London Club

[Marco_Italy]

I'd like to know how many London club there have been, both those still exist and those that have disapparead

[Celtic Roosters]

21 minutes ago, Marco_Italy said:

I'd like to know how many London club there have been, both those still exist and those that have disapparead

If you mean amateur there have been loads Marco all the way back to the 70's, and for a while in the 80's London had more clubs than Wigan. When I get time I will either reply on here or send something via e-mail.

[Damien]

18 minutes ago, Celtic Roosters said:

If you mean amateur there have been loads Marco all the way back to the 70's, and for a while in the 80's London had more clubs than Wigan. When I get time I will either reply on here or send something via e-mail.

I find it interesting how many clubs London had when RU was still 'amateur', when the seasons obviously clashed, and when there was more animosity between the two.

There is this thinking that when it comes to expansion that RL needs to be something RU players play in the off season but I dont think that tallies. Indeed that thinking is often just lazy and harmful in the long run.

[Eddie]

35 minutes ago, Damien said:

I find it interesting how many clubs London had when RU was still 'amateur', when the seasons obviously clashed, and when there was more animosity between the two.

There is this thinking that when it comes to expansion that RL needs to be something RU players play in the off season but I dont think that tallies. Indeed that thinking is often just lazy and harmful in the long run.

Tbf, while I agree with your sentiment, RL outside the heartlands is exactly something that RU players play in their off season. Without them there would be hardly any clubs, maybe just a couple in London comprised of Antipodean expats. 

[Damien]

5 minutes ago, Eddie said:

Tbf, while I agree with your sentiment, RL outside the heartlands is exactly something that RU players play in their off season. Without them there would be hardly any clubs, maybe just a couple in London comprised of Antipodean expats. 

That was the entire point of my post though wasn't it? This wasn't the case in London in the 1970's and 1980's and changed when RL moved to summer.

[JonM]

Even in the 1960s there were enough amateur clubs for there to be a league.

[Eddie]

1 hour ago, JonM said:

Even in the 1960s there were enough amateur clubs for there to be a league.

A rugby league league in London, running at the same time as the Union leagues?

[bowes]

25 minutes ago, Eddie said:

A rugby league league in London, running at the same time as the Union leagues?

Yes in terms of season, though games were often on a Sunday.

It wasn't very big in the 1960s, only about 4 teams and technically was a league for the whole south. But it became much bigger later. In the 1980s, they split the Southern League into the Midlands and South West League, and the London League. At its peak there were two divisions in the former and three in the latter. There was also an Eastern Counties league for a few years that was split off from the London League.

Other leagues that formed in the 1980s included the East Midlands League (which split off from the West Yorkshire Sunday League) and the North East League (which split off from the York & District Sunday League). By 2001 all of the remaining leagues had been absorbed into the Rugby League Conference, although towards the end of the 1990s, the better North East and East Midlands teams were playing in the Yorkshire League, so they were in decline. 

Incredibly there was even a short lived Staffordshire League. It only had about 4 teams in though and Biddulph were clearly too good for the league.

[Celtic Roosters]

4 hours ago, Damien said:

I find it interesting how many clubs London had when RU was still 'amateur', when the seasons obviously clashed, and when there was more animosity between the two.

There is this thinking that when it comes to expansion that RL needs to be something RU players play in the off season but I dont think that tallies. Indeed that thinking is often just lazy and harmful in the long run.

Yes amateur RL was played in the 70's and 80's (that I know of) alongside RU in the Winter but, to be fair, I visited lots of clubs like Ipswich Rhinos, South Norfolk Saints, Crawley Jets, Coventry, Wolverhampton, Birmingham etc, etc in the summer leagues and they were usually ran by Northerners (working away) or Antipodeans, but the vast majority of players were RU players. I've been to most of the Welsh clubs and I find out that there is a huge appetite for RL, especially in the Rhondda area, but the fans are too spread out around Wales to make a club work in one particularly place. I followed Celtic Crusaders while they existed and only missed half a dozen games. I was amazed at how many South Wales people already owned RL jerseys. I wear a Aberavon Fighting Irish top and I can trace their history back to the 80's.

Edited March 13 by Celtic Roosters

[Celtic Roosters]

1 hour ago, bowes said:

Yes in terms of season, though games were often on a Sunday.

It wasn't very big in the 1960s, only about 4 teams and technically was a league for the whole south. But it became much bigger later. In the 1980s, they split the Southern League into the Midlands and South West League, and the London League. At its peak there were two divisions in the former and three in the latter. There was also an Eastern Counties league for a few years that was split off from the London League.

Other leagues that formed in the 1980s included the East Midlands League (which split off from the West Yorkshire Sunday League) and the North East League (which split off from the York & District Sunday League). By 2001 all of the remaining leagues had been absorbed into the Rugby League Conference, although towards the end of the 1990s, the better North East and East Midlands teams were playing in the Yorkshire League, so they were in decline. 

