Streatham-Croydon RFC
Encyclopedia
The Streatham-Croydon Rugby Football Club, is a historic Rugby Union
club, founded in 1871, based at Frant Road, Thornton Heath
, in the London Borough of Croydon
, South London.
Streatham are currently playing in the Rugby Football Union Surrey 3
league, Surrey Bowl and the RFU Junior Vase.
Streatham's heyday was arguably during the late 1960s and 70s, when 9 senior teams and 4 Colts teams were active, combined with an extensive fixture list against top clubs such as Richmond, Bath, Sale, Saracens, London Welsh, London Irish and others.
The professional era and the impact of the new RFU Courage League structure through the late 1980s and 90s led to a decline in the size of the Club as greater attention was paid to the needs of the 1st XV, and Streatham's membership struggle coincided with its drop down the National and then London leagues.
However, Streatham currently run 3 senior mens teams during the season, as well as a thriving Mini rugby section, and own a private ground in Thornton Heath (close to the original pitches on Streatham Common
), comprising 2 pitches (1 floodlit) and a large clubhouse and grandstand, along with several squash courts, which are all in the process of extensive refurbishment and renovation as the Club looks to future growth and movement up the league system.
In the club's 140th season the Surrey 4 league title was won following only one defeat and the club were promoted to Surrey 3.
As part of the 140th season, a fixture known as 'The Skull' was revived, 20 years after it was last contested. The fixture sees all Streatham-Croydon's teams play against teams from Esher RFC with the club that wins the most matches winning the trophy. The trophy is a human skull set between a pair of rugby goalposts. In the 1960s and 70s this would have been contested by 12 teams from each club, but now Streatham's team play against Esher's similarly ranked amateur teams.
Streatham Rugby was featured in a book titled "London's Oldest Rugby Clubs" by Dick Tyson, published in May 2008.
and gaining his first England cap.
Current Super League
player Will Sharp, played for Streatham 1st XV, before signing his first professional contract with Harlequins RL in 2007.
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...
club, founded in 1871, based at Frant Road, Thornton Heath
Thornton Heath
Thornton Heath is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Croydon. It is situated south-southeast of Charing Cross.-Geography:...
, in the London Borough of Croydon
London Borough of Croydon
The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in South London, England and is part of Outer London. It covers an area of and is the largest London borough by population. It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name...
, South London.
Streatham are currently playing in the Rugby Football Union Surrey 3
Surrey 3
Surrey 3 is a level 11 English Rugby Union League. It is made up of teams predominantly from Surrey and south-west London. The ten teams play home and away matches from September through to April.Promoted teams move up to Surrey 2.-Teams for 2009-2010:...
league, Surrey Bowl and the RFU Junior Vase.
Streatham's heyday was arguably during the late 1960s and 70s, when 9 senior teams and 4 Colts teams were active, combined with an extensive fixture list against top clubs such as Richmond, Bath, Sale, Saracens, London Welsh, London Irish and others.
The professional era and the impact of the new RFU Courage League structure through the late 1980s and 90s led to a decline in the size of the Club as greater attention was paid to the needs of the 1st XV, and Streatham's membership struggle coincided with its drop down the National and then London leagues.
However, Streatham currently run 3 senior mens teams during the season, as well as a thriving Mini rugby section, and own a private ground in Thornton Heath (close to the original pitches on Streatham Common
Streatham Common
Streatham Common is a large open space on the southern edge of Streatham, London.It is one of two former areas of common land in the former parish of Streatham. The other is now known as Tooting Bec Common After inclosure, the Common was purchased for use as a public open space under the powers...
), comprising 2 pitches (1 floodlit) and a large clubhouse and grandstand, along with several squash courts, which are all in the process of extensive refurbishment and renovation as the Club looks to future growth and movement up the league system.
In the club's 140th season the Surrey 4 league title was won following only one defeat and the club were promoted to Surrey 3.
As part of the 140th season, a fixture known as 'The Skull' was revived, 20 years after it was last contested. The fixture sees all Streatham-Croydon's teams play against teams from Esher RFC with the club that wins the most matches winning the trophy. The trophy is a human skull set between a pair of rugby goalposts. In the 1960s and 70s this would have been contested by 12 teams from each club, but now Streatham's team play against Esher's similarly ranked amateur teams.
Streatham Rugby was featured in a book titled "London's Oldest Rugby Clubs" by Dick Tyson, published in May 2008.
Former players
England prop, and later RFU committee man, Jeff Probyn played at Streatham for a number of seasons in the late 1970s before moving to WaspsLondon Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
and gaining his first England cap.
Current Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
player Will Sharp, played for Streatham 1st XV, before signing his first professional contract with Harlequins RL in 2007.
- Jeff ProbynJeff ProbynJeff Probyn is an English former Rugby Union player.The Askeans, Streatham and Wasps prop was selected in England's squad for the 1987 Rugby World Cup, but Probyn did not make his international debut until 1988, at the age of 31, against France...
- Maurice ColcloughMaurice ColcloughMaurice John Colclough was an international rugby union player. He was selected for the 1980 British Lions tour to South Africa and the 1983 British Lions tour to New Zealand, playing in all four internationals each tour. He was a member of the England team which won the Grand Slam in 1980...
- Will SharpWill SharpWilliam Sharp is a Nigerian rugby league player for Hull in the European Super League. He plays as a centre or on the wing.He signed from South London Storm RLFC, he also played rugby union for Streatham....
- Antony Worrall ThompsonAntony Worrall ThompsonHenry Antony Cardew Worrall Thompson is a British celebrity chef, television presenter and radio broadcaster.-Biography:...