Our History - page 2

Harpenden Rugby Football Club: A not-so-brief history

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The search for a new ground began in 1957, but not until 1964 was the Club finally able to negotiate the sale of its old ground and establish itself at its current venue in Deacons Field Redbourn Lane.

It was one of the first clubs in the area to sell its ground for development and build a new, at that time, state of the art clubhouse. The new Clubhouse opened in the 1964/5 season with 3 pitches, a brand new 5,000 sq ft Clubhouse and a grandstand; a far cry from two muddy pitches and two huts at Overstone Road. Two more pitches, a training area and a car park were added over the next few years. After much heart searching two squash courts were completed in 1968 with a third added in 1974 and additional accommodation added in 1979. The provision of squash courts allowed the Harpenden Squash Club, previously without a home in the town, to have a base.

In the 1980s floodlights were provided for the training pitch. Today, in its 83rd 'official season', or its 85th if you count from the original start, the Club is a well-established sporting and social facility in the town.

The Club now runs 3 sides, a Colts side and has a thriving mini and junior section catering for all age groups from 7 years to Colts. A considerable force in County rugby over the years, the club suffered a few bleak seasons in the mid 1990s when it descended to Herts League 1.

After some re-organisation, an amazing three seasons followed with the Club being crowned Champions of Hertfordshire Division 1 (1995/1996), Herts/Middlesex Division 1 (1996/1997) and London 3NW (1997/1998) ending the run in London 2N.

Arguably, Harpenden's finest hour came on the 3rd May 1997 at Twickenham, winning the NPI Junior Cup. The intervening period has seen the Club consolidate its position in the London leagues. This goal has not been helped by the, at that time, regular RFU reorganisation of the leagues (introducing a new London 4NW in 00/01) meaning that following two steady seasons in London 2N, the Club found itself back in 3NW, where it has spent the past three seasons.

In the abbreviated form of the game, the Club has been the County leader carrying off the Hertfordshire County 7's title in three of the past four seasons - the winning squad representing Hertfordshire in the National County 7's each time. The youth policy has every sign of continuing to ensure success with talented young players coming through into the senior sides; the Colts have regularly contested the County Cup and have emulated the senior side by winning the Colts 7's in the past two seasons.

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