Sevenoaks RFC Diamond Jubilee 1985-86

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SEVENOAKS RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB 1925-26

1985-86

60 Seasons of Rugby in Sevenoaks 1925-26

1985-86

Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club would like to thank the following people for their contributions to this Jubilee Brochure. The Sevenoaks Chronicle for their assistance with photographs, the Dartford Typing Pool and Dark Room Staff for their 'unpaid' hours of work. Special thanks to David Bashford of Lakeside Printing Ltd., and his obliging staff, Stuart Seal (Artwork), Karen Hughan (typesetting) and Steve Clark (printing) for all their helpful assistance.

MESSAGES OF GOODWILL Brigadier D.W. Suttleworth, O.B.E. President of English R.F. U. Mr •. R.H. Curtis........................................................................................... President of Sevenoaks R.F.C. Mr. R.W. Horner, M.A. Hon. General Secretary of Kent R.F. U.

ARTICLES A Jubilee Brochure........................................................................................................ Dennis McGookin The History of Sevenoaks R.F.C. Alan Townsend From Melrose to Sevenoaks............................................................................................ Arthur Thorogood Mini and Junior Rugby at Sevenoaks.................................................................................... Peter Thompson Pontoise - Where's That? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Peter Fielding 1st XV Fixture Card............................................................................................................ Howard Pearl Social Events................................................................................................................ Dennis McGookin YesteryearatSevenoaksR.F.C.................................................................................................. N.O. Body

OFFICERS OF SEVENOAKS R.F.C.

President:

Hon. Secretary:

Mr. R.H. Curtis

Mr. A.E. Townsend

Chairman:

Hon. Treasurer:

Mr. H.N. Lavers

Mr. E.C.R. Williams F.C.M.A.

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OFTHE ENGLISH RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION

Very many congratulations to all members of Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club on their Diamond Jubilee.

Through 60 years the club's fortunes have been intertwined with those of the Kent Rugby Football Union and the Rugby Football Union. It is right, therefore, and my pleasure to offer good wishes to the club from the Committee of the Rugby Football Union and from all parts of the Union.

I am delighted also to hear of the emphasis which the club places on youth rugby for there lies the future of our game.

May your enterprising club enjoy its special celebrations as well as the whole season. Whilst remembering the past 60 years with justifiable pride may you also seek to preserve, strengthen and further improve both game and club so that those who follow may enjoy the exercise, competition, fun and friendship as much as those who have gone before.

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SHIP AGENTS, CHARTERING BROKERS, AND TRADERS.

Wishing Sevenoaks Rugby Club every success for their Diamond Jubilee Season.

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4

I MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF SEVENOAKS RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB

R.H. CURTIS

I am delighted to extend a warm welcome to all visitors to Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club in this our Diamond Jubilee Season.

In celebrating our 60 years it will enable many players and friends of past and present, to enjoy with us, some of the special events and milestones in our history.

This is not a celebration in recognition of international players nor indeed of any particular result or personal performance. It is however a sincere and grateful appreciation of the game of Rugby Football and the lifelong friendships it has helped to form.

Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club is well-known for its hospitality both on and off the field of play.

Based upon the location of our ground, our facilities and those provided by the Sevenoaks Town Council, we have, in recent years, staged County Colts matches and last season, were honoured with the game between the Kent President's XV and the Netherlands Rugby Football Union's XV. We were also pleased to be able to stage the Kent County Rugby Football Union's Mini-Rugby Festival, which saw over 900 boys participating.

In our Diamond Jubilee the Sevenoaks Seven-a-Side tournament celebrates its 25th year in April, 1986. This popular event has always been well supported by certain leading clubs and this coming festival will welcome the originators of this popular past-time - Melrose Rugby Football Club from Scotland.

This club exists for all members, visitors and their friends who enjoy the greatest of all games. That it continues in Sevenoaks so successfully is due to a lot of hard work by people associated with the club and by the clubs whose names have appeared within our Fixture Card in the past, the present and hopefully for all time. Gentlemen and Ladies - Thank you.

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I

THE JUBILEE BROCHURE

D. W. McGOOKIN When I was first asked to coordinate the Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club's Diamond Jubilee, I immediately set my mind on producing a Jubilee Brochure, which would cover all the events both on and off the rugby field, along with giving everyone who read it, an insight into life at the rugby club over the last 60 years. Since then it has been a slow and gradual progress, firstly to ensure that advertising would cover the cost of production, right up until the final hectic weeks chasing the outstanding artwork and advertising and producing the final layout of text, photographs and adverts for the printer.

Now that it is completed, I can say that it has been a most rewarding task and I hope that the final product is enjoyed by all who read it, they will see, the contents of the brochure, focus appropriately on the rugby club, and those who are rugby minded people should find the reading and photographs of interest.

The history of the rugby club has been produced by its present Secretary, Alan Townsend. He has spend many hours thereon and its accuracy is attributable to his hard work, along with the assistance of Humphrey Crum-Ewing, Norman Golds and John Parke.

The article on seven-a-side rugby, aptly named "From Melrose to Sevenoaks", could not have been produced without the help of one of our oldest club members, Arthur Thorogood. Arther, a former secret-

ary of the club, has been a member of Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club for 26 years and the contents of the seven-a-side article shows just how much effort he has put into the club and rugby in general over the years.

The article on junior and mini rugby has been produced by Peter Thompson, who has been closely associated with youth rugby at Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club in recent years. Again the article is a tribute to Peter, who successfully organised the Kent Rugby Football Union Mini Rugby Festival at Knole Paddock last season, and to all his colleagues who have made junior and mini rugby at Sevenoaks a great success.

The final article on Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club's association with our twin club Pontoise R.C. (France) was produced by Peter Fielding with the help of the club chairman, Hugh Lavers. Thanks goes to both of them for all the work they have done over the years, to make our association with Pontoise R.C. a very happy one.

As we look into the Jubilee season it will be seen that our 1st XV has a strong fixture list and we are pleased that our club president, Harry Curtis, will be fielding his own 'Presidents XV' against the 1st XV at the beginning of the season. We also hope to play a Kent Club's XV in the latter part of the season and we hope that by the time this fixture is played our 1st XV will have had a long run of success.

