THE HISTORY OF
PARK HOUSE F.C.

Park House Football Club was founded in 1883. It was described as football club there being no desire then or now to acknowledge that there is any other true game of football except rugby. But why Park House? The club came into being as a result of the keenness of the Rev G Mallows Youngman, curate of St Alfege church in Greenwich. The Reverend opened a gymnasium at Park House, 1 Upper Park Street, Greenwich, hence the name of the club. He became founder president, retaining his interest and remaining in office for 40 years. The minutes of the AGM in August 1890 confirmed that the ground should be that position of Blackheath which stands at the top of Lewisham Hill. Affiliation to the RFU took place at this time. By 1892 the fixture list included St Mary's Hospital, Saracens and Jesus College, Oxford. The highlight of the season though was the match against France on their first visit to England. Park House ran out victorious winners by two tries and two goals to one try. During the remaining years of the century the club improved their fixture list and won the Kent Cup for three consecutive seasons between 1897 and 1899. The third of these successes was played on April 8th 1899 in front of 200 spectators including the famous Dr W G Grace. The result that day was Park House 14 Duke of Wellington's Regiment 0. In December 1898 Racing Club of France were the hosts to Park House, looking to avenge the defeat of the national team five years previous. Fortunately for Park House, they ran out comfortable 17 - 6 winners.

At the start of the season 1902-3, the tenancy was agreed for a new ground at Bromley Road, Catford. In the following years the club saw visits to the West Country to play teams like Cinderford and Stroud as well as further visits to France. Before long though the club moved again to new premises in Court Farm, Mottingham, courtesy of the London Playing Fields Society. During the 1914-1918 war all fixtures were cancelled at least 14 members of the club lost their lives while many more were injured. On the 12th June 1919 the club was resurrected and play continued at the beginning of the new season. In 1920 when the then Secretary resigned, it was proposed that Tom Sharratt should take over the post. He accepted the job and remained in the position for 35 years. This was then followed by a further 8 years as President of the club - a truly remarkable record of service. In September 1924 two pitches were found near West Wickham and the club became sub-tenants of Kent County RFU. In 1929 the club reached the Kent cup final, losing to RN Depot Chatham. At the same time, problems began to emerge at West Wickham and the search was again on for a new ground. Just in time for the 1930-31 season pitches were offered at Baston Farm, Barnet Wood Rd and in 1934 a new pavilion was formally opened by the then president Sir Henry McAuliffe. Park House used this new location to attract recruits from the old boys of St Joseph's Academy and in the following years the club provided players for Kent Rugby and also organised a 7 a side tournament in 1937. In 1940 the club was again closed because of the war and upon opening again in 1946 it was known that 8 former players had been killed in hostilities. By the early 50s a close association had been made with the R.N College at Greenwich and even more unusually the US Marines. The experience of seeing a full team of Marines playing a cross between a rugby and American Football had to be seen to be believed. On the Saturday of 24th march 1962 disaster struck when the pavilion was completely destroyed by fire. Just prior to this a new agreement had been made to lease the land on the south side of Barnet wood Rd for 10 years and a temporary structure was quickly erected. A more permanent clubhouse was started in the spring of 1971 and was finally opened on 7th October 1973. In 1978, at the initiative of Paddy Solan, the club's landlords were prevailed open to sell the free-hold for 13 acres of playing field. To mark the acquisition, suitable celebrations took place on 23rd Sept 1979 and the Rt. Hon. Harold Macmillan kindly agreed to attend to formally accept the Title Deeds.

Park House has always had a keen interest in mini and junior teams, in 1978 we hosted the S.E. junior Sevens for the Hellerman Deutsch Trophy and in 1993 the Kent Mini Festival. In 1990, the club again reached the Kent Cup final but lost 12-0 to Gravesend. The match was replayed in 1994 for the Kent Plate, but again it was the opposition who prevailed. As one of the oldest rugby clubs in Kent, we are about to celebrated our 125th season. Throughout this time we have been proud to retain our individuality, solely as a rugby club. Park House has always been a club with a cosmopolitan membership that reflects the whole community, all united in their love of the game. We are now firmly entrenched in the Hayes community and we can look forward to building upon this base to achieve even greater heights.

