A brief history of the early years.

Bristol Saracens Rugby Club came into being in 1896 when a bunch of discontented players left the YMCA. They chose their new name to emphasize their rejection of their old club.

The club was one of sixteen clubs that formed the Bristol Combination in 1901. The others were Bristol North, Knowle, Stapleton Road, Eversley, St Agnes, Dings Crusaders, Horfield, Elton, St.Michaels, Cotham, Fairfield Old Boys, Brookland, Brighton House School and Ashley Down.

Saracens along with Dings Crusaders are the only clubs to have run continually since the foundation of the combination in 1901.

During the early years the Saracens ground was at Golden Hill Bishopston, the changing rooms at the Wellington Hotel, Horfield and the headquarters at the Old England Hotel Montpelier. The club regularly turned out three teams every Saturday.

In 1919 Bristol RFC were offered the Radnor Road ground by the Saracens and until 1921 when Bristol purchased the Memorial Ground, Bristol and Saracens shared the field at Radnor Road, each using it every other week. At the time Saracens were a very strong side indeed. If Bristol were unexpectedly short of a player, they would often ask Saracens for one.

Those pioneers of over 100 years ago were determined men with strong personalities. They built the foundations of the Club in solid fashion, which was just as well, for it has had to withstand many changes of ground in its time.

In the early days the club played at Redland Green, next came St. George's Athletic Ground and Downend Road. After more moves which included The Portway, Radnor Road, Jennings Fields in Toronto Road, Quabb Farm and a pitch somewhere near the gasworks at Eastville, we eventually came to rest before the last War at Blaise Castle.

Pitches And Changing rooms

When we played at the Downs we changed in a back room of a private house in Sutherland Place at the back of Blackboy Hill. The wash down was performed by putting one foot in a bucket at a time.

Progressing from this, the Club found a pitch on what was then open country at Monks Park and initially changing accommodation was at the "Anchor" Gloucester Road. The parlour was used for the stripping ceremonies, with buckets of hot water, this time being served by a buxom female, without as much as "by your leave" or a blush. Travelling to and from the ground was on the top deck of the tram-car - irrespective of the weather. Even in those days people objected to sitting alongside mud and blood.

 Advancing further, the Club obtained the use of a changing hut about half a mile from the Monks Park pitch, sharing this with five other teams, one of which was Broad Plain, the hut just about enough room to stand up in.

Further progressing, the Saracens changed their rendezvous to very pleasant surroundings on the Blaise Castle Estate the first game being played on 03/10/36. These improved playing conditions were very much appreciated and the fact that bathing was still limited to a small household bath for each team, this was mainly comparable with the facilities that our opponents offered with the exception probably of Imperial and Clifton, changing facilities were very basic or non existent.

Bristol Saracens fielded four teams 1st and 2nds A’s and B’s throughout the thirties. Pitches were poor, with long grass and rock showing through the grass on the Downs.

 The pitches at Monks Park were on a slope, the First XV pitch not too bad, but the Second XV pitch one tossed up and decided whether to play up or down hill.

Surely we are not only the oldest club in the Combination, but also one of the most well travelled. It has been said that certain players occasionally forgot which pitch they were due to play on It would appear that they had Team Sec. troubles even in those days!

It was no mean feat that second and third XV’s took the field before the First World War. The large numbers needed to make up these teams probably accounts for the fact that no fewer than twelve club members gave their lives during the War. As soon as the conflict was over Messrs. A W Shelly, E Rice and E J Bakewell undertook the task of putting the club back onto the field once again, their efforts were well rewarded, as soon the Club was fielding five XV's.

In the season 1922-23 the fourth XV under the captaincy of L Jones, an International schoolboy, achieved that dream that so many seek and yet so rarely achieve:- an unbeaten season.

RESTART OF THE CLUB 1945

HON SECRETARY'S REPORT SEASON 1945-46

Here I will give you a brief account of our activities over the past season, the first to be run after the lapse of five playing seasons due to the War.

As rugger in Bristol was gradually coming to life, it was thought that the Saracens should be amongst the first to restart and get the game on a firm basis for the serving members of His Majesty's Forces to return home to, and pick up the threads again of where he left off, and also with an idea of giving a member a game when on leave, and with these views in mind, and starting from scratch, with practically nothing to work on Bob Parkes, Gus Coppens and myself compiled a list of prospective members and made personal contact to all members where possible, and with the help and loyalty of the older members an AGM was called at the Montpelier Hotel on Sept 20th 1945, with the result most of you know a most gratifying season both socially and on the field with the record as follows:

Played 21. Won 14. Lost 5. Drawn 2. Points for 193. Points against 78.

In dealing with the playing record I think thanks should go to the ever-popular Les Webber who at an age when most think of O.A.P. he missed only two games throughout the season and incidentally was chief scorer with 33 points, although this score could have been doubled by him but for the fact of leaving his goal kicking boots home. Stan Wren was the only player to make 100% appearance with a personal bag of 24pts. Of this team I can pick out several players worthy of mention for rallying around the club...E.G. Ern Tucker, C Jenkins and Ted Pugsley.

Leaving the playing strength of the Club, I should like to switch over to the social side Committee men. Few of you players not connected to the committee realise the work and sacrifice it entails, to run a Club to the standard of the Saracens. These men turn up week after week on Saturdays, and also through the week at nights, organizing and running schemes so as the players lot will be easier, and if you players will only stop to think now and again and show your appreciation by your whole hearted support in all the Clubs affairs, the Committee would see some return, and know that their efforts were not wasted.

Social events throughout the season included skittle matches, dances, players talks in which we had some known men from the Rugby fraternity along to lecture, a Tripe and Onion supper which I think turned out to be a most enjoyable night and a summer outing to Ross the Wye Valley which I think was a new venture as far as I can remember.

In closing I would like to thank all Committee men for their support, coupling with it the names of Ted Bakewell (our new President) Bob Parker, Gus Coppens, Heck Moon, and our Chairman.

Thanking you all once again.

Hon Sec.

August 21st 1946

BRISTOL SARACENS R.F.C.

SEASON 1945 - 1946

Played 21   Won 14   Lost 5   Drawn 2    Points for 193    Points against 78

In 1946-47 the Club celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, and the following year one of its greatest sons died after giving all he had to the Club. He was E.J. (Ted) Bakewell, President of the Club for many years. A small committee was then formed to investigate the possibilities of purchasing a permanent ground and to name it in his honour.

The negotiations for the ground at Henbury started in September, 1951. The next year a loan of £1,000 was taken up with the Rugby Union to whom we are greatly indebted. Work was started on the erection of the pavilion. Progress was made mainly by Sunday "Working parties" and roughly £500 was spent on this building and officially opened by Mr Bill Ramsey, President of the Rugby Union during April 1956.

The year 1963 was not without its setbacks, for the Club lost two of its greatest champions, namely Billy Wicks and Len Kennedy, but because of such men as these the Club marches on.

One thing is certain, those players of old who showed such faith in their own ability by breaking away from the Y.M.C.A. would be proud of the independent spirit the Club is still displaying.