The Move to Windermere Road

In June of 1936, when Birmingham RFC departed from Wake Green Playing Fields at Windermere Road in Moseley, our committee promptly secured the tenancy of a pitch at a cost of 20 per annum. A little later, old rivals and co-tenants, Old Moseleians, overlooked the need to apply for a renewal of the lease of their two pitches.  Bertie Friar stepped in and arranged for one of them to be transferred to the Old Ys.  Despite another row with Old Moseleians, we kept the pitch.

Our post-match hospitality was transferred to the Acocks Green Unionist Club which we agreed to join in exchange for a third of the increased profits over the bar.

Changing at the Billesley Hotel was retained but in January 1938, with  two  pitches on an excellent ground, a scheme for building an adjacent wooden pavilion was proposed.  A mammoth prize draw raised 400. This was banked with the National Westminster Bank in Dudley who provided us with a 250 overdraft secured by Jack Horne and Bill Crinians father.   In June of 1939, the pavilion was erected at a cost of approximately 750.

The opening ceremony was arranged for late September to be performed by Mr.B.J.Worsley Spittle.  Rusty Scorer was to provide opposition for a match to follow.  In fact the opening ceremony never took place and the future, which appeared set so fair, was ruined by the outbreak of war.

 

The Post War Years

Six years later in the August of 1945, a  meeting of seventeen interested persons was held to bring OYRFC back to life. Ron Whitehouse was elected as Secretary and Captain, Angus Stone as Treasurer and a little later, Billy Williamson became Chairman.

Money was raised by holding dances and raffles.  Prizes included 100 Players cigarettes costing 11s 8d and a bottle of whisky at 2.

This was a difficult period with a shortage of players and threats of resignation amongst the committee. There was still a happy liaison between the club and school thanks to the support of Mr. Williamson and Mr. Hobby.  Mr. H.P.Lunn, who had been President since 1932, sadly died and was replaced  by Mr. V.J.Long

The fixtures for the 1946-47 season were strong although only containing two clubs from the 1938-39 list. The overriding problem was again financial with a bank overdraft of 300 and 150 owed to club members.  Sweepstakes organised by Messrs. Mason and Horlick contributed greatly to the clubs income.  The one on The Derby in 1947 raised 305 3s 7d. As a result our Treasurer, Harry Sedgeley, was able to report a credit balance of 40, but warned that running costs of 170 were needed each year..  Securities for the overdraft were returned to the guarantors Mr.Crinian Senior and Jack.Horne who were made Life Members.  The club account was transferred to the Digbeth Branch of Nat West, where an account still remains.  Another sweepstake paid off the other debts so by the beginning of the 1948 season, the club had 109 in credit. On the playing side, although our fifteen-a-side record was mediocre, our sevens team reached the semi-finals of the North Midlands Sevens in the three post war years. With the speed of Lou Ullman and Ted Scott backed up by Ken Pipe, Les Young, and Harry White, it was a formidable side.