More than 100 guests are expected next month for one of the highlights of Old Cryptians’ 100th anniversary celebrations.

Their Centenary Dinner takes place at Kingsholm on Saturday 18th April, an occasion that will bring together players past and present, supporters, friends and the wider Old Cryptians family.

“This special evening marks a century of rugby, lifelong friendships and generations of dedication to the club,” said Paul Vidgen, an Old Cryptians stalwart who is helping to organise the event alongside Marc Stubbs, who has been leading the centenary celebrations.

“It’s the occasion to honour our past, recognise those who have shaped the club's journey, and look forward with pride and ambition to the future.”

The club are looking forward to welcoming some special names from the club’s past to the dinner.

“Former Gloucester wing Nick Price will be there, he played for us before going on to play for Gloucester,” said Vidgen. “He then came back and also coached us for a bit too.

“Bob Hannaford is also coming, he’s one of the club’s legends having been a captain, chairman and president of the club.

“He's the brother of another Old Cryptian, Charlie Hannaford, an ex-England no 8, and Bob is also the father of former Gloucester scrum-half and captain Marcus Hannaford. 

“We are also hopeful former Gloucester and England full-back Peter Butler will be in attendance.

"Pete has remained in contact with many of his old former team-mates and we look forward to hearing some of his memories of playing for all three sides.”

Old Cryptians were founded in 1925 but they are marking their centenary throughout the 2025/26 season.

The celebrations actually began at the start of last season because that was when they switched to playing in their original pink and navy blue colours.

They will continue to wear them next season, too, before returning to their more familiar maroon, gold and navy blue in the 2027/28 campaign. 

“At the start of this season we played first-team and vets’ games against Chepstow,” added Vidgen.

“They were the first club we ever played and after Marc [Stubbs] reached out to them they amazingly sent senior, vets and junior sides across to make it an even more memorable day.

“We’ve also played a vets’ game against the North Gloucestershire Combination and although it was played in monsoon-like weather conditions, it was a great game.”

Vidgen believes the club, who play in Counties 3 Gloucestershire North, have a bright future despite the difficulties facing all grassroot rugby clubs.

“Our youth section is huge,” he said. “We’ve got teams from under-7s all the way through to Colts. Our juniors chairperson Victoria McCreevey has really taken the youth section to a different level, we’re trying to build from within the club.”

Stubbs has played 40 years of senior rugby for the club and at the age of 58 he is still playing.

“I’m really looking forward to this marquee event where we hope to bring everyone together,” he said.

“Old Cryptians is a true family club and over the years I’ve had the privilege of playing alongside generations of the same families.

“That includes many great servants of the club, such as the late John Conway and his sons, members of the Trigg dynasty including Rick, Steve and Jason, and their sons including Keith, Brandon and Rob, who is the current first-team captain.

"Sets of brothers like the Dunns – Rob, Les and Rick – and three generations of the Blackford family, grandfather Dave, his sons Mark and Jim, and grandsons Reece and Callum, as well as too many others to list. 

“I was lucky enough to play alongside my dad Joe, who is sadly no longer with us. He won a North Gloucestershire Combination cup final at Kingsholm and I was lucky enough to play in the team that did the same many years later.

“More recently I’ve had the special experience of running out with my middle son Ewan.

“Old Cryptians has always been a welcoming and inclusive social club and we’re planning a fantastic celebration to mark that with as many past and present members as possible.”

The dinner will also be a time to raise a glass to the many people who have done so much for Old Cryptians in years gone by, men like Colin Sibery, Malcolm ‘Knocker’ Haines and Doug Perks.

“Doug played representative rugby and was first-team captain, chairman and president of Old Cryptians,” said Vidgen. “He was a great character and started the junior section and inspired so many young players in their early careers to love the game.”

The club is hoping to raise money on the evening with some of the proceeds from the dinner being donated to the 4Ed Foundation, the charity which supports anyone living with Motor Neurone Disease or caring for someone who is living with MND. It was established by former Gloucester and Leicester second row Ed Slater after his diagnosis in 2022.

Tickets to the event are still available through the club.