Incredibly there was even a short lived Staffordshire League. It only had about 4 teams in though and Biddulph were clearly too good for the league.

I've got most of the records of all those leagues. MASWARLA seemed to be one of the most successful. Not just the South though. Carlisle had it's own 10 team league for a while. Biddulph joined the North West Counties League for a short time. Stoke on Trent joined the NWCL too but only played a handful of games before disbanding.

[Celtic Roosters]

4 hours ago, Marco_Italy said:

I'd like to know how many London club there have been, both those still exist and those that have disapparead

The first evidence I can find of anything RL in the South was the Southern amateur RL of 1975-76 season which consisted of Bulmershe College (Reading), Ealing, Hillingdon, Hornchurch, Peckham, Portsmouth Polytechnic College and St. Albans Waverley. In 1976-77 there is Ealing, Hillingdon, Oxford University, Peckham and McEntee (Plaistow). In 1977-78 it was down to 3 teams and the league finished 1/ Ealing, 2/ Oxford University, 3/ Peckham. Peckham beat Ealing 19-12 in their Challenge cup final. In 1978-79 there was Ealing, London Colonials, McEntee, New Hillingdon, Oxford University, Peckham, Peckham 'A' and Reading University. Only 5 teams finished the season 1/ Peckham, 2/ Ealing, 3/ London Colonials, 4/ Oxford University, 5 McEntee. Peckham also beat Ealing 29-0 in their challenge cup final. In 1979-80 the Southern ARL consisited of Ealing, Hendon, London Colonials, McEntee, Milton Keynes, Oxford University, Peckham, Peckham 'A' and Reading University but I don't have the league tables. If anybody would like anymore please let me know? I don't want to waste my time if there is no interest. Thanks.

[gingerjon]

4 hours ago, Damien said:

That was the entire point of my post though wasn't it? This wasn't the case in London in the 1970's and 1980's and changed when RL moved to summer.

One of the reasons I don't buy that RL can't develop outside of the heartlands - or it has to be small and demure if it does - is that there have been multiple times throughout our history when that hasn't been the case.

That then, because no one remembers anything in this sport, people just forget.

[bowes]

1 hour ago, Celtic Roosters said:

I've got most of the records of all those leagues. MASWARLA seemed to be one of the most successful. Not just the South though. Carlisle had it's own 10 team league for a while. Biddulph joined the North West Counties League for a short time. Stoke on Trent joined the NWCL too but only played a handful of games before disbanding.

Ah yes, MASWARLA got good numbers for a while but then very suddenly folded in the mid 1990s. Birmingham ended up in the East Midlands League for a few seasons before (and I think also after) they joined the Rugby League Conference.

[bowes]

1 hour ago, Celtic Roosters said:

The first evidence I can find of anything RL in the South was the Southern amateur RL of 1975-76 season which consisted of Bulmershe College (Reading), Ealing, Hillingdon, Hornchurch, Peckham, Portsmouth Polytechnic College and St. Albans Waverley. In 1976-77 there is Ealing, Hillingdon, Oxford University, Peckham and McEntee (Plaistow). In 1977-78 it was down to 3 teams and the league finished 1/ Ealing, 2/ Oxford University, 3/ Peckham. Peckham beat Ealing 19-12 in their Challenge cup final. In 1978-79 there was Ealing, London Colonials, McEntee, New Hillingdon, Oxford University, Peckham, Peckham 'A' and Reading University. Only 5 teams finished the season 1/ Peckham, 2/ Ealing, 3/ London Colonials, 4/ Oxford University, 5 McEntee. Peckham also beat Ealing 29-0 in their challenge cup final. In 1979-80 the Southern ARL consisited of Ealing, Hendon, London Colonials, McEntee, Milton Keynes, Oxford University, Peckham, Peckham 'A' and Reading University but I don't have the league tables. If anybody would like anymore please let me know? I don't want to waste my time if there is no interest. Thanks.

Yes it would be interesting to hear more.

[JonM]

4 hours ago, Eddie said:

A rugby league league in London, running at the same time as the Union leagues?

Yes. Formed in 1965 at Crystal Palace, it changed name to the Southern Rugby League (Amateur) in 1968.

There's a surprisingly long history in London. Widnes u-11 schoolboys toured London in 1981, a few months before Fulham formed, and played games against Middlesex and Surrey.

Edited March 13 by JonM

[JonM]

In answer to the original question, as far as professional clubs go, it's London Highfield, Streatham & Mitcham, Acton & Willesden, all in the 1930s. Then Fulham/London Crusaders/London Broncos/Harlequins etc. & Skolars

There was also a Southern Amateur Rugby League in 1949/50 which featured Brixton, Mitcham, Slough and Southampton (and possibly others).

