Kings Cross Steelers

Kings Cross Steelers RFC
Full name Kings Cross Steelers RFC
Union RFU
Nickname(s) Steelers
Founded 1995
Location West Ham, Newham, London
Ground(s) Memorial Park "Steelers Stadium" (Capacity: 500)
Chairman Alex Smith
President Tim Sullivan
Coach(es) Nic Evans
Captain(s) Rob Notley
League(s) London 3 Essex
2017-18 Promoted from Essex Canterbury Jack 1 (champions)
1st kit
2nd kit
Official website
www.pitchero.com/clubs/kingscrosssteelers

The Kings Cross Steelers are a rugby team from England, based in London, which were founded as the first ever gay inclusive rugby union club in 1995. The founding of the club sparked the beginning of a much larger gay inclusive rugby movement which to date includes over 60 gay inclusive rugby clubs across the world. The club's name comes from "Kings Cross" as the club was founded in the pub, Central Station, which is just around the corner from Kings Cross St Pancras. While the "Steelers" part of the name comes from the founding members' love of American football and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

History

The club was founded on 1 November 1995 in the Central Station pub located in Kings Cross in London[1] and joined the Surrey County Union the following summer. They played their first game on 21 September 1996, which they lost by 92–10 to Orleans Former Pupils at Strawberry Hill.

In June 1999 the Steelers become full members of the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) and at the same time joined Surrey County League Four.

In August 1999 the Steelers played a match against the newly formed Manchester gay team, the Village Spartans. This was the world's first match between two gay/bi rugby teams. The Steelers won 22-15.

In July 2000 the Steelers took part in the Rugby Sevens competition at the UK Gay Sports Festival held at Waltham Forest. Visiting US team, the Washington Renegades, and the Manchester Village Spartans also fielded teams.

In 2001 the Steelers grew to be large enough to field a second squad. The 2nd XVs played their first match in February.

In June 2002, the club were runners up in the Mark Kendall Bingham Memorial Tournament.

In May 2004 the Steelers hosted the 2004 Bingham Cup in Esher.

In February 2007 the club celebrated its first "gay marriage" between two Steelers. The club travelled to Copenhagen for the Union Cup, the biennial tournament for European inclusive rugby clubs in May, winning the cup. In May, the club was promoted to the Essex League 2.

Steelers 1st XV after winning the final of the Union Cup 2015

In Dublin in 2008 the Steelers were the tournament runners-up, losing to the Sydney Convicts in the final.

In 2009, the club hosted, and won, the Union Cup.

In 2011, the club successfully defended its Union Cup title in Amsterdam after a final against the Manchester Village Spartans. In the same year, the club won the Hadrian Cup, a yearly tournament held in Newcastle and organised by the Newcastle Ravens.[2]

In May 2013, the club again successfully retained the Union Cup in Bristol after a final against Ireland's Emerald Warriors. The club managed to retain the cup without conceding a single try throughout the tournament.

In 2014 the club travelled to Sydney for the Bingham Cup in August. The club narrowly lost out in the semi-final match.

In May 2015, the Steelers successfully defended the Union Cup.

In May 2016, the club took 4 full teams to the Bingham Cup in Nashville, Tennessee.

April 2017 saw the club take 4 teams to the Union Cup 2017 in Madrid, Spain, with the 1st XV winning the cup for the sixth successive tournament.

At the end of the 2017-18 season the club finished as champions of Essex Canterbury Jack 1 and were promoted to London 3 Essex.

Current

For the 2018/19 season, the Kings Cross Steelers 1st XV play in London 3 Essex with the 2nd XV playing in Merit Table Division 6 (West) and the 3rd XV playing in Merit Table Division 6 (East). Previously the 1st XV have played in Essex 2 & Essex 3, with the promotion to Essex 2 during the 2006/07 season. The 3rd XV entered league rugby for the first time in 2016/17 playing in the Merit Table Division 7.

The 4th XV, primarily made up of new members joining through the clubs successful Pathway to Rugby programme, have played the Turing Cup against other inclusive rugby teams from around the country as well as friendlies between newly formed teams.

The logo is of an elephant in a castle. The logo is based on the crest of the Marquess of Camden, and forms part of the crest of the London Borough of Camden (which covers the Kings Cross area). Or to give it the correct description "On a Wreath of the Colours issuant from a Mural Crown Argent a demi Elephant Sable armed or about the neck a Wreath of Holly fructed proper". The elephant in the club badge is affectionately known as 'Nelly'.

Kit

The 2017/18 jerseys for the Steelers 1st XV and 2nd XV are green and blue striped with gray panels on the sides. The jerseys for the 3rd XV are blue and grey striped, while the jerseys for the 4th XV are salmon and turquoise striped. Shorts and socks in all cases are blue.

Honours

References

  1. ↑ http://sosogay.co.uk/2011/the-kings-cross-steelers-rugby-unions-oldest-gay-team/
  2. ↑ http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2011/06/07/gay-rugby-team-kings-cross-steelers-win-2011-union-cup/
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