History

The land now known as The Recreation Ground was purchased in June 1952 by Mr. Bertie Coldwell, owner of the Post Office Stores on the corner of Honeycrock Lane, for £600.

In August 1955, the deeds were transferred to Mr. Albert Betchley of Honeycrock Lane, along with two other trustees. Shortly afterwards, the Salfords Social Society was formed, with a committee set up to promote and arrange social gatherings and activities for the community.

The committee decided the land should be used to provide a recreation ground and clubhouse. Meetings were held in the Village Library, which at the time also served as a storeroom for the Post Office. Funds were limited, but the hope was that enough money could eventually be raised to build a brick clubhouse.

In early 1968, a committee member spotted an advertisement for a large cedarwood hut for sale in Crawley. The hut, owned by the Crawley Table Tennis Club, was purchased for £200. The committee was given two months to clear the site and transport the building to Salfords. Once planning permission was granted, work began.

The foundations were dug for 45 concrete piers, each three feet deep due to the surrounding trees. The hut was erected and made watertight before winter, and by 1969 the interior was
completed. The Society finally had its first  clubhouse, thanks to the tireless efforts of four dedicated men—Maurice Betchley, Frank Cuthbert, Mick Ford, and George West—who, along with many volunteers, were later made Life Members.

The Salfords Social Society was soon renamed Salfords Social Club. Membership grew steadily, with weekly and monthly activities organised. Annual  membership cost five
shillings, or half a crown for senior citizens. To support the Club financially, a bar was introduced, staffed by volunteer committee members. At each monthly meeting, a rota was
passed around so members could mark their availability to serve.

In 1977, the original dream of a brick-built clubhouse began to take shape with the addition of a brick  extension. That same year, the Club joined forces with the Parish Council to host
the Queen’s Silver Jubilee celebrations at the Recreation Ground. The event was a resounding success, with local organisations setting up stalls and villagers turning out in large numbers. Proceeds funded Jubilee mugs for all Salfords schoolchildren, the installation of two village benches, and donations to charity.

By 1984, however, it was becoming difficult to find volunteers to manage the bar. Income had fallen, and the new Chairman, Les Foster, proposed employing a paid Bar Manager. With his leadership, the Club flourished once more. By 1986, revenues were strong enough to secure a loan from the brewery, Charringtons, to modernise the bar. The refurbishment was
completed later that year, celebrated with an opening party in November.

In 1987, following discussions with a trustee who was also a Parish Councillor, part of the field was leased to the Parish Council to create a children’s playground. The Borough Council agreed to cut the grass and maintain the equipment, which remains in place today.

Tragically, in late 1991, the Club lost its Chairman, Les Foster. His contribution had been immense, and his passing was a major blow. Even so, under the guidance of various chairmen
and committees, the Club continued to prosper.

In 1996, Richard Cooper, a builder, became Chairman. Recognising the Club’s healthy finances, he launched a two-phase expansion plan. The first phase added a snooker and pool room, officially opened by Ray Reardon in November 1997. The second phase, begun in April 1998, involved constructing a function room. Built with help from local builders and
volunteers, it opened in August that year with a celebration to raise funds for the Chernobyl Disaster Appeal, which enabled several affected children to attend.

When Richard Cooper resigned at the end of 1998, the Club faced challenges. Leadership turnover in 1999–2000 led to instability, though maintenance work and a new bar area kept
the Club running.

At the 2001 AGM, Norman Nesbitt was elected Chairman. He quickly identified the need for new toilet facilities, which were essential if the aging wooden clubhouse (the only place with toilets) was to be demolished. The new extension was completed in 2003, clearing the way for the long-envisioned brick-built replacement.

By spring 2004, over £50,000 had been raised, allowing the Club to secure a £100,000 loan from Barclays Bank. Work began that summer, and the new exterior was completed before winter. Interior work was finished by March 2005.

In a fitting tribute, Mick Ford, one of the original volunteers who built the first wooden clubhouse in 1969, was invited to officially open the new brick-and-mortar clubhouse— bringing to life a dream that had begun more than 30 years earlier.