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Ron
Johnson Room in memory of the former club president. In 2020, with planning permission finally granted to sell two unused parcels of land for a housing development, the club were now able to pay off any existing loans. The profits were used to fund the laying of tarmac for the long-awaited improved car park, the provision of a modern catering facility and a general facelift to the clubhouse buildings.
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The club has seen two major refurbishments. In 2009, an ambitious extension doubled the size of the clubhouse, adding a function room, shop, extra changing accommodation and treatment room. This improved facility was opened by RFU President Brian
Williams, along with Jason Leonard who opened the new
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There have been some fine individual achievements. In 1988 Ian "Paddy" Dunston was selected for the
England Colts and gained the distinction of being the club's first international. In 1997 Terry Ellis played for England Schools U16s. The 2004 season saw Jon Mason represent England 18 Group v France
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In the 1970s, the club regularly fielded 5 senior sides and, with the increasing popularity of junior and mini rugby, the clubhouse and playing facilities were outgrown. So the search was on to find yet another home. In 1981, with Pat Ridley (a much revered club character and Club
President 1975–85)
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During the 1960s and 70s, the club flourished and was the welcome recipient of a healthy influx of Welsh schoolteachers, including
Romford legends like Glyn Johns (an inspiring and uncompromising prop forward) and Lynn Herbert (a product of the Welsh fly-half factory). Indeed, at one time, the first
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2002 bought another milestone to the club when club stalwart Dai Davies was elected County president. During his two-year presidency, Essex became independent of
Eastern Counties and gained their own Constituent Body Status of the RFU. Dai has now taken over the Presidency from the long serving Ron
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The 2003-04 season saw the club establish a Ladies XV – the “Romford Ravens”. The team developed well and, in 2013 they were successful in winning a
National Challenge Cup, a title they were able to retain the following season. The Ravens continue to play a prominent role in the life of the club.
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Recent seasons have seen the senior sides to strive to match the developments and success of a youth and mini section. Different teams have won a number of county leagues and cup finals. Numerous tours have been undertaken both at home and abroad including trips to France, Italy and South Africa.
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In 1953, the club moved again - this time to
Cottons Park. The players built their own clubhouse and as the club's popularity increased, so did the clubhouse! As befitting its new location, Romford was added to the club's name - "Gidea Park and Romford RFC". Two years later, this appellation was
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Recent seasons have seen the senior side fluctuate between levels 6 and 7 of the RFU league pyramid. During this time, Micky James completed a remarkable ten seasons of club captaincy between 2009-19. As with many clubs, the club is now focused on recruitment and the retention of its playing
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to the fore, the club negotiated the purchase of their present home within easy access of
Romford centre. After two years hard work and fundraising, 15 acres (61,000 m) of land were converted into four pitches and a purpose built clubhouse with changing accommodation was constructed.
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Like nomads, rugby players in
Romford have been on the move since their first match in 1929. It was not until September, 1983 that the club were able to 'touch down' at a base that they could properly call home, following the purchase of a 15-acre (61,000 m) site in Crow Lane.
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In 1929, the founder members, Leslie Diebel and Jimmy Paxton, placed an advert in the local newspaper inviting anyone interested in playing rugby to attend a meeting in the Ship Inn in Gidea Park. Following this meeting,
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changed to the present "Romford and Gidea Park RFC". With Ralph Klar MC as the driving force, another small extension was added. In 1961, Ralph was elected as the club's first life member.
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was also fast-tracked into the U19 England squad and played in their Grand Slam Six Nations programme and also played in the U19 World Cup in South Africa where England finished fourth.
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membership in the aftermath of Covid-19, along with facing the challenges posed by the modern game, work-life balance and competition from other leisure activities.
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Another important development was the installation of floodlights on the main pitch, which then enabled the club to start hosting county finals.
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became the first headquarters of the Gidea Park Rugby Club. The first match was played against
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XV boasted a total of 14 Welsh regulars, along with their captain Alec Daly - A Scot!
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The club continued to thrive. Former youth Scrum half Dave Duffus returned from
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Ireland and Wales, while Frank Neale was selected for England Colleges.
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champions (3): 1993–94, ( Unbeaten League) season. 2002–03, 2011–12
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Essex Cup Winners (2): 1990-91, 1993-94, 2011-12, 2013-14
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278:Essex Colts Cup Winners 1992-93 and 1994-95.
242:Johnson for the start of the 2005/06 season.
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281:Ravens-National cup winners 2013 & 2014
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166:London & SE Division, Counties 1 Essex
109:London & SE division, Counties Essex 1
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1483:Timeline of rugby union on UK television
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1128:Counties 2 Durham & Northumberland
1123:Counties 1 Durham & Northumberland
168:- a league at the seventh tier of the
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275:Essex 7’s winners 1984-85. 1993-94.
