Orpington RFC

The History of Orpington Rugby Club

Orpington was re-launched as a club in 1969, when a group of young players from a local Youth Club, aided by some older, more experienced ex-players, successfully set up the organisation they needed to function effectively.

The story really started during 1967/68 at the Knoll Youth Club (no longer in existence) where one young man, named Brendan Houlihan, suggested that since many of the members there had played rugby at school; mostly at St Mary’s, Sidcup and Ramsden Boys school, Orpington; it might be a good idea to try to put together a team and try to play some games. Maurice Payn, a ‘Men’s Outfitter’ from Eltham and father of Roland and Rex Payn, two of the Knoll members, provided kit for the players to wear (emerald green shirts) and some matches were organised. These were against, firstly, a team specially put together by the Schweppes Company, then a lower team of Bexley’s and then the RNVR. Many of the members of the Knoll team, despite playing each game with less than a full complement of players, were enthusiastic about carrying on and the suggestion was put forward to advertise for additional players. However, at this stage, Brendan and his partner, Sue, had realised that there was no actual Orpington club in existence and queried whether it would be possible to take on this name instead of the ‘Knoll’ in order to attract more players.

Brendan and Sue put an advert in the ‘Kentish Times’ and not only attracted some new prospective players but also drew interest from a retired policeman, Ossie Smails, who relished the challenge of creating a ‘new’ club. Ossie had experienced many years of being involved with rugby football and was soon following up old ‘contacts’. Among these was John Hawkins, also a retired policeman, who was pivotal in setting up Orpington’s first base, at The Royal Albert, with the then Landlords, Reg and Jill Standen. Bernard Woodmansee, Orpington’s President for many years, was also one of the early contacts and the source of the first information about the previous existence of an Orpington club, of which he had been first team captain before the Second World War. Roland Payn, one of the ‘Knoll’ players, who had attended Cannock House School and also played for ‘The Old Cannockians’, approached Peter Bishop, the Secretary of the latter, for his advice about what the ‘Knoll’ players were trying to do and he soon became involved, with the other members, in formulating plans for the way forward.

Following that first advertisement, a meeting held at the ‘Knoll’ Youth Club, early in 1969, yielded enough new faces to make the possibility of running a more consistent team a greater likelihood. Among those present were at least two people who were to contribute a considerable influence on the club in the future. One of those was the 15-year-old Ben Watts, with a couple of even younger brothers, and Warwick Mariner.

In April 1969, Orpington Rugby Club was launched at a meeting at The Royal Albert.
Sidcup RFC and Met. Police 3 District had become signatories to Orpington’s application to join the Rugby Football Union (after Westcombe Park had refused) so it was then felt to be appropriate to inauguarate the first committee to run affairs and prepare for a first season as Orpington RFC. Ossie Smails and Peter Bishop became instrumental in ensuring correct procedures were followed and the former worked tirelessly to persuade the Council to allocate a rugby pitch at Hoblingwell Wood for the use of ORFC. since the site of the original club had been taken over by St Olaves school. Maurice Payn provided the first Black and Amber kit, based on information about the pre-war ORFC. and the money to pay for this came out of the players’ weekly subs.

The launch of the club generated a lot of interest and a story appeared in ‘Kent Life’ (If anyone could trace the issue, which must have been published in 1969, it would be a useful, more reliable, source of the club’s early history). Following that, the news broke nationally when ‘The Guardian’, with a large heading in the sports section, announced ‘Rockers Tune Into Rugby Football’ and made a great play of the fact that the ‘Knoll’ Youth Club was the notorious haunt of the local Rockers and, that at the early matches, many of the players turned up on motor bikes!

The first ORFC had run from about 1922 to 1939 and, during this period, established the first Orpington Sports Club to incorporate other sports like hockey and cricket. When war broke out, the ground was requisitioned by the military and by the time the war was over Westcombe Park had moved to the Goddington Park area from Blackheath. ORFC had ceased to exist.

On re-launching the Club in 1969, a further contact was made with a player from the pre-war club who donated the jacket that is in the current Club’s glass case. In the 1930s it was quite normal practice to wear this attire on match days! Another memento, in that same glass case, is a cap that was awarded to Roland Payn (otherwise known as ‘Sham’) at the Club’s first ‘Annual Dinner’ in 1970. The idea of this award was to recognise a member of the Club, who was considered, in the eyes of the other members, to have contributed an outstanding all round service to the Club throughout the season. It might seem slightly paradoxical that the donor of that cap was Bob Brett of Westcombe Park, a club that was initially against the formation of a club with the name of Orpington! The awarding of the cap was discontinued after several years, due to extravagant costs involved.

The match to kick off the 1969/70 season was staged at Goddington Park against Westcombe Park’s 4th team! The rest of the season saw the team playing against the lower sides of other clubs and, as more players showed an interest in joining, a second side was added. All home matches that season, and for several after that, ended up at The Royal Albert public house in Lower Road, where the Landlords, Reg and Jill Standen, played the perfect hosts – even when their public bar was swimming in beer and their clientelle were bellowing out bawdy ballads!

