Alistair Brompton's Hunmanby Playing Fields Association Site
The idea to form the Hunmanby Playing Fields Association, or the Hunmanby Sports and Social Club as it was first called, was first discussed at one of the early committee meetings held by the then newly formed Hunmanby Hornets Sunday Football Club, some of whose founder members were C.Elley, C.Skelton, A.Elley, B.Barclay, R.Burton, T.Warhurst, J.Gilpin, J.Alden and later R.Norris P.Murton and others plus Mrs Marilyn Skelton, (who was the first Hunmanby Hornets secretary) all of whom would gather after work in the summer months and play football at Bowling Green Lane, which was then the village playing fields.
After being turned down permission to use the Bowling Green lane pitch and, being given no encouragement to share the pitch that Hunmanby United used on a Saturday, a local farmer Mr Dick Coates granted use of a field he owned at the top of New Road Hill. This field plus the kind offer of the use of the only other pitch in the village which was situated next to the Railway Tavern public house and was being used by the other local Sunday side The Taverners was to be the temporary home of the Hornets. Mr. Bernard Duckworth, the original owner of the Railway Tavern, was willing to let the Hornets use this pitch, as it was he who owed the land on which the pitch was situated. Having no permanent pitch and no changing facilities in their first two seasons in the Sunday League, the Hornets committee decided it was time to create an organisation whose intention would be to raise money to provide funds in order to build a clubhouse that incorporated acceptable changing facilities, and also included function room and bar. (Now the H.P.F.A.)
Representations were made to the various sporting organisations that existed in the village at the time, these included Hunmanby United, Hunmanby Hornets (obviously), Hunmanby Cricket Club, the local tennis club whose chairman /secretary was Mr M. White (others maybe), who were asked to set the ball rolling by donating £200 per club? This then started the mammoth task of raising the huge amount of money needed to complete the task ahead. Hornets committee meetings were at this time held at the White Swan whose landlord at the time was Mr Harvey Lee. Harvey was soon to leave the Swan and was replaced by Mr Peter Wrightson who, like Harvey was willing to let the newly formed Hornets use his pub facilities to hold meetings and fund raising nights etc. It was at one of these meetings (held in the Signet room or the upstairs bar of the Swan) that, a Sports and Social Committee was formed made up of mainly H.Hornets members, and some members of the other clubs previously mentioned. This committee was formed to create fund raising activities and approach the various authorities with a view to building a clubhouse, to contact the banks re loaning the finance, and a Brewery that was willing to back the venture, and to organise an open meeting for the general public to attend and air their views on the idea. The first public meeting took place at the Church Hall in Stonegate on or about the 7th Sept 1977. A further meeting took place at the Railway Tavern by kind permission of the then landlord Mr G.Blackburn and was well attended by the public and some members of the Parish Council. R.Hoggarth. C. Mowthorpe, are two that spring to mind.
The Hunmanby Sports and Social Club as it was then known was made up of some or all of the following people. T.Warhurst, M.Gooch, K.Wardell, G.Limback, M.White. At these meetings the Parish Council showed little interest in the idea as did Hunmanby United, believing instead that the idea would not get of the ground, however after assurances to the contrary from the dedicated people who created the idea they gave it the thumbs up.
A few weeks later a bank account was opened and the funds started to roll in, a buy a brick campaign was launched (bricks were 50p each) and all people connected to the various sporting clubs were asked to pitch in and raise money which they duly did. It was at this point that a four cornered darts competion was created. This proved to be so popular that it still continues to this day, (organised recently by P.Cook) the format was simple, during the last four Sundays of the year a Darts /Dominoes social night was arranged involving Hunmanby Hornets, Hunmanby United, Hunmanby Cricket Club and the Pidgeon Club. Four of the villages pubs were picked to host the Sundays whose Landlords were happy to help out, as these became very lucrative nights. The finals night was held on the last of the four Sundays. This night was indeed so popular and such a big money raiser both for the H.S.S.Club, and the pubs involved, that it was decided to rotate the finals night in the following years around all of the four pubs respectively. The following people were some of those who became involved with the four cornered darts dominoes nights some of who also went on to become involved with the building of the clubhouse in the years to follow. C.Yorke.J.Robson.D.Franks.P.Hebden (a future chairman). Ray Baron. M.Skelton, C.Skelton, to name just a few.
It was becoming more and more obvious to the doubters that the idea to build a clubhouse was going to come to fruition, and as a result more people came on board to help out. These people included the likes of Bernard Kelly and his wife Pauline, M. Stather a Hornets player, who was also an architect, and was later asked to draw up the plans for the design of the clubhouse, S. Flemming his wife Anne. G.Cooper. T.Stokes, to name just a few.
