Battersea Ironsides vs Streatham-Croydon Colts Charity Rugby Match
Back in 1943, Ironsides founder, Colonel E. H. St Maur Toope, originally played at Streatham RFC and borrowed their pitch, to put on Ironsides’ first ever match - giving the opportunity to play rugby to some of the lads he commanded in the 42nd Royal Tank Regiment Cadet Battalion.
To mark Ironsides’ 80th Anniversary season, on Sunday 14 April, we celebrated our historic connection with Streatham-Croydon RFC - returning to where it all began to play a special charity match between Ironsides and a Streatham-Croydon Colts XVs.
We were competing for a new cup - The Colonel's Cup - that we hope to play annually in Colonel St Maur Toope' memory – celebrating his legacy for youth sport and maintaining the historic friendship between our two great clubs. It was a physical encounter – played in greats spirits – with Ironsides ultimately proving too strong for our neighbours and running out 45-17 winners.
Behzad Khalid was awarded MOTM for orchestrating Ironsides attack from fly half and Aaron Gordon took the honours for Streatham.
The event raised nearly £400, divided equally between St George’s Hospital and Croydon University Hospital Charities – the two hospitals which are within a stone's throw of our respective clubs and which together serve so many in the south London community!
If you'd like to donate - you can still do so here - or directly to either or both of the charities:
St George's Hospital Charity "Time for Change" Appeal raising money for improved children's services: https://www.stgeorgeshospitalcharity.org.uk/time-for-a-change
Croydon University Hospital Charity "Little Breaths" Appeal - Donations will help to fund two additional ventilators to provide life-saving treatment for the sickest children in Croydon, from very small babies to young people aged up to 16-year-olds: https://www.croydonhealthservices.nhs.uk/little-breaths-/
