Sports and Societies
- What we do
- Sports and Societies
Sports
There are currently ten sports clubs under the HAC Sports banner. Members of these clubs represent the HAC throughout the year on the sports fields and are drawn primarily from the veteran membership and the active Regiment. Uniquely, however, members of the public are welcome to join these clubs too - if you are interested in finding out more, see each club's details below or complete the enquiry form.
Societies
Veteran and active members of the Company are also eligible to take part in our many societies. Through regular events, these societies provide further opportunities for veteran and active members to develop their camaraderie and thus remain advocates of the Regiment throughout wider society. Educational lectures and networking events further develop members' understanding of the HAC's unique standing throughout history.
Cricket has a long tradition at the HAC, with evidence showing that it has been played on Artillery Garden since at least 1725. The current club fields three sides: the 1st, 2nd and A XIs.
Season, Fixtures and Training
All teams play a full schedule of weekend fixtures throughout the summer. Matches usually take place on the high-quality grounds of Artillery Garden at Armoury House, along with the hospitality which the Club can offer.
Other Activities
A winter tour is often also organised, such as the recent successful tour to Malta. The annual HAC Sports Presentation evening takes place in September, where players join all other HAC clubs to celebrate the year’s sporting achievements.
New Members
Membership of the Cricket Club is open to all, you need not be a member of the HAC to play for the cricket teams. Anyone interested in finding out more should get in touch with the Club Secretary:
New Members
Membership of the Cricket Club is open to all, you need not be a member of the HAC to play for the cricket teams. Anyone interested in finding out more should get in touch with the Club Secretary: edward.haines@ubs.com
The Association Football Club is an amateur open club with two Saturday teams competing at a high level in the Amateur Football Combination. The club's Patron is Alan Smith, the former Arsenal and England striker.
The 1st Team were Premier Division founding members of the Amateur Football Combination league in 2002. The second team compete only two tiers below in Senior Division Two South. A veteran over-35 side mainly play friendly fixtures in the London area. The league, with 350 teams, is the biggest in the European Union.
Whilst the Club was founded in 1897, the connection with football goes back further, as in 1863 an HAC member, Cowper "CD" Jackson, aged 24, helped to frame the first laws of football. Among more recent HAC regulars are Chris Hollins, the television presenter, and Mike Jolley, the Cambridge Blue who was appointed manager of Grimsby Town in 2018.
Season, Fixtures and Training
The season runs throughout the year with matches across London, and there are also weekly training sessions. Warm-up matches begin at the end of July before the season opens in mid-September running through to April. The Club uses two home venues: Armoury House and the Griffin, a university sports ground at 12 Dulwich Village.
Other Activities
In accordance with HAC tradition, there is a big emphasis on social activity. Each year a secretary is appointed to organise regular events, including a Christmas party and the annual past and present awards dinner at Armoury House. In 2019, the Club raised two teams to play in the Easter festival at Liverpool Ramblers after an absence of 27 years.
New Members
Players tend to be former university first-teamers, former football academy players or former semi-professionals attracted to sociability, exacting standards and an exciting style of play. Members of the football teams need not be members of the HAC Company, and so all are welcome to apply. Prospective players are cordially invited to complete the enquiry form on this page (or, for members of the HAC only, details of the Club Secretary are listed below).
The HAC Golfing Society was established almost a century ago. Its first recorded match was against a team from Littlehampton Golf Club led by the Duke of Norfolk (a member of the Regiment), a match which has been contested annually ever since (excluding the Second World War years).
Today, members enjoy their golf and revel in the camaraderie of the Society with regular fixtures and social occasions.
Season, Fixtures and Training
The Society has a strong fixture list playing against many of the best clubs in the South and East of England, such as Hunstanton, Royal West Norfolk, Littlehampton, Rye, New Zealand, Aldeburgh, Royal Worlington & Newmarket and Royal St Georges. Matches take place during the week and at weekends and are generally played as a foursome. In addition, the Society often enters teams into specific tournaments, such as the Bath Cup, Woking and Inter-Club Tournament, Berkshire.
Other Activities
The Society organises three Society Events each year: the Spring, Summer and Guest meetings. A Captain’s Tour, visiting a different venue each year, is also organised for members.
New Members
New players are always welcome and there is no need to be a member of the HAC to join, so all are invited to apply. For further information, please complete the enquiry form on this page (or, for members of the HAC only, details of the Club Secretary are listed below).