At the end of the Diamond Jubilee season, Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club will be celebrating another jubilee. In April 1986, the Silver Jubilee of Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club seven-a-side tournament will take place. The tournament is one of the most entertaining tournaments in the South East and this year the club is pleased to welcome the founder of seven-a-side rugby - Melrose Rugby Football Club - to Sevenoaks.

The fact that the seven-a-side tournament has continued to be so great asuccess is attributed to Phil Bradshaw, and our thanks goes to him for all his efforts, over the last 10 years.

The social events for our jubilee season are already well organised and these include various functions at the club house. Other highlights of the social calendar include a formal dinner at the Selsden Park Hotel, and a grand dinner dance at Hever Castle. Full details of all these functions along with the names of the organisers can be found in the centre pages of the brochure.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone who has contributed to the Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club's Diamond Jubilee. Special thanks goes to all those who contributed by advertising in this brochure and to those who supplied the various articles, photographs, and artwork. It shows how much people are prepared to help a rugby club, that is now looking forward to its seventyfifth anniversary in the year 2000.

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SIXTY YEARS OF RUGBY AT SEVENOAKS RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB 1925/26 - 1985/86

A. TOWNSEND

Alan Townsend has been a member of Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club since 1967, and will be a familiar face to all local rugby players in the Sevenoaks district. A former First XV player, Alan has served on the general committee since 1972 and has been Honorary Secretary since the 1977 /78 season.

Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club was founded in 1925, but it is some nineteen years earlier that the origins of rugby in the Sevenoaks area are to be found.

In 1906, on his return from the South African War, Major Frank Norman introduced the game to his father's school, The New Beacon, Sevenoaks. Such was the enthusiasm shown by the boys that spectators from the town were soon attracted to their games. With this steady growth of interest Major Norman conceived the idea of arranging a gentlemen's match. A suitable piece of land near Hitchen Hatch Lane was found and prepared and in 1910 the first senior game was played between a team from Guys Hospital and a local side.

This match proved so popular with both players and spectators that it became an annual event until 1913 when the games stopped with the commencement of the Great War. After the war there was still a keen interest in rugby, but anyone from Sevenoaks who wished to play was forced to join clubs outside the area. Tonbridge, formed in 1904, were much favoured, with Maidstone and the well established London clubs also attracting a number of players.

The next real rugby landmark in Sevenoaks was the introduction of the game to Sevenoaks School in 1923. This was brought about by the then headmaster, Geoffrey Garrod, who, after taking a party of boys to Tonbridge School to watch them play, formed his own rugby XV. After a difficult start the school went from strength to strength to become one of the rugby playing institutions it is today.

man of the Committee; Major Frank Norman, Hon. Treasurer; Harry Michell, Club Captain and ;E. Groves and Frederick Voelcker, Joint Hon. Secretaries.

Another person present at that meeting was Humphrey CrumEwing who is now the only surviving founder. Humphrey has served twice as president and has constantly supported the club during the past sixty -years,

During these early - post-war years a number of informal meetings was held between several keen rugby types with a view to forming a local club and these led to the inaugural meeting for the formation of Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club. This was held on 27th March, 1925 at Sevenoaks School by kind permission of Geoffrey Garrod, thus forming an early association with the School.

Regrettably there is no record of those attending this meeting in the original minutes, but it is known that it was chaired by J. Ridge and that a committee was formed to discuss and propose such matters as club rules, team colours and changing facilities.

The committee comprised of Lord Sackville, President; J. Ridge, Chair-

The committee set about their task with vigour and after corresponding with the College of Arms it was decided that the team colours should be navy blue and hunting yellow. The rugby shirts were produced in these colours in the form of large hoops and the club tie was made up of yellow stripes on a navy blue background. A few years later the colours were changed to the familiar all navy blue with a gold crest and the stripes on the tie were replaced with acorns.

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Financing the club was an important topic and the rate of subscription was fixed at fifteen shillings per season, ladies being permitted to join for a reduced fee of five shillings.

The serious business of actually playing did not take place until October 1925 and the first match, against a Lensbury side was won, as were all but three of the games played that season. Also during this season a second XV was formed so that players, who could not get off from Saturday morning work in time to travel to away matches, should be able to play at home.

Accommodation for changing was provided at the Sennocke Hotel, Tub's Hill, now renamed The Farmers, but the main problem facing the club was finding a suitable ground on which to play as the pitch used in earlier days at Hitchen Hatch Lane was no longer available.

Major Norman undertook to find a ground and with the help and co-operation of Lord Sackville two site were suggested, one at Knole Paddock and the other at Dukes Meadow.

Eventually the club chose the site at Knole Paddock and the members prepared and marked out the pitch, but there was no guarantee that this would be a permanent ground. In view of this, a scheme was set in motion to buy the land on which the pitch was sited and, after negotiations with the Knole Estate, the price of £1,350 was fixed for its purchase.

as it was continually under inches of water, and a second site near Bat and Ball in the grounds of a boys' home had to serve. The club returned to the Paddock at the beginning of the next season with its pitch problems apparently behind them, but it was soon found that the drainage was inadequate and the pitch had to be dug up.

Although this was a considerable sum Major Norman was able to secure promises from members for £1,200 towards the purchase of the land, to be repaid over a ten year period. However, these promises were never taken up as Sevenoaks Urban District Council decided to purchase a ten acre site at the Paddock, which included the club pitch, to provide all forms of sport for the town. The Council took over the Paddock in the late twenties and to provide unemployment relief work, set about levelling the whole playing area creating rugby, soccer and hockey pitches on the site.

Throughout the time the council was purchasing and preparing the land the committee had not been idle and was negotiating with it for some form of security of tenure with regard to the pitch on Knole Paddock.

In consideration for withdrawal of the Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club's plans to purchase the piece of land on the Paddock the council granted to the club the use of the rugby pitch in perpetuity at an annual rent of £30, which proved to be a very beneficial arrangement.

This meant that the club had to find another ground for the season.

The first site at the Dunton Green Recreation Ground proved hopeless,

The thirties were undoubtedly a golden period for the club in playing terms and much of the success must be credited to Harry Michell its first captain. He was an outstanding forward in his younger days and played for London against the All Blacks during their tour of the mid-twenties.

