Holme Park
Encyclopedia
Holme Park is a sports ground in Sonning
(occasionally called Sonning-on-Thames), a village
and civil parish
in the English
county of Berkshire
, a few miles east of Reading
. It is used for rugby union
matches and is the home of Reading Rugby Football Club
.
Reading RFC had a nomadic existence until, shortly before the Second World War
, the land at Holme Park was purchased and the pitches laid. After the war a new clubhouse and stand were erected, the stand later being moved to its present position on the far side of the ground. The current clubhouse was built through the efforts of Gordon Richens in 1968 and was expanded, with squash courts added, by Colin Barrett in 1975.
The club had been struggling with income over expenditure since the mid-1990s and with debts and loans spiralling the club found it increasing difficult to service the arrears. An attempted buy-out of the club and assets by former coach Phil Hall was quashed at the club’s annual general meeting
in 2007. Alastair McHarg
, capped 44 times by Scotland, was a vociferous opponent of the Hall buy-out. He said “The good thing about the Phil Hall deal is that at least it has shaken up some people to get their act together.”
Sonning
Sonning, occasionally called Sonning-on-Thames is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Wokingham in the English county of Berkshire, a few miles east of Reading. The village is situated on the River Thames and was described by Jerome K...
(occasionally called Sonning-on-Thames), a village
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
county of Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, a few miles east of Reading
Reading, Berkshire
Reading is a large town and unitary authority area in England. It is located in the Thames Valley at the confluence of the River Thames and River Kennet, and on both the Great Western Main Line railway and the M4 motorway, some west of London....
. It is used for rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
matches and is the home of Reading Rugby Football Club
Reading R.F.C.
Reading R.F.C. is an English rugby union club, which runs senior and junior sides for both men and women. The 1st XV play in South West 1 East. The club is located in the village of Sonning, on the outskirts of Reading. The 1st XV are managed by Kevin Rackley with forwards coach Ben Hughes and...
.
Reading RFC had a nomadic existence until, shortly before the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the land at Holme Park was purchased and the pitches laid. After the war a new clubhouse and stand were erected, the stand later being moved to its present position on the far side of the ground. The current clubhouse was built through the efforts of Gordon Richens in 1968 and was expanded, with squash courts added, by Colin Barrett in 1975.
The club had been struggling with income over expenditure since the mid-1990s and with debts and loans spiralling the club found it increasing difficult to service the arrears. An attempted buy-out of the club and assets by former coach Phil Hall was quashed at the club’s annual general meeting
Annual general meeting
An annual general meeting is a meeting that official bodies, and associations involving the public , are often required by law to hold...
in 2007. Alastair McHarg
Alastair McHarg
Alastair McHarg was a lock for the Scotland national rugby union team, 1968-79. He won 44 caps for Scotland...
, capped 44 times by Scotland, was a vociferous opponent of the Hall buy-out. He said “The good thing about the Phil Hall deal is that at least it has shaken up some people to get their act together.”