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