Richmond
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Richmond
FOOTBALL CLUB
V
ICTORY over their nearest
challengers recently means
that Richmond FC, the
world’s
second-oldest
rugby club, will be playing in the
Championship next season.
After extensive consultation with
members and players, and no little soulsearching, the club has decided that it
will accept promotion to the second tier
of English rugby, 17 years after its brief
history as a professional club ended in
administration, removal from the leagues
and demotion to the ninth tier of the game.
Memories of the uncertainty inherent
in professionalism are still strong in the
club, and it was by no means certain that
Richmond would choose to be promoted
to what is a professional league. But the
club’s final decision is that it will do so
while remaining true to its own unique
model of rugby – no professional players
will pull on the famous gold, red and
black shirts next season despite the step
up to playing against full-timers.
The decision to go for promotion
followed consultation and a vote by more
than 50 players, a group that has taken
the club to the top of National League 1
and now one step higher. After a detailed
briefing from the club, which included
discussing the prospect of packing down
against seasoned pros, even internationals,
next term, the players unanimously voted
to go up.
The result of that vote was announced
a few days before Saturday’s away win
over second-place Hartpury College
secured the title.
Peter Moore, Richmond FC Chairman,
said: “Winning National One with what is
essentially an amateur team is a wonderful
Images courtesy of Roger Wooldridge
92 Issue 63