Chipstead RFC was born in the late summer of 1959 when John Shackel and several of his young friends including Colin Cronk and Tony Wingrove decided to form a Rugby Club. The Club had no pitch, no Clubhouse, and only about eight likely players of whom Ian Fraser (the first Club captain), John Mason, Richard Hewett and Peter Long are names that spring to mind.


The chances of success were not very high as Chipstead was right in the middle of a very strong Club and Old Boys area: the immediate neighbours included Warlingham, Reigate and Sutton with the old boys sides of Caterhamians, Whitgiftians, Mid Whitgiftians, Mid Whyfians and Reigatians close by.