Old Hams
Did you use to play for the mighty Hammers? If so we would love to hear from you.
Let us know where you are and what you are up to. Don’t forget to let us have some photos showing how well you have aged. We will publish your news and photos on this page.
Post your submissionNick Burrough
Now living in Sydney but in touch with a few current and old Hammers. Loved the Tours especially getting Ginger to go mad. O’Sullivan still side stepping of the same foot every time?
Ian Smith
Congratulations and well done an awesome achievement. well done mark and the boys i cant believe its still February and you are champions, close it out and win that raptor league as well. i am very proud to be Hammer today
ian.a5.smith@bt.com
Tom Kenward aka Legs
To my dear hammers,
Firstly my sincerest congratulations to all the teams on their continued success through this season. When I left at the end of last season I think we all knew that the first team were on the brink of something special and I am proud of all you guys for delivering on that expectation. May it continue in to next season and beyond. Obviously it is all down to the new website, eh Dilley?!
As for me, having moved out to France to start up my own business running a ski chalet in the French Alps, I am settling in to life well here. I have joined a local rugby club which involves training in the snow but has the added benefit of drinks breaks which involve mulled wine and cider! I have also taken to the skies having done a paragliding course which is a massively exhilarating experience that I would recommend to anyone (I took the picture here flying back towards our village of La Clusaz this summer)
It is all a massive learning curve being our first season (especially in another country and another language!) but business is going really well. Weekc and Hugo have been out here recently and we will hopefully have Giles and the ramshackle boys coming out in Spring.
If any other hammers are ever looking for a skiing holiday or an adventure holiday in the summer (waterskiing, hiking, biking etc), just drop us a message and I will sort you out. The chalet sleeps up to 15 so have a look at the website www.experiencelaclusaz.com.
Best of luck for the rest of the season and I look forward to seeing you all when I am back in the spring!
Tom/Legs
contact@experiencelaclusaz.comRobin Kangalee
I played for H&F in the second season with proberly the best backrow in my playing days with the likes of Dug Bones Dave Higgins also Terry, better known as chester, a fantastic ball player and deceving runner. I must mension my old friend Bhomdat better known as KOCK. There were a group of us who grew up together from school days. We also had a Sunday side called WRENAGADES which most of H&F players came from. Marco, Terry, Bhomdat and Dave were my personal friends I had a lot of lovely memories. I now live in Trinidad W I.
GOOD LUCK ROBIN (SCRUBS)
p.kingjoseph@gmail.com
Luke Goggin
Great new website - sounds like all is going well at HFRFC. I continue to move further away, Claire and I currently living in the boonies in Walton-On-Thames, first kid on the way in a few weeks!. Played for the hammers 2000 - 08 had some great times. Still playing (just) for Weybridge RFC in London South West 2, not doing as well as you guys. Good to see notes from old team mates such as Florian!
All the best
lukegog@gmail.comSteve Lake
Hi there Hammers,
I started at hammers and had the dubious honour of playing with Doug Bone, Fred Charnock, Es Hitchcock, Martin Williams, Jonah and the evergreen Lubanski. I even played in the clubs inaugural game at flanker, who put me there i dont know. Must say ive got lots of great memories especially of playing with Basher and Dickie Wayman, the smallest front row ever, but very effective. Loved it there keep in touch
Tim Bowles
Gentlemen.
Some very fond memories with a few gaps in between. Known mainly for my drinking ability, I had a brief playing career in the centres in 2008 (thanks to a London Nigerian monster breaking my hand) but then recovered in time for a sensational Bournbados 7s and spectacular Stockholm 10s! Gilo - ‘not the bloody worst’ host and thanks again for the intro. And Dillon - bare chested dirt sliding is still my favourite spectator sport. Thanks for making my year in London fellas. Now in Hong Kong living the dream… If any of you ever fancy joining me - let me know. There’s a couch for anyone visiting and always time for a few 2 second beers.
All the best. Keep in touch. Man love
Bowlesy
bowles.tim@gmail.comDick Wayman
Hello Hammersmith & Fulham my name is dick wayman and i played for about the first 15 years of the clubs history great times great mates t alleyne c cuthbertson r bateman bones and not to forget bhomdat and many more i left and moved to kent where i played for medway also i went into coaching girls under 16 i must have done something right as one young girl is now the england captian hope to hear from one of u old boys best of luck hammers for this season.
dick wayman
rwayman@sky.comFlorian Cartoux
Hi there, just bumped into the newly revamped website. Very impressive… I am Florian, have been living in Brussels for 8 years and was part of the Hammers from 98 til 2001. I think I was the first French guy to play for hammers and used to be renowed for playing on the wing (yes I was fast). I used to play with the likes of Rod Anderson, Mike O’Sullivan, Andy Cameron and Luke Goggin. Yes, a long time ago. In any case, congratulations on the recent promotions and well done to the club and its committee (I think Terry and Chris remember me…)
All the best, Florian
florian.cartoux@gmail.com
Joe Ferreira (Saffa)
Hi HAMMERS When I’m looking at all the photo’s… just made me think back of all the good times I had with the club in 2004 and 2005. Your season is about to start… so good luck for the new season guys and keep our name High!!
