Van Der Stel Sports Club

General information

THE HISTORY OF THE VAN DER STEL SPORTS CLUB
During 1919 a number of farmers from Vlottenburg decided to establish a rugby club. The same year the first steps where taken and a rugby field was laid out in Vlottenburg. Thus the Vlottenburg Rugby Club came into being. Shortly afterwards the Club was moved to Stellenbosch. In 1925 the Rugby Club was already known as the Van der Stel team and competed for the Western Province Cup.

In the early thirties the Club experienced financial problems. Gate fees where shared with Stellenbosch Club, since both clubs used the same fields. Coetzenburg was already being built and was expected to be in use by 1931, but this only happened later. In 1934 Van der Stel Club’s existence was in doubt, but the members decided unanimously to do everything possible to make the club survive. Membership fees at that time were 15 pounds per year. Only in 1938 did things start to improve.

During 1938 Van der Stel Club was “loaned” to Boland where they played for eight years before they where able to return to Western Province. Financial matters improved and there where talk of a new sports field. It was a time of war and the Western Province Regiment also used the rugby field as parade ground once a month. In 1942 plans started for erection of a pavilion.

In 1947 permission was given to Baseball and Cricket to use the rugby field during the summer. A year later the plans for the new pavilion was approved. The Administrator of the province approved a loan from the Municipality in 1949 for the amount of 15 000 pounds for the building of a pavilion of 1400 seats, but the Treasury stepped in and disapproved the loan. Forty eager supporters of the club then came to the fore and signed surety for 5000 pounds. On 10 December 1949 the position of the pavilion was set out for building to commence, and the official opening occurred in 1950. The Municipality played a major role in completion of this ideal, apart from other donations and support that where received.

On 20 January 1950 Van der Stel again received full senior status with full voting rights, from the Western Province union. This was received with much rejoicing. Shortly afterwards Piet Kriel, Tjol Lategan and Tom Fourie received their WP colours.

1951 brought another highlight when oom Tienie Louw was nominated as Honorary Life-president. Other founding members that where present where Mr. H Scholt (who was elected president that year), L Hofmeyer, N Momberg, Joey Roux, Kowie Roux (who later also became president), and Raal van Brakel.

The first tour that the Club undertook through South Africa happened during 1953, when the first team visited the Eastern Province and Natal. Mr. Jan Pickard, later president of WP rugby union, was the captain and Ryk van Schoor the under captain. In that year the rugby jersey was also changed. Gone was the white line across the chest and it was replaced with the golden lion.

It was decided in 1962 to apply for a liquor license. The Club secretary, Mr. Blinkie de Vos and Mr. AJ de Waal brought a successful application after the constitution of the Club was changed. The members again contributed in making the necessary changes to the Club buildings to put all the facilities in place.

In 1967 steps where taken towards the establishment of a joint Sport Complex at Bergzight. This ideal which started as early as 1944 became a reality on 8 November 1974 when the Van der Stel Sport Centre was unveiled. This was an ideal for which many young men and women worked for almost fifty years. The Municipality and various others made great contributions to develop this facility for Stellenbosch.