Old Elthamians


Old Elthamians Rugby Football Club is an English rugby union club based in Mottingham in London. They currently play in the third tier of English club rugby, having won promotion from National League 2 South in 2017. Old Elthamians was formed in 1911 and currently run four senior teams and a full range of junior teams. In 2014–15 the club moved ground from the Foxbury to Queen Mary Sports Ground in Chislehurst, where they were resident for just two seasons before moving to their current home of College Meadow in Mottingham, for the 2016–17 season. Old Elthamians had their first home game at College Meadow on 17 September 2016, defeating visitors Clifton 46 - 19 in front of 420 spectators.
On 25 March 2017 Old Elthamians, riding high in National League 2 South, achieved a club record win 97–7 against bottom club Exmouth, a tally that included 15 tries. They finished second that season, qualifying for a promotion play-off against the runner-up from National League 2 North. On 6 May 2017 Old Elthamians travelled to take on Sale at Heywood Road, winning a close game 19–14 to claim promotion to the 2017–18 National League 1; the highest level in the club's history. The 2016–17 season also saw Dominic Lespierre score 36 league tries to break the previous best of 32 set by Renford Bennet.
On 16 December 2017 Old Elthamians beat Blackheath 32–7 in front of a then club record crowd of 1,653 at College Meadow, in what was the first league meeting between the two sides in 106 years despite both being based in south London. This record was topped the very next season when a crowd of 1,770 at College Meadow saw Old Elthamians lose 11-12 to Blackheath on 22 December 2018 in what was a top of the table clash.
Old Elthamians failed to reach the Championship in the 18/19 season.

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