History

Pre 1922 Watford Football Club leased ground prior to their move to Vicarage Road and West Herts Cricket Club played there in the summer.

1922 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).

1939 The War. Ground used by Home Guard. Very limited sport.

1945 Sport re-commences. Clubs as before.

1948 Ground in corner reclaimed and made into an extra hockey pitch. Now two grass hockey pitches.

1960 Ground uneconomic. Trustees ballot members to lease to Council. All have to agree but Messrs Miller, Carter and Willis opposed the motion, so motion not passed. West Herts Tennis Club gets 3 hard courts.

1963 Original main pavilion burned down.

1965 On 17th July new main pavilion opened.

1969 Seven squash courts built. Rugby club leaves as courts encroach on pitch area. Three more hard tennis courts built as a result of a donation from deceased member's estate. Whitefriars and Holyrood tennis clubs fold.

1972 Marlborough tennis club folds and West Herts and Watford tennis clubs merge.

1973 Real ale introduced at Club. Social membership formed, 500 members. Snooker started.

1975 Now over 1,000 squash members. Four squash courts added.

1983 Employment of first paid Administrator (part-time).

1984 Employment of first full-time grounds man.

1987 CAMRA National Club-of-the-Year Award.

1991 West Herts Cricket Club Centenary year.

1991 Mirror Club-of-the-Year Award.

1994 Squash now 100 members. Four squash courts closed and snooker stopped. Fitness section started. Tennis adds one hard court.

1996 Hockey wins National HA Trophy for third year in succession. Cricket Club in Club Quarter Finals of Evening Standard Challenge Trophy.

1997 Two squash courts closed to accommodate aerobics and martial arts classes. Licence granted to Management Company to run the Bar.

1998 CAMRA London Award. Social now 350 members. Hockey additionally now uses Astro pitch at New Field.

1999 Only one grass hockey pitch in use at Park Avenue . Last year hockey played at the Club.

2002 Management company running the Bar ceases trading and bar management reverts to the Committee. Fitness section membership now 500. One squash court closed to allow male and female sauna to be built.

2004 New members clubhouse and changing rooms opened. New tennis pavilion built.

2004 West Herts Football Club start playing at the ground.