From The Archives - Into The Sixties
So far in the previous two articles I have related the death of the old wooden clubhouse and the opening of the current building in 1962. Armed with a new home with a lease on the clubhouse land and car park the Club moves through the sixties in fine fettle. On most Saturdays 5 or 6 senior teams were playing plus a series of vibrant colts teams.
In these days the Colts played on a Saturday on a top pitch alongside the first or second team, whoever was at home. This gave the Colts exposure to the senior players, a real benefit when players moved up from the Colts to senior rugby. The Colts teams of the Sixties where continually one of the best teams in the County and there was serious competition to get into the team. Many players played for their school on the Saturday morning and the Colts in the afternoon. I know I was one of them! Standards where high, for example from the 1967-68 Colts team; all the Colts who moved up to the seniors next season were drafted into either the first, second or third teams – and you had to pre-season trial for these teams back then.
Talking of trials, these were infamous. Usually on the last Saturday of August Club trials were held to decide who would be playing for the Club’s top three teams. Pitches were usually rock hard and the games equally so. It was often said that there were more injuries on trials day then during the season. True or not they were not for the fainthearted. The potential players for the lower sides usually enjoyed a fag and a pint sitting in the sunshine watching the ‘seniors’ knocking Bow-Bells out of each other.
The social scene at the Club during the decade was very strong. At least once a month there was a disco or a live band with the clubhouse packed out. The formidable ladies committee also organised various functions and the occasional cabaret evening with players, wives and friends displaying their acting and musical skills with varying amounts of success. Lots of fun but best viewed after a few drinks.
Talking of drinking the beer through most of the sixties was supplied by the Suffolk brewer Tolly Cobbold. TC had helped set up the bar when the new clubhouse was built and there was an agreement to serve their beer. Not unreasonable but the draft beer was not the best. Suffice it to say that a pint of bitter was known as “sludge” and was only really drinkable with a bottle of light ale. After five or six though it did seem to get better from what I remember.
Well I hope that you have enjoyed these musings from the past. This will be the last one until the new season in September. Have a great summer.
In these days the Colts played on a Saturday on a top pitch alongside the first or second team, whoever was at home. This gave the Colts exposure to the senior players, a real benefit when players moved up from the Colts to senior rugby. The Colts teams of the Sixties where continually one of the best teams in the County and there was serious competition to get into the team. Many players played for their school on the Saturday morning and the Colts in the afternoon. I know I was one of them! Standards where high, for example from the 1967-68 Colts team; all the Colts who moved up to the seniors next season were drafted into either the first, second or third teams – and you had to pre-season trial for these teams back then.
Talking of trials, these were infamous. Usually on the last Saturday of August Club trials were held to decide who would be playing for the Club’s top three teams. Pitches were usually rock hard and the games equally so. It was often said that there were more injuries on trials day then during the season. True or not they were not for the fainthearted. The potential players for the lower sides usually enjoyed a fag and a pint sitting in the sunshine watching the ‘seniors’ knocking Bow-Bells out of each other.
The social scene at the Club during the decade was very strong. At least once a month there was a disco or a live band with the clubhouse packed out. The formidable ladies committee also organised various functions and the occasional cabaret evening with players, wives and friends displaying their acting and musical skills with varying amounts of success. Lots of fun but best viewed after a few drinks.
Talking of drinking the beer through most of the sixties was supplied by the Suffolk brewer Tolly Cobbold. TC had helped set up the bar when the new clubhouse was built and there was an agreement to serve their beer. Not unreasonable but the draft beer was not the best. Suffice it to say that a pint of bitter was known as “sludge” and was only really drinkable with a bottle of light ale. After five or six though it did seem to get better from what I remember.
Well I hope that you have enjoyed these musings from the past. This will be the last one until the new season in September. Have a great summer.
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