[Celtic Roosters]

48 minutes ago, bowes said:

Yes it would be interesting to hear more.

I don't have league tables for the 1980-81 season but the Southern league consisted of Ealing, Ealing 'A', Fulham, Hemel Hempstead, London Colonials, McEntee, McEntee 'A', Milton Keynes, Peckham, Peckham 'A' and Streatham. There was also a Surrey & Middlesex schools league at 2 age groups. In the BARLA national cup round 1 - Pointer Panthers (Castleford) W/O .v. Peckham, Bullcroft (Chesterfield) 25 Ealing 3, Keighley Albion 14 London Colonials 6. 1981-82 Southern League division 1 final positions 1/ Peckham Pumas, 2/ Ealing 3/ McEntee, 4/ London Colonials, 5/ Milton Keynes. division 2 1/ Peckham Pumas 'A', 2/ Fulham, 3/ Ealing 'A', 4/ Hemel Hempstead, 5/ Streatham Celtic, 6/ Mc Entee 'A'. Cambridge University, Oxford University and Reading University entered the South league cup and the final was Ealing 28 Oxford University 14. BARLA National cup round 1 - London Colonials 3 Woolston Rovers 19, Boilermakers (St. Helens) 33 Ealing 8, St. Josephs (Huddersfield) 50 McEntee 1. I don't have league tables for 1982-83 but the Southern league expanded and consisted of Aberavon, Ambleside Avenue (Chertsey), Bexleyheath Lions, Cambridge University, Ealing, Ealing 'A', Fulham Amateurs, Fulham Travellers, Hemel Hempstead, London Colonials, McEntee, Milton Keynes, Oxford University, Peckham Invicta, Peckham Pumas, Reading University, Streatham Celtic and Upminster Celtic (Dagenham). Worth noting there was a Welsh league (just 4 teams) this season but Aberavon chose the Southern league. BARLA National cup round 1 - Ealing 5 Oulton 19.Peckham Pumas 18 Guisley Rangers (Leeds) 5, Moorends (Doncaster) 77 Milton Keynes 2, West Hunslet 20 London Colonials 3. Round 2 - Widnes Tigers 20 Peckham Pumas 10. 1983-84 Southern league final positions division 1 1/ London Colonials, 2/ Ealing, 3/ Aberavon, 4/ Fulham Amateurs, 5/ Peckham Invicta, 6/ Hemel Hempstead. Division 2 1/ Peckham Pumas, 2/ Streatham Celtic, 3/ Fulham Travellers, 4/ Milton keynes, 5/ Ealing 'A', 6/ Hemel Hempstead 'A', 7/ Peckham Invicta 'A', 8/ Ambleside Avenue, 9/ Bexleyheath. BARLA National cup round 1 - Ealing w/o .v. St. Josephs (Huddersfield), London Colonials 14 Clayton (Bradford) 10, Peckham Invicta 18 Sutton Oak (St. Helens) 26. Round 2 - Ealing 16 Haresfinch (St. Helens) 22, Thatto Heath 16 London Colonials 6. 

I'm leaving it there now bowes and I'm out all day tomorrow in Scunthorpe watching football. I'll post some more on Sunday if the info is useful to you?

[bowes]

Thank you, that's really interesting.

 

[Marco_Italy]

Thanks for all people, for interesting information 

[newbe]

Hemel Stags still going 40 years on. Just put in new pitch n drainage system. About £170,000 with help from grants from various organisations and the club it's self.

Edited March 14 by newbe

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

10 hours ago, Marco_Italy said:

Thanks for all people, for interesting information 

And don’t forget London’s newest club - South Bank Sharks ! 

[Celtic Roosters]

On 13/03/2026 at 18:26, bowes said:

Thank you, that's really interesting.

 

Just a few more but don't have much time this morning.........1984-85 Southern League division 1 final positions 1/ Streatham Celtic, 2/ Fulham Amateurs, 3/ Ealing, 4/ London Colonials, 5/ Peckham Pumas, 6/ Peckham, 7/ Aberavon. Division 2 1/ Fulham Travellers, 2/ Wokingham, 3/ St. Marys College, 4/ Hemel Hempstead, 5/ Milton keynes. Division 3 1/ Peckham Pumas 'A', 2/ Hemel Hempstead 'A', 3/ Queen Mary College, 4/ Fulham Travellers 'A', 5/ Bexleyheath, 6/ Streatham Celtic 'A'. Aberavon and Cheltenham were also Southern league members this season. I don't have league tables for the following leagues but Mansfield & Notts ARL consisted of Clowne, Garibaldi, Langwith Gate, Leicester Polytechnic, Loughborough University and Trent Polytechnic. MASWARLA (Midland and South West) consisted of Bath YMCA, Birmingham Polytechnic, Bristol, Cheltenham YMCA, Cheltenham Trinity and Chippenham. Staffordshire league was Biddulph (who later joined the NWCL), Kidsgrove Crusaders, Newcastle and North Staffordshire Polytechnic. Welsh ARL consisted Aberavon, Cardiff University, Cardiff S.T.A.R, Cardiff Amateurs, Maesteg, Swansea University, South Glamorgan institute of higher education and Tonyrefail Privateers. BARLA National cup round 1 - Fulham Amateurs withdrew .v. Dalesman (Leeds) w/o, Culcheth Pack Horse 23 London Colonials 20, South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education 26 Fulham Travellers 14, Oulton w/o .v. Cardiff Amateurs. Round 2 - Widnes St. Maries 34 South Glamorgan IOHE 16.

