On the 9th February 1949 the Old Surbitonians Association became the owners of 10.5 acres of Surrey countryside, which was formerly the home of R. N. V. R (Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve) Rugby Football Club and the Old Avorians, and became the home of the Old Surbitonians Rugby Football Club. There was no pavilion and the area was divided by a gravel road into two fields with two Tennis Courts on the south side. Before we detail the purchase and development of this area it is important to describe the history leading to this purchase.
It was on the 30th November 1929 that the Old Surbitonians Rugby Club, the only sporting section of the newly formed Old Surbitonians Association played its first fixture against Surbiton County School. It did not have any 'home' and relied on the school for its meetings and the school grounds at Hook and local sports grounds for matches. Over the next 10 years the Club developed and efforts were made to find 'a home'. However the political situation in the late 30's leading to the second world war put paid to any chance of securing a ground.
The end of the second world war saw the rebirth of the Old Surbitonians Association and the Old Surbitonians Rugby Football Club. The Club had paid a heavy price in the 6 years of conflict, losing 50 members. To commemorate this tragic loss an Old Surbitonians War Memorial Fund was formed. The Memorial Fund Committee consisted of representatives of the Association, the School, the Governors and parents. The primary object of the fund was to provide a plaque bearing the names of those who had lost their lives. The plaque would be erected in the school, and capable of removal to new buildings when necessary.
The balance of the War Memorial Fund would be used to form the nucleus of a fund to purchase a Sports Ground with pavilion and clubhouse. Such a ground was badly needed. It would enable the Association and Rugby Club to enlarge their activities and increase its membership, and would benefit those currently at the school and future generations.
It was on the 12th October 1947 that the Memorial Plaque was unveiled in the School Hall and the residue of any monies transferred to a Ground Fund Committee to assist in the purchase a Sports Ground in memory of the fallen. It was this money and the enthusiasm of its members which resulted in the purchase of our sports ground at Fairmile Lane. A copy of this plaque is proudly displayed in the upstairs bar and function room of the clubhouse but the original plaque is in the foyer of Esher College, formerly Surbiton County Grammar School at its new location in Thames Ditton from 1966.
Following the purchase and display of the Memorial Plaque and in conjunction with the school and parents association all efforts were made to purchase a 'Memorial Ground'.
During the spring and summer of 1948 members of the Rugby Club Committee spent many hours searching the district for a suitable sports ground or site which could be developed. It was decided that our minimum requirement would be to accommodate 2 rugby pitches and a cricket square but of all the grounds and sites that were available, suitable for our needs and affordable was a site on the corner the Portsmouth Road and Fairmile Lane in Cobham. On inspection it was discovered that it was already in use by two clubs, the Old Avorians and the R. N. V. R but could be easily developed to suit our needs. After a period of negotiation the Association finally became the freehold owners of this sports ground for £4,500 financed by loans with loans from the RFU and Lloyds Bank together with our own limited funds. At last we had a home and the 'ground' and 'Cobham' became everyday words in the members vocabulary.
For our money we had a sports ground of 10.5 acres divided by a central driveway into 2 areas of about 6 and 4 acres. There was no pavilion. The fencing around the ground was poor, the boundaries were overgrown with shrubs and trees, two hard tennis courts minus their netting, a pile of hardcore where a pavilion had once stood, and several outbuildings in poor condition. The larger area on the Portsmouth Road side was marked out for two rugby pitches and on the south side of the central drive there was a cricket table in need of renovation. However after 20 years we had a 'home' we could call our own.
The Rugby Club decided, with the blessing of the Association, that with an all out effort from its embers it would be possible to start using the ground for home matches in the forthcoming 1949 – 50 season. With the Association's agreement, plans were submitted for a pavilion and to return the ground to a useable condition. These plans brought the first of many problems which had to be overcome as at this time we still had to contend with all the post war problems of controls, development, building and materials shortages. However, the major problem was, that with limited financial resources, what should be the most important projects.
It was obvious that at this time building a permanent pavilion was out of the question because of our financial situation. However the shells of disused sectional army huts were being released for sale at a price we could afford. Two of these army hut shells with building materials were purchased at a cost to the Association of £540 16s 7d. All labour tasks were supplied by members. Plans for their erection of the huts were submitted, approved and the huts were ordered. On a bleak winter's morning the hut sections were delivered, unloaded and stacked awaiting construction. But first a concrete base had to be laid by a local builder. By Easter the erection of the shells of the 'Nissan huts' was complete.
The early summer saw club members put the finishing touches to the buildings to make them waterproof and presentable. The inside work commenced. After many hours of member's time, by September all inside work had been completed. We had hot and cold water, changing and bathing facilities, tea room, toilet facilities and a bar. We were, at last, ready by the start of the 1949 – 50 season, to be a 'rugby club' both for our own members and visiting teams.
It was with great pride and satisfaction that on Saturday 1st October we were able to host, at our own ground, a First Fifteen match against Regent Polytechnic which was won by 9 points to 3 points. Prior to this game on the 24th September the 'A' fifteen had hosted a Lloyds Bank 'A' side being winners by 13 points to 12.
The culmination and celebration of many months of effort both by our own members and the school came on the 17th December 1949 when on the occasion of the annual fixture between the School and the Old Surbitonians, our President and the School Headmaster, A. G. F. Willis, accompanied by the Mayor of Surbiton, Dr Gooding, officially opened our ground at Fairmile Lane. There is a framed replica of the Souvenir Programme from this momentous day in the downstairs bar.
Following the official opening of the ground a large number of club members, former pupils, parents, staff members and schoolboys were invited to watch the school 1st XV play OSRFC “A” and the school 2nd XV take on the Old Boys Extra “A”.
Meanwhile the Old Boys 1st XV won a handsome victory against a strong R. N. V. R. side. After the games refreshments taken in 'our clubhouse'.
The journey for Cobham Rugby Football Club at Fairmile Lane had begun...the journey continues.
Dick Blackman
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