History of the Ravens 
Not to be confused with the Erith Rovers their (now
defunct) neighbours from across the Thames, who were also known as The
Ravens.
Only two clubs in the whole of Essex pre-date Ravens,
Southend (founded in 1870) is one, but the only older metropolitan Essex side
still in existence is The London Hospital (1865).
An open club despite it's later name and its origins,
Ravens Rugby Football Club was founded on October 2,
1875.
The Club was recruited mainly from the staff of the East
& West India Docks Company, and took their name from the famous inhabitants
of the nearby Tower of London. Little survives of the early records of the
Club but it is known that the first President was Mr Thomas Beck (a
Superintendent of the London and St Katherine's Dock), the first Secretary and
Treasurer was a Mr J R Hosker and the first Club Captain was Mr Clement Hirst
(an Assistant Warehouse Keeper at West India Dock). The Club's first
Patron, Colonel J L Du Plat-Tyler, was Secretary and General Manager of
The East & West India Docks Company and later a Director of the company's
successors, The London and India Docks Joint Committee and the London and India
Docks Company.
In 1907 the Independent London Dock Companies were
combined to form the new Port of London Authority, and the Club followed it's
parent organization two years later, changing its name to `Port of London
Authority RFC' in 1909.
The Club disbanded at the outbreak of the Great War in
1914, leaving all the club funds with the Port of London Authority for
safe-keeping. Little did they know that it would be thirteen long years
until they were to play their next fixture!
After the War the PLA found themselves in stiff
competition with many other London organizations for the highest qualified
management recruits, and decided that one of the best ways to lure them was to
offer not only good wages, but first-class social facilities as well. With
this in mind the PLA bought the site of Cranbrook Castle, an unusual
architectural folley at The Drive, Ilford. On it they built a modern
clubhouse and laid out a new sports field.
The PLA RFC was subsequently re-formed in 1925, but it
wasn't until the 1926/27 season the Club began playing at their new home.
Even then the Club wouldn't have had enough playing members to operate properly
had it not been for the help afforded to them by their Fairlop neighbours Old
Blues RFC. At this time many of the Christ's Hospital School old boys were
employed by the Port of London Authority - amongst them the five Wales brothers,
all of whom were outstanding players.
Important figures in the club during the 1927/28 were: A
G Dickenson, Chairman; Captain Sir Ian Hamilton Benn, President; L F Cogger,
Club Captain; S H Wales, Hon Secretary; and T Drayton, Hon Treasurer. Two
XVs were fielded during this season.
Even in these early days of the revived Club, the Club
had to remind members of the following: "Will selected members who are unable to
play please note the rule which states that in these circumstances they must
notify the Hon Secretary or the Captain immediately". Modern-day selectors
will no doubt sympathise.
The AGM of 1937 saw H J Greedus elected both Vice
Captain and Hon Secretary of the Club. He had played in the first game of
the 1927/28 season and went on to serve as Hon Secretary for thirty years.
Wednesday, April 13th 1938 saw the first McAlister
Memorial Match between the Port of London Authority and H M Customs & Excise
(a 22-0 win for PLA). Although this fixture has since disappeared, the
Ravens still play a Memorial game every year, usually on Boxing Day, in which
they remember all of the Club's players who have passed away.
Over the years a variety of opposition brought a number
of top class players to the Ilford ground for this game and not inconsiderable
sums of money were raised for the Seamen's Hospital. The second memorial
game on April 1, 1939 against London Shipping Companies was another 22-0 win for
PLA.
The Club was again disbanded at the onset of the Second
World War, but reformed immediately afterwards in 1946. The hostilities
did have one useful effect, John Mather was introduced to the game.
Captured by the Germans early in the war, John spent the next five years as a
POW working in a coal mine. Two activities helped keep his spirits up; one
- regular escape attempts and two - 50 a-side rugby games on the inadequate camp
exercise ground.
Returning to civilian life John gained a position with
the PLA and was attracted to the Rugby Club where he quickly made his
mark. In later years he admitted that the chaos of his early rugby
education had never left him, and even when he played for Essex he didn't
actually know what he was doing, but it was always good
fun.
The centenary of the Club was celebrated during the
1975/76 season. Activities included a very successful Easter Festival and
games against Eastern Counties and an Essex XVs.
Competition success came to the Club for the first time
at the end of the 1978/79 season when the Colts XV won the Essex Colts Cup in an
exciting 10-0 win against Eton Manor at Thurrock.
Regular tourists within England, the Club ventured
abroad for the first time over Easter 1987, with a trip to Germany and three
games against British RAF and Army sides. Foreign opposition proper was
encountered in 1988 on a trip to Holland and Belgium. A trip to the USA
was planned for the 1990's.
When the new league structure was put in force the Club
played in the Eastern Counties League Two. Some were surprised by the
Club's placement in this league, but the Club's results more than justified the
decision. One club who refused to play the PLA pre-league, went on to lost
every game between the Clubs that season.
The Rugby football section of the PLA Sports Club was
subsidized but had always more or less paid it's own way. So on June 16,
1988 it came as quite a shock when the money-men at the Port of London Authority
(who were now more concerned about Tilbury than the East-End) decided that the
PLA Recreation Group at The Drive in Ilford was ripe for redevelopment . and
evicted its own Rugby Club.
And so it was that in 1990, despite desperate appeals to
the local council and even to the House of Lords, the Club found itself without
a home. As there was no point in retaining the PLA title, the Club
reverted to it's original name, and in the 1991/92 season found a new ground at
the Ford Sports & Social Club in Ilford.
The Club isn't as strong as it once used to be but the
current members and committee are striving to change this and are on the look
out for new rugby talent in any shape size or form. The Ravens is an open
Club and so welcomes all rugby enthusiasts with great warmth and enthusiasm and
it is with this warmth and enthusiasm that permeates the Ravens that we strive
to achieve success once again in this Rugby-playing part of East London.
With
thanks to Mr D Tyson and Mr A Guest for providing me with the above
information.
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