Cosgrove Youth Club

L-R: David Smith, Keith Chapman, Andrew Bransby, Roger Kightley, Robin Dunbarton, ?

There was certainly a Youth Club in Cosgrove while the Old School building was used as a Community hall, remembered in Dennis Tompkins’ story.

It may have closed at some point after that as it is described as being “revived” in March 1985 under the leadership of Peter Sadler, Val Inwood, Bill McAvoy and Julie Hayward. It met on Friday evenings in the Victory Hall.


Old Mail May 1985

Firstly we would like to say thankyou to all those who contributed to our Easter Bazaar or helped in any way. A total of £167 was raised for Club Funds.

On 24th March a group of nine members were taken to Badby Wood, near Daventry, to an orienteering event organised by the Community Youth service.  Two of our teams came 10th and 11th. Not bad considering it was their first time and there were over 150 taking part.

Orienteering is an outdoor sport which combines map reading with walking or running in woods, forest and heathland. Competitors find their way between given points finding the best routes. It has earned the phrase “cunning running”.

If anyone is interested in joining us they are very welcome. Membership is £1.50, then 30p each meeting. Visitors pay 45p.

We have a range of things to do : Pool, Snooker, Table Tennis, Table Football, Pinball and Video machines, Darts etc.

On 3rd May we are having a demonstration of enamelling by Mr Richard Broughton (NAYC). Our next Disco is on Friday 17th May, 7 – 10.30pm. 50p members, 75p non-members.


The Youth Club’s AGM of 1986 listed the leaders of the Youth Club for the previous year as Val Inwood, Bill McAvoy and Peter Sadler assisted by Phil Hayward and Stuart Gee. Tony Styles supplied soft drinks at good prices. The club had bought their own disco equipment and Malcolm Dearden and Jason Hart were the DJs. Other helpers on a rota included Julie Hayward, Mrs Waller and Colin Bird.

The Club disco was cancelled in July that year as people were misbehaving in the village.

By February 1987 numbers had dropped and there were issues with behaviour and with a lack of adult helpers. An appeal was made in the Old Mail.

There were no further reports from the Youth Club after this time.