With rapid growth in playing membership, new premises were sought and a site at Edge Hall Road was purchased in 1950, an ex-army hut being used as changing accommodation.

The club built its strength on its commitment to junior rugby and bringing players up 'through the ranks', many of whom played for the first team and achieved representative honours.

For the game against the U.S.A. Eagles in 1989, Simon Langford, Gerry Ainscough, Sammy Southern, Neil Hitchen and Bob Kimmins were in the side that day.

On the international stage, Nigel Heslop, Gerry Ainscough, Neil Hitchen and Bob Kimmins were selected in the England 'B' side against Spain in 1989.

Frank Anderson, Peter Williams, Fran Clough, Dave Cusani, Nigel Heslop, and Phil Jones have represented England, whilst playing for the Black with Ambers.

By steadfastly refusing to chase the big-spending monied outfits, the club was faced with the mass exodus of sixteen of their first team squad.

The club managed to hang on at the second level until, despite a last-day home victory over London Welsh, a convenient draw between Otley and Bedford saved the status of both teams, seeing Orrell relegated to National Division Two at the end of the 2000–01 season.

Off the field, Orrell's clubhouse was destroyed by arson in the early hours of Monday 12 August 2002, before the season had even begun but ominously as it proved, there was no rush by the new owners to rebuild.

With expectations high it came as a cruel blow that backer David Whelan decided to withdraw his investment after promising supporters that he was in for the 'long haul.'

News following a meeting seeking clarification of Whelan's exact intentions, revealed that he was giving ownership of the clubhouse and the first team pitch over to Wigan Warriors Rugby League Club, but offered a 25-year lease to Orrell at a prohibitively expensive rent.

Following Dave Whelan's announcement that he would no longer back Orrell in early 2004, a takeover bid was launched by a South African consortium led by millionaire businessman Johann Rupert.

The decision had immediate effect as nearly the whole squad and coaching staff left for pastures new and with little interest being shown by the management, there was a real danger that this once proud club could fold.

The frailties were immediately exposed and although they managed a draw away at Bedford with the help of players on loan from Sale Sharks, the arrangement with the Premiership club was less than successful with Orrell not knowing from one week to the next who was going to be available.

Although a sizable number of the previous season's squad had promised to stay, they subsequently left, leaving Mason and assistant Mike Howe to start, yet again, from square one.

As Orrell no longer owned Edge Hall Road, they had to train at a local college and to compound difficulties, they were deducted six league points by the RFU for playing two unregistered players at the beginning of the season against Morley.

Off the field circumstances became similarly bleak, the once famous club are having to use the local Station Hotel as their headquarters, with the memorabilia that was left after the fire, transferred from the brand new clubhouse which Dave Whelan and Maurice Lindsay were no longer allowing them to use.

This proved extremely difficult, as Chairman Tony Pegg was frequently travelling internationally, Treasurer Simon 'Chappers' Chapman was suffering with cancer, and a recent University graduate was managing the media and commercial areas from his bedroom.

By the half-way point of the season, Orrell still had not won a game, and with this back-drop, the side started to break up, with many departing playing being replaced by university students.

A members meeting confirmed the overwhelming feeling that the club should at least look into the possibility of moving elsewhere at the end of the season, providing a suitable location could be found.

The season saw record losses for the club, the worst being a misery-compounding 18-try 124–0 defeat away to Blaydon, after finding just seventeen players able to travel to the fixture.

Chudleigh subsequently left the club at the end of another relegation season to join the coaching staff at Halifax RUFC, a job he combined with the role of Community Marketing Manager for Sale Sharks.

For the club's inaugural season in SLC2, six players from the professional era stayed with the team - Brian Roberts, Martin McKeown, David Price, Andy Daley, Andrew Statter and John Hyland.

Sub-landlord Dave Whelan, who was granted ownership of the lease on the land in 2001 after paying members £1,000 each for their shares, subsequently bought the freehold of the site on the death of the owner and sold the three pitches that had hosted the 2nd, 3rd and 4th XV's as well as all Junior sides for over £3 million.