West Herts Sports Club - Brief History

Timeline
  • First football match played at the ground.

  • First cricket match played at the ground.

  • Club founded by establishment of Trust and purchase of Freehold. Composition: Cricket, Hockey, Rugby Union, Tennis (5 grass court clubs; Watford ,West Herts , Whitefriars, Holyrood, Marlborough).

  • The War. Ground used by Home Guard. Very limited sport.

  • Sport re-commences. Clubs as before.

  • Ground in corner reclaimed and made into an extra hockey pitch. Now two grass hockey pitches.

  • West Herts Tennis Club get three hard courts.

  • Original clubhouse burns down.

  • New clubhouse opens.

  • Seven squash courts built. Rugby club leaves as courts encroach on pitch area. Three more hard tennis courts built.

  • Marlborough tennis club folds and West Herts and Watford tennis clubs merge.

  • Real ale introduced at Club. Social membership created.

  • Now over 1,000 squash members. Four squash courts added.

  • Employment of first full-time groundsman.

  • CAMRA National Club-of-the-Year Award.

  • West Herts Cricket Club Centenary year.

  • Mirror Club-of-the-Year Award.

  • Squash now 100 members. Four squash courts closed. Fitness section started. Tennis adds one Euroclay court.

  • Hockey Club wins National HA Trophy for third year in succession. Cricket Club in Club Quarter Finals of Evening Standard Challenge Trophy.

  • Two squash courts closed to accommodate aerobics and martial arts classes.

  • CAMRA London Award. Hockey additionally now uses Astro pitch at New Field.

  • Only one grass hockey pitch in use at the club. Last year hockey played at the Club.

  • New members clubhouse and changing rooms opened. New tennis pavilion built. West Herts Football Club return.

  • CAMRA Regional Club of the Year.

  • Junior Football Section started.

  • Watford Joggers move to the club.

  • Floodlights for three additional tennis courts added. Now 7 all weather floodlit tennis courts plus 3 grass courts.

  • Floodlit Multi Use Games Area opened, Irrigation system installed, New Cricket Nets, New Grounds Shed.

  • CLUB CENTENARY YEAR, opened new first floor members bar with balcony overlooking the sports field.

  • Forest House Health and Rackets Club opened.