Paula Cox 4/30/26 Paula Cox 4/30/26

President’s Lunch at Croydon Wanderers RFC

Croydon Wanderers RFC President’s Lunch on Saturday, 28 March 2026

This was the first President's Lunch at the club for a season and a half. So, when agreeing to become President in January, it became one of my top priorities to hold one before the 2026 season ended.

The date was agreed weeks in advance, then a mini-disaster: our league opponents for the home game on the day dropped out of the league!! We decided to go ahead with the event, and, after a campaign of hitting the various WhatsApp groups, followed by a few personal texts, emails, and phone calls, we had a very enthusiastic response. And to top it off, we managed to schedule a friendly game against locals, Warlingham RFC 2XV team

The numbers attending continued to climb, and some 36 booked in, including two guests, Michelle York, representing our opponents on the day, Warlingham RFC, and Clive from the Crown and Sceptre pub in South Croydon.

After an early start cleaning the premises and car park area, the first Guinness was ordered at 11:30 whilst we awaited the guests' arrival. It was great to see so many faces from the past attend, with a special mention to Andy Byrd, who made the effort from his home in Northampton, and Doug Bond, who travelled from Hastings.

By 12:30, the party was getting started, everyone quenching their thirst and catching up with old friends and teammates. At 1:15, it was time to adjourn to our newly refurbished hall for lunch. There was a short President’s speech from yours truly, followed by presentations to some of the players, before we were served a delicious lunch of chicken jalfrezi, onion bhaji and naan bread, all washed down with delicious Italian red wine, generously provided by our Chairman.

There were toasts to absent colleagues, plenty of jokes and banter, and just time for photographs before it was time to head up to the pitch for the game to kick off.

It was so rewarding to see many old faces who could not make the lunch still showed up for a drink and to watch the match. An entertaining and closely fought game ensued, barely a score between the sides at halftime before Croydon’s young guns took the game away in the second half.

Then back to the bar to carry on where we had left off earlier. Warlingham more than played their part in the festivities that followed, bringing 22 players and many thirsty supporters.

To be honest, things got a bit blurry from then on! Needless to say, many of us overstayed our welcome… and spent all Sunday regretting it.

Verdict: a rip-roaring success, socially, financially and from a playing perspective. A huge thank you to every member of the Croydon Wanderers family who made my first President’s Lunch such a success. Everyone had a blast, and I promise to arrange another one early next season.

Ian Golding

President, Croydon Wanderers RFC

CRFC 1/10/22 CRFC 1/10/22

Matt Ratana Foundation Rugby Event

We had the privaledge of having two members of the CRFC team play at the Matt Ratana Memorial Match in August 2020. A great day had by all and we know Billy Simons and Jack Bond enjoyed their time on the pitch with some of the greats!

CRFC 9/23/19 CRFC 9/23/19

On a hot summer night, Croydon was eagerly waiting for their first game of the season under the new guidance from an old Shirley Wanderer Louis Allen, whom said he was more nervous for this than all the games he had played before, as it turns out, Louis had nothing to be nervous about.

The whistle blows to begin the match, months of hard training is evident, as we camped in Wokings half.

Croydon kept probing Wokings defence, then a beautiful kick through from, scrum half, baby Alex Griffiths and then picked up from fly half, Sam Curtis but got held just short of the line. The forwards settled in for the first scrum of the game and pushed the opposition back for a victorious scrum, with the ball comfortably at the back of the scrum, the “Ladies” had plenty of space to work, thus the ball worked through the hands of backs to full back Ben Drury, who then saw the beautiful inside centre Harry Worsop, back from what was, decades of injury, through with the first try of the game/season.

This seemed to spur the boys on a few minutes later, again with a well organised attack, the ball flowed through the beautiful callused hands from almost the whole of the team to the reliable, openside flank or the club treasurer, Carl Shrimpton to go over for his wonder try into the corner, Croydons skipper, Jack Bond, slots it through the sticks from the touchline.

As Croydon win another scrum, the lads manage to get the ball out to winger, Jack Drummey who comfortably got his first try. Skipper converted again from a tight angle.