The 1925-26 Sevenoaks R.F. C. 1st XV 11

It was Harry's leadership in the first two seasons which set the standard for others to follow and made Sevenoaks a force to be reckoned with in the years leading up to the Second World War.

The late Humphrey CrumEwing 40 season. For the ensuing five years it was kept alive mainly by its nonplaying members, many of whom paid their subscription throughout, which stood the club m good stead m later years.

During this period the club firmly established itself and could boast to having three players selected for Kent; Guy Hudson, who was later an England trialist; Percy Cavell, club captain in the late thirties and Douglas Argent, who as hon. secretary after the war, took a considerable part in re-establishing the club. This productive period also saw the introduction of a third side and in the latter part of the decade negotiations were started to obtain the use of a second pitch at the Paddock on which a disbanded local soccer side had played.

A meeting in June 1945 was followed by the calling of an extra ordinary general meeting, held at Bligh's Hotel,at which it was decided to resume playing activities as soon as possible. Games commenced in October 1945 and while the standard of play may not have been startling the club spirit which developed, in rather difficult conditions, was really remarkable. Travel was awkward as petrol rationing still existed and for home games it was necessary to change at the swimming baths in London Road and walk to and from the Paddock.

The 1939 - 45 war inevitably affected the activities of the Club although it continued to function with some difficulty during the 1939/

However, despite these problems the club once more began to grow and the search for playing space was resumed. One site at

John Parke

Action from a 1st XV fixture 12

Norman Golds Greatness Recreation Ground was used for a while and another at Kippington Grange, but neither were really satisfactory.

The late forties and early fifties proved to be a productive time not so much on the field, but with regard to facilities. In 1947 the club arranged with the Vine Cricket Club the use of its pavilion in the winter for changing and after match meals and drinks.

Getting everything under one roof was a great luxury for players and spectators alike and was a vey satisfactory arrangement. There can be no doubt that the Vine's generosity during these years went a long way to cement the very special relationship existing between the two clubs today.

The next development was in 1949 when the Sevenoaks U.D.C. provided changing rooms and showers at Knole Paddock - a great boon and this gave a strong impetus to the plans for the erection of a clubhouse.

Brian Pearce - Chairman of Pearce Signs Ltd. and newly appointed Vice-President at Sevenoaks R.F. C.

Trevor Nicholson - The 1985-86 club captain

it})~

Vice Presidents of Sevenoaks R. F. C. at the official opening of the new clubhouse 1:

The Sevenoaks R. F. C. 1st XV squad 1985

Plans were submitted to the Council and permisssion was granted to erect a clubhouse on a piece of land between Knole Paddock and Raleys Field at a peppercorn rent. A large timber hut was obtained which had stood in the garden of the Sennocke Hotel and with a great deal of hard manual labour from the members,the plot was prepared and the hut put into position. A considerable effort was made by the members to complete the clubhouse and none

more than that of Gordon Mann, then hon. secretary and one of rugby's great characters, who took a leading role in its conception and ultimate completion.

On 20th September, 1952, the official opening took place and, to help celebrate this landmark, a match was played between two composite XV's representing Sevenoaks and Tonbridge R.F.C. 's versus Maidstone and Westcombe Park,

Action from an 'Acorns' XV fixture 14

three of our oldest rivals, resulting in a satisfactory win for the home combination. Coinciding with this event the club also obtained the permanent use of the second pitch at the Paddock and taking into account that the council provided changing accommodation Sevenoaks R.F.C. was set for a prosperous future.

The remainder of the fifties and early sixties was a time of expansion for the club. With the excellent facilities it could now offer, membership increased to above the two hundred mark and to cater for this a regular fourth side was formed in 1953.

During the early fifties schoolboy matches were organised at the Paddock over the Christmas holidays and were, as it transpired, to be run successfully for more than a quarter of a century. Apart from being great fun for the boys the games helped introduce the players to the club and provided a steady stream of young talent. There had always been a strong Sevenoaks School contingent, but in 1958 a new local source appeared when the Wilderness Secondary Modern School took up rugby with Bob White, then club captain, as master-in-charge.

I

With the influx of young players looking for a game it became apparent to the club that there were sufficient numbers to run a colts side.

In the 1958/59 season an under 21 side was established followed a year or two later by the formation of an under 18 side, both of which enjoyed considerable success during the ensuing years. The two teams were ably managed by Henry Steven, a former first team captain, until 1966 and thereafter by John Parke, both of whom many senior players will remember with affection. Sadly by the late sixties it was proving impossible to find sufficient people with time to manage both sides and they were disbanded and replaced later by a single under 19 XV which in the seventies was managed by our current president, Harry Curtis.

From the mid-sixties the club was regularly fielding six sides, as it continues to do today, and an occasional seventh side turned out to give the surplus players a game. Fortunately, by this time the use of a third pitch had been obtained on Raleys Field and, although a little uneven in places, it enabled the Club to cope with the extra home games.

The 1st XV, having gone through a lean patch, were by now regaining some of their former glory and were regularly beating their strongest opponent, notably under the captaincies of David Bishop, who had been the joint captain of the under 21 side, and Keith Williams.

1962 saw the start of the Sevenoaks R.F.C. Annual Sevens Tournament which has continued to delight thousands of spectators for the past 25 years. This event is rated as one of the best in the south-east and attracts eight senior and eight local clubs who play for the Norman Memorial Trophy - a fitting annual reminder of the man who did so much to start rugby in Sevenoaks.

As with many clubs, Sevenoaks has a long tradition of touring dating from the thirties, and many tours have been arranged in the U .K. and abroad, this becoming an important playing and social activity. In 1966 the club went on tour to France and played the rugby club at Pontoise, the town which is twinned with Sevenoaks and is situated some sixty miles north of Paris, and from this a regular reciprocal tour was arranged.

Takmg place on the weekend of the international game between England and France these tours have continued and have developed a remarkable relationship between the two clubs and individual members.

