Crawley Rugby Football Club

The last time I spoke to Crawley Rugby Football Club they were proud of their ethos to become an inclusive club for the community, so this month I wanted to find out more about why Crawley was voted the Rugby Club of the Year at the Guinness National Rugby Club Awards in 2019.

Crawley RFC was formed in March 1950 and by the early 1960s they had built their own Clubhouse on the site which is now known as the RAM club.  The club stayed at West Green playing fields until 1993 when the clubhouse was sold, and with support from Crawley Borough Council, they moved to their current home, Willoughby Fields in Ifield, where the club has hosted many county and national sides over the years including the England U19s when Johnny Wilkinson played for them.

With four pitches, two of which are floodlit, eight changing rooms, a well-equipped weights room and a modern clubhouse and bar, Crawley boasts over 300 members and is proud to be an inclusive club with the aim of bringing the enjoyment of rugby to the wider community whatever the age, gender or capability.

They also possess a thriving Youth section with teams at every age from U7’s through to U18’s as well as three senior men’s teams, with the 1st XV playing in the London league who won the 2019 Sussex Cup, together with a Veteran’s team, a thriving ladies team and the Crawley Jets Wheelchair rugby team, which is the only disabled sports team available in the town!

Also heavily involved with local charities, the club runs a monthly Sunday social for people to play games and integrate with society. As an amateur club, Crawley is run purely by volunteers, relying on members’ subscriptions, and is also a successful community club offering coaching to primary and secondary schools within the town, which has resulted in helping five secondary schools create rugby teams competing at a reasonable level. 

Over the past few years, the club has also increased the events being held at the club with a large Halloween and fireworks display open to the community together with a charity weekend where ex-international rugby players played in an exhibition game with over £30,000 raised. The club also holds a successful comedy night once a month, regular quiz nights, pool competitions, darts, poker and many more events and games for the community.

Crawley’s strength is very much about growing and developing their young people whilst adhering to their core values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline & Sportsmanship. 

So, what does the future hold? Crawley RFC has a strategic plan in place to develop & modernise the clubhouse and to provide catering and party/entertainment facilities for its members, guests, players, families, business partners/sponsors and event attendees. They also plan to further enhance their youth squads, with family co-operation, collaboration, and inclusion, as well as to develop both their team coaching skills with the depth and strength of the senior playing squads, additionally enhancing their diversity and inclusion policy with openness and support of the LGBTQ+ community.

Crawley RFC are continually seeking the support of local businesses, so if you want to find out more, visit www.crawleyrfc.com