Then a little bit of ill-discipline creeps in to give them a penalty and 10 yards again for not retreating for them to jump over for their try which they converted.

Croydon pulled themselves together with some wise words from their Skip Jack under the posts.

Croydon regain the ball from the restart, with some great work from the forwards, and some immense handling, the ball goes across the field, to the reliable winger, Jack Drummey for his second try of the game converted by Bond.

Croydon now have the bit between their teeth and with a lovely backs move from the scrum out to the un-callused hands of the backs to, what can be described as a blow fish, Croydons other winger Alfie Jeffrey goes in for his first try. Converted by the soft foot of Jack Bond.

Croydon continue playing a flowing game, thanks to our Second row, Gareth Phillips, who also has returned from a long-time injury and has currently taken the mantle as Croydons 1XV oldest player and played 80 minutes, 3 accolades in one game! Croydon continue dominating all-round the park, thanks to props, Andrew Lyell and the cannonball, which is Chris Collcut, who by the law of physics, shouldn’t move as quick or sidestep, the way he does Croydons blindside flanker, Dan Tabatabai, putting extreme pressure on the opposition and when they came close, putting in some big hits

Croydon head for a line out, thrown in by Jonny Humphrey, off the lineout it falls this time to the beast, that is Croydons number 8, Billy Simons, who just back from injury, broke the defensive line, went through brushing off tackle after tackle and eventually offloading like an All Black out to the dependable Tom Defrates to crash over for the try, however as it’s Billy who is editing this for our clubs President William Simons. I won’t mention that I offloaded the ball to the opposition and Defrates ripped the ball back to score the try, because that would be silly.

Croydon now are well dug in and comfortable, the handling remains awesome and Alfie Jeffrey runs in his second of the game

Croydon is now camped in their 22, we comfortably won a line out, thrown in by hook, Stuart Matthews, Croydon was blessed to have two fantastic hookers on the day, as well as some very decent lineouts, they were a massive asset to have in the park. The pack dig in and squeeze for the maul, pushing Woking off, with strength added by blindside flank, Echez Udokwu. Defrates finishes for his second of the game, Jack Bond slots the conversion.

Woking retaliates, come back and get a try and convert.

With the great coach Louis coaching from the side, giving the lads a little bit of wisdom, the squad pulls themselves together. By this time, prop Andrew Lyell decides he’s not going to be out done and thinks himself as a centre again, gets the ball at the half way line smashes 2- 3 defenders over does a little sweet shimmy a little jumping step-side, wrongfoots , catches 2 more players of guard or in awe, as this is not natural for a prop, and gets a try, converted by skipper Jack Bond.

Croydon disrupts and wins Wokings lineout, the ball finds itself out to finisher Josh Fearon, who pops out to the maverick Ben Drury to go over for his first try of the game.

It’s coming towards the end of the game and we now already have the contender of the year for the Jack Drummey Award, a beautiful handling move out to Drummey sees him over the line, forgets for a moment that he’s playing rugby, decides to celebrate his would’ve been 3rd try a tad early, and not grounding the ball, only to get smashed and knocking it on.

To finish what was an outstanding first game of the season, the forwards and the backs combined with some lovely handling and eventually seeing Sam Curtis, over the line. Croydon win the game 14-71.

We’re afraid that we cannot decide who was the man of the match as all 18 players played really well and like a well drilled unit. Well done boys and a big shout out to coach Louis for making Croydon into a drilled unit again.

Result

Woking RFC 14 - 71 Croydon RFC

Try scorers:

Harry Warsop

Carl Shrimpton

Ben Dury

Andrew Lyell

Sam Curtis

Jack Drummey: 2 not 3

Alfie Jeffrey: 2

Tom Defrates: 2

Conversions:

Jack bond: 8

Guest User 4/2/19 Guest User 4/2/19

Friendly: Park House RFC 2XV vs Croydon RFC

MATCH REPORT: PARK HOUSE 2XV vs CROYDON 30th Mar

After kicking the month of March off with the best 40 minutes of Croydon rugby in recent memory, the Poppies fell apart to Egham in the second half. Insult was added to stalwart Billy Simon’s shoulder injury when the team’s valuables bag accompanied him to the hospital.

