Kent Ravens
Encyclopedia
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 championship and the men’s London League
Plate grand final.
was a professional outfit, called Kent Invicta
. Invicta
were formed by Paul Faires and were admitted to the Rugby League on 6 April 1983. Southend United
Football Club then approached Invicta and in late 1984 became Southend Invicta but they were struck from the 1985-86 fixtures by the Rugby League only days before the commencement of the new season because they were considered not to have formed a team. They went into liquidation soon afterwards.
There have been many other small amateur teams that played rugby league in Kent, such as Bexleyheath RLFC who won the London League third division in 1985/86 and Ashford Bears (1991-1993) who were made up of construction workers from the North of England.
and played a strong Bedford Tigers
side.
But for the Eltham based club any thoughts of the 2004 season were miles away when the 2005 season started with new ambitions and four new teams within the club including the first ever Kent based women’s rugby league team.
The 2005 season was dedicated to the memory of Adam Donnelly. The under-9s won one festival, women's team were runners up in the London League, the under-13s won the plate at the Mitcham festival and the under-11s won six titles including the overall London Broncos 'Half time Heroes' title for 2004. The men's team won their first piece of silverware when they beat Feltham Eagles 30-18 in the London League plate final and the under-15s had some good results including a 108-6 win over Mitcham Bulls.
The club also tried to take some drastic and unusual steps to help lay some long term roots in Kent which included staying in the London League for a second season and also trying to bridge the gap with rugby union
which is more popular than rugby league in Kent; the season saw the men enter the Footscray 7s tournament and end the season by beating their hosts, Brockleians RFC, in a cross- code challenge match 28-10.
The 2006 season saw Kent Ravens men move up to the Rugby League Conference
with local rivals Broadstairs Bulldogs (who won the regionals). The Ravens cemented their position in a new league by finishing fourth and entering the season ending play-offs only to be put out at the semi-final stage by Greenwich Admirals
. The same could be said for the women's section as they finished third and did not make the final. The Junior Ravens closed off the 2006 season with an impressive run for the under-13s who only lost once.
The end of the 2006 season was when the Ravens said farewell to their rented ground at Brockleians RFC in Eltham, London as with the start of 2007 the Ravens played at the 4,100 capacity Princes Park
stadium, Dartford.
In 2007, Kent Ravens' first team moved up a league to the South Premier
, giving the Ravens what turned out to be a tough season with only one win against Kingston Warriors. But the highlight of the season was the defeat to London Skolars
in front of a crowd of 470 and the Sky TV camera in the Princes Park Stadium. More success came to the Junior Ravens as their under-12s went onto to finish in the semi-finals of their league and a number were selected to advance onto origin level and represent South of London, while first team player Aiden Oakley also picked up an award as Scotland's under-18 player of the season.
The Ravens started the 2008 season in the South Premier but had their fixtures stopped after one game and rejoined the London League
making it to the play-offs and beating Norwich City Saxons
. They were back again in the Rugby League Conference
in 2009 but failed to complete the season in the London & South division and folded.
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...
club from Eltham
Eltham, London
-Parks and open spaces:There is a large variety of open green space in Eltham, in the form of parkland, fields and woodland.*Avery Hill Park is large, open parkland, situated to the east of Eltham. It is most notable for its Winter Garden, a hothouse containing tropical trees and plants from around...
in south-east 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...
, founded in 2004. They play at Princes Park
Princes Park, Dartford
Princes Park is a football stadium in Dartford, Kent, England. It is the home of Dartford F.C., Millwall F.C. reserves and Dartford Roadrunners. The stadium's postcode is DA1 1RT, the closest possible representation of the word "Dart". DA1 1FC was unobtainable, as the letter C is not allocated for...
.
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 championship and the men’s 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 ....
Plate grand final.
The Early History of Rugby League in Kent
The first rugby league club in KentKent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
was a professional outfit, called Kent Invicta
Kent Invicta
Kent Invicta is a defunct rugby league team that were based in Maidstone, Kent and later Southend in Essex.-Kent Invicta RLFC:Kent Invicta RLFC were formed by Paul Faires and were admitted to the Rugby League on 6 April 1983. The moniker "Invicta" being the motto of Kent. The club colours...
. Invicta
Invicta
Invicta may refer to:*Invicta , a British make of car*Invicta , an Italian outdoor equipment manufacturer*Invicta , an early steam locomotive*Invicta , motto of the county of Kent, England...
were formed by Paul Faires and were admitted to the Rugby League on 6 April 1983. Southend United
Southend United F.C.
