Basildon Rugby Football Club
Basildon RFC was founded in 1955 by the Irish priest of St Michael's Pitsea, the Rev. N Woodrow. It is a good bet that even such an optimist would not have envisaged the club hosting such a prestigious match as the England versus Portugal U16 international just one season after we hosted the marvellous game when Campion School played the Australian U19 team; neither would that happy band of itinerants, of the early days, who changed in schools and hosted the opposition in local pubs.
The club found it's first permanent home at Drumcondra House in 1961, thanks to Alan Strachan it's first President. It was a place that lives in legend in Essex rugby; where you had to avoid acres of stinging nettles to reach the showers. You were lucky when you got there, if you had Tony Essex in your side, because he was the only one in the club who could make the showers work. They would otherwise be either scalding hot, or freezing cold.
Largely, through the foresight of rugby enthusiasts like Billy Harding, Tony Essex and Owen Egan, a commitment was made by the club, financial and otherwise, to a new clubhouse and ground in Gardiner's Lane in 1974 where we have enjoyed over 30 years of playing rugby. We also endured a calamitous period over two years when the club was almost destroyed by fire twice!
Now as we move into 2008, we are in the process of having to move again as the Gardiners Lane site is soon to be redeveloped. In partnership with the Basildon Council, the club is seeking relocation to a new clubhouse in the centre of the town. Details will be shared on the club news page as they emerge
