Greenwich Admirals
Encyclopedia
Greenwich Admirals are a rugby league
team based in Greenwich
, London
. They play in the South Premier
of the Rugby League Conference
.
An introductory game was played on 11 August 2001 against South London Storm, the Admirals team being made up of rugby union
players from Old Brockleians RFC and Greenwich RFC and players borrowed from Storm; Greenwich won 28 - 24.
Jason Henley was recruited as Head Coach and in February 2002, the club was formally set up with a committee, constitution and club rules. Greenwich made it to the 2002 London League
grand final in their inaugural season. The final against Crawley Jets held at Crawley, was won 38 - 22.
Greenwich Admirals joined the London & South Division of the Rugby League Conference
in 2003 whilst a Greenwich Admirals second team took part in the London League. The first team won more games than it lost, finally finding form at the end of the season with victories over South London Storm, North London Skolars A and Essex Eels on the way to the RLC Shield quarter-finals. The second team reached the semi-finals of the London League play-offs.
The club moved to the Woolwich Barracks Rugby Fields in 2004. Greenwich lost only one game all year on the way to the South Divisional Final. Greenwich went down to a West London Sharks
side led by Trevor Leota
in the final.
In 2005, the Conference developed a new tier of Premier Divisions, Greenwich Admirals stepped up to the newly created Premier South. The club was thrown into turmoil as it lost its coaching team because of outside issues. The club lost senior players and had to be replaced by second team and junior players. The season closed with the team finishing bottom of the table.
Greenwich left the Premier South and joined the South East Division of the Conference. The club relocated again to Mayday Gardens. Greenwich beat Kent Ravens
in a play-off eliminator to set up a grand final against new boys Broadstairs Bulldogs which they lost.
In 2007, the first team finished third in their division on points difference and were eliminated at the semi-final stage of the divisional play-offs.
In 2009 Greenwich Admirals youth section had a very successful year. The under-14s reached the final but lost to Elmbridge Eagles in what was seen as a one-sided encounter. The under-16s reached the semi-finals but were also edged out 36-12 by Elmbridge Eagles. The under-18s, who were only formed in the 2009 season, also reached the final but lost to South London Storm Academy
.
from under-14s all the way up to under-18s, giving the first team a great feed of youth talent.
Greenwich Admirals' youth section, is renoun for producing good players. This was shown in 2009 when Jacko Brennan and Gary Seargant were both selected in the 32-man England squad for games against France and the Australian Institute Of Sport.
In 2010 both the under-16 and under-18 teams became London champions beating Hainault and Medway in their respective finals.
Greenwich Admirals now play their games in Kidbrooke Lane, Eltham, at Blackheath FC Well Hall ground.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
team based in Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. They play in the South Premier
Rugby League Conference South Premier
The Rugby League Conference South Premier is a division in the Rugby League Conference. It is the highest level of amateur rugby league in the South of England...
of the Rugby League Conference
Rugby League Conference
The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...
.
History
Greenwich Admirals were founded in 2001 as the brainchild of Chief Executive of the London Broncos' Lionel Hurst and under the guidance of development officer Graeme Thompson. Greenwich Admirals were to continue the Broncos' development work in the area after the Broncos moved away from south east London to a new home in Brentford.An introductory game was played on 11 August 2001 against South London Storm, the Admirals team being made up of rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
players from Old Brockleians RFC and Greenwich RFC and players borrowed from Storm; Greenwich won 28 - 24.
Jason Henley was recruited as Head Coach and in February 2002, the club was formally set up with a committee, constitution and club rules. Greenwich made it to the 2002 London League
London League (rugby league)
The London, South and East Merit League is a rugby league competition founded in 1965. It is also known as the London League , London & South East Merit League, London Amateur Rugby League and London Merit League ....
grand final in their inaugural season. The final against Crawley Jets held at Crawley, was won 38 - 22.
Greenwich Admirals joined the London & South Division of the Rugby League Conference
Rugby League Conference
The Rugby League Conference , was a series of regionally based divisions of amateur rugby league teams spread throughout England, Scotland and Wales.The RLC was founded as the 10-team Southern Conference League in 1997, with teams from the southern midlands and the...
in 2003 whilst a Greenwich Admirals second team took part in the London League. The first team won more games than it lost, finally finding form at the end of the season with victories over South London Storm, North London Skolars A and Essex Eels on the way to the RLC Shield quarter-finals. The second team reached the semi-finals of the London League play-offs.
The club moved to the Woolwich Barracks Rugby Fields in 2004. Greenwich lost only one game all year on the way to the South Divisional Final. Greenwich went down to a West London Sharks
West London Sharks
West London Sharks RLFC is a rugby league team based in Chiswick, Hounslow, Middlesex. West London Sharks are now playing out of Chiswick RFU, Dukes Medow in Chiswick. They compete in the South Premier Division of the Rugby League Conference...
side led by Trevor Leota
Trevor Leota
Trevor Leota is a Samoan rugby league player for Bridgend Blue Bulls in Wales.-Career:He is a hooker and has been widely recognised as one of the hardest tacklers in the game. Debuted for Western Samoa in 1995 during a tour of the UK...
in the final.
In 2005, the Conference developed a new tier of Premier Divisions, Greenwich Admirals stepped up to the newly created Premier South. The club was thrown into turmoil as it lost its coaching team because of outside issues. The club lost senior players and had to be replaced by second team and junior players. The season closed with the team finishing bottom of the table.
Greenwich left the Premier South and joined the South East Division of the Conference. The club relocated again to Mayday Gardens. Greenwich beat Kent Ravens
Kent Ravens
The Kent Ravens are a defunct amateur rugby league club from Eltham in south-east London, founded in 2004. They play at Princes Park.The club has won 10 titles in the two seasons since its creation on June 12, 2004, including the women’s London league runners up, the under-11s overall London...
in a play-off eliminator to set up a grand final against new boys Broadstairs Bulldogs which they lost.
In 2007, the first team finished third in their division on points difference and were eliminated at the semi-final stage of the divisional play-offs.
In 2009 Greenwich Admirals youth section had a very successful year. The under-14s reached the final but lost to Elmbridge Eagles in what was seen as a one-sided encounter. The under-16s reached the semi-finals but were also edged out 36-12 by Elmbridge Eagles. The under-18s, who were only formed in the 2009 season, also reached the final but lost to South London Storm Academy
South London Storm Academy
The South London Storm Academy is the youth team set-up for South London Storm rugby league club. It is for players aged 16 to 18 and was established in May 2008 in association with the Jack Petchey Foundation.-History:...
.
Youth teams
Greenwich Admirals run youth age groups in the London Junior LeagueLondon Junior League
The London Junior League is a rugby league competition for clubs in London and the South East of England.The season runs from February through to September. It is competed for at under-16, under-14, under-13 and under-12 level. There is also a Rugby League Conference Academy league for the under-18...
from under-14s all the way up to under-18s, giving the first team a great feed of youth talent.
Greenwich Admirals' youth section, is renoun for producing good players. This was shown in 2009 when Jacko Brennan and Gary Seargant were both selected in the 32-man England squad for games against France and the Australian Institute Of Sport.
In 2010 both the under-16 and under-18 teams became London champions beating Hainault and Medway in their respective finals.
Greenwich Admirals now play their games in Kidbrooke Lane, Eltham, at Blackheath FC Well Hall ground.
Club honours
- London League: 2002
- London League Plate: 2004
- RLC London & South Division: 2009, 2010