History
In early 1878, three Scottish members of a team called St. Andrew's Rovers FC decided to break away to form their own club for Scots. These men, George Grant, Neil Macglashan and Robert Arnot attracted a number of responses to a circular they sent out. The London Scottish Regiment in particular were very warm to the idea. Very soon after, on 10 April 1878, London Scottish FC was founded in MacKay's Tavern, London, and initially played on Blackheath Common, and later at Richmond Athletic Ground in Surrey.
They had a sizable fixture list and played some of the leading clubs of the time immediately, such as Ravenscourt Park Football Club and Queen's House Football Club (the latter being the only London team to have never lost to London Scottish). They also played St Andrew's Rovers that season. St Andrew's, who had lost the core of their best players lost twice to London Scottish and folded at the end of the season. London Scottish had a very successful first season, and having played fifteen matches they only lost four (against already well established sides, Flamingoes, Guy's Hospital, Queen's House and Wasps).
London Scottish was the first of the "Exiles" rugby clubs to be founded, and also the last of the main three to go "open" in 1996.
The club turned professional in 1996 and was playing in the top division as recently as 1999. The Professional club London Scottish Rugby was placed into administration in 1999 and a nominal merger with London Irish took place. During this period Tony Tiarks bought the club for £500,000 in 1996. In the summer of 1998, Scottish, co-tenants of Richmond at the Athletic Ground, were promoted to the top division via a play-off, and Tiarks forced through an ill-fated groundshare with Harlequins and London Broncos at The Stoop. By the halfway point of the following season, Tiarks was disillusioned and discussed selling Scottish's place in the Premiership to second-division Bristol. He bailed out in the summer of 1999.The original amateur club rejoined the RFU leagues at the bottom of the pyramid after effectively being relegated 9 divisions by the RFU. The club has since progressed back up through 7 divisions in 10 seasons to RFU Championship for the 2011-2012 season. The club shares the Athletic Ground with Richmond.
London Scottish have been great exponents of rugby sevens winning the Melrose Sevens (Twice), Middlesex Sevens (seven times) and the Rosslyn Park London Floodlit Sevens (seven times).
London Scottish has won no major National honours in the fifteens game but they did make the John Player Cup Final in 1974 where they lost 26-6 against defending champions Coventry. In the 1998/1999 season they made their one and only appearance in the Allied Dunbar Premiership. However, under coach John Steele, and with limited resources they managed to finish in a creditable 12th place out of 14 teams which would have saved them from relegation had they not fallen into administration at the season's end. Notable victories that season included:
- London Scottish 13 - 11 Bath
- Saracens 7 - 24 London Scottish
- London Scottish 27 - 17 Newcastle Falcons (against the defending champions)
That season included Scottish international stars, Simon Holmes, Derrick Lee, Ronnie Eriksson, Australians Eddie Jones, Simon Fenn and the South African Jannie de Beer.
On 14 April 2007, the club ensured promotion back to the English national leagues (National Division Three South) after an eight year absence.
On 4 April 2009, the club secured promotion to the revamped RFU National 1 Division, remaining unbeaten in the 2008/2009 season.
On 24 April 2010, the club finished second in their 1st season in RFU National 1 Division.
On 7 May 2011, the club secured promotion to the RFU Championship for the 2011/2012 season.
On 21 April 2012, the club secured another season in the RFU Championship for 2012/2013 season
London Scottish is a professional squad which are coached by Simon Amor formerly the England 7's rugby captain and managed by Colin McIntyre.
Read more about this topic: London Scottish F.C.
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