Courtesy of Bernard Holley

Past Presidents

Vice Presidents
Rev G. Mallows-Youngman : 1883 –1922 P. Grafton CBE P.J. Solan P. Eade
S.R.A. McColm : 1922 –1936 G.L. Necker C. Daly J. Ferguson
Sir H.T. McAuliffe : 1936-1942 P.J. Trivass F. Irwin C. Bickel
A.S. Evans : 1949 J.N. Rourke D. Knight G. Willis
R.R. Tweed : 1949-1950 B. Holley F.C. Miller G. Bunnage
C.W. Mayo : 1950-1951 B.J. Harding J.R.R.W. Prince R. Elves
N.H. Ross : 1951-1952 C.J. Smith J. McGarey D. Rees
L.C. Arscott : 1952-1953 I. McD. Laurie J.R. Gross A. Wakefield
S.J. Guthrie : 1953-1954 J.M. Tubridy D.M. Kletta N. Prosser
A.E. Boiling : 1954-1955 G. Scott S. Strangeway K. New
T.H. Sharratt : 1955 –1963 I.G. Wilkinson P. Strangeway R.Russ
S.L. Bramley : 1963-1970 P.J. Winn R. Munro K. Mullins
P.V. James : 1970-1973 P. McCarthy F. Grant M. Rutherford
R.B. Higgins : 1973-1976 T.J. Clark W. Sargeant
P.J. Trivass : 1976-1979
I. McD. Laurie : 1979-1983
J.N. Rourke : 1983-1986
J.W. Peasley : 1986-1989
W.A. Chisholm : 1989 –1992
B.J. Harding : 1992 –1996
J.P. Ferguson : 1996 –1997 Trustees

Rules

  1. The name of the Club shall be the PARK HOUSE FOOTBALL CLUB.
  2. The Club shall play according to the Laws of the Rugby Football Union and shall subscribe to that body and to the Kent and Middlesex County Rugby Football Unions.
  3. The Club colours shall be BLACK and RED. All Members when playing in matches shall wear Club jerseys and RED stockings and BLACK Rugby shorts.
    1. The property and effects of the Club shall be vested in three Members as Trustees to be elected at a General Meeting and they shall have power to invest money and adopt such measures as may appear to them necessary in the interest of the Club, subject to the approval of the Committee. Each Trustee shall remain in office until death, resignation or removal by a General Meeting.
    2. In the event of the death, resignation or removal of any of the Trustees, the Committee shall, if necessary, fill the vacancy subject to confirmation by the next General Meeting.
    3. The Committee is empowered to borrow for the purpose of the Club such amount of money either at one time or from time to time and at such rate of interest and in such form and manner and upon such security as they in their decision think fit, and thereupon the Trustees shall at the discretion of the Committee make all such dispositions of the Club property or any part thereof and enter into such agreements in relation thereto as the Committee may deem proper for giving security for such loan and interest.
  5. The Officers shall consist of the President, the Chairman, Immediate Past President, Trustees, Captain of the Club, Captains of Senior Teams, Vice Captains, Hon.Secretary, Hon.Treasurer, Hon. Match and Team Secretary and Club Coach. The Officers shall be elected annually at a General Meeting
  6. Vice Presidents may be elected from Members of not less than 10 (ten) years standing by the Committee on recommendations put forward by not less than 5 (five) Vice Presidents. They shall remain Vice Presidents as long as they remain Members of the Club.

    An Honorary Vice President may be elected at the AGM
  7. An auditor will be elected annually at a General Meeting.
  8. The affairs of the Club shall be managed by a Committee which shall consist of the Officers of the Club, together with 6 (six) other Members to be elected annually at a General Meeting. A Chairman should be elected at each Meeting. Members may be co-opted to the Committee.

