Hyson Green Boys Club was first established in the dark days of 1939 at the outset of the Second World War which brought with it sharp realisation of the need to widen the provision for the leisure time and recreational interests of young people.

The founder and first President was the late Alderman Robert Shaw (founder of the net and hosiery company Robert Shaw and Co in Bobbers Mill), whose lifetime of public service in the City was later to be honoured by his election as Lord Mayor in 1946. Alderman Shaw hired premises in Archer Street (later replaced by the Hyson Green flats and now part of the ASDA site) in which to develop a club for the boys of the Hyson Green area of the City. The premises were old, dating back for almost a century, and had served many purposes, including use as a Methodist Church, before their adoption for youth work. Netherless, the new Club soon showed it was meeting a real need in the neighbourhood it served, and Alderman Shaw was encouraged to purchase the building and establish a Management Committee to place the Club on a more permanent basis and to signify the faith which he and the business colleagues who assisted him in his work had in the future of the Club.

In 1962, as a result of slum clearance, the Club was moved to new premises on the current site built with a grant from the Ministry of Education. The local newspaper reported:

‘It is expected the club will move straight from its old premises to the new site without any need to shut down. The new single-storey headquarters will provide greater indoor amenities – a coffee bar will be an innovation – and also a floodlit outdoor playing area at the rear of the building for football, tennis, basketball and cricket. ‘

On the 24th April 1964 the new site was officially opened on Forest Street by Christopher J. Chataway ESQ (pictured), ex-star runner, then MP and Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science, who said:

“If ever I am faced with a doubter of the sort who questions the necessity of boys’ and youths’ clubs, I ask them why they should think it right to provide facilities for the social developments of those who go to college and university, and not for those starting at their working life in their teens. I’ve never been given a satisfactory answer.”

The estimated cost of the new building was £27,170, together with £1,170 for equipment and towards these the Minister of Eductaion made a grant of £13,585 for building work and £985 for equipment. The balance of the cost was met by the compensation received from the sale of the former premises in Archer Street.

The new accomodation consisted of Hall, Gymnasium, Showers and Changing Room, Craft Room, Quiet Room, Games Area, Music Room, Coffee Bar, Leaders Room, Garage and Outdoor Floodlit Playing Area. The building was described as being 'of conventional structure, with a contemporary approach and attractive finishes'. The premises were designed by Design Associates Architectural Partnership and the Quantity Surveyors were Messrs Barnsley, Snell and Partners.