Gloucester 4 Explained

Gloucester 4
Current Season:	1995–96 Gloucester 4
Founded:	(as Gloucestershire 4)
Sport:	Rugby union
Country:	England
Champion:	Minchinhampton (1st title)
Season:	1995–96 promoted to Gloucester 3
Most Champs:	Smiths
Count:	2

Gloucester 4 was an English rugby union league which sat at the twelve level of league rugby union in England for teams based in Gloucestershire and parts of Bristol. Promoted clubs moved into Gloucester 3 and there was no relegation as this was the basement league for club rugby union in Gloucestershire. In 1996 after ten seasons Gloucester 4 was discontinued at the end of the 1995-96 campaign.

Original teams

When league rugby began in 1987 this division (then known as Gloucestershire 4) contained the following teams:

• Aretians
• Bristol Telephone Area
• Bristol Aeroplane Company
• Broad Plain
• Gloucester All Blues
• Hucclecote Old Boys
• Minchinhampton
• Newent
• Old Colstonians
• Old Elizabethans
• Smiths

Gloucester 4 honours

Gloucestershire 4 (1987–1989)

Originally a single division known as Gloucestershire 4, it was a tier 12 league. Promotion was to Gloucestershire 3 and there was no relegation.

<											----> Gloucestershire 4
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams	Ref
1987–88	11	Smiths		No relegation	^[1]
1988–89	12	Bristol Telephone Area		No relegation	^[2]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Gloucestershire 4A / 4B (1989–1991)

For the 1989–90 season Gloucestershitre 4 split into two tier 12 divisions - Gloucestershire 4A and Gloucestershire 4B. Promotion continued to Gloucestershire 3 and there was no relegation.

<											----> Gloucestershire 4 North / South
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams	League Name	Ref
1989–90	7	Old Richians		No relegation	Gloucestershire 4A	^[3]
	7	Bishopston		No relegation	Gloucestershire 4B
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Gloucestershire 4 (1990–1991)

After a single season Gloucester 4 reverted to being a single division at tier 12 of the league system. Promotion continued to Gloucestershire 3 and there was no relegation.

<											----> Gloucestershire 4
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams	Ref
1990–91	12	Stow-on-the-Wold		No relegation	^[4]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Gloucester 4 (1991–1993)

Gloucestershire 4 was shorted to Gloucester 4 for the 1991–92 season onward. It remained a tier 12 league with promotion to Gloucester 3 and there was no relegation.

<											----> Gloucester 4
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams	Ref
1991–92	11	Tetbury		No relegation	^[5]
1992–93	7	Smiths		No relegation	^[6]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Gloucester 4 (1993–1996)

The creation of National League 5 South for the 1993–94 season meant that Gloucester 4 dropped to become a tier 13 league. Promotion continued to Gloucester 3 and there was no relegation. At the end of the 1995–96 Gloucester 4 was disbanded with the majority of teams promoted up into Gloucester 3.

<											----> Gloucester 4
Season	No of teams	Champions	Runners–up	Relegated Teams	Ref
1993–94	7	Tewkesbury		No relegation	^[7]
1994–95	7	Gloucestershire Police		No relegation	^[8]
1995–96	7	Minchinhampton		No relegation	^[9]
Green backgrounds are promotion places.

Number of league titles

• Smiths (2)
• Bishopston (1)
• Bristol Telephone Area (1)
• Gloucestershire Police (1)
• Minchinhampton (1)
• Old Richians (1)
• Stow-on-the-Wold (1)
• Tetbury (1)
• Tewkesbury (1)

See also

• Gloucestershire RFU
• English rugby union system
• Rugby union in England

Notes and References

1. Book: Johns. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1988–89. 1988. Rothmans Publications Ltd. London. 0-356-15884-5. 123–139. 17th.
2. Book: Johns. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1989–90. 1989. Rothmans Publications Ltd. London. 0-356-17862-5. 133–136. 18th.
3. Book: Johns. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1990–91. 1990. Rothmans Publications Ltd. London. 0-356-19162-1. 143–146. 19th.
4. Book: Johns. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1991–92. 1991. Rothmans Publications Ltd. London. 0-356-20249-6. 164–167. 20th.
5. Book: Johns. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1992–93. 1992. Rothmans Publications Ltd. London. 0-7472-7907-1. 176–179. 21st.
6. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1993–94. 1993. Headline Book Publishing Ltd. London. 0-7472-7891-1. 157–160. 22nd.
7. Book: Jones. Stephen. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1994–95. 1994. Headline Bookline Publishing. London. 0-7472-7850-4.
8. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1995–96. 1995. Headline Bookline Publishing. London. 0-7472-7816-4.
9. Book: Cleary. Mick. Griffiths. John. Rothmans Rugby Union Yearbook 1996-97. 1996. Headline Book Publishing. London. 0-7472-7771-0.