Sheppey rugby club president Gerry Lawson reflects on 58 years at the club

Sheppey Rugby Club’s departing president Gerry Lawson isn’t short of memories after 58 years with the club - but one that stands out is how a flip of a card changed their history for good.

The club were homeless but an opportunity to buy the piece of land that has now been theirs since the mid-1960s was, as Mr Lawson recalled, decided on with a bet down the pub.

A fee of £1,500 was eventually paid for the land on Lower Road, known affectionately as The Ditch or Stupplefield in recent years, but the farmer who owned it only agreed to enter negotiations if he lost a card game - which he did.

In March, Lawson - known to many as The Colonel - announced his decision to stand down as president, which will be formally ratified at July’s annual general meeting.

Speaking about his time at the club, he recalled that historic night at the Ferry House Inn when Harold Smart (the old headmaster of the secondary school) persuaded the local farmer, Mr Sturgess, to give him the chance to buy a piece of land.

“It was all on the turn of a card,” said Lawson. “Harold Smart won and the farmer had to give in and give us a chance to buy the land that we have got now.

“The agreement was, if my card beats your card, you will sell us a piece of land and that’s what happened. We bought the land with a loan from the RFU.”

Once the club bought the land they still had plenty to do. Lawson had grown up playing for the club but with no land and no clubhouse they lived a nomadic existence. Another piece of good fortune landed them a clubhouse.

The old Civil Defence Hut in Sheerness wasn’t needed any more and the club were invited to take it away.

“It took a weekend to take down and five years to put up!” said Lawson. Helpers spent their free time