Back to the future

Old Saltleians have come a long way since 1933 when Saltley Old Boys RFC was set up to serve past pupils of Saltley Grammar School who introduced rugby in 1928. 

Renamed Old Saltleians RFC in 1936, the club lived a nomadic life until 1954 when land was bought at Water Orton and first one and then a replacement clubhouse was built on Watton Lane

With the arrival of the M42 came a necessary move to a third clubhouse and transport links continued to have an impact on the club when HS2 development in 2018 saw compulsory purchase. That meant a move to temporary accommodation at Shard End Birmingham.

They’re coming home

Now the club’s fifth and best clubhouse sees them back at their spiritual home of Water Orton on the eve of celebrating their 90th birthday.

The dedicated input of Old Salts volunteers has made this new era possible and especially Colin Gardner, architect Ken Fairburn, club QS Julian Harradence, Peter Holmes, and club chair Mick Lee whose single-minded determination saw the dream become a reality.

As with all rugby clubs, Old Salts faced the challenges of covid but their current squad has continued to play throughout four years’ exile and, despite being without a bar, even achieved promotion.

Said Mick Lee: “It’s an empowering feeling to be back home in Water Orton, in a magnificent clubhouse and grounds, thanks to our team of volunteers, resilient club members, plus Peter Grace and senior consultants ‘Robinson Low Francis’. In partnership with a formidable contractor and sponsor O’Brien Contractors Ltd., we made it happen. Looking to the future we will embrace the changes we need to make, no longer ‘a pub with no beer’ we have a wonderful opportunity, a fighting chance to succeed. Cheers!”

Now back home, the club has a commitment to their five-year plan of recruiting young players, creating and promoting girls’ rugby, and including many formats of the game. This will see fun activity for the community, whilst the 1st and 2nd XV will thrive, as previously, with homegrown players coming through.