Staines RFC
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox rugby team
| teamname = Staines Rugby Football Club
| image = Staines_Rugby_Football_Club_Logo.png
| imagesize = 200px
| fullname = Staines Rugby Football Club Limited
| nickname = Swans
| location = Hanworth, Hounslow, London, England
| union = Middlesex RFU
| founded = 1926
| ground = The Reeves
| president = Russell Cook
| chairman = {{flagicon|England}} Stephen Leach
| league = Counties 4 Surrey
| url = www.stainesrugby.uk
}}
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.{{cite news |title= Staines seeking national status |date= 15 August 1997 |work= Richmond and Twickenham Informer |page= 16 }}
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.{{Cite web |last=Baber |first=Andy |date=2020-11-30 |title=Lions Origin Club: Staines RFC inspiring the next generation |url= https://www.lionsrugby.com/2020/11/30/lions-origin-club-staines-rfc-inspiring-the-next-generation/ |access-date=2023-01-24 |website=British & Irish Lions |language=en-GB}}
History
Staines R.F.C. was founded in 1926 by Rev William Davies, the vicar of Staines-upon-Thames. Initially it played its home games at the Lammas Recreation Ground in Staines, but moved to a pitch at Laleham Cricket Ground in 1947.{{cite web |title= Club History |url= https://www.stainesrugby.uk/a/club-history-52535.html |publisher= Staines Rugby |access-date= 15 May 2022 |archive-date= 31 August 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180831161522/http://www.stainesrugby.uk/a/club-history-52535.html |url-status= live }} It acquired its current premises, a former gravel pit on Feltham Hill Road in Hanworth, West London, in 1962.{{cite news |title= Staines R.F.C. fete raises grand sum of £1,100 |date= 16 June 1964 |work= Middlesex Chronicle |issue= 5499 |page= 1 }} The cost of the {{cvt|14|acre|ha|adj=on}} ground, around £21,000, was primarily raised through loans.{{cite news |title= Staines find the money |date= 15 May 1964 |work= Middlesex Chronicle |issue= 5494 |page= 15 }} The ground was named "The Reeves" in honour of the club's then president, George Reeves,{{cite news |title= The opening of The Reeves |date= 11 September 1964 |work= Horncastle Target |issue= 5511 |page= 3 }} and was formally opened on 2 September 1964 with a match between Staines and a Middlesex XV.{{cite news |title= New rugby ground has rousing baptism |date= 4 September 1964 |work= Horncastle Target |issue= 5510 |page= 8 }}
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. A new clubhouse was opened in September 1989.{{cite news |title= New clubhouse in use |date= 14 September 1989 |work= Middlesex Chronicle |page= 44 }}
Club honours
- Middlesex 1 champions: 1991–92{{cite news |title= Staines are champions |date= 9 April 1992 |work= Middlesex Chronicle |page= 25 }}
- 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
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|www.stainesrugby.uk}}
Category:Rugby union teams in England