OLD AZURIANS

Early History of the Old Azurians RFC

(Taken from a copy of Laurence Boylett's original notes kindly donated by James Feest)

 

F O R E W O R D

 

In presenting this history of the Club, it is hoped that the former players will find something of interest and that other readers will learn about the Club which has played its part in Sussex Rugby.

 

It is regretted that certain details are incomplete but this is due to the fact that the earlier minute books have been lost and the Club has no historian.

 

I am grateful to the Headmaster for the loan of earlier issues of “The Azurian” from which much of this information has been obtained.

 

 LAURENCE H. BOYLETT

 

HISTORY OF THE CLUB

 

       Members have frequently been asked as to the origin of the name of the Club.   The name “Azurian” was adapted from the school badge which was the coat of arms of the West Sussex County Council.    In heraldic language, this was described as “Azure, six martletts, three, two and one a chief or (gold).”   The azure field is the foundation colour of the shield and the most important part of it.   The school magazine of the Worthing High School for Boys was thus called “The Azurian” and so it was an easy step to “The Old Azurians”.   This name being adopted at the first Annual General Meeting of the Old Boys on the 6th November 1925.

 

       The first Old Boys match against the School was played on the 19th December 1925, result unknown.   There was talk in the New Year of 1926 of forming an Old Boys Rugby XV if sufficient numbers were available.   The July 1926 issue of the Azurian proclaimed “...an Old Azurians Rugby Club was also formed and a Committee with W. A. Belton as Secretary will attend to its affairs”.   In the December 1926 magazine there was further news – Mr. W. E. Rees was the President and R. O. Dixon and N. R. Barton Captain and Vice Captain respectively.   It was decided that the club colours should be all black with the white and green badge of the school on the shirt.   Matches were first played on a pitch in Brougham Road.   However, a disused well was discovered in the middle of the pitch and due to this, matches were played at the School by permission of the Headmaster, Mr. R. G. Martin.

 

       The first full season of the Club was 1927/28  when the following Clubs  were played:-  Brighton, Storrington College, the School, Worthing, Jutes House (the President’s School House), Newhaven Town, Storrington, Chichester City, Casuals (Portsmouth), Public Schools, H.M.S. Fisguard, Lancing College and Hurstpierpoint.

 

       E. G. Mundell presented a cup for the Club seven-a-side tournament which was competed for by club members playing in their old house colours, i.e. Angles (red), Jutes (yellow), Saxons (dark blue) and Vikings (light blue).

 

       When war broke out in 1939, the Club virtually came to a standstill with most of its members serving in the forces or doing other National Service.   A list of those who served is shown as an appendix.   Ten (it was 12 - Ed) members died on active service and they will still be remembered by the older members.   H. O. Anderson (Andy) kept a XV going during the war years for those who wanted a game when they came home on leave.

 

Items of interest during the fifty seasons of the Club are as follows:-

 

1930/31      A photograph of the 1st XV shows amongst others

Alan Rae, “Andy” Anderson, E. L. Strudwick and Sid Teasdale.                  

 

1932/33      The Club was already making itself felt in the County R. F. U. and Referees Society.

 

1933/34      A Wednesday rugby team was started. In December 1933 Oliver Dixon was made an emeritus member and presented with a tobacco jar in                    recognition of his services at the Old Boys Dinner.   The club subscription had its first increase from ten shillings and sixpence to                                 seventeen shillings and sixpence.

 

1934/35      Worthing 1st XV played for the first  time.

 

1935/36      The 1st XV drew 3-3 with Worthing and was practically unbeaten during the season.

 

1936/37      It was recorded that the Club had plenty of reserves.

 

1938/39      Due to the large number of playing members, the Club made arrangements with the Worthing Club whereby it provided half the members                  for Worthing Extra “B” XV.   The Club played, inter alia, Old Stortfordians, Cuaco, Warlingham, and Old Shootershillians. Coaches were                           dispensed with.

 

1939/40      The Club hoped to play on the West Park pitch for the first time but war intervened. The Annual General Meeting was held on 26th August

 

1939 qt the Cricketers followed by a Hot Pot Supper at ninepence per head.   One team was run during the season. No subscription was charged but there was the usual match fee of one shilling per game.   Games organised were to be in or near Worthing.

 

1940/41      Games were mostly organised against Service teams who were young and fit.   Prospects for the following season were not considered                      bright due to the ever increasing numbers being called up.   The evacuation of the School to Newark meant a sudden end to the season as                  the school players made up the numbers.