By the early seventies it had become obvious to the committee that the club had outgrown its present clubhouse,which, in the course of time was beginning to look worse for wear. Serious consideration was again given to providing new and more permanent premises. An earlier project in the mid-sixties had had to be deferred pending the preparation and outcome of a traffic survey which threatened a relief road being cut through the Paddock. To offset this delay the old clubhouse was extended and refurbished with vigorous leadership from Bill (A.W.) Haward, but these improvements sufficed only for the time being. Fortunately the road plans were abandoned and real progress could now be made on the new clubhuse project, although it was to take until 1979 before it became reality.

Mr. Alex Hemming (right) offically opening the new clubhouse with Alan Townsend (Secretary), Richard Shirtcliffe (Chairman) and Alan Finlay (President) in 1978.

It was realised that the new building would have to be large enough to cater for the futur e needs of the club and in particular should provide changing rooms and showers. The council facilities were in a similar condition to the clubhouse and there were no immediate plans to replace them. A building subcommittee was formed and all the necessary paraphern alia that goes into a planning application was gathered together and submitted. At the same time a massive campaign was launched to raise funds to finance the scheme and arrangements were made to obtain the shortfall by way of grants and low interest loans.

The council gave planning permission and in conjunction with this granted the use of the second pitch on Knole Paddock in perpetuity, thus the future of the Club was secure on and off the field.

"The Holy Spirits" Arthur Thorogood (left) and Gordon Mann (right) with the Bishop of Tonbridge, at the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 1975.

Action from a 1st XV fixture 16

Eventually everything was ready to start and the site was excavated and building commenced. Being a two storey brick building it was necessary to employ contractors for the main construction, but most of the internal work was carried out by the members themselves. It took twelve months from start to finish and cost ÂŁ49,000, but the end result was well worthwhile. On 17th September 1979 the tireless efforts of everyone concerned were rewarded at the official opening, after which a celebratory match was played between the same clubs that had participated twenty-five years earlier.

It would be impossible to record the phenomenal amount of preparation and work involved in a scheme of this magnitude and equally impossible to mention the vast number of people connectd with the fund raising, planning and building of the clubhouse. However, there are two members, who, because of their unstinting dedication will always be closely associated with the new clubhouse, namely Alan Finlay and Peter Hunt.

Alan, twice president of the club, was chairman, for a second period, during the years just prior to the completion of the clubhouse and was a leading light behind the project on the administrative side. Without his expert financial knowledge coupled with an ability to lead and motivate people, it is difficult to imagine the club having the facilities it has. Peter, a past club captain, made an enormous contribution being in total charge of the construction of the clubhouse. By using his experience in the building trade and employing the various contractors at just the right time he saved the club thousands of pounds, which at the time made the financial situation far easier to manage.

talent and under the watchful eye of Howard Pearl mini rugby was started. The age groups ranged from seven to twelve and the overall plan was to add a new age group each year as the boys progressed. Eventually the boys would be playing up to under sixteen and then pass onto the colts who in turn would filter into the senior sides of the club. The success of the youth section was soon evident being rated as one of the best in the area and more recently a number of players have been selected for the Kent County Schools and Colts XVs. The long term objective is now being realised with these young men playing in the senior sides providing a steady supply of talented players, hopefully for many years to come.

On the field of play the seventies were fairly ordinary by way of results, although towards the end of the decade things considerably improved under the leadership of Noel Kelly and Ian McIntyre. With future players in mind Sevenoaks R.F.C. embarked on a new venture in the¡ 1978/79 season by which it hoped to reap the benefit of 'home grown'

The first half of this decade has been a period of consolidation rather than expansion for the club. The emphasis having been concentrated on improving the playing standard of the sides and the facilities on which they perform.

Pre-season training outside the new clubhouse

As far as the playing facilities are concerned the club has been greatly assisted by Sevenoaks Town Council which took over responsibility for the upkeep of the whole playing area of Knole Paddock in 1982 and its efforts in maintaining the pitches to a high standard have been much appreciated. During the summer of 1984, in a jointly funded operation with the club, the council extended the pitch nearest the clubhouse thus avoiding the dead ball area to the south climbing a steep embankment.

In an effort to achieve a better standard of play Dennis Prowse was engaged as full time coach at the beginning of the 1984/85 season.

Dennis has successfully instilled a determination into the first team squad which had been absent during previous seasons and their game has become more consistant. Also new floodlights were recently installed on the Raleys Field pitch to provide winter training facilities and gradually the results of the 1st XV and the lower sides have shown a steady improvement.

The Club has now reached its Diamond Jubilee Year and in so doing will remember the generations of members who helped lay the firm foundations on which it can continue to build for many years to come.

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I

SEVENOAKS RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB

*---*---* ~elco1nes all players, club officials, spectators 8 guests in this our

*---*--* Dia111ond ______ Jubilee Season. --~ 19

1st X.V. DIAMOND JUBILEE FIXTURE LIST

20

Results

Date

Opposition

Venue

15th September 1985

v Whirney Buccaneers

T.B.A.

21st September

v Old Emanuel

(H)

22nd September

v Presidents XV (Jubilee Fixture)

(H)

28th September

v Old Shootershillians

(A)

5th October 1985

v Darking

(H)

12th October

v Thurrock

(A).

19th October

v Bromley

(A)

26th October

v Canterbury

(H)

2nd November 1985

v Tonbridge

(A)

.

9th November

v Blackheathens

(H)

.

16th November

v Warlingham

(A)

23rd November

v Westcombe Park

(H).

30th November

v Crowborough

(H).

7th December 1985

v Gravesend

(H)

14th December

v Maidstone

(A) .... ······

21st December

v Dartfordians

(H)

28th December

v Ashford

(A)

4th January 1986

v Tunbridge Wells

(A)

11th January

v Charlton Park

(H).

18th January

v Crawley

(A)

25th January

v Gillingham

(A)

1st February 1986

v Sleford

(H)

8th February

v National Westminster Bank

(A)

15th February

v Old Beccehamians

(H)

22nd February

v East London

(A)

1st March 1986

v Park House

(A)

8th March

v Old Juddians

(H)

······

. .

.

15th March

v Lewis

(A)

16th March

v Pontoise (Jubilee Tour Fixture)

(France) .

29th March

v Wanstead

(H)

5th April 1986

v Woodford

(H)

.

12th April

v Beckenham

(A)

.

.

.

*Kick-off Times September and October - 1500 hrs.

November to February - 14.40 hrs.

