Staines Rugby Football Club (Staines R.F.C.; trading as Staines Rugby Football Club Limited) is an English rugby union club founded in 1926, whose first team "The Swans" now play in Counties 4 Surrey. The club's home ground, The Reeves, in the London Borough of Hounslow, has five pitches and opened in 1964.[1]
 | |
| Full name | Staines Rugby Football Club Limited |
|---|---|
| Union | Middlesex RFU |
| Nickname(s) | Swans |
| Founded | 1926 |
| Location | Hanworth, Hounslow, London, England |
| Ground(s) | The Reeves |
| Chairman |  Stephen Leach |
| President | Russell Cook |
| League(s) | Counties 4 Surrey |
| Official website | |
| www | |
The club runs a number of senior men's and women's teams with names such as "the Swans" and "the Cobs". It was one of the first in the county to have Mini and Youth sections for children aged 4 to 17.
A notable former mini rugby player was British and Irish Lions Lawrence Dallaglio, who started his career at the age of eight.[2]
History
editStaines R.F.C. was founded in 1926 by Rev William Davies, the vicar of Staines-upon-Thames.[1] Initially it played its home games at the Lammas Recreation Ground in Staines, but moved to a pitch at Laleham Cricket Ground in 1947.[3] It acquired its current premises, a former gravel pit on Feltham Hill Road in Hanworth, West London, in 1962.[3][4] The cost of the 14-acre (5.7 ha) ground, around £21,000, was primarily raised through loans.[1][5] The ground was named "The Reeves" in honour of the club's then president, George Reeves,[6] and was formally opened on 2 September 1964 with a match between Staines and a Middlesex XV.[7]
In 1948, Staines R.F.C. was the first club in Middlesex to form a colts side for younger players. In 1961, a referees' society was formed and, in 1973, the club was the first in the county to introduce mini rugby.[1] A new clubhouse was opened in September 1989.[8]
Club honours
edit- Middlesex 1 champions: 1991–92[9]
- London 3 North West champions: 1993–94
- London 1 North champions (2): 1994–95, 2009–10
- Middlesex Senior Cup winners (7): 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2009, 2010, 2011
- London 2 (north v south) promotion playoff winners: 2004–05
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Staines seeking national status". Richmond and Twickenham Informer. 15 August 1997. p. 16.
- ^ Baber, Andy (30 November 2020). "Lions Origin Club: Staines RFC inspiring the next generation". British & Irish Lions. Retrieved 24 January 2023.
- ^ a b "Club History". Staines Rugby. Archived from the original on 31 August 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
- ^ "Staines R.F.C. fete raises grand sum of £1,100". Middlesex Chronicle. No. 5499. 16 June 1964. p. 1.
- ^ "Staines find the money". Middlesex Chronicle. No. 5494. 15 May 1964. p. 15.
- ^ "The opening of The Reeves". Horncastle Target. No. 5511. 11 September 1964. p. 3.
- ^ "New rugby ground has rousing baptism". Horncastle Target. No. 5510. 4 September 1964. p. 8.
- ^ "New clubhouse in use". Middlesex Chronicle. 14 September 1989. p. 44.
- ^ "Staines are champions". Middlesex Chronicle. 9 April 1992. p. 25.