The HAC Hockey Club was formed in 1904 and currently fields four teams. The Saturday teams include a Women's team and two Men's teams. We also have a mixed side which play non-league midweek fixtures. The Sabres (Women's team) were recently promoted to the ‘Division 4 East’ in the London Hockey League. The Gunners (Men's 1st XI) play in the competitive ‘Division 2 South’ of the London Hockey League, and the Sutlers (Men's 2nd XI) were promoted to ‘Division 4 East’ of the London Hockey League after securing a double promotion. The Musketeers (mixed team) are not in a formal league.
Season, Fixtures and Training
The season runs from late September through to March with weekly fixtures, usually at weekends. There is no weekly training and the Club offers flexible commitment to suit players’ availability. Home matches are played in Dulwich and Battersea, with Away matches across London.
Other Activities
Every season also offers several social “training sessions” held at a local pub and the season ends with a dinner at Armoury House. The annual HAC Sports Presentation evening also takes place in September, where the Club joins all other HAC clubs to celebrate the year’s sporting achievements.
New Members
The Club welcomes all talented players; there is no need to be a member of the HAC to play for the Hockey Club so all are welcome to find out more. The Club benefits from some of the lowest subs in London. To find out more, please visit the HAC Hockey Club website at www.hachc.co.uk
The Rifle Club caters for those interested in full-bore (7.62mm) target rifle shooting under National Rifle Association conditions: deliberate, single-shot firing from the prone position at fixed targets at distances between 300 and 1000 yards. The Club has associate membership of the London Middlesex Rifle Association, but currently shoots exclusively at Bisley. The Club owns four rifles of different makes together with spotting telescopes and other equipment.
Season, Fixtures and Training
The season runs from spring to autumn each year and typically consists of five or six half-day practice sessions, three or four matches and the Championship weekend. One-to-one supervision and coaching is also available, particularly for new members.
Other Activities
The Club attends the HAC Sports Presentation Evening where all clubs celebrate the achievements of the past sporting calendar.
New Members
New members are welcome to join the Rifle Club; you need not be a member of the HAC to apply. Costs are kept to a minimum and one-to-one coaching is available. For more information, please complete the enquiry form on this page (or, for members of the HAC only, details of the Club Secretary are listed below).
The HAC Rugby Club was founded in 1896 and has a tradition of playing an attacking, dynamic and attractive style of rugby, which is enjoyable to play as well as to watch. At its height it fielded nine teams, and currently has four, all of which are very successful.
The 1st XV are in London One North (Level 6) having previously been crowned champions of London 2 North West. Alongside this, the 1st XV also finished runners-up in the Middlesex Cup. The 2nd XV recently won “The Double”: winning both the Middlesex Merit Division 1 League and the Middlesex Cup Competition. The 3rd XV also place highly within the Middlesex Merit 2 League.
The newly formed Occasionals attract older players back to the fold to play on the hallowed turf of Armoury House, playing around 10 games per year against teams with historic significance to the HAC.
14 May 2011 saw the proudest day in the Club's history as HAC RFC won the RFU National Junior Vase, defeating Old Edwardians 37-6 in the final at Twickenham. With around 1,000 clubs entering this competition, this was a huge achievement and a very special day at the home of rugby. More recent successes include the 1st XV’s promotion to London 1 North (RFU Level 6), which is the highest league the 1st XV has ever reached, as well as making the Club the joint-highest player-run club in the country.
Season, Fixtures and Training
Pre-season runs from July to August, followed by the League Season from September through to April. Fixtures are played most Saturdays during the season across London and weeknight training sessions also take place during the season. : the HAC’s Armoury House, King’s House Sports Ground (W4 2SH) and Chiswick Rugby Club (W4 2SH). The Club has three home grounds: the HAC’s Armoury House, King’s House Sports Ground (W4 2SH) and Chiswick Rugby Club (W4 2SH).
Other Activities
The active social life of the club has built the spirit and camaraderie which has been the foundation of success in recent seasons. Socials run on Saturday’s following matches throughout the season and there is an annual End of Season Ball where the club presents awards across each team and committee. The Club also attends the HAC Sports Presentation Evening along with all other Sports Clubs.
The Rugby Club also organises an annual tour for all members; the destination changes year on year, with recent trips to Dublin and Lisbon.
