Illogan Park RFC
The Rats
Illogan park was formed by a chance remark made in the bar at the New inn,Park bottom,illogan.The question was asked,"Why is it that illogan has never had a rugby team?".Some days later,it was decided to put an advert in the local paper -calling all those that were interested in starting a rugby club to attend a special meeting at the new inn.A room was provided for the meeting by Mr.Bill Sellwood the landlord.The response was very good with 37 people attending.It was decided by those who turned up to form a committee,the following officials were elected.The chairman Bill (ginger) Calloway,fixture secretary David Hawkey,club secretary Mr.Taffy Allen,Bert Simmons Team secretary and Trevor Law fund raiser and Mr.Charlie Will,so on the 8th.november 1967 Illogan Park Rugby Club was formed.
No ground,no shirts and just ten pounds in the kitty,that was donated by someone who wished to stay anonymous was all they had to start with.Twelve black shirts were obtained from the disbanded Teagles RFC.These also by an anonymous person,three more some how came to hand.A field was obtained from a local farmer Mr.John Richards whose son just happened to be interested in playing.
Changing rooms were required in the form of a large garage kindly lent by Mr.Mollard.Hot water?No problem the fixture secretary lived next door,the water was transported via large milk churns.Baths?These were large galvanised jobs(donated)one for the first wash,one for the second and god help the last one in.
The well known Mr.Bunny Williams was as ever,a great help in securing fixtures for the club.
After three practice sessions a game was arranged with Ormdales on their ground.Great excitement in the local,the big day finally arrived,in between coaching,and running the line,the chairman with his new committee had witnessed the clubs first historic win,the score 6-0 the points were made up by a drop goal by Addy Williams,followed by the first historic try by Taffy Williams.It turned out to be a long hard season,because good players were hard to find.
However in the second season we were fortunate,though,at the exspense of south crofty club,who were dispanded.This left former crofty players without a club,and it was not long before (PARK) had a large influx of new blood,and playing performances improved dramatically.Also other new players were,Jeff Sullivan,Terry Nichols,Alan Mitchell and Percy Edwards alond such stalwarts as Eric Eckersall (who went to play 57 times for cornwall juinor group) Mike Kenwood,Steve Roberts,Mike Roberts,Neil Barrett and not forgetting Grahem Baker.In 1967 a second team was formed and this proved a great asset to the club.Long may it continue.
Thanks to Bill (ginger) Calloway for the information
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