FOUNDER members Kells and Pilkington Recs are the first recipients of plaques donated by the now-defunct National Conference League.
The two clubs were founder members of the flagship competition back in 1986 and were still involved when the high-profile league was controversially replaced by the National Community Rugby League earlier this year.
Former NCL president Trevor Hunt told League Express: “The National Conference League may have been consigned to the history books, but member clubs are receiving commemorative plaques to celebrate their contribution to 39 years of outstanding competition.”
Ex-NCL chair Mike Denning said: “The NCL was cut off in its prime to make way for the new National Community Rugby League, after almost four decades of being the flagship competition.
“Almost overnight the NCL was no more. But to ensure the 48 clubs that were there at the end of the 2025 season can honour their membership, we are presenting each club with a plaque that they can either place in their trophy cabinet or on their clubhouse wall.
“Already I have presented plaques to Pilkingtons and Kells and, along with Trevor and other committee members, we are hoping to get plaques to the rest of the clubs.”
The plaques are in two formats as the nine clubs that were founder members back in 1986 will have ‘Founder Member’ included, in addition to the ‘NCL39’ logo.
Denning stressed: “We feel the clubs who have enjoyed membership of the NCL should be proud of their involvement, and hopefully the display of the plaques will keep the memory of the NCL alive.”