 

1941/42      Thanks to W. E. Rees and C. A. Brace a fairly short and successful season was had.

 

1942/43      Kept going by W. E. Rees and Alan Rae.

 

1945/46      The Club run in conjunction with Worthing RFC, the combined club fielding three teams.

 

1946/47     First post-war Annual General Meeting held on 31st May 1946 agreed to continue with Worthing. The Club supplied 4 members out of 10 on                  a joint management committee. Subscriptions were £2 2s. 0d. The Club preserved its independence by retaining membership of all                              representative bodies. A junior rugby XV run by Jim Feest made some headway in spite of difficulties.

 

1947/48     Subscriptions £1 1s. 0d. The 2nd XV was restarted and had two games in the first part of the season, both against the School. It was difficult                 to get out the teams and “Pop” Churcher and Laurie Boylett spent many a Saturday morning on the telephone trying to find players at                        short notice. Normal procedure as many team secretaries will appreciate.

 

The Club was offered a piece of land on the slopes of Salvington Hill by Mr F J Clements in memory of his son Alan, who had been killed during the war whilst serving in the Merchant Navy. Unfortunately, the Club was unable to obtain planning permission and the offer was withdrawn. The Club meanwhile played on Broadwater Green changing at the Cricketers by kind permission of Wilf Page, with primitive bathing facilities using tin baths in the courtyard. The baths appeared as an asset in the Club’s balance sheet.

 

1948/49      A successful season but no details.

 

1949/50      The Annual Ball was a success both socially and financially. The 2nd XV drew 3-3 with Worthing “A” on Boxing Day.                                                    The two baths were written off in the Club accounts.

 

1950/51       The Annual Ball was again a success. The Club had hoped to move from Broadwater Green to West Park which had been the site of wartime                  allotments. Unfortunately there was a delay in installing the showers and plumbing. When installed they were totally inadequate. The first                    game at West Park was on 24th March against St Julians (Newport) Old Boys. The last game, the same Easter Weekend, was played by the                    “A” XV against OLD Freemans “A”. Both teams attended the Easter Dance at the Plaza Ballrooom and thestrains of Sospan fach were heard.                   The Captain of the “A” XV had a black eye.

 

1951/52       The Silver Jubilee Dinner was held at the Mulberry Hotel on the 1st March. Derek Walker, the Secretary, appealed to members for                                 information as to results etc., no club results or records having been kept.

 

1952/53       At the Annual General Meeting, because of the School’s support it was moved “that all School colours and other selected players from the                     School should be made honorary members of the OARFC subject to the approval of the Committee”. The first Jumble Sale raised £27.

 

1954/55       The Headquarters were the George Hotel and teas were at the Squash Club.

 

1957/58       Dance held at the Richmond Room, tickets five shillings. Worthing beaten for the first time.

 

1958/59      Club colours changed from black to black, white and green. Match fees three shillings and sixpence.

 

1959/60      For third season three teams were fielded. Headquarters moved to the Boat Club.

 

1962/63      Club commenced playing at Palatine Road.

 

1963/64      On 11th September 1963 a School Past and Present XV played a Sussex County XV to celebrate the opening of the school playing field at                       Balsover Road. The result was a draw 14 points each. The School Past and Present XV was made up of 14 Old Boys and Ian Wright, a                             schoolboy, later to become an England player. Two “A” XVs were turned out instead of an “A” XV and an Extra “A” XV.

 

1964/65      In Boxing Day match, Worthing were beaten by 8 points to 3, Roger Quittenton converting the second try. “Andy” Anderson was                                 appointed Chairman due to the ill health of the President.

 

1965/66      The Club had an Honours Board (present whereabouts unknown).

 

1966/67      Worthing beaten 8-6.

 

1969/70       “Andy” Anderson elected President on the death of W E Rees. The Club drew eith Brighton and beat Worthing.

 

1970/71       In ordinary fixtures unbeaten by Sussex clubs including a defeat of Brighton by 29 points to 3. Brighton had their revenge in the                                 Knockout Tournament, having rested on the Saturday whilst the 1st XV had played. The Club had a tour to Weston-Super-Mare. A formal                       agreement was entered into with the Boat Club and Canoe Club.

 

1972/73       A Club Captain was appointed for the first time. This was Jim Dixon, son of a founder member and the first captain. The Club became a                         member of Worthing Sports Council.

 

1975/76      Andy retired as President and his successor is Jack Spratt. The name of the Club was changed to Azurians Rugby Football Club.