Our nomadic existence was now over, the Club had found its permanent home at Hoe Lane but now in the summer of 1949 they had to turn Hoe Lane into a Rugby Club. “Under the guidance of relentless taskmasters, Dick and Roy Crook, volunteers worked like galley slaves, week in and week out. They toiled and they sweated, they dug and they levelled. They carted and they carried and, out of the numerous trenches and concrete, out of breeze blocks and timber, the hopes and dreams that the Club had cherished for so long materialised.”

This was in the shape of 2 huts (changing rooms and bar) erected at a cost of £550. A fire the following June undid much of their work causing £200 worth of damage, repaired by members.

Old Hertfordians 1st XV 1950-51

In 1951 the Association launched an appeal for a memorial to Old Hertfordians killed in the War. This raised £1,500 and in 1953 was used to build a brick pavilion across the front of the huts, dedicated to their memory. (The memorial plaque can be seen in the clubhouse to this day). Hoe Lane was truly up and running.

1953 The New Clubhouse

The period after 1953 saw a steady increase in the number of sides from five to seven/eight occasionally in the 1970s. Playing standards also improved under the wise leadership of Presidents Dick Crook, Ian Kennedy, Don Blackeby and Len Smith and more particularly able captains of whom Bill Hodges (1955-61) and John Atkinson (1962-69 & 1970-71) deserve a special mention. During this 20 year period the 1st XV won over 60% of its games and the lower sides were also consistently successful.

With the growth in numbers, the nine acres acquired in 1949 were proving to be inadequate so a lease on some adjoining land was agreed with Herts County Council and this enabled three sides to play at home. When this lease ran out in 1965, a third tiny pitch was fitted into our own land, inspiring many of our veteran players to prolong their careers.

In the late 60s the Club was able to make use of a pitch on the other side of Hoe Lane at Presdales. This led to many complaints from exhausted players regarding the long walk there and back and the size of the pitch. Rumours reached the Committee of games without a line-out, of heroic but fruitless efforts by fly halves and full backs to find touch. The Ground Committee looked into this and discovered that the pitch was 100 yards wide, 25 yards wider than the laws of the game permitted.

One event that persisted throughout the 50s and 60s was the Annual House 7’s tournament. Players representing their old school houses would compete for the House Trophy. This was a tournament for all the club’s players and many photos remain of those taking part during these years.

OHRFC House 7s 1960-61, Winners Croft

A sense of continuity is very important to any sports club and, in this period, the Club was well served, not only by its Presidents and Captains but by a succession of officers who ran the Club with great dedication and efficiency. In this 20 year period we had 3 Secretaries, 5 Treasurers, 6 Team Secretaries and 1 Fixture Secretary.

In February 1964, a remarkable event took place. All 5 Creasey brothers played together in the 1st XV against Old Albanians (Peter, Alan, John, Michael and Paul). Alan unfortunately was concussed early in the game but we still won 39 – 0 a cricket score in those days with the 3 point try.

Peter, Alan, John, Michael and Paul Creasey

In 1961 plans for a new clubhouse were announced and the members set about the task of fundraising. Interest fee loans were encouraged and all kinds of other money-raising schemes have been used over the years. With other rugby clubs we formed the Home Counties Sports Development Association and ran a weekly soccer lottery. When this was wound up in 1967 the Club introduced a 200 Club (£13 a year with over a thousand pounds as prize money). Eventually the 200 Club became a 300 Club and later a 400 Club.

All kinds of other fund raising schemes have been used with variable success – fetes and fairs (the Yogi Bear Fair on Hartham is especially memorable), barbecues, pig roasts, ox roasts, boxing evenings, race nights, raffles, prize draws, donkey derbies, waste paper collection, sponsored runs. Pub crawls and knit-ins. Much revenue has been raised by these events, but it must be added that, without the expertise, generosity and patience of the Crook Brothers, we would not be where we are today.

In the summer of 1966 the new Clubhouse was erected. Many tears were shed for the old Clubhouse with its magnificent brick fireplace. An unforgettable “Eve of Destruction” party took place on a Saturday evening in April, semi authorised destruction and vandalism. This made the work of the demolition gang much easier. Unfortunately there was a game scheduled for the Sunday and it took place in spite of the previous night’s mayhem.

Construction of the current Clubhouse

The New Clubhouse 1967

In September 1967 the Club had a memorable opening week with a quality brochure, including articles from many leading national sports writers – Vivian Jenkins, Peter West, Henry Longhurst and even an article from Professor Stanley Unwin! Soon after the building of the Clubhouse, a caretaker’s bungalow miraculously appeared, the plans for which were rumoured to have been written on the back of one of Roy Crook’s cigarette packets.

In 1969 two squash courts, additional changing rooms and a small viewing balcony, affectionately known as the ‘Muppet box’, were added.

The Clubhouse 1969 with two squash courts added

Old Hertfordians 1st XV 1968-69

By the early 1970s even though the club was fielding an increasing number of teams, the players who were non Old Boys had become a significant minority within the Club but they were not allowed to be full members. This caused much distress to many Old Boys and non Old Boys alike and, after much soul-searching, discussion and debate over a long period of time, an Extraordinary General Meeting decided the Club should go completely open. On the 9th June 1972 Old Hertfordians RFC became Hertford RFC.

We have much to thank our forebears for. Through their enthusiasm and foresight we have the facilities to offer to boys, girls, men and ladies both young and old, the opportunity to play our wonderful game in safe and comfortable surroundings’.