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.

Archery Club

Our letters patent from 1537 state our purpose as being “for the better defence of the realm and the maintenance of the science and the feat of shooting longbows (etc), perpetually at all manner of marks and butts in the City of London and beyond”. Archery then, is in our very DNA.

We have all walked past Scarlet, the stone Rover, at the top of the stairs for years so now join us to perpetuate shooting traditional English longbows in Artillery Gardens and further afield.

Membership Fees

Membership is only open to HAC members with an annual subscription fee for 2026 of £35. Individual shoot fees are set low at around £15 per session with guests of members welcome at a slightly higher fee.

Follow this link to sign up via our membership app. https://spond.com/invite/JGCIR.

Planned Events

January – ‘Frostbite’ shoot near Biggin Hill
February – Arrow making
April – Artillery Gardens shoot, AGM
May – Livery Company shoot
June – Glanusk estate (South Wales) roving shoot to the marks
August – Scarlet competition, Artillery Gardens
October – Battlefield tour, Agincourt

Contacts and More Information

President: Andy Cook andy@aj-cook.co.uk
Secretary: Matthew Steven-Fountain stevenfountain@yahoo.co.uk

The Honourable Artillery Company Football Club (HAC FC) is one of London’s most established amateur football clubs, combining over a century of history with a thriving modern setup. The Club runs two competitive Saturday teams that compete at a high level within the Amateur Football Combination (AFC) — one of the largest and most competitive amateur leagues in Europe. The Club’s Patron is Alan Smith, former Arsenal and England striker.

The 1st XI have enjoyed significant success in recent years, becoming back-to-back AFC Premier Division Champions (2022/23 and 2023/24) — a testament to the squad’s quality, ambition, and unity both on and off the pitch. Both clubs have now joined the newly formed SAL (Southern Amateur League) which is the biggest Amateur football pyramid in Europe, with the 1st XI playing in the highest division and the 2nd XI competing just four tiers below in Senior Division Four, maintaining strong performances and providing a vital pathway for new players into the Club.

A Veterans XI (Over-35s) also represent the Club in friendly fixtures across London, continuing the HAC’s long tradition of competitive and social football for players of all generations.

While the HAC Football Club was formally founded in 1897, its ties to the game stretch back even further. In 1863, HAC member Cowper “CD” Jackson, aged 24, helped frame the very first laws of football — making the Club a part of the sport’s earliest foundations.

The Club’s modern era reflects its continued evolution. HAC FC’s matches and training sessions are held at two outstanding London venues — Armoury House (Moorgate) as our home pitch and we train at Battersea Park Astro. Training takes place weekly, with pre-season beginning in July ahead of the competitive campaign that runs from September to April.

Community and Culture

In keeping with HAC tradition, camaraderie and community are central to the Club’s identity. Social events, including the annual awards dinner and Christmas celebration at Armoury House, remain key fixtures in the calendar. The Club also proudly revived its Easter festival tour at Liverpool Ramblers — reconnecting with one of the oldest fixtures in English amateur football.

Off the pitch, HAC FC has built a strong digital presence, becoming one of the most-watched amateur football clubs on YouTube, with weekly matchday content filmed and shared through our Goalkeeper The Scouse GK. The Club’s growing audience continues to showcase the unique spirit, competitiveness, and culture that define HAC Football.

To get a feel for the Club’s culture, matchdays, and behind-the-scenes action, follow us on Instagram at @hac_fc

New Members

The Club attracts players from a wide range of footballing backgrounds — including former university first-teamers, academy players, and ex-semi-professionals — who value both the competitive standard and the inclusive, social environment. Membership of the HAC Company is not required to play, and all prospective players are warmly invited to apply via the enquiry form below.

Contacts and More Information

President: Paul Askew
Secretary: Fergus Cowper
1st XI fixtures and results
2nd XI fixtures and results

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, ride Light Cavalry horses, play polo, go hacking in Windsor Great Park, compete in dressage and jumping, and even venture abroad occasionally for overseas rides, along with so much more.

The Saddle Club is open to new members and you do not need to 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.

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 can schedule 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 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.

This year, members have enjoyed a beach ride in France, hunting clinics, cross country and showjumping, along with polo matches and learning the art of tent pegging to name but a few activities. There have also been regular social drinks and the ever-popular summer soiree.

We are looking forward to our annual HAC Carols and Saddle Club Dinner: Wednesday 10th December, in Armoury House

Next year’s events are being finalised and will be announced in due course. Ad hoc events and information are included in our monthly newsletter and posted on our members only Facebook page. We encourage members to let everyone else know about other equestrian events they are going to via Facebook.

If you are interested in becoming a member, please click here [https://membermojo.co.uk/hacsc]

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 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 1 April 2025

Club Officials

President: Lieutenant Colonel Adam Bate
Chairman: Tom Dimsdale (Company Veteran)

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.

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