The 1930s were a defining decade for Oakham RFC.
Rugby was firmly rooted in the town, and Saturday afternoons at The Park Field had become a local tradition. Players arrived by bicycle, changed in the back rooms of The Railway Inn, and — if they were lucky — finished the match with a hot bath in a tin tub filled from kettles.
Membership fees were ten shillings and sixpence a year, and match teas were served by volunteers who became as much a part of the club as the players themselves.
Off the field, Oakham RFC’s reputation for friendliness and sportsmanship grew. The club’s annual dinner became a highlight of the local social calendar, attended by rival teams and local dignitaries alike. Rugby wasn’t just a game; it was a gathering of friends, families, and neighbours — a chance to share stories, songs, and good company long after the final whistle.
Though the decade ended in uncertain times, Oakham RFC stood as a beacon of togetherness and community spirit.
Below you’ll see a piece of that history — the original 1937/38 Oakham RFC team photograph digitally enhanced and a colourised version that brings those faces, and their legacy, back into focus.
And just like then, our volunteers remain at the heart of everything we do — the lifeblood of a club that’s still run by people who love the game and each other.