March and April - 15.00 hrs.

(All Details correct at time of going to Press)

DIAMOND JUBILEE SOCIAL EVENTS

Date

Event

Venue

22nd September 1985 12 Noon.

Official opening of Jubilee Season

Clubhouse

29th September 1985 10.15 am

Bowls Match against Sevenoaks Bowling Club

Sevenoaks Bowling Club

(A. Townsend)

(D. McGookin)

19th October 1985

Formal Jubilee Dinner

Selsdon Park Hotel (A Townsend)

2nd November 1985 21st December 1985

Halloween 'Cheese & Wine' Party

Clubhouse

Grand Jubilee Raffle

Clubhouse

(A. Bumstead)

(A. Walker)

21st December 1985

Christmas Party

Clubhouse (P. Mclaughlin)

18th January 1985

Mid-Season Dinner Dance

Hever Castle (R. Hunt)

22nd February 1986

Wives Night/ Barn Dance

Clubhouse ( M Liscombe)

14th-17th March 1986

Club Tour to Pontoise

France ( P. Fielding)

6th April 1986 18th April 1986

Silver Jubilee Seven-a-Side Tournament.

Knole Paddock

The Grand Finale of The Jubilee Season - Club Dinner

Clubhouse

(P Bradshaw)

(P. Fermor)

Details of the above event will be published on the Club Notice Board throughout The Jubilee Season.

21

l !.!

- ....

........

-

.,

......... ,.-·····

-~----

II 1111

II 11

Your local Payless D.I.Y. Superstore Canterbury, Sturry Road Industrial Estate. Tel: 0227 458025 Gravesend, 24 Queen Street. Tel: 04 74 69881 Maidstone, 59-71 King Street. Tel: 0622 56011 Ramsgate, Pysons Road Industrial Estate. Tel: 0843 587657 Riverhead, London Road, Riverhead, Nr Sevenoaks. Tel: 0732 460434 Sittingbourne, West Street. Tel: 0795 25334 Tonbridge, 65 High Street. Tel: 0732 350149 Orpington, Nugent Ind. Est., Cray Ave., St. Mary Cray. Tel: 0689 38459

22

MESSAGE FROM ROBERT HORNER HON. GENERAL SECRETARY OF KENT COUNTY R.F.U.

On behalf of the Kent County Rugby Football Union, I have great pleasure in congratulating the Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club on attaining its Diamond Jubilee.

Over the years, the County has received great support from Sevenoaks and although the club may not have provided many players for the County XV, Sevenoaks does have the distinction of being the first Kent club to provide the County concurrently with its Hon. General Secretary and Hon. Treasurer.

In recent seasons, since the opening of the club's excellent new clubhouse, with its ideal facilities, the County has been pleased regularly to stage matches at Sevenoaks and its confidence that the arrangements there will be first-class has never been disappointed.

It is particularly appropriate that the Colts section of the County and the Kent Schools Rugby Football Union should frequently stage matches at Sevenoaks because the club has, in recent years, been at the forefront of the development of youth rugby with a thriving Junior and Mini section developing the players of the future. With the changing patterns of education causing many schools to be less able to produce skilled players than was the case in the past, it is particularly important that clubs should play a full part in developing the players of the future and I readily acknowledge the massive contribution which Sevenoaks have made in this area. It was highly appropriate that the club should have been afforded the opportunity of staging the fourth County Mini Festival last March and the undoubted success of the day was a tribute to the Club's ability to organise a major County occasion.

I have no doubt that the close links between the County Union and the Sevenoaks Club will continue and I wish Sevenoaks RFC a most successful 60th season both on and off the field.

I'// I

I

~

R.W.HORNER Hon. General Secretary, Kent County RFU 23

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TYRES CONSULT YOUR TYRE EXPERT FROM THE S.R.F.C.

PATRICK MC LAUGHLIN CENTRAL SERVICE STATION, GREEN STREET GREEN ~ ORPINGTON. TEL: FARNBOROUGH (KENT) 57694

Sevenoaks School RFC

The Witney Buccaneers congratulate Sevenoaks R.F .c. in their DIAMOND JUBILEE SEASON 24

I

MINI AND JUNIOR RUGBY ATSEVENOAKSRUGBYFOOTBALLCLUB

P. THOMPSON

It was a 10.30 am on Sunday 17th September 1978, that the doors were opened to mini and junior rugby at Sevenoaks Rugby Club.

This brought to fruition the germ of an idea hatched some eighteen months previously by the club's longstanding fixture secretary, Howard Pearl. He persuaded several club members to assist him in running these two valuable new sections of the rugby club, both on and off the field of play.

The following season saw the numbers grow sufficiently to warrant waiting lists in each of the four groups. It was then decided that both sections should be expanded, and a further five groups were formed.

Parents were asked to assist, with fathers helping to coach and mothers providing refreshments and alot of verbal support.

Seven-a-Side tournament.

This proved to be a great success and generated as much excitement as the final of the main event.

The 1982/83 season saw the introduction of the under 17's and under 19's sides which filled the gap between the junior section and the senior club sides. The club chairman,

A total of 36 boys enrolled that bright Sunday morning and by the end of that season there was over a hundred boys playing rugby in the mini and junior sections.

They were split into four age groups, under 8's, 10's,12's, and 14's.

The first matches were played against teams from Tonbridge R.F.C. and Vigo R.F.C. at the end of the season and at that stage it was obvious that mini and junior rugby was here to stay and that it was going to go from strength to strength.

Small versions of the rugby club strip were provided for each team and each boy who attended fifteen training sessions was awarded a rugby club badge.

At the end of the following season, club history was made when the under lO's and 12's played demonstration matches against Maidstone R.F.C. at the Sevenoaks

Howard Pearl

Hugh Lavers

Action from the Kent R. F. U. Mini Festival Hugh Lavers, and Ian Brodie took charge of these additional teams and over the years they have proved to be a great asset to the club.

Ian Brodie 25

March 1985 saw the annual Kent R.F.U. Mini Rugby Festival take place at Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club. On a bright Sunday morning 1,000 boys representing twenty-one Kent rugby clubs took part in a total of 176 matches. This was the fourth such festival and again proved to be a very exciting day for all who were associated with it.

