History of the Club

Derek Martin, the son of the club's founder Alf Martin, who sadly passed away recently, has kindly searched the recesses of his memory to write the following.

This brief history of the Holland Sports Athletic Club is carried out from memory. The dates are as accurate as I can remember without delving into Surrey Mirror archives and Club history. So here goes!!!!!!!

All started in 1981/82 when Alf Martin started up the Holland Boys Club, which was run twice a week in the old pavilion at Holland Rovers FC (now Holland Sports). Local lads turned up to play darts, pool, table tennis and generally socialise. As time went on and numbers grew, fitness sessions were introduced and were overseen by Alf and Jock Grant. Some time in 1981/82, Alf and Jock formed the Holland Boys Boxing Club, with training sessions in the club on Sunday mornings.

With Jock now running the Club, Alf started up Holland Sports AC. This was in 1982. We used to train Mondays and Wednesdays. The track was literally running around the football club's First Team pitch (in football boots, the boys that is), which was along the tree line by the tennis courts. This later progressed to using cones for the bends (there’s progress for you).

We were lucky to have three former national athletes living in the area. Jan Martin (no relation) coached the sprinters, while two ladies used to coach the hurdles - Sharon Smyth was one (a local dentist) but I cannot remember the other person's name. I believe Sharon had a son at the club at the time (he later competed for us in the men’s league). Another lady joined a little later who competed at a high standard in the high jump, so now we had a high jump coach as well.

In 1983 the club sent four people on the Assistant Club Coach course at Crystal Palace. We now had the foundation to progress the club. By now we were regular visitors to the indoor season at Crystal Palace and going to the occasional Open meets.

About 1984, we put in the long jump pit by the tarmac area and marked out a grass track where the old 2nd team pitch was (skate-board ramp is now). Another four people completed their Assistant Club Coach award and we now had our first Club Coach.

Over the next year or two, despite the limited facilities, the club started to produce some athletes with real potential. Here are some of them: Nicky Forster (county champion, 100/200m), later went on to be a professional footballer; Becky Coomber (100/200m), who undoubtedly would have been an outstanding 400/800m runner; Sue Barrett (hurdles); Del Kavanagh (800m); Steve Forehead (javelin); Steve Robson (100/200m); a superb colts relay team in Jonathan and Andy Williams, Simon Clark and Nicky Forster, who were ranked in the top 10 in the UK in the 4x100; and a little later Amanda Hart (100/200m and long jump – ranked 2nd in 100 and 1st in long jump in UK) and of course Ellie Bongers (middle distance Surrey Champion cross-country and 10th in the National). If I have forgotten some I apologise to them.

Still in 1984, numbers were increasing and the athletes and the club deserved a better track. This is where Alf Martin once again rose to the challenge. After numerous meetings with the council, the football club and other organisations, it was agreed to grant permission for a cinder track for Holland Sports AC. However, we were told to raise half the money ourselves (approx £20,000, doesn’t seem much these days does it?). Unperturbed, the club, with Alf and his committee driving everyone on, set out to raise the money - sponsored walks from Tonbridge to the club, a sponsored run over the same distance by two club members, donations from local organisations, discos etc, etc. Finally the money was raised and the work on the track could begin. During this time, we were in consultation with Surrey Beagles to amalgamate and pool resources as neither club had a track. They chose to go to Redhill AC as they had a track already. In recent years they have almost folded, and I wonder if they ever regretted the decision.

Work began and finished in 1985/86. Throughout this time we had annual presentation evenings. Shireen Bailey (international champion middle distance runner), John Regis (100/200/400m Champion) and Tony Jarrett (110m Hurdles) presented awards, all of whom represented GB in the Olympics and World Championships.

POSTSCRIPT

Lindsay Philip, our current Chairman and Level 3 Coach, was involved with the club from its early days and I (Nigel Bongers) joined with my daughter, then aged 8, in 1984. Alf with his persuasive powers convinced me after 6 months to become a coach. Amazingly I work in Burgess Hill at a small firm where the father of Steve Robson referred to above also works!