Sports and Societies

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.

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.

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. 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.

The HAC Hockey Club was formed in 1904 and currently fields two teams. The 1st XI (Gunners) play in the highly competitive London Hockey League, Division 3 while the 2nd XI (Sutlers) play in the London Hockey League, Division 6.

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 complete the enquiry form on this page.

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.

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.
14th 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.

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. You can also find out more by visiting the Club’s external website, hacrfc.com, or joining them on Facebook and Instagram.

The Saddle Club is one of the largest and most active of the HAC’s sports clubs. The Club brings together likeminded enthusiasts in all things equine for both activities and socials. It spans the whole gamut of horsemanship, including:

• hacking
• show jumping
• polo
• hunting
• point-to-point racing
• dressage
• side saddle riding

The Club’s activities take place at various locations across London, the Home Counties and the South of England, depending on the activity and each venues’ facilities. We offer a variety of evening and weekend riding opportunities and host introductions to riding, weekends away (including overseas holidays), days out hunting on Salisbury Plain and access to military riding facilities (Central London) and horses and much more.

Our social calendar is equally active with monthly 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 Carols and Christmas Service.

To find out more you can contact us via the form on the right or you can also follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

Season, Fixtures and Training

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 can be provided at the Light Cavalry’s stables.

Date	Event	Location	Information
3-5 Aug 2020	Intro to Riding Course	Flemish Farm	£200 Book here
4 Aug 2020	Committee Meeting	Armoury House	Members welcome to attend drinks in Sutling Room from 2100hrs. If you would like to be hosted please RSVP to Club.
18-20 Sep 2020	French Beach Ride	Le Touquet	RESCHEDULED to spring 2021 due to Covid-19
6 Oct 2020	Minley Fun Ride	Minley Forest	£135 Hireling, £15 self-mounted. Book Here
10 Oct 2020	Hunt Day	Salisbury Plain	Subject to deconfliction with military exercises. Expressions of interest to Hunting Rep.
13 Oct 2020	Saddle Club AGM	Armoury House	All members encouraged to attend. Followed by drinks reception.
1 Dec 2020	Committee Meeting	Armoury House	Members welcome to attend drinks in Sutling Room from 2100hrs. If you would like to be hosted please RSVP to Club.
9 Dec 2020	Carols and Saddle Club Dinner	Queens Room, Armoury House	Tickets on sale soon.
11 Dec 2020	Squadrons' Bounty Ball	Armoury House	HAC members can host guests.

 

Other Activities

The Club also has a dynamic social calendar; each summer a drinks party is held for all Club members and a dinner is also held in December following the HAC Carol Service. Further informal gatherings in London pubs take place a few times per year and members are encouraged to attend each discipline’s contested events, such as polo matches.

New Members

The Club is open to all new members, whether you are a dab hand at riding or looking to learn a new life skill we always welcome the lifeblood of our club – new members. You do not need to be a member of the HAC to join however you will need to be sponsored by a member.

Membership	Annual Membership Fee	Joining Fee
Associate Membership	£96	£35
Company Membership	£96	£35
Regimental (Serving)	£96	FREE

 

Annual membership costs just £96* per year or just £8 a month. Serving members of the Regiment 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 and our Membership Secretary will get in touch.

*Correct as of 3 July 2020.

Club Officials

President: Colonel G Godbold TD DL
Chairman: Captain G P O’Connor VR HAC (Regimental Equitation Officer)

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.

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.

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.

Season, Fixtures and Training

Update due by 1 February 2020.

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.