounding a jumping stag. The oak leaves come from the oak tree in the grounds of the Community Centre where Matson had their first changing rooms and the jumping stag was taken from a label of a Bass beer bottle which the committee were drinking from at the time.

NAMES OF FOUNDING MEMBERS
After a meeting in the Robinswood Inn Matson in July 1957 Campbell Cole, Wally Bayliss,
Dennis Ellis, Alf Rudge, Harry Pugh and Reg Tooth decided to form a rugby team in Matson.
Stan Green became Secretary later that year.

CLUB STORY
The area of Matson was a newly built council estate, where people were moved to from other areas of Gloucester and the former area of Clapham which was being knocked down and rebuilt. When the rugby club was formed in September 1957, most of the players came from this new area of Matson . They used the Community Centre in Redwell Road as a changing room and had just 2 old tin baths which were positioned in the Gents toilets on Match days. After a few years a small changing facility , built entirely by the players and committee, was added onto the end of the Community Centre. In November 1968 , Matson moved into the new purpose built Clubhouse next door, where the Club still is today. Again, this new clubhouse was built by players, Committee men and volunteers.

In the first few years , Matson entered the Junior Cup of the North Gloucestershire competition, which they won in 1959/60 and again in 1960/61. These wins attracted more players, making a stronger team and in 1961/62 they entered the Senior Cup. At the end of the 1961/62 season another local club , Churchdown, disbanded and a few of the players joined Matson. Matson were now able to field 2 sides. In 1962/63 the senior side went on to win the Senior Combination cup , repeating this for the next 4 years. This beat a record which had stood since the 1920’s when a team called West End won the cup for 4 years on the trot. In the 70’s and 80’s , Matson beat their own record of 5 successive Combination wins, by winning the cup 6 times on the trot on 2 occasions and in different decades.

After winning the county cup 3 out 4 attempts in the early 80s, success followed us through the next 2 decades until the Millennium with 13 Senior cup wins,10 Junior cup wins and 14 Wolfhounds wins(3rds)and just for good measure a County Cup win in 1999.The start of a new Century was the beginning of a new era for Matson, building on the success of a great youth set up where during different times over the next 2 decades Matson won 15 Junior County Cups and produced many (7) players who went on to play for England and Scotland up to U21 level. From these young players who played for Matson success slowly followed. John Hennesy took the job as captain in 2007 at 17 years of age and for the next 13 years he led the club through some difficult times. Matson went on to retain the Senior cup in 2013/4 and 2015/6, Junior Cup 2014/5/6, and Wolfhound (3rds)2014/5 and 2016/7. Matson’s biggest challenge was the National cup in 2019 and after a fantastic Semi Final win against Old Colfeians away (18-19) they went on to play the final at Twickenham which regrettably they lost to very good Kennilworth side 32-26.

MEMORABLE GAMES
Winning County Cup for the first time in October 1971 - Matson 26 - Lydney 12
Beating Ipswich 14-6 which put Matson through to the last 16 in the John Player Cup, where they met Richmond away in February 1979 - a game they unfortunately lost. The following season Matson beat Torquay Athletic and again went on to the last 16 of the John Player Cup, this time losing to London Scottish. Playing at Twickenham in the RFU National Intermediate Cup against Kenilworth and unfortunately losing 32-26.

GREAT DAYS AND EVENTS
25th Anniversary Celebration Game September 1982. This was held at Redwell Road Club House where Matson played against a team made up of Charlie Faulkner (Wales & British Lions): Mike Teague (England & British Lions) : Graham Price (Wales & British Lions) : Alan Phillips (Wales & British Lions) : Eddie Butler ( Wales ) : Steve Boyle ( Wales & British Lions) : John Gadd (England A) : Robert Ackerman (Wales & British Lions ) : Paul Dodge ( England & British Lions ) : Terry Holmes ( Wales & British Lions) : Clive Woodward ( England & British Lions ) : Dusty Hare ( England & British Lions)

25th Anniversary dinner & dance at Matson Rugby Club- attended by Mike Burton, Gareth Edwards, J.J. Williams, Gerald Davies

50th Anniversary Dinner& Dance held at the Golden Valley Hotel hosted by Gareth Chilcott (Bath, England, British Lion)

OUTSTANDING SEASONS
1970/71 First Club in the North Gloucester Combination to win Senior cup, Junior cup, 7s cup and also the Gloucestershire County cup.
1978/79 Matson won the Senior, Junior, Wolfhounds 3rds (Glanville) Cup in the North Combination games. They also won the 7 a side cup and the County Cup
In the season 1977/78 Matson Seniors only lost one game and had just 2 tries scored against them, scoring 944 points for and only 94 against. A total of 195 tries scored .

Matson over the years have achieved a magnificent cup record
County Cup - Played 10 finals / Won 5 / lost 5
Senior North Glos Combination Cup Winners 29 times
Junior North Glos Combination Cup Winners 16 times
3rds North Glos Combination Cup Winners 19times

Reached National K.O. Cup - 5 times
National Under 17s Cup Final 6 May 2012
National Intermediate Cup Final 5 May 2019

Clive Locke - January 2022