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| A BRIEF HISTORY |
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Harlequin Amateurs in their current guise were formed in the summer of 2007, following a friendly merger between Lockside RFC of Teddington and Harlequin Amateurs based in Roehampton. The new club is now based in Teddington, Middlesex and welcomes new players regardless of their ability from all over the world - we even have an Israeli full back on our books!
Lockside began life as Lensbury RFC (founded 1920), the rugby club being associated with Shell Oil's social club Lensbury. In 1998 Shell Oil decided that field sports and it's social club were not compatible with each other and rugby, football, hockey and cricket were dealt a killer blow by Shell…or so the sporting world thought.
The rugby club dusted itself off, rose from the ashes and was reborn as Lockside RFC, homeless, slimmer (our 1st XV went off on masse) and without a clubhouse, a few hardy souls went about salvaging the wreckage, relationships were formed with St. Mary's University (bless them as they have been massively supportive for the past few years), with the footballers from Weirside AFC (formerly Lensbury AFC) and we moved forward. A magnificent if slightly tired clubhouse was found under our noses, overlooking the famous Teddington Lock and the club began to move forward......meanwhile just across the other side of Kingston...
Harlequin Amateurs were ploughing ahead, having been formed in approx 2000 AD !! as a result of the world famous Harlequin FC going professional (Quins have a well documented history of their own), the club started at the bottom and worked their way into Hert's Middx Division 1, where they regularly traded blows with Lockside! The club attracted players who were drawn by the allure of wearing the most iconic club rugby shirt in the world. However the club didn't progress as quickly as had been hoped and the 2006/7 season was a struggle.
And then a momentous event happened, a mystery phone call led to a less than by chance encounter in the King's Head, Teddington following an evening spent drinking, eating and discussing all things rugby, but particularly the 2 clubs a plan was hatched….global domination (well a great rugby club with a fantastic atmosphere!)
The clubs agreed to merge and set the wheels in motion. The new club was officially formed on 1st August 2007, but we retain our heritage from 87 years as Lensbury / Lockside and 140 years as Harlequins. |
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