The history of Hertford RFC saw a group of enthusiasts form a club in 1932 and over the next 17 years search for permanent home for their club. With the purchase of the ground in Hoe Lane in 1949, the search was over and the club started to build for the future.

In previous articles we have seen how the clubhouse and facilities grew and were improved over the ensuing 40 or so years so that by early 2000 it comprised of two bars a dining /function room with squash courts, a Committee Room, a small balcony plus a changing room block able to host 8 sides with a central shower facility and a Physio Clinic.
One charge that can never be placed against the club is ‘standing still and doing nothing’ and with the growing success of the club together with an influx of supporters/spectators plans were put in place for a further expansion of club facilities.
Hertford has always been a well supported club and in 2001 a balcony was built to provide the club with a better spectating platform. It’s fair to say that this was done in the face of some opposition but became, and continues to be, a great success. A smaller stand was erected on the far side of the pitch, now named after our famous former player, the England and British & Irish Lions Hooker, Jamie George.

When Old Hertfordians Rugby Football Club (OHRFC) became Hertford RFC (HRFC) in June 1972, the land and clubhouse previously owned by the OHRFC was handed over to the Old Hertfordians Association (later the Richard Hale Association , RHA) to act as Trustees for the Club.

As we have seen the original 10.1 acres purchased by the club in 1949 was inadequate for the numbers playing and in the 1950’s adjoining land was leased from the Herts County Council (HCC) to add further full size pitches. This continued and in the 1990s further land was leased from Herts Regional College (HRC, formerly Ware College). This provided further land for the growing number of players particularly the spectacular increase in numbers on a Sunday for Mini and Youth Rugby.

However, the demand for new land for building development has always threatened our long term existence and HCC and HRC have often flirted with the idea of selling their land for housing, leaving us short of pitches. Added to this, our complex tenure arrangements have made the club an unattractive proposition for RFU investment in improving facilities.

It was in these circumstances that in 2012 the rugby club approached McMullens, who owned the land adjacent to the south of the club, with the aim of purchasing the 37 acres they occupied. A land company was established, Hertford Rugby Club Ltd, to manage this new land. The purchase of this land freed us from the concern that HCC and HRC would sell up and leave us short of space. Our long term strategy has established that the clubhouse and it’s associated 10 acres would always be at the heart of our club and the additional land can be used for extra playing facilities. The local community can always be sure that our land will not be built upon.

To cement this strategy the Rugby Club is negotiating with the RHA a long term lease, potentially 125 years, at a peppercorn rent which would allow the club to fully manage all the facilities. This would create security of tenure for the club for the foreseeable future.

Site Plan with Ownership Details 2023

The ownership of the new land has allowed the club to carry out significant improvement projects which we now have space for. In 2018 work commenced on the much anticipated entrance drive and car park. For 68 years the single track entrance had restricted access to the club and even precipitated the odd head on collision, ask Ged and Chesty! So in 2017 the entrance drive became 2 lanes and a car park for 90 plus vehicles and 2 coaches, was constructed under the guidance of Martin Harvey. This new entrance drive and expanded car parking ended any disruption by traffic on Saturday & Sunday matchdays much to the relief of our neighbours.

2 Further pitches on the new land were constructed and plans are afoot for a further floodlit area for Mini and Youth mid-week training. The club’s main pitch was moved several metres across allowing the spectator terrace to be expanded and paved, and new floodlights were installed.
When Covid hit the sport the rugby club continued to improve it’s facilities with an expanded and improved kitchen, entertainment suite and meeting room on the first floor and, in 2022 all the toilets were improved and modernised.

Entertainment Suite and Meeting Room

Our next project saw the removal of all the leaky containers in the back car park , which held all the rugby sections’ playing equipment. This was replaced by a dry and well lit building with plenty of space for each section.

New Storage Units built 2022

Our club has never stood still and further developments and improvements of the facilities are planned. The Changing Rooms will be extended and modified to provide 8 changing rooms with ensuite showers and toilets with access straight onto the pitch patio. This will allow discrete changing facilities for ladies, girls and youth teams. The old squash courts will be modified to two floors allowing physio clinic and gym facilities to be provided, together with additional meeting rooms and offices.

As demand for entertainment space increases it is planned to extend the clubhouse with a second storey to provide a function room for over 200 people, to increase the balcony space and to provide a new entrance with stairs and lift to the balcony and function room plus additional toilet facilities.

All these plans follow the trend set by our founding fathers and the members who started providing the facilities at Hoe Lane and constantly strove to improve the club infrastructure.

We have much to thank our forebears for. Through their enthusiasm and foresight we have the facilities to offer to boys, girls, men and ladies both young and old, the opportunity to play our wonderful game in safe and comfortable surroundings’.