Sorry, I'm out of time. Might do some more later.

[RugbyLeagueGeek]

In the early 90s the midlands had teams from Birmingham, Worcester, Redditch, West Mids Police, Garibaldi (Mansfield), Clowne, Shirebrook, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Peterborough, Northampton all playing a full season during the Winter. As good as the Summer Rugby League Conference was when it started in the late 90s, there was an element of re-writing history as if all of the teams competing in it were brand new. In reality, there had been lots of rugby league activity going on for years, all running alongside RU. You could argue the open age community game was in stronger health then than it is now with its short season sandwiched in between RU seasons.

[bowes]

2 hours ago, Celtic Roosters said:

Just a few more but don't have much time this morning.........1984-85 Southern League division 1 final positions 1/ Streatham Celtic, 2/ Fulham Amateurs, 3/ Ealing, 4/ London Colonials, 5/ Peckham Pumas, 6/ Peckham, 7/ Aberavon. Division 2 1/ Fulham Travellers, 2/ Wokingham, 3/ St. Marys College, 4/ Hemel Hempstead, 5/ Milton keynes. Division 3 1/ Peckham Pumas 'A', 2/ Hemel Hempstead 'A', 3/ Queen Mary College, 4/ Fulham Travellers 'A', 5/ Bexleyheath, 6/ Streatham Celtic 'A'. Aberavon and Cheltenham were also Southern league members this season. I don't have league tables for the following leagues but Mansfield & Notts ARL consisted of Clowne, Garibaldi, Langwith Gate, Leicester Polytechnic, Loughborough University and Trent Polytechnic. MASWARLA (Midland and South West) consisted of Bath YMCA, Birmingham Polytechnic, Bristol, Cheltenham YMCA, Cheltenham Trinity and Chippenham. Staffordshire league was Biddulph (who later joined the NWCL), Kidsgrove Crusaders, Newcastle and North Staffordshire Polytechnic. Welsh ARL consisted Aberavon, Cardiff University, Cardiff S.T.A.R, Cardiff Amateurs, Maesteg, Swansea University, South Glamorgan institute of higher education and Tonyrefail Privateers. BARLA National cup round 1 - Fulham Amateurs withdrew .v. Dalesman (Leeds) w/o, Culcheth Pack Horse 23 London Colonials 20, South Glamorgan Institute of Higher Education 26 Fulham Travellers 14, Oulton w/o .v. Cardiff Amateurs. Round 2 - Widnes St. Maries 34 South Glamorgan IOHE 16.

Sorry, I'm out of time. Might do some more later.

Thank you. Even that one season shows how fast things were expanding with a lot of new leagues. I wasn't even aware of this Welsh League. Some more familiar names to me like Garibaldi and Clowne are starting to appear.

Looking at that, I find it interesting Birmingham Polytechnic would play in a league with South West teams and not in the Staffordshire League.

 

[bowes]

1 hour ago, RugbyLeagueGeek said:

In the early 90s the midlands had teams from Birmingham, Worcester, Redditch, West Mids Police, Garibaldi (Mansfield), Clowne, Shirebrook, Derby, Nottingham, Leicester, Peterborough, Northampton all playing a full season during the Winter. As good as the Summer Rugby League Conference was when it started in the late 90s, there was an element of re-writing history as if all of the teams competing in it were brand new. In reality, there had been lots of rugby league activity going on for years, all running alongside RU. You could argue the open age community game was in stronger health then than it is now with its short season sandwiched in between RU seasons.

Birmingham, Leicester and Derby were the same clubs in the winter and the summer (though unfortunately Leicester are no longer playing). Redditch, Nottingham and Garibaldi/Mansfield were separate clubs but the summer club had some overlap with players and sometimes officials/volunteers as the winter club that preceded them (though Mansfield Storm are no longer playing, they folded once a lot of the former Garibaldi players retired).

I created this page a while ago that has which teams played in each Rugby League Conference season: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Rugby_League_Conference