Bernard Kelly was a member of the Hunmanby Hornets committee in his capacity as manager of the Hunmanby Hornets U-16s and had also formed The Hunmanby Hornets Junior Football club who went on to become one of the most successful Junior Footballing organisations in the area over the coming years. Indeed right up to his tragic illness and his untimely death Bernard continued to support the H.P.F.A (as the Hunmanby Sports and Social Club later became known) with the enthusiasm for which he was well respected and admired. His wife Pauline continues to support the H.P.F.A with the same dedication.
Hunmanby Hornets continuing success was by this time beginning to attract more players, some of whom played on Saturdays for Hunmanby United and also decided to play Sunday Football for Hunmanby Hornets as well, as a result more people were encouraged into helping out with the on going fund raising activities, and building of the clubhouse.
Around this time the Parish Council had allocated land on the allotment site on Sands Lane to be converted to Playing Fields which would incorporate football and cricket pitches for the local clubs to use. It was decided to site the new clubhouse on the same site for obvious reasons. However critics said that the location was to far from the centre of the village. As there was no suitable site in the village centre the go ahead was given to the sands lane site. A local firm of civil engineers Oakley & Bowes were chosen to landscape the area, however their first attempt to drain the land was unsuccessful. After a second attempt at drainage the pitches were made ready for use. Complaints from the public re players relieving themselves in the hedge rows, due mainly to having no toilet facilities, (the changing rooms were at this point a second hand holiday chalet purchased from the N.A.L.G.O holiday camp at Osgodby) the Parish Council decided to build a temporary toilet adjacent to the pitches, thus with the hind sight we now have were laid the first foundations for what is now the H.P.F.A. J.Barker the first Parish Council appointed village caretaker was involved in this building.
Monies by this time had been secured from the banks and Cameron's brewery, the Parish council was asked to be guarantors for these loans but were reluctant to do so (what reasons anybody). At this point in stepped Hunprenco a local engineering company who were prepared to take on this so-called risk. As a result of the kind help and assistance of the company and in particular the company manager Mr B.Benson, (another future chairman) guarantees and monies were secured. Brian who like a lot of other people, had earlier expressed an interest to become involved with the venture and was duly welcomed on board. He had also been a Hornets player for some time.
Plans by this time had been drawn up for the building (M.Stather). A quote had been accepted by the H.S.S.Club Committee which was tendered by K.Hickey and building began in earnest in 1985.
Two gala days were held prior to the clubhouse opening one in 1984 the other the following year which were conceived by M.Skelton & A.Flemming assisted by other volunteers, mainly wives and girlfriends of players and other officials, and proved to be very lucrative fund raisers and still continue to take place to this day. The head quarters for these and other events were a caravan situated on the playing fields, prior to the clubhouse being built.
After more fund raising and hard work the clubhouse shell and roof was completed. J.Charlton opened the second of the two galas days previously mentioned, and the public were invited to look round the interior as it then stood. Painters and Decorators, Plumbers Joiners, Electricians and not forgetting the plentiful offers of manual labour were then recruited to finish off the interior. M.Gooch who became the first H.P.F.A. chairman fitted the seating. Ray Baron completed most of the joinery work, helped by Derek Halifax. R.Burton did the electrics meanwhile T.Stokes, K.Wardell and P.Archer set about structuring the clubs finances. K. Wardell who worked in the banking industry had already by this time secured the backing of the Cameron's brewery who kitted out the cellar and trained some volunteers how to manage a cellar M.Gooch. J.Crutchlow. R.Burton, are three that come to mind. Training took place at one of the brewery depots at York.
Concrete was laid carpets were fitted interior fittings were acquired and the clubhouse was made ready for opening by an army of volunteers.
The club rules and regulations were drawn up and it was agreed to loosely base these rules and regulations on those of The Filey Sports Association with whom lots of people had various connections. Between completion and opening night and after seeing what we had achieved the Parish Council became more involved and on the opening night the Chairman of the Parish Council Mr E.Dixon an invited guest (there were others) congratulated us on our fantastic achievement
The name was soon to be changed from Hunmanby Sports and Social club to the Hunmanby Playing Fields Association as it is now known. Invited guests on opening night apart from Councillor Dixon included Bank and Brewery Officials (Mr Bernard Lowe represented Camerons Brewery) the local press and most important of all we ourselves who had seen the idea grow from an urge to improve the village's poor Sporting Facilities to what we now have and are very proud of.
This is a draft copy of a future document I intend drawing up its authenticity, facts, names events etc will all be checked before going to press and any input re this document from what ever the source will be gratefully received and thoroughly checked out before going to press. When completed I propose to put a copy on display somewhere in the clubhouse (and website) for all the members to read. I believe that the time has come for the history of the H.P.F.A to be documented so as to enable the members both old and new to have a correct and true understanding of the fantastic achievement that has been brought to the village of Hunmanby.