GO HAMMERS!! Cheers
Joe
kwe@suzukiauto.co.zaDerek Scarlett
Great to hear that the mighty ‘HAMMERS’ are still going strong and that some of the lesser players are still alive, e.g. higgins, alleyne, ‘bommer’ etc., however it would be nice to hear how you have got on. Hope to visit Hurlingham soon to see how our great club has moved on.
See you there, UP THE HAMMERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! From the most under-rated back row player the club ever had! Del-boy (the king) Scarlett.
derekscarlett@aol.comdel jacklin
hi everybody who nows me at hfrrc ive been at the club now for 28 years played with all the greats cant name them all they all special to me love dave higgins dougie bone ray bateman tony richards bomdat dave clarke the one only nick watkins pete tolputt es hitccock martin williams brian phipps pat hanland so many lovly people i am now coaching the mini rugby future of the club have a great 2010 del jacklin
delboyjacklin@yahoo.co.ukAustralasian Contingent
A veritable who’s who of Hammersmith and Fulham rugby met in Brisbane over the weekend of 25/26/27 June to watch the Australia v Ireland test match. Only one of the group (Hendo) was disappointed by the score, the rest being true blooded Aussies, or in Ando’s case, almost naturalized. Other than the rugby the highlight of the weekend was the inaugural HFRFC Southern Hemisphere Golf competition played on the notoriously difficult Victoria Country Club Putt Putt course. Hendo was victorious on the day, closely followed by Ando with Dikjic third and Slatts bringing up the rear. He claimed he gave up after the ninth hole but did win the award for most Bogan abuse on the day. A good amount of beers were consumed, some great banter was had and a great weekend had by all. If anyone is this part of the world then do get in touch. The next scheduled meeting is the Bledisloe Cup game in Sydney in September.
Attendees: Pete Henderson, Rod Anderson, Sam “Still a pest” Wesley, Dan Dikjic, Todd Slatter, Wes Grant, Adam Stone, Drew Ascough.
Cheers
Andrew Long (Longy)
Boys, just a note from a backpacking former player Longy Good to see the club has done so well and even better to see that my old mate Tony Richard is still playing the game we love. I also see names of boys I played with many a drunken year ago and am glad a club that looked after me is going so strong. I still play in Sydney and have been Club Captain of the Sydney premiership club side Southern Districts Rugby Club and Captain/Coach the 3rd grade side having a good group of English men joining us every year that still reminds me of the good times I had with you boys. If ever on tour in oz boys and wanting a game don’t hesitate to email me.
Take care boys, Andrew Long
Laurie McKenna
My name is Laurie Mckenna and I played for the Hammers around 79-80-81 I’m buggered if I can remember now (must be the Alzheimers!)
I was a scrum half (allegedly) and occasional centre or wing.
The memories now come flooding back .(getting carted up and down the Kings road in the back of Adam Lubanski’s green Saab listening to Dire Straits trying to find a restaurant where fat Bernie Kloska could eat and then fall asleep thereby enabling us to use his wallet to pay for said meal .
Bernie is now in Vietnam I think and prior to that was in Aussie Where he works for a company selling cigarettes, a rich irony as the bastard never bought any!
I played with ,among others Terry Alleyne, Dougie & Dave Bone, Dave Higgins, Pete Tolputt, Es Hitchcock (and his old Jag),the one and only Bhomdat, Masher Mowforth, Tony Richards, Pascal Peters Adam Lubanski, Steve Lake and many others whom I’m sorry to say that my memory has failed me on!
I spent many a happy evening in the Peterborough and have the dubious distinction (and still the scar under my armpit) of Falling down the inspection pit of the garage next door whilst looking for a quiet, dark place for a whizz. I think I still somewhere have the cutting from the paper where somebody asked me to go and put names to a team photo and predictably it ended up as a very silly collection of names such as Doug Bonehead ,Steve Puddle Fred Earknock etc .
I lived in Cape Town after leaving London and played for and coached at Villagers Rugby where I enjoyed the company of lots of (very similar) Seth Efrican pissartists!
I am currently living in Teignmouth with The Beastie and the heir and spare who both play for Teignmouth RFC juniors.
