The Old Nottinghamians' Society Sports & Social Club ground is on a south bank of the River Trent, opposite Colwick Country Park, between Nottingham Sailing Club on the City side to the west, and the National Watersports Centre to the east.
Wherever you are in the world there is a piece of Nottingham that belongs to you as a Member of the Old Nottinghamians' Society. We call it "Adbolton."
Old Nottinghamians Rugby Club were playing on this ground before we acquired the freehold in 1965. It was purchased with the aid of contributions to the School's 450th Anniversary Appeal, which had specifically promised to apply money for the benefit of ONs. The Sports & Social Club was created to hold a liquor licence and also to allow for non-ONs, for example family members, to join in.
On Sunday 18th June 1967 Old Nottinghamians Cricket Club played an inaugural match against an ON President's XI on the newly laid square.
Following the Society's own 75th Anniversary appeal, a new pavilion was built and opened in 1981.
Both the rugby and cricket clubs gave opportunities to non-ONs to play in their teams. The ground is now hired out during the cricket season on both Saturdays and Sundays. In 2018 the ONs' Phoenix XI rose from the ashes of ONCC to play T20 matches on summer evenings.
Nottinghamians RFC start training in July, so rugby happens on our ground for ten months of the year. One of the most successful events in the School's 500th anniversary year was a day of charity rugby games and evening of refreshments at Adbolton, which drew a crowd of about... 500! Any ONs who would like to get involved with NRFC should contact the Society Secretary, who would be happy to put you in touch.
Other activities at Adbolton include the Desperate Measures Canoe & Kayak shop, fishing, car parking for the Watersports Centre & Country Park, ground hire to university rowing teams, and to firms for rounders tournaments, weddings (!), yoga, lunches, quizzes, barbecues, and formal meetings of the Old Nottinghamians' Society.
The sports ground is a magnificent facility which represents a significant investment by Society Members - and thousands of hours of selfless work by ONs too numerous to mention. We can all be very proud of Adbolton.