As the rugby club enters its Diamond Jubilee season the Mini and Junior section will be starting its seventh season. We are always looking for new members, along with parents who are willing to give a helping hand.

The 1985 Sevenoaks R.F. C. Under 12 team Major tournament success has eluded the mini and junior sides over the years, however the under 16's side won the Plate competition at the Cranbrook Rugby Football Club Seven-a-Side tournament in 1984.

Other sides have managed to reach the semi final stage of various competitions over the years and real success is obviously just around the corner.

On behalf of all the players, coaches and parents who have been involved with Mini and Junior rugby at Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club, since September 1978, it can be said that it has been a very rewarding experience. The senior sides are now beginning to reap the benefits from this and everyone hopes that every boy who joins the Mini or Junior sections, will progress through the club to the 1st XV, and be proud to wear the colours of Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club.

Action from the Colts rugby fixture against El Crompetus in March 1985 26

SEVEN-A-SIDE RUGBY FROM MELROSE TO SEVENOAKS 1.925-26

Seven-a-Side rugby was founded during the season 1882-83, when Melrose Football Club found themselves in financial difficulties. As a means of raising funds, Edward Haig, a butcher's assistant and a playing member of the club, put forward the idea of the abbreviated game of rugby. Other clubs in the area were invited to enter a tournament and the outcome was so successful in every way that other clubs in the area, such as Gala and Hawick, took up the idea. Thus was born Seven-a-Side Rugby.

The enjoyment of Seven-a-side Rugby was such that as it spread south to clubs within the control of the English Rugby Football Union, the decision was made which demanded that all financial profits shown from any tournament must be donated to a charity or the English Rugby Football Union.

In 1926, the Middlesex Rugby Football Union started what has now become the annual festival of the "Seven-a-Side finals" and teams play for the Russell-Cargill Memorial Cup at Twickenham. It is recorded that many years after, several senior administrators of the English Rugby Football Union went along to Twickenham to witness "this new fangled Scottish stunt" and left the ground rather impressed. Most people agree that Barry F. Boyden, O.B.E., currently Chairman of Middlesex Seven-a-Side committee and for many years Hon. Treasurer, was very much the backbone of this splendid event. Over the years, under Barry's care, the Middlesex Sevens have donated millions of pounds to various charities and the

1.985-86

English Rugby Football Union. For Barry's tremendous efforts towards charity, he was invested as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire.

When the Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club's fixtures list was published for the1961-62 season, it was noticed that the First XV would be playing at home infrequently during the second half of the season and because of this a suggestion was made that the club might conduct a Sevens Tournament at the close of the season. A club member was invited to explore the possibilities of such an event and report back to the committee giving details and recommendations.

Arthur Thorogood

The 1985 Sevenoaks '7' a-side team with club coach Dennis Prowse 27

The report indicated that a Seven-a-Side Tournament could and should be conducted and recommended that a trophy should be purchased and competed for annually. The trophy would be named "The Frank Norman Memorial Trophy" in honoured memory of the late Major Frank Norman, M.C., a past president and founder member of the club. The report and recommendations were accepted and the first tournament was conducted on Sunday, 1st April 1962.

London Scottish Runners-up in the 1985 Seven-a-side Tournament held at Sevenoaks R. F. C.

Always with a mind to economy, it was possible, in the early years of the tournament, to obtain the use of a marquee at no cost from Ind Coope The Brewers, the Vine Cricket Club loaned their public address system for the occasion, extra beer glasses were borrowed from Holmesdale Cricket Club. With the passage of time and the tightening of money, it has become necessary to hire all extras through our own resources.

The organisation of the tournament in 1962 was arranged so that, to ensure that all teams played at least

Action from the Sevenoaks v Gravesend fixture at the 1985 Seven-a-side Tournament

28

London Welsh winners of the 1985 Sevenoaks Seven-a-side Tournament twice, the first round losers were kept in the tournament. Subsequently, first round loses went on to play for the "Plate". The "Plate", for a number of years, was a gallon of beer until Humphrey Crom-Ewing, a past president and founder member, very generously presented the splendid heavy silver salver which has been displayed in the trophy cabinets of very many first class clubs.

In 1978 Ultramar, which appropriately covers Kent Petroleum, kindly and with very practical benevolence, agreed to combine their name with Sevenoaks R.F.C. for this annual event. This happy state of affairs continued for 4 years, thenin 1983 Brian Pearce, Chairman of Pearce Signs Group, again very kindly, offered to combine the name of Pearce Signs to that of Sevenoaks R.F. C. and that very friendly alliance continues to exist. The neatness and artistic skill gained during two centuries of the establishment of Pearce's Signs shows itself in the splendid scoreboard manufactured

by Pearce Signs and the electrically operated message of "welcome to all visitors" displayed behind the clubhouse bar.

Looking through past programmes, the change of mental viewpoints and a broadening of outlook is evident. Until 1975 the laws govern~ng the Welsh Rugby Football Umon debarred clubs affiliated to the Welsh Union from playing on Sundays and until 1976 the laws governing the Scottish Rugby Football Union placed similar restrictions on affiliated clubs. Bearing in mind the old adage that laws, like pie-

crusts, are made to be broken, the London Welsh appeared in the programme as "Griffins", and London Scottish as "Scottish Exiles". Since the dates mentioned, both clubs have been able to look at the world with clean faces and use their honoured and much respected names.

Near the time of the founding of the Middlesex Sevens, tournaments in Kent were organised by the Kentish Times and Gravesend R.F.C. The Kentish Times tournament was open, and played on the Askeans Ground at Kidbrooke during September and the Gravesend Sevens, with the strong support of Major Sunnucks, T.A., was an annual event in April and was conducted on the playing fields at the Gravesend Barracks. During the early 1970's the movement for establishing a Sevens Tournament under the direction of the Kent R.F. U. coincided with the closing of the Barracks, which enabled the Gravesend Sevens to be smoothly changed to the Kent Sevens and as such the tournament was held on the United Services playing fields at Brampton (Gillingham) for a few season. This is now an annual event at Mote Park, Maidstone, and the original splendid silver trophy for the Gravesend Sevens continues now to be the prize for the Kent Sevens.