Over the first few years of their existence Orpington rose from playing against lowly opposition to meeting some 2nd or 3rd teams from the bigger clubs and the first teams of some smaller ones like Old Williamsonians (the first ‘First’ team that Orpington won against!) The second team also became highly successful and the camerarderie amongst all the members lead to more and more people wanting to join the Club.

In 1977 work began on the new Clubhouse - which had been made a possibility by Club member and builder, George Bird, whose son, Steve, played for Orpington. The members themselves were involved in much of the early manual work but had to take a bit more of a back seat while the major building work got under way. They were then rewarded in 1978 when the clubhouse was opened for use.

Further improvements were made and in 1985 the Clubhouse extension was opened, giving O.R.F.C. one of the finest Clubhouse facilities in Kent.

During the period 1987 – 90 the Club went through a bad period when there barely enough players to field one side and the Club was on the verge of collapse. Under the Captaincy of Mark Christmas and the stalwart, dogged determination of Andy Gibson, Dave Lewis, Gel Coleman, Terry Cook, John Forbes and Jeff Williams the Club was saved.

The 1991 –92 season proved to be the most successful season, with the 1st team under Captain Rob Penn, reaching the top of the Kent 4 League.

In 1994 the Club started the Colts side and Andy Leech was instrumental in bringing about their success, so that in 1996 – 97 they won seven out of the eight games that they played. This had a great effect within the Club and provided us with the 2001 – 02 Captain Haydn Wilds, his successor Tim Spear and the Captain for the previous three seasons, Dominic Clare.

In 1999, John Earl and Jon Edwards started the youth rugby section. Starting with nothing, the Club has now built a U8's, U9's, U11's, U12’s, U14's and a 16+ girl's team. Indeed this section has started to succeed so well that, at the end of the 2000 season, six U13 players were invited to train in the Kent training squad. Many of the children come from the local area, and the Club possesses, not only good team spirit but also community spirit.

In 2000, John Hawkins retired. He had served the Club for over thirty years, firstly as Chairman and then as President.

The Club has enjoyed another good season in 2002 – 03 and under the Captaincy of Tim Spear (another ex colt) Orpington has again proved that it can hold its head high in Kent Rugby.

The Club also runs many courses for local schools as well as coaching within them and is also actively involved in the Bromley Buzz scheme for children.

From its inception Orpington Rugby Club's purpose has been to provide the opportunity for all to learn and play the game of rugby football, enjoy its atmosphere, both on and off the pitch.

Roland and Rex Payn - 2003

John Hawkins

On Thursday 11th November 2004, at 12.02am, John Hawkins passed away in Queen Mary's Hospital, aged 91. John's funeral will be held on Tuesday 30th November at 2pm at Eltham Crematorium. No flowers. Donations should be made to the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institute or the RNLI and will be collected at the funeral. A reception will follow at the Warren. Nikki and Bernice would like everyone to attend in order to celebrate John's life.

John, at the time of the Orpington RFC reformation, was working as the chief Security Officer at Tip Top Bakeries, just a few minutes round the corner from both the Royal Albert and Orpington's pitch at Hobblingwell Wood. From this central position he rapidly became a contact for Club members who would 'phone him up over any number of issues and it also enabled him to be at either location at the drop of a hat. Several 'Tip Top' workers were pointed in the direction of the Club to bolster the number of players during the early days and, with the passing of time, members without work found John was able to pull the right strings to get them a job there.

John played a significant part with the Rugby Club Committee in working towards the raising of funds towards the dream of Orpington's own clubhouse, which was opened in 1978. From then on he became omnipresent at the Club, overseeing each new development. He and his wife, Pat, could be found every Sunday, throughout each season, joining members for a lunchtime drink or supporting special events such as Mini Rugby or the Sunday lunches. Even as the Club went through some lean years, when the future looked uncertain, John and Pat never wavered in their undying support.

Of course, during such a long (and passionate) association, it would be expected that many strong friendships would have been formed. And so it was with John and Pat who always seemed to know so many members intimately. At any time they were available to lend an ear and offer advice when it was sought. In later years there arose times when they were to benefit, in turn, from reciprocal help from the friends they had made at Orpington Rugby Club.

After Pat passed on, John was somewhat at a loss. Not only had he lost his wife but he lost his best mate too. During this time, I hope that we at ORFC helped him through his loss. I know lots of us tried to.

Pinewood Close never felt the same after Pat died but John did the best he could and soldiered on. His interest in the Club never waned and he steered and guided us through many hard and difficult times. Chairman from 1969-79 and President 1979-2000, 31 years of continuous dedication and service, which really shows the dedication and spirit of the man.

ORFC owes a huge debt to John. For when some lost heart, John was there to bolster them up. When others threw in the towel, John was there to help clean up the mess they left behind. Through all of our troubles you could always rely on 'Johnny Hawkins', our mainstay for so many years.

But much more! Oh so much more than all this. Always interested, always there to listen and give advice. Not just the President of our Club but a true friend.

Roland and Rex Payn - 2004