164:, England. They currently play in
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147:Romford and Gidea Park Rugby Club
30:Romford and Gidea Park Rugby Club
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1509:Rugby clubs established in 1929
703:Premiership Rugby Sevens Series
1314:Berks/Bucks & Oxon Premier
367:Rugby Football Union for Women
1:
632:European Rugby Challenge Cup
627:European Rugby Champions Cup
264:London Division 2 North East
1514:Rugby union clubs in London
40:; 95 years ago
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1478:English rugby union system
1344:Dorset & Wilts 3 North
1339:Dorset & Wilts 2 South
1334:Dorset & Wilts 2 North
1329:Dorset & Wilts 1 South
1324:Dorset & Wilts 1 North
846:Counties 1 Herts/Middlesex
464:International competitions
170:English rugby union system
1379:Discontinued competitions
1204:Counties 1 Southern South
1199:Counties 1 Southern North
942:Regional 2 North Midlands
801:London 3 Eastern Counties
607:Premiership Women's Rugby
425:British & Irish Lions
196:With no rugby during the
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1209:Counties 1 Western North
952:Regional 2 East Midlands
947:Regional 2 West Midlands
881:Counties 1 Surrey/Sussex
746:Regional 2 South Central
736:Regional 1 South Central
498:Sevens Grand Prix Series
1401:National League 2 South
1396:Divisional Championship
1214:Counties 1 Western West
1177:South West competitions
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1012:Midlands 4 East (South)
1007:Midlands 4 East (North)
1002:Midlands 4 West (South)
997:Midlands 4 West (North)
992:Midlands 3 East (South)
987:Midlands 3 East (North)
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972:Midlands 2 East (South)
967:Midlands 2 East (North)
962:Midlands 2 West (South)
957:Midlands 2 West (North)
678:National League 2 North
722:London and South East
683:National League 2 West
673:National League 2 East
571:London and SE Division
488:Rugby World Cup Sevens
347:Rugby union in England
20:Romford and Gidea Park
1432:International players
1391:Cornwall/Devon League
1244:Counties 3 Devon West
1239:Counties 3 Devon East
1194:Regional 2 South West
1184:Regional 1 South West
1073:Regional 2 North West
1068:Regional 2 North East
1058:Regional 1 North West
1053:Regional 1 North East
1046:Northern competitions
751:Regional 2 South East
731:Regional 1 South East
641:National competitions
620:European competitions
542:Competition divisions
1274:Gloucestershire Cups
1163:Counties 4 Yorkshire
1158:Counties 3 Yorkshire
1153:Counties 2 Yorkshire
1148:Counties 1 Yorkshire
930:Midland competitions
688:RFU Intermediate Cup
591:United Hospitals Cup
362:Rugby Football Union
80:Crowlands, Crow Lane
1353:County competitions
1224:Counties 3 Cornwall
1219:Counties 2 Cornwall
1143:Northumberland Cups
1027:North Midlands Cups
1022:Leicestershire Cups
937:Regional 1 Midlands
796:London 3 South West
791:London 3 South East
786:London 3 North West
781:London 2 South West
776:London 2 South East
771:London 2 North West
766:London 2 North East
708:Women's Premiership
586:South West Division
529:World Series Sevens
493:Sevens World Series
430:England Counties XV
371:merged into the RFU
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1264:Gloucester 2 North
1254:Gloucester Premier
1113:Counties 1 Cumbria
1032:Staffordshire Cups
856:Hertfordshire Cups
821:Eastern Counties 3
816:Eastern Counties 2
811:Eastern Counties 1
503:Commonwealth Games
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1457:Ella-Mobbs Trophy
1452:Millennium Trophy
1416:South West 1 East
1189:Regional 2 Severn
1037:Warwickshire Cups
911:Counties 2 Sussex
901:Counties 5 Surrey
896:Counties 4 Surrey
891:Counties 3 Surrey
886:Counties 2 Surrey
851:Herts/Middlesex 2
831:Hampshire Premier
756:Regional 2 Thames
741:Regional 2 Anglia
668:National League 1
648:Premiership Rugby
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576:Northern Division
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138:/romfordgideapark
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1425:Related articles
1411:RFU Knockout Cup
1319:Oxfordshire Cups
1304:Somerset 3 South
1299:Somerset 3 North
1294:Somerset 2 South
1289:Somerset 2 North
1279:Somerset Premier
1234:Counties 2 Devon
1098:Lancs/Cheshire 2
1093:Lancs/Cheshire 1
1063:Regional 2 North
663:Championship Cup
658:RFU Championship
581:Midland Division
566:National Leagues
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221:Hong Kong Sevens
198:Second World War
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123:Official website
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698:RFU Junior Vase
693:RFU Senior Vase
653:Premiership Cup
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176:A Brief history
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1168:Yorkshire Cups
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1406:North Premier
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1309:Somerset Cups
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1103:Cheshire Cups
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1259:Gloucester 1
1118:Cumbria Cups
1088:North 2 West
1083:North 1 West
1078:North 1 East
724:competitions
561:Championship
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836:Hampshire 1
713:Premier 15s
556:Premiership
524:Six Nations
483:Six Nations
236:Adam Powell
151:rugby union
1498:Categories
1370:Division 3
1365:Division 2
1360:Division 1
1284:Somerset 1
1249:Devon Cups
94:Captain(s)
88:Dai Davies
16:Rugby team
876:Kent Cups
519:World Cup
478:World Cup
400:England A
291:Essex RFU
217:Hong Kong
191:Chingford
132:.pitchero
104:League(s)
98:Ben Wrigg
85:President
76:Ground(s)
26:Full name
916:Sussex 1
285:See also
187:The Ship
61:Havering
53:Location
1504:Romford
826:Essex 1
600:Women's
512:Women's
446:Women's
439:Women's
395:England
160:, east
158:Romford
115:2022-23
69:England
57:Romford
43: (
35:Founded
871:Kent 2
866:Kent 1
162:London
136:/clubs
65:London
1471:Other
1437:Clubs
549:Men's
471:Men's
388:Men's
149:is a
420:U-18
415:U-20
410:U-21
154:club
134:.com
45:1929
38:1929
451:7's
405:7's
156:in
130:www
118:8th
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