The London Welsh R.F.C. were awarded "The Sunday Telegraph Pennants" for the best club in England and the best club in Wales during the 1969-70 season - they then played their sunday games under the name of Griffins - and in thatsame season on that momentous occasion,

the Frank Norman Memorial Trophy was officially presented to the best rugby football club, at that time, in the United Kingdom.

So as we look to Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club's Diamond Jubilee, the Seven-a-Side tournament will be celebrating its own Silver Jubilee. We are pleased to welcome some old and familiar faces, however' a very special welcome goes out to Melrose Rugby Football Club. Having competed in the Gala Seven-a-Side tournament the previous day, their players and official will travel to Sevenoaks to compete in our tournament. We sincerely hope that everyone who attends our tournament will enjoy some excellent rugby and that sevena-side rugby will continue to be a great addition to our much loved game for many years to come.

P. Bradshaw Organiser of The Sevenoaks Seven-a-side Tournament

29

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PONTOISE - WHERE'S THAT? 1-925-26

"Pontoise" is a word that quickens the pulse of those intrepid Sevenoaks Rugby Football Club travellers, who once every other year take life and liver in hand and venture forth to France.

It is not necessarily the town of Pontoise itself nor indeed the annual match against that town's rugby team that evokes the excitement but "Pontoise" is the word by which the the biannual 4 day trip to Paris is known.

Indeed it has been known that some tourists never set eyes on Pontoise itself.

Who knows When the system of twinning was initiated nor indeed who chose Pontoise as the twin of Sevenoaks, however one can imagine that when the decision was made, Pontoise was a nice traditional French town of similar size to Sevenoaks with a village square surrounded by bars, boulangeries and patisseries with the overpowering morning smell of coffee and croissants. Then unbeknown to the decision makers, a whole crop of nouvelle villes were planned by either de Gaulle or Pompidou and before you could say 'Jacques Robinfils', Pontoise became Cergy-Pontoise resembling more Milton Keynes than Sevenoaks.

Anyway, Pontoise it is and as remarked earlier their rugby team and Sevenoaks play out an annual fixture. The game is traditionally played the Sunday after the England versus France International and as coincidence will have it, we usually play in Paris when the International is there too.

The tour starts Friday morning when forty to fifty members meet on the down platform of Sevenoaks Railway Station in marked contrast to the glum city gents standing opposite, waiting for the trains to London.

This is an added bonus for the majority of the tourists who for 250 days of the year, stand on the very same platform among those glum city gents.

The travellers eagerly await the train, clutching sandwiches of smoked salmon and paste, along with cases of drinks, from champagne to beer. The train departs around 8.30 am en route for Folkestone or Dover. Hopefully, nothing would be left on the platform but if it was, it would probably be someone's luggage, forcing that poor tourist to wear the same clothes all tour, but ensuring that he would have a bedroom to himself!

1-985-86

he stuck his head out of the window.

It was the only good view he had all weekend as his glasses were caught in the train's slipstream!

The train from Calais makes two stops at St. Omer and Amiens en route to Paris. These are brief stops and five years ago, to the annoyance of the good people of Amiens waiting for the train to take them to Paris, the stop was even briefer. The train trundled to a halt and at the same time as the passengers got out, our travelling referee leant out of the window, blew his whistle and off went the train, leaving the wildly gesticulating would be French travellers on the platform!

The tour usually involves staying in Paris Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights returning from whence we came and by the same means on Monday morning.

Saturday morning is spent sightseeing or more generally, getting over Friday night.

By the time the train pulls out of Sevenoaks tunnel, the corks and the pullrings are already popping! The boat trip across the Channel to Calia is spent either drinking, singing, or gambling or all three, however, the wise ones are resting, conserving energy for what Paris has in store.

The journey from Calais to Paris is recalled through a mist of Cote du Rhone and Kronenbourgs. It was on this trip to Paris some years ago that a famous Sevenoaks tourist called Brian Snowden was asked which town we were passing and in order to get a better view of the station sign,

Peter Fielding 31

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in their Diamond Jubilee Year

All the very best from Staff & Management

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Lunch is usually early comprising Kronenbourg and Sandwich Jambon and then it is off to the International at the Pare des Princes.

The stadium meeting place is Les Trois Aubus which is a frenzy of excitement with the English from sheepskin coats and cavalry twills to the club sweaters and jeans with the Basquais looking French - dark, swarthy with big black or red berets.

All you can hear is the thump, thump of the Bezier band and all you smell are the hot dogs and the beer fumes that fill the air. No-one could want for more - except perhaps tickets!

As frequent travellers will by now be aware, event the so called "guaranteed match ticket is far from a certainty. Many tourists will have queued up at the hotel reception for the promised tickets, only to become worldy wise to this mirage of the "inclusive match ticket". Following the cries of "donnez moi my tickets s'il vous plait, monsieur!", and the the reply of "quels billets?", by the Concierge, the penny or sous drops!

Even threats of "je get le gendarme" are met with "je m'en fous" and of course even the gendarme couldn't give a "fous".

Nevertheless, the once thriving Paris black market ensured that the forty or so tickest already paid for could readily be repurchased outside the Pare des Princes at 2.30 p.m. !

Alas, things have changed - instead of ticket touts on street corners, we are now met by the CRS confusing English rugby supporters with English football supporters!

The games over the years have ranged from dreary forward mauls to exciting, running rugby by both sides, but whatever the quality, any person who visited the Pare des Princes would be overcome by the sheer excitement of the occasion.

The cauldron of noise is unbelievable. The stadium is steeply seated with a roof on. Noise therefore starts in one corner and rotates around the whole stadium, picking up the drums, trumpets, whistles into a gauloise garlic laced crescendo that releases even the worst hangovers and hoarse throats till everyone is singing and shouting till long after the final whistle.

doesn't matter!). However, England's supporters can remember John Carlton's try and John Scott catching Serge Blanco from behind as he was about to score under the English posts. That had all the English supporters refusing to leave the stadium half an hour after the final whistle until Billy Beaumont, who really could walk on water, and the rest, Nearery, Smith and Cotton came out for an encore.

