‘Scrubby’ - an unofficial school sport played at Hurstpierpoint College

At the annual Old Johnian event,’ The Over 60s Lunch’ in London, (then organised by Mr Rodney Battey (Star/Eagle 1953-59), another OJ offered me a recollection of the unofficial game of ‘Scrubby’. It was enjoyed at Hurst at least up to the 1950s and 1960s. Sadly I can find no photographs in the Archives recording it in action, just a short editorial in the magazine of 1964 which I have included.

OJ Mr David Frost recalls it was played on the South Field, (now the site of the South Astro), between two whole houses. The field had not been used for official matches since the 19th century so was just long, thick, tussocky grass then where balls could get lost and running fast was impossible.

The boys would build impromptu goal posts at each end of the field made up of piles of sweaters or whatever they could find and try to make it hard for the ball to go out of play.

Boys could score goals but there were no conversions or drop goals as in Rugby. Teams could be up to 45 strong depending on the size of those houses playing on that day and not necessarily exactly equal on both sides.

Generally, it was played when the normal pitches had been deemed unfit for matches * for several days due to bad weather and if everyone had got bored with the Road Run * which was the only other outdoor alternative.

The rules were broadly the same as those for Rugger but there were several umpires. Mr Frost recalls that there could be as many as 5 balls in play at one time. If you saw your house doing badly with one ball, then two or three more boys would leave off where they were playing and join in. It sounds pandemonium but apparently a lot of fun!

My thanks to OJ David Frost, (Shield House 1954-59) for this information.

Extract from the Hurst Johnian magazine of 1959 

If you have heard about or took part in ‘Scrubby’ matches do contact the Archives as we would be interested to hear more. archives@hppc.co.uk

For reference

* Daily exercise was compulsory at Hurst every day of the week apart from Sunday and inter house sport was played most days if the pitches were playable.

* The Road Run was a circuit up to the Sportsman Pub, Goddards Green and back to the College in the 1950s, when the traffic was much lighter than today and there were few safety concerns.

Mary-Lou Rowland

Archivist