New Members
All abilities are welcome and you need not be a member of the HAC to play for the HAC Rugby Club. Prospective players are asked to attend a Wednesday night training session to be introduced to the club; please complete the enquiry form on this page (or, for members of the HAC only, details of the Club Secretary are listed below). You can also find out more by visiting the Club’s external website, hacrfc.com, or joining them on Facebook and Instagram.
At the heart of Regimental, Company and equine communities.
The riding club of the HAC is one of the largest and most active of our sports clubs. The club brings together like-minded enthusiasts in all things equine and social.
Members of the Saddle Club enjoy days out hunting on Salisbury Plain, ride Light Cavalry horses, play polo, go hacking in Windsor Great Park, love dressage and jumping, venture abroad occasionally for overseas rides and do so much more.
The Club is open to new members, you need not be a member of the HAC to join, however you will need to be sponsored by a member of either the Saddle Club or Company.
To find out more you can contact us via the form on this page, download our flyer and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
Each discipline has its own specific season and schedule of fixtures/events, thus there is always some form of equestrianism taking place. Each of the stables also offers opportunities to ride for practice and training. For those new to riding, the club schedules an ‘Introduction to Riding for Beginners', depending on interest. Once you have completed the course successfully you can ride at the Light Cavalry Stables. For experienced riders, membership of the club entitles you to ride at the Light Cavalry Stables.
Our social diary ranges from stunning events in unique locations to pub meets in the Greater London Area, summer cocktail parties in unique venues and an annual dinner each December held in Armoury House preceded by the HAC Carol Service. Members are also encouraged to attend each discipline’s contested events, such as polo matches, dressage competitions and jumping.
Recently in April, members spent an enjoyable weekend in Portugal riding Lusitano horses, both hacking and excellent dressage lessons on these amazing horses.
Recently in August, a hack in Windsor Great Park was followed by a pub lunch, where members could enjoy a well-earned meal and socialise.
Other Activities taken place or planned so far this year and open to members are:
Dressage Competition: 19 May in Windsor Great Park, with a lesson beforehand on 17 May.
Riding for Beginners: a 3 day riding course to equip you with the basics of safely tacking up a horse and riding to a level to complete and pass the Introductory A test from the British Horse Society. 3-5 June.
Learn to play polo: 25 May (members only), 26 May (members and members' guests)
Jumping Clinic and John Palmer’s Cup: Flemish Farm, Windsor 27 May
Summer Drinks Party: Ham Polo club, 12 July
Polo Lunch: Ham Polo club, 1 September
Social Drinks/Dinner - October (date TBC)
Christmas Hack in the Chilterns: Mulled wine followed by optional Christmas pub lunch follows the Hack, 1 December
HAC Carols and Saddle Club Dinner: Armoury House, 11 December
We have a number of other events in the pipeline but no confirmed dates, for example, social drinks in October, Kimblewick hunt Newcomers day, Hunting in France. Ad hoc events and information also posted on our members only Facebook page.
If you are interested in becoming a member, please download our flyer (link above) which will take you to our home page where there is more information and where you can apply to join the club.
We run a subscription year from 1 August each year, and currently offering pro rata joining fees.
New Members
| Membership | Annual Membership Fee | Joining Fee |
| Associate Membership | £96 | £35 |
| Company Membership | £96 | FREE |
| Regimental (Serving) | £60 | FREE |
Annual membership costs just £96* per year or just £8 a month. Serving members of the Regiment and Company members do not pay a joining fee (£35). All new members are hosted for a complimentary dinner with the committee at Armoury House. Membership fees are used to subsidise the club activities throughout the year.
To find out more about a specific discipline, or the Club in general, please complete the enquiry form on this page, or visit https://membermojo.co.uk/hacsc. ,
To find out more about a specific discipline, or the Club in general, please complete the enquiry form on this page and our Membership Secretary will get in touch (or, for members of the HAC only, details of the Membership Secretary are listed below).
*Correct as of 15 May 2024
Club Officials
President: Colonel G Godbold TD DL
Chairman: Tom Dimsdale (Company Veteran)
The Squash Club fields two teams playing across London. One team competes in the prestigious Bath Cup which is contested between a variety of London Clubs. The other team plays social squash against a mixture of London clubs and London touring teams.
Season, Fixtures and Training
The season runs from autumn through to spring, with fixtures taking place throughout the week and at weekends. Competitors for specific fixtures are usually chosen by availability and Home fixtures take place on-site at the Virgin Active gym next door to Armoury House. There are no additional training sessions, although friendly matches between HAC members may be arranged in the run-up to the start of the season and mid-season.
