Formation as Chorley Borough Springfield Borough had moved to Chorley in 1988 and changed their name to Chorley Borough. At the end of the 1988–89 season, the club decided to move again, to
Altrincham as Trafford Borough, and this caused a boardroom split, leading to five Blackpool-based directors resigning to form a new club that would remain based in Chorley and using the Chorley Borough name. The newly formed Chorley side were based at
Chorley F.C.'s ground
Victory Park. Ironically their first game was against
Trafford Borough in the Lancashire Cup in front of 628 spectators on 30 August 1989, which they won 12–6. The record attendance at Victory Park was 2,851 for the visit of Oldham in January 1990. Chorley's club colours were an all-black jersey with a red and amber band around the waist. Shorts and socks were black as well. Chorley Borough moved to Horwich in June 1992. Rugby Football League chief executive
Maurice Lindsay wanted to reduce the number of clubs in the lower division of the league in 1993. The three clubs finishing bottom of the second division would be demoted to the
National Conference League. It went to the wire with
Blackpool Gladiators and
Nottingham City already relegated, the crucial last match at Nottingham on 12 April 1993, between
Nottingham City and
Highfield saw
Highfield win 39–6 and
Highfield survived at the expense of Chorley. The three expelled clubs pursued legal action against the RFL decision, but to no avail.
Chorley Chieftains (1995–96) Chorley regained their status in the professional ranks in 1995–96 when they became
Chorley Chieftains. They were the only club elected to the league from the National Conference League. The club were taken over by the owners of Chorley FC, as part of Victory Park Holdings, and became known as
Chorley Magpies after the nickname of the football club. The club also started an alliance and academy side. In February 1996, the coach,
Bob Eccles was dismissed and former
New Zealand international player and
Salford Reds coach,
Kevin Tamati was appointed as part-time manager.
Lancashire Lynx (1997–2000) In 1996 they were bought by
Preston North End football club and they moved to
Deepdale stadium. They became
Lancashire Lynx at the start of 1997 after a short non-playing spell as
Central Lancashire. The club colours were originally royal blue shirts with yellow flashings on the shoulders and sleeves, and red trim. Later when the club relocated back to Victory Park, Chorley the shirts became red with black flashings, and white trim. Tamati gave up his post as Rugby League development officer with
Warrington Borough Council to become full-time coach with the Lynx on 31 October 1997. Lancashire Lynx reached the final of the Anglo-French Treize Tournoi in 1998 and finished top of the Second Division. Tamati was released by Lynx at end of the 1998 season, after failing to agree a new contract. Former
Wigan player,
Steve Hampson took over as coach in 1999. Unfortunately, even though Lynx won the Second Division, the RL decided to merge the First and Second divisions for 1999, so there were only
2 Professional Leagues, Super League and the
Northern Ford Premiership. Lynx momentum seemed to falter as the whole division 'had been promoted!' In 2000, Lynx won just one of their 19 league games, conceding over 900 points. The club had lost their last two games by a record 98–4 to
Keighley Cougars and 72–13 to
Dewsbury Rams. Hampson left by "mutual consent" in May 2000. And at the end of the season, the Preston North End backers withdrew from running Lancashire Lynx, and only the last-minute intervention of
Trevor Hemmings saved the club from folding. Former Wigan player and coach,
Graeme West was appointed as coach. In January 2001, Chorley were eliminated in the third round of the Rugby League
Challenge Cup following a shock 22–8 defeat to
National Conference League amateur club
Woolston Rovers. It was the club's 30th straight defeat.
Darren Abram took over as coach after the resignation of
Graeme West in November 2002. In 2003 they finished second in National League Two. However, Abram left to join
Leigh Centurions. At the end of the 2004 season Chorley Lynx folded due to poor attendances and the withdrawal of funding by backer Trevor Hemmings. They were losing £1,000 a week with an average crowd of just 434 with only
London Skolars and
Gateshead Thunder having lower average crowds. Their last match was at home to
York City Knights. Coach Mark Lee and 16 of the Chorley players then joined new club
Blackpool Panthers. ==Seasons==