Our History

Our History

Old Parkonians Rugby Club

Old Parkonians Rugby Club was formed by old boys of Birkenhead Park High School in 1928 and became an Association in 1931, moving to Holm Lane in 1948.

The photograph on the right shows HM Curphey with the Mayor of Birkenhead at the opening of the first Clubhouse in 1951.

The press article below preceded the opening with an account of how the Club was founded and what led to the Clubouse being opened.

Click on the article to see the full sized version - you may need to enlarge this in your browser to read the details.

From the Birkenhead News In 1964/65 the existing clubhouse was built using materials from the old RAF site in Greasby, labour and professional help provided by club members. Changing rooms were added in the 1970's also with the help of members.The Rugby ground was officially opened in September 1951, membership being restricted to old boys of the school.


This continued until the opening of the present clubhouse in 1966 when club membership was open to all.


Friendly rugby (with at one time 6 XVs) was played until the RFU league structure was formed in the 1980's.


Currently we field 2 XVs with high hopes shortly of moving to 3 XVs.


Below is the Honours Board that commemorates Old Parkonians who lost their lives during World War 2...

Old Parkonians Cricket Club

The cricket section was formed in 1950, playing on coconut matting on the rugby ground, then moving to a ground share with Victory Kidder CC in Arrowe Park. When the Holm Lane grounds were re-developed in 1970/71 a cricket square was made between the two new rugby pitches and was in use 2 years later.

Friendly games with one team were played until we joined the Wirral league in 1987, finishing the 1988 season as champions, 1990 saw the formation of a second XI in the Wirral league. A 3rd XI was formed in 1994 and plays in the Bromborough Paints Merseyside cricket competition.

From 1992/96 the club played in the North Cheshire league, 1997/99 in the Merseyside cricket competition, moving again in 2000 to the Meller Braggins Cheshire cricket league.

Sunday and mid-week matches are played throughout the season.

The under 13 and under 15 teams play in the Wirral junior league.

Annual Brothers v Veterans Boxing Day Game

Written prior to the 30th Brothers v Veterans Match in 2009

In the Autumn of 1980 four players of the then Old Parkonians RUFC, Pete Evans and Richie Beckett (for the Brothers) and Donny Hawker and Robbie Knight (for the Veterans) decided to formulate an annual game to be played each year on Boxing Day between The Brothers XV and The Veterans XV.

This has been played each year since then, whatever the weather, and this coming Saturday (Boxing Day) 26th December at the club's ground, Holm Lane, Oxton, it will be held for the 30th consecutive year. All players and spectators, whatever their club, are most welcome. The game will be refereed by locally based Liverpool Society referee, Dave Grundy.

The game is played for the Beckett/Hillan Shield presented to the winning captain on the day. The shield was originally donated by the late Harold Beckett, Richie's father. However, this original shield was presumed lost in the mid 1990's by The Brothers captain, Mark Hillan, still captain of their side to this day. On hearing of this dilemma Mark,Pete and Paul's father, Andrew, agreed to sponsor a new shield.However, when it came to the next game the original shield was found in the bar cellar; hence the fact that there are now two shields to be played for!!

The game is always on whatever, with the worst weather happening the 2nd annual game played on Boxing Day 1981 and below is the report penned for the Daily Post edition on Tuesday 29th December 1981 by the then Post rugby union correspondent, the late George Withy.

'The Old Parkonians beat the Arctic conditions at Holm Lane, Oxton, yesterday, to stage their annual match between the Old Parkonians Brothers' XV and the Old Parkonians Veterans XV.

They brushed the snow off the lines, hacked away the ice and played for 30 minutes each way on a pitch that, hard at first, became more playable as the game went on.

John Turner, a Liverpool Society referee took the first half, Dai Adams, a senior referee controlled the third quarter, and Harold Beckett, a real veteran, completed the task.

The Brothers' XV, composed entirely of brothers who play for the club won 37-4.

''The score was not important,'' said Harold Beckett afterwards.''What was important was that 30 players, the referees, the touchjudges and a handful of spectators enjoyed themselves enormously. Leagues, cups, merit tables may have their place in Rugby Union, but what took place today at Holm Lane was what Rugby Union is all about. Let's look forward to the same fixture next year and every year!''

This year's game will be especially poignant as this will be the first year that veteran Donny Hawker will not be playing as sadly at the age of 69 Donny passed away in July of this year; he had made a playing appearance in all 29 previous games!! His widow, Helen, and son, Mike will be sponsoring the malts for the pre match loyal toasts and the Donny Hawker Man Of The Match Trophy which will be awarded for the first time.

Also to be toasted will be former Parkonian legends Brian 'Gus' Cusick, CK 'Ken' Wilson and Teddy Chamberlain who also all passed away in 2008 and 2009.

Yours In Sport,
Richie Beckett 
Press Officer, Parkonians RUFC
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