Club History
Dates vary as to when the Club was actually founded. The RFU handbook lists 1924 as does the Hampshire RFU County History and Centenary Year Programme 1983-1984, however, the Club diary states 1925.
The first printed report though appeared in the Alton News section of "The Hants Herald & Alton Gazette, North East Hants Observer", dated Friday April 16th 1926 (now the Gazette) reading as follows:
Rugby Football Club Formed
As a result of a small informal meeting held in the assembly rooms on Thursday in last week, it was resolved to form a Rugby Football Club for Alton & District. It was announced that Mr T.A. Chalcroft J.P. had kindly promised the Club the use of a field. The following officers were elected pro term;
- Hon. Secretary: Mr D.R. Lock
- Vice Captain: Mr F.H.R. Brighton
- Captain: Mr G.A. Pidgeon
- Hon Treasurer: Mr R.H. Lock
- Committee: Messrs Pidgeon, Britton, H. Loe, R.H. Lock, Dr O.V.Payne and Dr H. Yates
The Hon. Secretary announced that he had arranged a trial game with the Wireless School Flowerdown Camp. Brig. Gen. H.A. Boyce CMG DSO has kindly consented to be the first President, and the following Vice Presidents of the Club:
- Capt. H.A. Burnell
- Admiral E.P.E. Jervoise
- Mr W.G. Lowndes
- Dr O.V. Payne
- Mr Bradley Trimmer
- Mr G.S. Summers
The report in the papers' sports section of that trial match reads:
"The first match played by Alton & District Rugby Football Team formed only last week, took place at Alton last Wednesday against the Wireless School Flowerdown. Although Flowerdown won by 27 points to 3 the score did not quite represent the game as Alton put in frequent bursts of good footwork and had hard luck in not increasing their score on one or two occasions"
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