In the wake of the First World War in 1919 a group of enterprising enthusiasts
got together in Bunty’s Cafe on the High Street and formed an embryonic club under the name of “Harpenden Old Public School Boys”.

Following a number of away games mainly against school sides over the coming years the club finally decided to find itself a home ground and thus the club Harpenden Rugby Football Club was formed on 2nd March 1921 with the official colours of fawn (brown) and white and a pitch on Rothamsted Park with a changing room behind the Cock Inn

The stay at Rothamsted didn’t last long as the Lady of Manor brought an end to ‘rugger’ matches as they were thought to attract ‘rough loiterers’ (Plus ça change!)

Forced to find a new ground the club then rented a field in Townsend Lane and used a barn to the rear of the Cross Keys Inn as changing facilities. The distance between the two was so large a motor coach was hired to transport the players to and fro.

The itinerant nature of the club continued as the members looked to find a more permanent home. In 1925 A 2 ½ acre plot was found behind the Waterworks for a princely fixed rent of £45 per annum. The ground was rolled and changing rooms were constructed - a home for HRFC.

Building the Foundations

Decades before the advent of league rugby it was local reputation and a keen Fixture Secretary that would bring about a competitive calendar for a club’s sides. The first few seasons were roundly considered a success with significantly more wins than losses and a fixture list that included Old Albanians, Barnet, Harrow and West Herts.

As time went on the club grew in membership with a 3rd XV being introduced in 1928. The coffers also expanded allowing continual improvement of facilities including enlarging the pitch, installing a second playing surface and extending the pavilion, all projects fulfilled by volunteers as willingly in the 1920s as they are today.

By 1936 the club was attracting quite some interest from local people and facilities for spectators were rudimentary to say the least, consisting of only duckboards on top of the boggy turf. It was then decided that funds should be raised for the construction of a grandstand. This was opened ahead of a match against Old Georgians by former England captain Sir Wavell Wakefield, MP and Jack Manchester who was captaining the All Blacks on their tour of Britain.

On opening the grandstand, Wavell Wakefield addressed the crowd with following words:

The backbone of Rugby football can be found in hundreds of clubs up and down the country which, with a few friends to support them, turn out Saturday after Saturday to play the game for the love of it, because it is the finest game in the word”

It was also in 1936 that the club also adopted the ‘cock’ as its logo taken from the sign of its social headquarters and spiritual home - The Cock Inn.

Socials, The Trinity Tankard & Touring

The Cock Inn was the venue where players, members and supporters enjoyed a post match sausage and mash supper along with plenty of refreshment.

The bar was so full of rugger enthusiasts on Saturday nights that none others penetrated there. John Jenner and his wife, ‘Auntie’ Jenner maintained a genial but firm control from behind the bar. Attempts to break into song were promptly suppressed, but high spirits and laughter were not.

The club became famous with visitors for its levels of merriment, most memorable were nights when the Trinity Tankard had been retained, a three handled pewter mug played for on a ‘holder and challenger’ basis between Barnet, West Herts and Harpenden.

In 1936 the club embarked on its first tour alongside Hertfordshire friends and rivals Barnet and West Herts. The tour took in a significant chunk of the South coast with matches against Bournemouth, Dorchester and Sidmouth a round trip of over 400 miles, not an insignificant undertaking in those days!

In the following seasons the touring parties visited East Anglia and Kent before life and rugby took an abrupt seven year interruption as members of the club were fully engaged in the war effort both at home and abroad.

As we build towards our centenary celebrations, the club is keen to hear from members past and present who may have stories, memories, memorabilia or documents that they would like to share.

If you have anything that may be of interest or would like to be involved please contact Ian Cumming (secretary@hrfc.com) or Peter Danby (president@hrfc.com)