Southend United Football Club is an English football club based at Roots Hall Stadium, Prittlewell, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, who play in Football League Two. Their home ground is Roots Hall, and the club plan to move into a new 22,000-seater stadium located at Fossetts Farm.-Stadium:The club has had...
Football Club then approached Invicta and in late 1984 became Southend Invicta but they were struck from the 1985-86 fixtures by the Rugby League only days before the commencement of the new season because they were considered not to have formed a team. They went into liquidation soon afterwards.
There have been many other small amateur teams that played rugby league in Kent, such as Bexleyheath RLFC who won the London League third division in 1985/86 and Ashford Bears (1991-1993) who were made up of construction workers from the North of England.
Kent Ravens
On Saturday 12 June 2004 Kent Ravens juniors beat Brixton Bulls in a friendly at South London Storm's ground in Croydon. Two weeks later came the start of the Kent Ravens men’s team when they entered the London LeagueLondon 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 ....
and played a strong Bedford Tigers
Bedford Tigers
Bedford Tigers RLFC is a rugby league club based in Bedford, England. The first team plays in the Rugby League Conference, with a second team in the London League.- History :...
side.
But for the Eltham based club any thoughts of the 2004 season were miles away when the 2005 season started with new ambitions and four new teams within the club including the first ever Kent based women’s rugby league team.
The 2005 season was dedicated to the memory of Adam Donnelly. The under-9s won one festival, women's team were runners up in the London League, the under-13s won the plate at the Mitcham festival and the under-11s won six titles including the overall London Broncos 'Half time Heroes' title for 2004. The men's team won their first piece of silverware when they beat Feltham Eagles 30-18 in the London League plate final and the under-15s had some good results including a 108-6 win over Mitcham Bulls.
The club also tried to take some drastic and unusual steps to help lay some long term roots in Kent which included staying in the London League for a second season and also trying to bridge the gap with 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...
which is more popular than rugby league in Kent; the season saw the men enter the Footscray 7s tournament and end the season by beating their hosts, Brockleians RFC, in a cross- code challenge match 28-10.
The 2006 season saw Kent Ravens men move up to 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...
with local rivals Broadstairs Bulldogs (who won the regionals). The Ravens cemented their position in a new league by finishing fourth and entering the season ending play-offs only to be put out at the semi-final stage by Greenwich Admirals
Greenwich Admirals
Greenwich Admirals are a rugby league team based in Greenwich, London. They play in the South Premier of the Rugby League Conference.-History:...
. The same could be said for the women's section as they finished third and did not make the final. The Junior Ravens closed off the 2006 season with an impressive run for the under-13s who only lost once.
The end of the 2006 season was when the Ravens said farewell to their rented ground at Brockleians RFC in Eltham, London as with the start of 2007 the Ravens played at the 4,100 capacity Princes Park
Princes Park, Dartford
Princes Park is a football stadium in Dartford, Kent, England. It is the home of Dartford F.C., Millwall F.C. reserves and Dartford Roadrunners. The stadium's postcode is DA1 1RT, the closest possible representation of the word "Dart". DA1 1FC was unobtainable, as the letter C is not allocated for...
stadium, Dartford.
In 2007, Kent Ravens' first team moved up a league to 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...
, giving the Ravens what turned out to be a tough season with only one win against Kingston Warriors. But the highlight of the season was the defeat to London Skolars
London Skolars
London Skolars are a rugby league club based at the New River Stadium, Wood Green, Haringey in North London. They were founded in 1995 and have been semi-professional since 2003, operating in Championship One...
in front of a crowd of 470 and the Sky TV camera in the Princes Park Stadium. More success came to the Junior Ravens as their under-12s went onto to finish in the semi-finals of their league and a number were selected to advance onto origin level and represent South of London, while first team player Aiden Oakley also picked up an award as Scotland's under-18 player of the season.
The Ravens started the 2008 season in the South Premier but had their fixtures stopped after one game and rejoined the 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 ....
making it to the play-offs and beating Norwich City Saxons
Norwich City Saxons
Norwich City Saxons are a rugby league team based in Norwich, Norfolk. They play in the Eastern Division of the Rugby League Conference.-History:Norwich City RLFC was formed on the 18 March 2008...
. They were back again in 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 2009 but failed to complete the season in the London & South division and folded.