The is the first in what (I hope) will be a mini-series at or near rugby grounds in SE London.
This one is very personal for me as I was a minis and juniors coach, then Chairman over 20 years ago. Since then I helped with the senior first team squad, writing home and away match reports.
First, a history of the club:
Old Elthamians RFC was founded in 1911 by the Old Boys of Eltham College.
The school moved from Blackheath to its present site in Mottingham, SE London, and provided a pitch for the old boys to use and games were played up to the outbreak of World War 1. After the war, OEs resumed playing and got a reputation for fine handling and deadly tackling.
A permanent ground was needed and Foxbury Field, in Chislehurst, was purchased by the Old Boys Association in 1951. This stayed as the club's home until just a few years ago..
Although playing numbers had increased in the fifties to the point where five teams were being fielded on a Saturday, they had declined in the seventies and the club went open to admit non-school players in 1972. This resulted in OEs being able to put out six teams.
In 1974 Old Elthamians were the second club in Kent to start a mini section, and the youngsters have gone from strength to strength ever since, now numbering over 400, in teams from under 7s to under 17s.
Old Elthamians attracted a good sponsor in Secure Trading Ltd and this funded a rise in the leagues all the way to National 1, only two below the premiership. Sadly, the sponsor went bust and the club had to withdraw from the league.
According to the website, the club's first team has restarted playing cup games this season, using players brought up through the juniors.
The rugby pitches were down Foxbury Lane, where you are standing, and through the woods, with the rickety old clubhouse beyond them. The ground, while still owned by the Old Elthamians Association (the Old Boys section of the school), has now been leased to a football club (Glebe FC) and is private. The school field opposite you belongs to Darul Uloom, a muslim, a fee-paying school. The double yellow lines are left over from when the MoD owned the site.
You are looking for a 35ml container. Bring a pen.
Congratulations to MuddyBoots49 for FTF!