 So far as I can recollect, St. John's Cricket Club had sold their ground in the Newlands Road area to a developer and with the proceeds had bought the seven acres at Willowbrook.It was realised that in addition to the cricket square, there was room for one or possibly two rugby pitches and indeed two of the cricketers, Richard Shipton and Stan Ball played for both the cricket and rugby clubs.With the help of a keen local businessman named Bill Greenwood (who had previously played in Yorkshire at a pretty good standard), Billericay Rugby Club was formed.