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Swindon College Old Boys RFC
Swindon College Old Boys RFC was originally founded in 1961 as Swindon College RFC.
It is recorded in the Technical College’s annals that College Rugby teams played other establishments from time to time, since the late 19th century, but not on any regular basis.
The man credited with founding the club and organising the first regular fixture list was Malcolm Lewis a lecturer in TV Servicing at the College. Malcolm a Welshman was, as you would expect a keen enthusiast of the game although found it difficult to secure a position in any of the local sides of Vickers and Swindon and it was after one such struggle turning out for the Vickers 3rd XV he decided to form his own club.
It was his enthusiasm and energy that got the club going. Early teams were composed of lecturers, students and others. Games were played against other Colleges and Club sides’ 3rd or 4th teams.
By the late 1960’s the team was composed mostly of ‘’others’’ the student body and staff being unable to fill all positions. New Chairmen and captains of the club were from outside of the faculty.
At the start of the 1970’s the club struggled to raise a side and in 1971 an emergency E.G.. was called to wrap up the club due to lack of support. By a narrow majority decision the club was not folded, what saved the day was a speech by one of the members who stated that ‘’I’m not going f****ing Shopping with the wife on Saturday, I need an excuse to get out of that’’. On such events the fate of the club has been decided!
After the AGM the club picked up and with the introduction of new faces such as Colin Pitchforth a Headmaster and Paul Hibbert as Captain, the club’s success on the field improved from Seasons with no victories to seasons with complete success. In 1976 the club’s standing was such that a 2nd team was formed.
In the mid 1980’s the first leagues were formed after a couple of dismal seasons the team picked up and with the introduction of new young blood such as Mick Tatam and Neil White the team gained promotion from div 2 in 1990. The club also boasted a third team at this time a feat undreamed of in earlier years. Both Neil and Mick have represented Dorset and Wilts at senior level.
The appointment of Martin Lloyd as coach was also a major factor in the clubs success; he brought much needed expertise and enthusiasm to training. A new training ground at the Croft sports centre with floodlighting was also a significant development in developing playing standards at the club.
At this time changes in the club’s relationship with the Technical College developed. Due to budgetary constraints the Technical College were unable to continue sponsoring the clubs expenses. Many members also felt that the name of the club inhibited recruitment of new blood potential Players might not appreciate that Swindon College RFC was an open club and not a ‘student only’ side. So it was agreed at the AGM that a new name should be found and Swindon College Old Boys RFC was born.
The compromise was sensible, the old name of the club was retained, but the addition of the Words ‘Old Boys’ conveyed (hopefully) to new recruits that the club was independent and open to all. With no Technical College’s support the club now had to find monies to fund pitches, training, equipment and a base.
Without the tireless work of club chairman Tim Waters and the committee with their contacts in the business and commercial world who sponsor the club it would surely have folded. The club are deeply grateful to sponsors new and old who have kept it afloat.
So now to recent times, in 1997/98 the club won Div 2 and has gone from strength to strength It now sits comfortably in the Southern Counties League and competes on an equal footing with all the Surrounding clubs.
Finally, in it’s 40th Year celebrations (1991) the club’s future looks very bright. With the promise of a permanent clubhouse and adjoining pitch at Wroughton next season, but to keep the club going forward, members will have to give more support to the club.
Lewis’s Legacy is alive and well, long may it continue
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