Other Activities
Home fixtures are often followed by drinks and a meal at Armoury House or other local establishments. The Club has also recently organised enthusiastic tours to both Malta and Poland to compete against European teams, and members also attend the annual HAC Sports Club Presentation Evening where awards are presented.
New Members
New members are always welcome to join. Members of the Squash Club need not be members of the HAC Company, so all are welcome to apply. Prospective players should complete the enquiry form on this page (or, for members of the HAC only, details of the Club Secretary are listed below).
There are numerous records of HAC members playing tennis throughout the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, and today the Real Tennis & Rackets Club plays both racquet sports. The Club is a thriving group and allows members to play on some of the finest courts in the world.
Season, Fixtures and Training
Fixtures are played throughout the year against our affiliated schools (such as the Old Etonians and Old Wellingtonians) as well as other clubs including Queens, Oxford and MCC. Players often also have the opportunity to play in additional tournaments or even represent the Army in competitions.
Other Activities
Members attend the annual Sports Presentation Evening to receive awards and hear the achievements of the other HAC sports clubs.
New Members
The Real Tennis & Rackets Club is always looking for new players, and no previous experience is required; current members range from complete beginners through to advanced players. Members of the Tennis & Rackets Club need not be members of the HAC, so all are welcome to apply. Please complete the enquiry form on this page (or, for members of the HAC only, details of the Club President are listed below).
The Club supports a wide spectrum of watersports, from sailing and narrow boating to wind/kitesurfing and motor boating. The committee has connections with many other organisations and so can support members' specific requests.
2024 Season, Fixtures and Training
RACING/CRUISING
- 17-19 May - Royal London Yacht Club Spring House Party Regatta - Island Sailing Club IoW
- 18 - 19 May - Contessa 32 Solent - Island Sailing Club Regatta
- 1 - 2 Jun - Contessa 32 Solent - Royal Solent Yacht Club Regatta
- 29 - 30 June - Contessa 32 Solent - Island Sailing Club
- 12 - 14 Jul - Contessa 32 Solent - Taittinger Regatta
- 14 - 15 Sep - Contessa 32 Solent - Corinthian Sailing Club Regatta
- 27 - 29 Sep - Contessa 32 Solent - CO32 Nationals Regatta
INVITATIONALS
- 3 May - Inns of Court and City Yeomanry Regatta - Sea View IoW
- 15 June - IoW - Round the Island Race - likely CO32
- 27 Jul - 2 Aug - IoW - Cowes Week Regatta - CO32 Fleet
- City Sailing Series - various events from May - Oct - If any boat owners would like to take part please inform Vice-Commodore for crew and entry details.
New Members
None of the above would be possible without support from the membership, which is open to all members of the HAC. Please complete the enquiry form on this page to find out more (or, for members of the HAC only, details of the Club Vice-Commodore are listed below).
Established in March 1948, the Boston Association maintains the link between the Honourable Artillery Company and the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts (AHAC).
The Association’s primary activity is in the organisation of the Company’s official visits to Boston and assists the AHAC with their visits to London, both of which occur on a ten-year cycle. The Association also holds numerous social functions in furtherance of this purpose, often in line with national holidays in North America, such as Thanksgiving. More broadly, the Association is the link with other formations in the USA and Canada and so helps coordinate additional visits and communications between the members of the HAC and others in North America.
Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company of Massachusetts
You can find out more about the AHAC on our Affiliations page.
Business Networking Group
The Business Networking Group is a forum exclusive to HAC members where they can connect and discuss business ideas, problems and goals, make recommendations and introductions, and has been set up to maximise the talent across the HAC for mutual benefit.
The meetings take place quarterly in Armoury House and comprise talks from special guest speakers on their sectors, and organised networking activities.
Run by members for members, the online forum and in-person events are not-for-profit and are free to attend for registered HAC members.
For more information please join the LinkedIn group "HAC (Honourable Artillery Company): Company members”.
Freemasonry is a voluntary, fraternal organisation, composed of men of good will, good character and reputation, who believe in brotherly love and charity. Members meet on a regular basis to work towards Degrees as well as ritual rehearsal and further education. Charity is a distinguishing characteristic of freemasonry and, as such, much time is given to fundraising efforts and other charitable activities. For further general information on freemasonry in London, please visit www.londonmasons.org.uk.
