Battersea Ironsides 80th Anniversary

Friday 8th September celebrated the 80th Anniversary of Battersea Ironsides RFC.

We held a very successful party at the club with over 200 members in attendance. To celebrate the big event, Ironsides went all out with Marquee, live band, hog roast, photo booth and arcade machines harping back to the 80’s. A festival atmosphere was created with outside bars and festoon lighting!

To celebrate the start of the RWC we also had a big screen erected within the party area.

All participants had a great night enjoying the extremely hot evening, great rugby, food  and beverages along with ‘Party Starters’ band to dance the night away with. 

We even created our own 80th Anniversary Limited Edition Gin to commemorate the creation of Ironsides. This was highlighted on our bottles as follows: 

Battersea Ironsides RFC was founded in 1943 by Colonel E.H. St.Maur Toope of the 42nd Royal Tank Regiment Cadet Battalion (RTR).

‘Ironsides’ was the nickname given to tanks used in WWI, and which remain the focal point of the RTR badge.

The Allies hoped that the tanks would lead them ‘Through the Mud and the Blood to the Green Fields beyond’.

BIRFC club colours therefore represent the black beret of the tank regiment, the mud and the blood and the green. 

‘2,3 Ironsides’ signifies the march command for the soldiers.

Ironsides Gin is still available to purchase behind the bar at the club or online via Spond. 

80th Anniversary polo shirts and tee-shirts were available on the night to buy and are still available via our online shop.

Overall, the night was a huge success, and we are now looking forward to the next ‘0’ anniversary party!!