Former Oakham School teacher charts history of Oakham Rugby Club, in Rutland, for centenary season

A book celebrating 100 years of a town sports club has had another print run after proving popular on its release.

Retired Oakham School teacher Jim O’Kane was tasked with writing a book charting Oakham RFC’s history to mark their centenary season in 2023.

The resulting 60-page hardback book covers the significant developments in the clubs such as its founding in January 1923 through moves to several homes up to its modern day base at the Rutland Showground.

“I had three boxes of information, absolutely higgledy-piggledy, so it took some organising,” he said.

“But it was really good fun. I did an hour, maybe a couple of hours, at night over the winter. It was a constructive way of wiling away the time - and it kept me out of the Wheatsheaf.”

Matches were originally played at Park Field, on Barleythorpe Road, while The Crown Hotel served as the club’s HQ and changing rooms.

The team gradually found their feet after winning just two of 17 matches in their inaugural season, and would go on to base themselves at the Railway Inn Hotel until the 1960s, annoying the fastidious stationmaster with their muddy boots.

“That’s where they would change,” said Jim.

“On the first floor of the railway courtyard they used to have a tin bath and that’s what they filled for all the players to go in after the match.”

On-field successes are documented, including Oakham’s run to the quarter-finals of the national Pilkington Shield in 1992-93, alongside its more colourful moments and characters, including a convicted murderer who was a former secretary and player.

It also charts the club’s tempestuous relationship with Melton, a rivalry which was borne right from its earliest years, with Melton reported to have played a ‘foul and unsportsmanlike game’ in a 1925 fixture.

“Oakham lost five players in the Second World War and afterwards there was no team at Oakham for four years so players went to play at Melton,” Jim explained.

“They had always been their sworn enemy - more than Stamford - and so that was quite an interesting few years.

“In 1949 Melton proposed a new name of Melton and Oakham RFC which produced a rebellion in Oakham and they started their own team again.”

There are also personal tributes and reminisces from notable old boys.

They include former England and British Lions international Lewis Moody, Leicester Tigers record appearance-holder Matt Smith, and former England Under 21 player Matt Hampson.

“I was Lewis’ house master at Oakham School, I knew Matt Hampson through the boys at school, and Matt Smith was a pupil there,” Jim explained.

“There was a strong school-club link so that was very easy to set up and it was very enjoyable to speak with them. They were all very happy to contribute.”

Jim, who grew up in Preston, moved to the town around 50 years ago to work at Oakham School where he taught business studies and mechanics for more than 35 years.

His playing career had been abruptly ended by a knee injury before he arrived in Rutland, but he quickly became involved with the club as a supporter and a vice-president.

”I was a production manager before I went into teaching and I was posted to two or three places,

“Each time you just went to the local rugby club and you were in - it was a great social mix.”

To get hold of a copy, priced at £5, email g.crellin@oakhamrfc.com