Croydon then began the playoffs with spectacular, back to back victories made even more spectacular by not touching a ball. Opposition drop outs had gifted the Poppies a spot on finals day, but eager to play a bit of the beautiful game, Croydon arranged a fixture with ~~Egham~~, ~~Harlequins~~, Park House 2s.

A couple of injuries, dodgy excuses, and ringers meant Croydon’s new-look team had some gelling to do and, as the match began, it was quickly clear that the only thing beautiful about this game would be the sunny weather overhead. Plenty of knock-ons, errors and penalties meant neither team could get a foothold for the opening quarter. Yet smart kicking from Bond and Henderson began to pin Park House back in their half and the forwards capitalised with two tries from close distance.

Croydon pressed the advantage with Cousins (back in the pack from the right wing) and Dammers (still out on the right wing…politically) making valuable carries. Nevertheless, in front of their home crowd, Park House were not going down without a fight and despite some powerful defence from Yorkie, Killcoyne and Jeffrey, the hosts were allowed to sneak through for a try before half time.

Order seemed to be restored in the second half as a signature barrelling run from Lyell sucked in the opposition so the backs could put Smith #3 over in the corner. However another Park House resurgence saw the home team drive 80 metres and score twice to make the score 21-17. Memories of the almighty collapse to Egham echoed in the team talk under the posts, surely not again?

*Golding does his best to convince the referee it wasn’t a try*

The game became all about the next score, and once again, there was nothing to separate the sides. The sustained effective recycling from Park was cancelled out by flashes of brilliance from Croydon, but never enough to get an upper hand. Finally catching the oppositon on the break, Captain Bond chased his own kick over the line and touched down to give Croydon the decisive points (and jump above Lyell in the individual try standings)

*An unstoppable force meets an unpleasable object: There’s no getting past Steve*

As the clock ran down, the Poppies shored up the victory with a debatable try (they all count) from your humble reporter which rounded off a rare hat trick and enjoyable team victory.

Special mentions to the travelling support as well as those who answered the call to give the squad some much needed depth. Golding and Smith stepped seamlessly into the back line while a valuable shift from Callum lending/breaking a hand in the pack kept the Park players at bay as well as saving me 80 minutes of propping!

*Shrimpton still making that number 9 jersey his own*

Final Score: Park House 17 – 35 Croydon

Tries: Smith, Bond, Biggs (3)

Conversions: Bond (4), Yorkie

Guest User 2/13/19 Guest User 2/13/19

League: Croydon RFC vs Old Suttonians

MATCH REPORT: CROYDON vs OLD SUTTONIANS 9th Feb

With the season in full swing, three teams had separated themselves at the top pf the table and although Croydon were coming off the back of a win, Sutton represented a step up in class and a must win fixture if the Poppies still had aspirations of winning the league.

Croydon dominated the opening minutes kicking the ball (and the oppo) down the pitch, leaving a trail of bodies in their wake. With Shrimpton commanding the number 9 position, an early penalty gave Bond the chance to put some points on the board and he sailed the ball through the posts.

As the momentum swung away from the Poppies, Sutton showed their ability to offload out of the tackle, scoring two tries off consecutive plays. Croydon reacted and got behind the powerful running of "Big Bosh Man" Simons and "Bosh Baby" Jeffrey to allow Andrew "Bosh Spice" Lyell to charge over from five metres and reduce the deficit to just two points at the half.

The conditions took their toll in the second half and the muddy ball kept slipping out of Croydon’s possession. A dogged defensive effort was not enough and another try stretched the lead for the visitors. The Poppies responded again and with the returning JC attacking with all the vigour of Bastille day and your humble narrator pinching the five points with all the vigour of try-steal day.

Unfortunately, the Poppies were not able to push on to victory and despite an heroic last ditch tackle from Drummey and try saving interception from Jeffrey, Sutton had the last laugh and extended the scoreline to cement their position at the top of the league.

Final Score: Croydon 17 – Old Suttonians 31

Tries: Lyell, Biggs

Conversions: Bond (2)

Penalties: Bond

MoM: Simons (Forwards), Shrimpton (Backs)