With the International over, it is then back to the bars we had so recently left. No longer swathed in the tricolour but with the St. George's flag and the Union Jack flying high. Arm in arm with our good albeit new French friends, everyone relived the moments time and again in exaggerated form, swearing to this day, that Carlton ran the whole length of the pitch to score the try. Perhaps it wasn't even Carlton.

The most memorable game was the 1980 Grand Slam match. No-one can remember the score, (but that

Action from a Sevenoaks v Pontoise fixture 33

Saturday night is the time for relaxing and taking things easy.

Quiet reflection on the tour to date and on what the future holds. That takes five minutes. New tourists then usually make for Pigalle and Monmatre areas of Paris, whereas the rest head for the smaller bars and restaurants they seem to remember were "somewhere around here" from two years previous. The crocodiles of footsore lads tramp the streets of the Left Bank following in the footsteps of their fathers in search of cullinary excellence.

On occasions, Sevenoaks R.F. C. has brought Paris to a standstill - literally. After a long dinner, a famous referee called Titheridge, with whistle in hand, was mistaken for an off duty policeman. He managed to direct the traffic of St. Germain and St. Michel into a complete jam much to the delight of the Parisian onlookers, including the real boys in blue.

Occasionally the rugby supporters do go over the top but the overpowering sense of goodwill around at rugby internationals is in stark contrast to the soccer riots the English subjected the Parisians to just days before our last trip. The apprehension of bar and restaurant owners was all too apparent as groups of none too smart Anglais descended on their hostelries.

However, within hours the bars and cafes of the Left Bank ring to our singing and to the applause of the other diners and maybe a few fences were mended at the expense of our kneee caps, as we finished our repertoire with the march of the 'Sevenoaks dwarfs'.

D.K.C.S. RUGBY CLUB DARTFORD are pleased to be associated with

THE SEVENOAKS R.F.C. in their

DIAMOND JUBILEE and the Charity they support.

34

True character is however shown on Sunday morning as the coach arrives early to take us to Pontoise. Most praying that stomachs will behave better than our heads and that we would keep to ourselves the secret of our recipe of the previous night's dinner.

I

It seems certain that Pontoise move their ground each year as each visit the Sevenoaks travellers get lost. Three years ago our sharp eyed club chairman,Hugh Lavers, spotted the Pontoise prop in a Renault 12 and ordered the coach driver to "suivez cet car". After twenty minutes, weaving around the back streets of Pontoise as the unsuspecting car driver tried to lose his rather large 'tail', it was discovered that he was a PTT worker going home for his Sunday lunch and totally unconnected with Pontoise rugby club.

Visiting teams don't fare too well as a whole and generally games are unremarkable. But a few occasions spring to mind like the Sevenoaks front row nearly drowning in a club scrum played on a pitch six inches under water because our hosts felt they couldn't disappoint their visitors by cancelling the game - little did they know. There was also the famous traveller who was carried off during a game and rushed to hospital with suspected concussion only to find out that he was drunk!

But times have changed. No more the civic reception greeted by the Mayor with the town band playing the National Anthem or the pre-match Pernods in the much missed Pepe's Flashbar. It has become a little serious these days with the home team actually warming up before last year's game. A far cry from one of the first matches when in the Municipal stadium the Mayor wanted to meet our Captain and a certain Peter Hunt had to be pointed out to the gathered dignatories fast asleep in the long jump pit!

Then the evening. Probably the highlight of the tour. The reception with the speeches - the toasts with certain committee members not realising you are meant to have water with Pernod, knocking back the glassful before the waiter with the water jug could get to them. The dinners and the quite outstanding hospitality, meat by the salverfull, wine by the gallon, and flageolets by the bowlful. Dances with live bands and every five minutes yet another round of the "up down" song, the Wild Rover, Alouette or Father

Abrahams and if every Entente Cordiale lived, it lived there.

Famous Tourists

John Boyle

Dick Marriott

The Pontoise F. C. and Sevenoaks R.F. C. teams during Pontoise's first visit to the new clubhouse in March 1979 'le

Lal~eside Printing Ltd -2 Ii]

The printers of this brochure would like to wish THESEVENOAKSRUGBYFOOTBALLCLUB every success in their Diamond Jubilee Year and in years to come

Lakeside specialise in the typesetting, design and printing of small books, brochures and journals with the added availability of perfect book binding.

We also maintain the highest standards in /our colour work as well as taking care of all your standard and commercial needs.

If you require a book publishing whether it be a club magazine, recipe book, autobiography, technical journal or a village history guide,

please contact David Bashford on:

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LAKESIDE PRINTING LTD., 3 Station Parade, London Road, Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1DL 36

But for every sunny day, there is a cloudy day and for every good night, a rotten morning and Monday is the rottenest of rotten!! The soreheads gather at the Gare du Nord.

Gone are the jokes, the songs, the card schools and the bravado of what was just four short days ago. The sullen caravan sets off for Sevenoaks. Crowded trains, full loos, and a rough sea crossing.

However, "Pontoise" is not only touring. Every other year, they visit us, and from humble beginnings we do now actually pay back the 20 years of hospitality that our French friends have afforded us. It is good to see the older members and not just the players put in and take out as much as anyone. With the committee and the Hon. Treasurer of Sevenoaks R.F.C., namely Cecil Williams, extending the cup of kindness and drinking the cup of wine before being carried home by his sons, we ensure that these occasions, which are part reunion and part a rugby weekend, are successful and bound to continue.

Pontoise 1984 "The Captain's Kiss" Casiano Donati and Larry Coleman

Sevenoaks R.F .C. Jubilee Tour to

PONTOISE · FRANCE

•4th· •7th

March •986

Full details from PETER FIELDING or JAN FENN. 37

YESTER-YEAR AT

Alan Finlay -1954

38

Norman Golds -1935

John Groves -1958

Ron Terry -1958

Phil Barton -1952

Mike Mauduit -1954

Jock Davidson -1956

Nie Drake -1959

Dick Bates -1959

I

SEVENOAKS R.F.C.

Tony Bryant-Fenn 1968

Brian Snowden -1972

Peter Hunt-1968

Noel Kelly -1972

Peter Churchill - 1973

Ian McLaughlin 1968

Ian McIntyre -1973

Peter Fielding - 1973

George Downton - 1955

'lO

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~41

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