HAC Lodges
The HAC is home to two masonic Lodges and one Chapter, namely:
- FitzRoy Craft Lodge (No 569)
- FitzRoy Mark Lodge (No 815)
- FitzRoy Chapter (No 569)
The HAC Historical Society organises a number of lectures each year focussing on military history, not least that of the HAC Regiment. Lectures, by guest speakers and sometimes also by members, are held at Armoury House and are invariably preceded by drinks in the Sutling Room and a dinner following the lecture, giving attendees an opportunity to discuss the subjects of the evening.
Recent lectures include:
2024
- “It was the Guns wot won it”: British artillery during the 100 Days campaign 1918, by Jonathan Boff
- The Eastern Front in World War I, by Dr Nick Lloyd
- Op TELIC retrospective: the British in the Second Gulf War, by Brigadier Justin Maciejewski
2023
- The Boer War 1899-1902, by Dr Spencer Jones
- The Russo-Ukraine War: urban warfare in the 21st Century, by Professor Anthony King
- The Limits of Attrition? Firepower and the British and Commonwealth armies in the Second World War, by Professor Jonathan Fennell
2021
- General Richard O’Connor and Op COMPASS, by Michael Orr
- Revisiting Mr Kipling’s Army, by Professor Ian Beckett
- Napoleon and the Royal Navy after Trafalgar: the triumph of Maritime Strategy, by Professor Andrew Lambert
2020
- The long shadow of Second World War history in Central Europe, by Dr Matthias Strohn
- Intelligence Failures of the Battle of Britain, by Paul Beaver
- Archers in the English Army in the late Middle Ages, by Professor Anne Curry
2019
- Artillery in the Great War, by Paul Strong
- Pikemen, Musketeers and Sutlers: the realities of soldiering in the 16th and 17th Centuries, by Professor Peter Wilson
- Cinderella army? The TA in the Second World War, by Professor Gary Sheffield
The club maintains and develops the comradeship of members from the former Light Company and its predecessors: HQ Company, 3/HQ Company, Support Company, Support Weapons Wing, MT Wing and Signals Wing. The Club holds an annual dinner at the Bisley Shooting Lodge as well as a lunch at Armoury House.
The HAC Livery Association has 116 founder members representing a very wide range of City livery companies and includes 39 Past Masters and Prime Wardens among its membership.
Forthcoming Events
The Association's Summer Lunch will be held in July, date yet to be confirmed. Please visit the Members' Events page for further details.
The Mess Club was founded on 1 November 1819 and is the Company's premier dining club with approximately 400 members, both veterans and from the Active Unit.
Dinners are normally held in September, December, February and May. The February dinner is traditionally known as the Civic Dinner - the Lord Mayor, Lady Mayoress and Sheriffs of the City of London are invited as guests and many current and past masters and members of livery companies also attend.
A typical dinner will include a very good menu, good wines, a carpet guard of the P&M, a quartet from the Regimental Band and interesting, relevant and amusing speakers who are sometimes military, sometimes not.
Toastmasters International is a US non-profit organisation that effectively “franchises”, and then offers support to, individual clubs through international, national, regional et.c levels of organisation, as well as with online resources. This is the HAC's one, formed in 2018 by the then OC of HQ Sqn.
The Toastmasters “offer”: to continuously develop your confidence and ability at public speaking, which underpins leadership; to also offer actual leadership development in a low-stakes but medium-difficulty environment; and all of this in a friendly, supportive environment which maximises rapid progress. The format is usually prepared speeches (and then kind, actionable feedback on those), followed by “table topics” (impromptu speaking for 1-2 mins) then also followed by similar feedback.
HAC Orators now holds hybrid meetings on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month at 1900 for 1915hrs, both online and usually in the Medal Room. The cost, if one does join, is £45/half-year plus a one-time £20 registration fee. Please get in touch at hac.toastmasters@gmail.com.
We have a number of other organisations for veterans and specific dining groups, including:
Veterans
- Old Comrades Association
- Home Service Force
- Yager Company
- Cadet Battalion
- A, B, C and G Batteries
- 1, 2,3, HQ and Signals Squadrons
- Gun Troop
- Special Constabulary
Dining
- Lunardi Society
- Last Wednesday Lunch Club
- Thomas Atkins Dinner
- HAC in North America
Sports Club Enquiry Form