My job consists of going around whispering at little old Ladies as I sell Hearing Aids
Would love to hear from anyone who remembers me
Regards, Laurie McKenna
David Higgins
I played for Hammersmith and Fulham for three seasons at the age of 21 to 23. I played open side flanker with Dougie Bone ( one of the best back row players I have ever played with. The No 8 was Kevin an Ausssie and again one of the best 8,s I ever played with. When I married at the age of 23 I moved clubs to Ealing , where I have been ever since, now aged 49 I am still there , coaching Under 14,s Under 11,s. I fortunately joined a team in their ascendency into league 3 south . I had a great rugby career at Ealing winning the Middlesex cup four times and playing full County Rugby.
When I joined H&F we were based at the PETERBOROUGH now called the New Ausland .
We toured Rhyll WALES and played Denbeigh Mental hospital. Robin Kangalee got off the bus and started to eat the Daffodils, I think he still resides there.
I started playing Rugby at the age of 12 with a stocky fullback by the name of Terry See an old stalwart of H&F . I did catch site of him , trundling across a pitch at Ealing about two seasons ago.
Team mates I remember are . Dave Peat, Marco De Veras,Dave Clark, Koloko, My elder brother George propped and my younger brother played centre.
We onced played three sets of three brothers in the first team…..
The Mathewmans, The Bones and the Higgins……………I could go on but I am expecting an invite to Tony Richards` Zimmer frame presentation.
Dave
Terry Smith
I played second row for the Hammers in the late 70’s and 80’s. I played with Bomdhat who was a great skipper, Dave Richards, Tony Richards, Dave Clarke, Terry Alleyne, and many others.
Would love to hear from old team mates and anyone who remembers me. If you have a Veterans team I would love to come back and play.
Thanks, Terry Smith
tel.elvis@btinternet.comMartin Kilbane
My name is martin Kilbane. I played for Hamersmith in there first game in the Quinten 7s and scored the first try the Club ever scored since. I played with the Higgins and the Bone brother. I must say at the time the back row was the best in juinor rugby. I went on to play against Dave Higgins for Ruislip then with London Irish. I am now living in cork in Ireland in cork so if the Club is coming to Ireland for a tour let me now if I can help.
Regards, Martin
Pete Davis
Pete Davies here - Played for Hammers 1981 - 1993. Captained seconds for a handful of those years and won the Walter Naylor award for something I’m not quite sure of ! Down in West Country but still following Wales - clearly to no avail. However enjoyed jolly to Nantes last week with Steff, Col and Lyndon. Still also in touch with Clive Peters, Clive Hurley, Dai Richards, Pete Baillie and others, including Bud Mcgarry.
Pete
James Air
Just found your great HFRFC website and clicked on your ex-players link. I played for Hammers from 1992 to 2001. Played both scrum half and fullback. I played for all five teams, including all five in consecutive weeks at one stage! I left London in 2004 and now live in Sydney, Australia.
I hope to see all the teams topping the leagues this season - “Come on you Hammers!”
Regards, James Air
Will Villiers
Hey everyone, A quick message with two things… Firstly I will be moving back soon, well as soon as the house here is sold. Secondly, in December (the 28th to be precise and at 9 58 AM to be more precise) my baby daughter, Mia Adriana Marie Rose, was born.
See you all soon for some parachute pint, Will Villiers
Doug Chaplin
Hi everyone, I played for Hammersmith in 2002/2003 and always think of it when I put on my rugby gear. When I moved back to Canada in 2003 I continued with Rugby locally by helping coach our local high school sides. But my life now revolves more around my two boys Alexander (3 years) and Ian (10 months). Cheers to everyone and it is good to see the club is doing so well. I have not been on a rugby tour since Berlin 2003 and I do miss the antics.
Cheers Doug
John Boochever
Dear Chris, Nick, Joe, Pat, Bhomdat and you know who you are,
Greetings from Washington DC where I’m playing vets with the Wild Geese RFC, a motley collection of former Washington Irish, Maryland Exiles, and Montgomery RFC players, long past their prime. You may remember their/our tours in ‘99 and ‘01 when we were still young. Just last month, we played an Over-45’s tournament in Fort Lauderdale. It was fairly brilliant: 3 (short) matches over 2 days, sun shining, beer flowing, massage on sidelines, ladies flocking. Well shame about the last part.
Great to see Hammers fielding a vets side.
All the best, Booch
Joe Fernley
Evie was born at 11:10am on Saturday 20th January 2007 at home in the living room of Manor House, Ecton weighing 3.56kg or 7lb 13.5oz in old money. Alex was relived with just an eight hour labour this time after all the fun with Sam and, although tired, both Alex and Evie are doing well.
Evie has decided she’s nocturnal so she slept until around 8pm yesterday and then from about 7am this morning!
Joe Fernley