Old Williamsonians RFC

admin · Site Admin Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Posts: 30

Phil West, an ex player has recently got in touch with the club and has kindly shared some of his memories from the 60's.

Have a read and as you'll see it seems that the Old Willy way has been around for a long while.

"When I first started in 64 we met in the Coopers Arms, even smaller than it is now with just the front 2 bars open to the public. Run by Ethel and husband who's name I forget. Often because of the numbers we'd overflow into their backroom which was their private quarters. There was just one outside toilet in a little lean to. Drinking after the game was a pretty social affair and any other time if we could find an excuse. Cant remember whether it was Buz's stag do or 21st but we managed to pour 3 gallons into him before he needed to part company with it. He made it to the toilet but unfortunately still had his hand over his mouth and liberally plastered the walls and ceiling. Fortunately it was outside and a quick hose down soon rectified.

Quite often we'd play games in the bar, forfeits being drinks. often the drink was a bob's worth of spirit measured by Ethel. To you youngsters a bob was a shilling (5p) whilst a full shot was just over 2 shillings. However Ethel's measures were very generous.

Regular first team fixtures in those days were Canterbury, Thanet Wanderers, Ashford, Deal, Snowdon and Betteshanger Colleries. In fact it was at one of the latter that we had a good crowd, many of the miners coming off shift swelling the crowd to several hundred. It was a fairly close game and towards the end our winger Terry Alcock made a break down the wing only to be thwarted 10-20 yards out by having a walking stick from the crowd , trip him up. Of course it wasn't seen by the ref !!

We moved to The Crown some time later (dont know why - maybe Ethel had retired or gone bankrupt.) We used an upstairs function room and the landlord placed a barrel of bitter in the corner for our use. We sold it at 2 shillings (10p) a pint, a bit cheaper than it is today. After virtually game we'd have a singsong, mostly bawdy rugby songs. However back in those days the Math School put on an annual Gilbert and Sullivan Operetta. It wasn't unusual for the guys to to a bit of G&S particularly in the downstairs bar.

Most of the away trips necessitated using a coach (not sure if we had enough cars). Money being tight we'd go for the cheapest which wasn't exactly in pristine condition. So old and decrepid was this transport meant that it had wooden floors. We soon found out you could lift a couple of these which was wonderful because it was many years before toilets were introduced to coaches. However great care was required as if you weren't accurate you would hit the prop shaft and a golden shower would be had by all.

Final memory is using the Tartar Frigate down in Broadstairs after playing Thanet Wanderers. This time it was the 21st of our fly half John Moss. Again we filled him with beer, including a yard of ale. As soon as he got back on the coach he past out with his mouth open. Every time the coach went over a bump beer gently trickled out of the corner of his mouth as he was so full.

Well that's all for now. Hope it brings back memories for some. "