At the beginning of the fifties the future of the Club looked uncertain. Many promosing youngsters had been called up for National Service and others migrated to other parts of the country and to other clubs. At the end of 1951, all 2nd XV were cancelled and a 1st XV against St. George's Rovers had 5 players from Leamington RUFC.

Luckily the enthusiastic committee soon lifted the Club out of the doldrums and into the most significant stage of their history. Special mention must be given to Bob Bradshaw, Bunny Brown, Messrs Sharp, Sturley, Stephens, Francis and Rowlands.

Youngsters were joining the club again and in 1953 the Club took a bold step in establishing a club house in the basement of 27 Waterloo Place. It was opened in September 1953. In the summer Bob Bradshaw and Richard Briggs bet fellow members Peter Brown and Brian MacCartney a gallon of beer that they could not walk from Leamington Town Hall to the clock Tower in Kenilworth in under an hour. They made it with one and a half minute to spare. The event aroused so much interest that it was held annually for all Club members until the end of the fifties.

The reorganised Club took to the field in 1953 with Bob Bradshaw as captain. This weas to become their most successful season so far; the side was recignised as the most improved in the area and the acquisition of Club premises brought the players together socially. The season ended with 14 wins, 3 draws and 11 losses.

The 1st XV was confident for the next season with 5 players representing the local District side. By January 1955, they had suffered only 2 defeats and standard of play was at an all time high. The season ended with a record 300 points scored and stats of 24 wins, 3 draws and 4 losses. Bob Bradshaw's enthusiastic leadership was a major factor in the team's success; wingers Alan Robottom and Dennis Unitt also deserve a special mention.

Leamington College was expanding and the Club could no longer use their pitches. It was decided an appeal fund should be launched to enable the Club to purchase its own grounds and changing rooms. In August 1955 the Club bought 5 acres of sporting field from the YMCA at Cloister Crofts for £1500. In the first 4 months of the appeal, nearly £550 was raised. The grounds were not ready in time for the new season and in 1955-1956 matches were played at the grounds of Leamington College. At the end of the season Bob Bradshaw polayed his last match as Captain after 5 years of being the driving force behind the Club's revival.

With loans from the RFU, the Club had now raised enough money to buy the ground. Bill Plummer and Richard Spriggs were thanked for their dedication to get the funds together. Tony Adams was elected 1st Captain.

The summer of 1956 was spent preparing the new ground and changing rooms for the new season. The Club's members built a bath in the space previously occupied by the YMCA's tractor! The Club house in Waterloo Place got a makeover too.

The Club celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1956-1957 and over 500 members attended the Annual Ball at the Spa Ballroom at the end of March. In that year, the office of Club Captain was replaced by that of Club Chairman. Bunny Brown, who had been Club Captain since 1950 duly took on the office and kept it until 1963. 1956 was also the year of the first Bonfire Night, an event that is still one of the biggest events on the Club's calendar.

During the next season, the 1st had an indifferent season. Captain John Orford faced a difficult task as the Club had lost a number of experienced players and therefore had to face a strong fixture list with a rather young side.

Old Leamingtonians RFC

November Magazine