User:Arfcuk

GENERAL OVER VIEW
Home Ground
 * Ostlers Field, Brook End
 * Weston Turville, Aylesbury
 * Bucks, HP22 5RN

Senior Training

HISTORY OF THE CLUB
Aylesbury RFC was founded in 1931 mainly due to the efforts of Dr. Black of Waddesdon and Stanley Baggett who remained Chairman of the Club until 1958. The Club started in a modest way and rented some ground along the Oxford Road and used the Bell Hotel as its headquarters. Two sides were run and the 1st XV was probably as strong then as it has ever been. It is of interest to note that in the late 1930’s Frank Pakenham (later Lord Longford) was a captain of the club.

In 1938 a freehold plot of land was purchased on the Buckingham Road. A loan was granted by the RFU to provide the purchase money and the plot became known as Baggett’s Field. Unfortunately the outbreak of war in 1939 coincided with the opening of the ground and prevented the building of a clubhouse.

The club strove hard to return to normal after the War and with difficulty a 2nd XV was fielded. As there were no changing facilities at Baggett’s field, the committee purchased a Nissen hut and a temporary clubhouse was provided. This facility was improved by enlarging the changing rooms, tea room, kitchen and small bar. The club began to expand and soon three or four XVs were taking to the field every Saturday.

In 1955, as the club grew, a larger ground giving facilities for three home games was required. The search culminated with the sale of Baggett’s field in 1962, which adequately financed the purchase of 17 acres of land at Brook End, Weston Turville, the present ground.

A NEW ERA
A new era began when the ground and the clubhouse at Weston Turville were officially opened on 8th September 1966. The new facilities were quickly found to be a delight compared to those nobly endured in previous times. It was soon decided to add a fourth pitch, erect a stand alongside the 1st XV pitch and add floodlights to allow all season al-fresco training to take place.

In 1970 the ground was named Ostler’s Field after Ron Ostler who had passed away having served the club faithfully in various capacities for many years, including that of Chairman from 1960 to 1970. Ron had bequeathed a sum of money to the club and this was used mainly to improve the serving facilities in the lounge bar, which then became known as Ostler’s Bar. Two decades later it was appreciated that our facilities were not only looking tired but had fallen behind the times. A lottery grant designed to expand the facilities was sadly rejected. The Club determined, at its own expense, to largely rebuild the changing rooms and refurbish the clubhouse. This exercise was completed in 1998 together with the upgrading of the floodlights, which were replaced completely in 2004 with a grant from the Rugby Football Union. In 2005/06 and in response to the upsurge in interest – particularly at mini and junior level - following England winning the 2003 World Cup, the Club purchased an additional 6 acres of land. This new area was named the ANZAC field in recognition of the generous donation made by an Australian benefactor. The new field will come into use in September 2007. The Club can now boast that it not only has the best playing surface in the county but also one of the best facilities.

THE MODERN WAY
The 2006/07 season was a mainly disappointing one. The 1st XV won only one match and had these two hard-earned points deducted for failing to fulfil a league fixture. The result was that we were relegated from South West II (East) to Southern Counties (North). It is essential that we maintain our position in this league this season and mount a strong bid for promotion in year 2008/2009. Player retention and recruitment, particularly at senior level, are vital and to this end the Club is fully signed up and committed to the RFU’s GO PLAY initiative which has just been launched in a fanfare of publicity.

The 2007/08 season will also see our Second XV play their rugby in the Bucks, Berks and Oxen I North League and the Third XV in Bucks, Berks and Oxen II North League. The club however has a successful Vets team, an excellent Colts side and junior teams in all age groups from under 7 to under 17 years of age. The Colts brought silver to the Club in 2006/2007 by winning the Bucks Cup. We should also remember that the Colts in earlier years assisted in the development of Gary Pearce (England and Northampton), Mark Rose (England ‘B’ and Wasps), Grant Seeley (England ‘A’ and Northampton), Johnny Howard (Northampton), James Buckland (England ‘A’, Leicester and Wasps) and more recently James Waterhouse (Earth Titans).

Our aim must be to add the names of more of the current crop of good players to the list above in the coming years.