    At Meetings of the Committee 7 (seven) Members shall form a quorum.
  9. The Committee may delegate the day to day running of the Club to an Executive Committeewhich shall have a membership of not less than 5 (five) and not more than 7 (seven). At meetings of the Executive .Committee 3 (three) members shall form a quorum. The powers of the Executive Committee shall be laid down by the Committee from time to time.
  10. Members of the Club shall consist of:
    (i) Playing Members – those Members who play regularly for the Club.
    (ii) Ex playing Members – those Members who have been playing Members of the Club in the past.
    (iii) Honorary Members – those persons who are not eligible for Membership shall be entitled to enjoy the social facilities of the Club and shall be eligible to serve as Officers or Committee Members of the Club. Only those Honorary Members who are serving on the Committee shall be entitled to vote at Meetings.
    (iv) Honorary Members may be elected for life at the discretion of the Committee.
  11. Membership of the Club shall be open to any person completing a membership application form and paying the appropriate annual membership fee, membership will not be available for at least 48 hours from receipt by the club of the completed application form. Proposed members must be proposed and seconded by existing members of the Club. No person shall be refused membership on the grounds of race, colour, creed, religion, sex, sexual preference, impairment or disability.
  12. Members of visiting Clubs may be admitted to the premises and may purchase intoxicating liquor for the day of the match only.
  13. Subscriptions for the season commencing 1st May each year shall be decided by the Committee and may be reviewed without notice. The subscriptions may in individual cases be reduced at the discretion of the Hon. Treasurer or the Committee. The subscriptions shall be payable on or before 1st October.
  14. If any Member other than a new Member shall make default in payment of his subscription for any year after 15th November or any new Member 14 days after election, such person shall cease forthwith to be a Member of the Club, but is not thereby released from payment. The Committee shall have the power to reinstate any such person to Membership at any time upon payment of all arrears.
  15. (a) The Club shall open its Club House for the use of Members on Saturday or any other playing days at such times as the Committee shall decide.
    (b) The Club shall be entitled to supply intoxicating liquors during the following hours:

    Weekdays 11.00 a.m. to 11.00 p.m.
    Sundays, Christmas Day Noon to 3.00 p.m.
    Good Friday 5.00 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.

    or such hours as shall be allowed by the Licensing Act.The Committee shall have the power to determine during which hours coming within the above limit, the bar shall be open and shall have power to alter them at its discretion.

  16. No intoxicating liquor shall be supplied to persons, other than (i) Members (ii) Bona Fide guests of a Member while accompanied by that Member. No person shall be admitted as a guest at the Club’s premises unless signed for by the Member introducing him in a book kept for that purpose on the Club's premises.
  17. One Honours Cap for each Senior team may be presented each season to Members who have served the Club through their commitment on and off the field and who have played in not less than half of the matches during the season for the team concerned. Should a Member already possessing and Honours Cap be again awarded one the new date and if necessary the team shall be added. Nominators for Honours Caps may only be put forward by the Captain and/or Vice Captain of the team concerned or in default by the Captain of the Club. The Honours Caps shall be awarded by the Committee.
  18. (a) A General Meeting of Members shall be held annually for the purpose specified above, to receive the Accounts of the current year, Report of the outgoing Committee and to deal with such matters as may be raised by Members by way of resolution as hereinafter provided.

    (b) No resolution including nominations for election shall be voted on at an Annual General Meeting unless it be previously proposed, seconded and submitted in writing to the Hon. Secretary by a date to be determined by the Hon. Secretary provided such date be not more than 58 (fifty eight) days and not less than 16 (sixteen) days prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting. The Hon. Secretary must give members 14 (fourteen) days notice of such date. .

    (c) Notice of an Annual General Meeting shall be sent to Members not less than 14 (fourteen) days before the date of such Meetings and shall specify the date, time and place, the Agenda and Resolutions duly received in accordance with Rule 18(b) above. .

    (d) The Committee or any 6 (six) Members shall have power to call a Special General Meeting through the Hon. Secretary who shall give to each member a written notice (7) seven days previous to the said Meeting, specifying the resolution or resolutions to be moved.

    (e) Voting at any General Meeting shall be by simple majority of those present, except as provided in Rule 20. Each Member shall be entitled to vote, subject to Rule 10 (iii).

    (f) 15 (fifteen) shall form a quorum at any General Meeting.
  19. The Committee may for good and sufficient reason refuse renewal of any existingmembership or terminate or suspend any membership provided that the member concerned shall have the right to be heard by the Committee before a final decision is made. The member may apply for reinstatement at the next General Meeting.
  20. These Rules shall not be altered other than by a majority of not less than two-thirds of theMembers present at any General Meeting.
  21. (a) If at any General Meeting of the Club a resolution be passed calling for the dissolution of the Club the Secretary shall immediately convene a Special General Meeting of the Club to be held not less than one month thereafter to discuss and vote on the resolution.

    (b) If at that Special General Meeting the resolution is carried by at least two-thirds of the full members present at the meeting the Committee shall thereupon or at such date as shall have been specified in the resolution proceed to realise the assets of the Club and discharge all debts and liabilities of the Club.

    (c) After discharging debts and liabilities with the Club the remaining assets shall not be paid or distributed among the full members of the Club but shall be given or transferred to another community amateur sports club, a registered charity or the Rugby Football Union.
  22. The Club shall be non-profit making and any surplus income or profits will be reinvested in the Club and shall not be distributed to members or third parties.