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 Rugby Football Club and the Old
Avorians, and now 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.
Prior to the above, it was on the 30th November 1929 that the Old Surbitonians Rugby Club, the only 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 Chessington and local sports ground 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 home.
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 Committee consisted of representatives of the Association, the School, the
Governers and parents. The primary object of the fund would be 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 its membership, and would
benefit those now at 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 the Ground Fund Committee to assist in the finance to
purchase a Sports Ground in their memory. It was this money and the enthusiastic 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.
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 sports ground or site which could be developed. It was decided that our minimum requirement would 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 on the first of January 1949 finally became the freehold owners of this sports ground for £4500 financed by loans from the RFU and Lloyds Bank together with our limited finance. 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 site 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
members it would be possible to start using the ground for home matches in the forthcoming
1949 – 50 season. With the Associations blessing plans were submitted for a pavillion and to
return the ground to a usable condition. These plans brought the first of many problems which
had to be overcome as that at this time we still had to contend with all the post war problems of
controls, development, building and materials. However, the major problem was, that with
limited financial resources, what were 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 at this time the shells of disused sectional army huts were being
released for sale at a price we could afford. Two shells of these army huts with building
materials were at cost to the Association of five hundred and 40 pounds sixteen shillings and
seven pence. All labour tasks were supplied by members.
Plans for their erection were submitted, they were finally approved and the huts were ordered. On a bleak winter's morning these 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 members' 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 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
nine (9) points to three (3) points. However, there was still much work to do but after 20 years all 'Old Surbs' had a home. 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. 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 first and second sides take on the Old Boys whilst the Old Boys first team won a handsome victory against a strong R. N. V. R. side. Following the matches tea was 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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