Union RFU Chairman Alex Smith Founded 1995 Chairperson Alex Smith | Nickname(s) Steelers President Iggy Smith League Essex Canterbury Jack 1 Regions London, Essex | |
Full name Kings Cross Steelers RFC Ground(s) East London Rugby Club "Steelers Stadium" (Capacity: 500) | ||
The Kings Cross Steelers are a rugby team from England, based in London, which were founded as the first ever gay inclusive rugby union club in 1995. The founding of the club sparked the beginning of a much larger gay inclusive rugby movement which to date includes over 60 gay inclusive rugby clubs across the world. The club's name comes from "Kings Cross" as the club was founded in the pub, Central Station, which is just around the corner from Kings Cross St Pancras. While the "Steelers" part of the name comes from the founding members' love of American football and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
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Kings cross steelers rfc bingham london 2018 with subtitles
History
The club was founded on 1 November 1995 in the Central Station pub located in Kings Cross in London and joined the Surrey County Union the following summer, playing their first game on 21 September 1996, which they lost by 92–10 to Orleans Former Pupils at Strawberry Hill.
In June 1999 the Steelers become full members of the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) and at the same time joined Surrey County League Four.
In August 1999 the Steelers played a match against the newly formed Manchester gay team, the Village Spartans. This was the world's first match between two gay/bi rugby teams. The Steelers won 22-15.
In July 2000 the Steelers took part in the Rugby Sevens competition at the UK Gay Sports Festival held at Waltham Forest. Visiting US team, the Washington Renegades, and the Manchester Village Spartans also fielded teams.
In 2001 the Steelers grew to be large enough to field a second squad. In February the 2nd XVs played their first match.
In June 2002, the club managed to be runners up in the Mark Kendall Bingham Memorial Tournament. Two years later they hosted the tournament. Their best result in the competition to date was in Dublin in 2008, when they were tournament runners-up, losing to the Sydney Convicts in the final.
In May 2004 the Steelers hosted the 2004 Bingham Cup in Esher.
In February 2007 the club celebrated its first "gay marriage" between two Steelers. The club travelled to Copenhagen for the Bingham Cup in May, winning the cup competition. In May, the club was promoted to the Essex League 2.
In 2009, the club hosted, and won, the Union Cup – a biennial tournament for gay rugby clubs in Europe.
In 2011, the club successfully defended the title winning the Union Cup in Amsterdam after a final against the Manchester Village Spartans. In the same year, the club won the Hadrian Cup, a yearly tournament held in Newcastle and organised by the Newcastle Ravens.
In May 2013, the club again successfully retained the Union Cup in Bristol after a final against Ireland's Emerald Warriors. The club managed to retain the cup without conceding a single try throughout the tournament.
In 2014 the club travelled to Sydney for the Bingham Cup in August. The club narrowly lost out in the semi-final match.
In May 2015, the Steelers successfully defended the Union Cup winning for the fifth successive tournament.
Current
The Kings Cross Steelers are currently playing in Essex 1 with the 2nd XV playing in the Merit Division 8. Previous the 1st XV have played in Essex 2 & Essex 3, with the promotion to Essex 2 during the 2006/07 season.
Logo
The logo is of an elephant in a castle. The logo is based on the crest of the Marquess of Camden, and forms part of the crest of the London Borough of Camden (which covers the Kings Cross area). Or to give it the correct description "On a Wreath of the Colours issuant from a Mural Crown Argent a demi Elephant Sable armed or about the neck a Wreath of Holly fructed proper". The elephant in the club badge is affectionately known as 'Nelly'.
Kit
The 2009/10 kit for the Steelers consists of green shoulders, with a green and blue checkerboard pattern across the middle, fading into blue at the bottom. Shorts and socks are blue. The 2009/10 sponsors are Comptons of Soho and the Metropolitan Police.