Old Yardleians Rugby Football Club

The Sixties

Easter saw a combined Old Yardleians, Old Centrals and Old Saltleians XV win all three matches at the Lowestoft Festival scoring 51 points to nil.  The unlicensed hotel was the only criticism.

Reg Singer, the Treasurer, reported a balance of 180 at the AGM of June 1961.  Our playing record was marginally improved  P 33  W 17  L 14  D 2  F 291  A 264 .  Of the 291 points for, Cyril Hayward had kicked over 100.  Dave Martin had taken over as Fixture Secretary and had added Lichfield and Solihull to the list with Stafford to be included the following year.

The improvement proved short-lived, the First XV only winning six games in the 1961-62 season.  However, the Seconds were unbeaten at darts and drinking was at a premium.  The six guinea fee for a dance was refunded by the brewery due to the fantastic consumption of ale.

Tilehouse Lane

A major step forward occurred in October of 1962 when an offer of one of the six fields at Betteridges Farm in Tilehouse Lane, Shirley was made by Jack Horne at a rental of 100 per annum. The second field in from Tilehouse Lane was chosen and Solihull and Stratford councils were approached for outline planning permission for the seven acre site.

The First XV continued to struggle on the field and a change in jersey style from narrow to broad bands to give the impression of a bigger team failed as we recorded only eight wins in the 1962-63 season.  The winter was particularly severe and games were not played for two months. The Second XV managed a full side in only eight of the fifteen matches played.

At the AGM in April 1964, Les Cox announced that the search for a new ground was over.  It was obvious that the Horne brothers had put themselves out in a remarkable way and their goodwill was appreciated by everyone.

The New Clubhouse

There now followed a period unique in Midlands rugby as the brick clubhouse was to be built on the newly acquired ground by the members themselves.  Plans, based on Old Moseleians clubhouse at Lugtrout Lane, were drawn up by Arnold Gurney A.R.I.B.A.  A sub-committee of Ivor Enoch, Martin Stone, Dave Collen, Alan Cope and Les Cox was formed to cover all aspects of the new structure to be built at an estimated cost of 4000.  With a building fund totalling 10 17s 0d, it was only the fact that Jack Geen allowed the use of the trade and credit terms offered to his own building company that the work was able to commence in the early part of 1965.

The lease at Windermere Road was terminated but the councils offer of  500 for the pavilion valued at 1000 was rejected.  Meanwhile at Tilehouse Lane, work continued on the new building in the evenings and at weekends, Mick Miller proving to be an outstanding navvy.