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'

The war years...

Pre-war games were played at Whitedown Lane, changing at the Market Hotel. In those days home teams supplied their own referees, Alton's for many years was Mr Griffiths. The strip was black jerseys, white shorts and red/black stockings with a hand embroidered badge. Post-war this badge was changed to include a swan above it. In 1961 it was decided to change to a red jersey, dark blue shorts and black stockings with white tops. These jerseys were obtained from the Gloucester Regiment, by Hugh Winter.

Tours took place during the thirties to Bologne (packet steamer from Portsmouth) and we were one of, if not the last club to tour Europe prior to the outbreak of WWII.

Fixtures pre-war started in October and finished in March. The fixture card for 1937-38 shows old adversaries, Portsmouth, Trojans, Newbury, Chichester, Petersfield, Camberley, Old Guildfordians and some others who no longer exist.

After the war the Club struggled to get started, but was resurrected in 1948 due to the efforts of E.S. Kench, G. Brook and Alan Stoodley. Finding it hard to get players the Club in 1953 was renamed Alton & Farnham. With only one pitch in Anstey Park and one in Farnham Park, a second pitch in Farnham, down by the gas works, was later used.

The Club by 1962 were running 3 senior sides and on 18th Feb 1971 a colts team was formed which would prove to be extremely useful in later years. On 11th Dec 1972 an EGM was called where it was explained that in order to get the councils blessing for a clubhouse, the Club should be known as Alton RFC. This was duly passed and fund raising (which had been going on for several year prior to this meeting) was redoubled and the members built the clubhouse as it stands today.

It was officially opened on Sunday 8th September 1974 by W.G. Brock, founder member and a Vice President. A match followed between Alton Vs Presidents XV

Eighties, Nineties, Present...

The eighties and nineties saw an upsurge in playing strength and results as colts from the successful teams of the late 70's and 80's were fed through. At this stage we had 4 senior teams plus a colts team playing every Saturday. It was during this period that that the Club gained a reputation as cup fighters, the first coming in 1982-1983 when as a Junior Merit team we reached our first Hampshire Cup Final, defeating amongst others Basingstoke at home 8-6 and drawing away to Trojans 6-6.

A further 3 Semi-Finals were contested before we made our first final in 1990-1991, losing to Havant 9-12. Three more finals were to follow all against Basingstoke, the last in 1999-2000 which saw us defeat both Winchester and Havant 'in their own back yards' on the way.

Our first silverware was at Hants Senior Merit Table winners in 1985-1986. Due to a strong fixture list and good results we were one of the original members of London Div 3 SW when the leagues started in 1987-1988. In that first season we were runners up to Purley. We gained promotion the following season to London 2 South, only to be relegated after one season, a further six seasons were to pass before we were again promoted, this time as outright champions having not lost a single game all season.

Three seasons at London 2 South followed but the decline in fortunes has seen us drop out of the London Leagues after 18 years continuous membership.

The passion and spirit at Alton still thrive today and our ambition is as it has always been, and that is to bring success to the Club through the enjoyment and promotion of rugby.