History
Wimbledon’s first recorded match was against Richmond F.C. in November 1865, making the club one of the oldest in the country, and one of just twelve surviving clubs that founded the Rugby Football Union in 1871. The club’s captain at this time was L.J. Maton who drafted the first laws of the game and went on to become the third president of the RFU in 1875. In the same year, two club members, J.D. and H.J.Graham, gained one and four caps respectively for England.
In 1874 the club changed its name to Wimbledon RFC. It has been suggested that the change in name was due to the club's L.J. Maton becoming president of the Rugby Football Union, and in order to reflect their new-found gravitas they dispensed with the Hornets for a less whimsical name.
The club played on Wimbledon Common until World War I, using the Rose & Crown in Wimbledon Village as changing rooms and clubhouse. The club then went into suspended animation when the First World War started, and was only re-formed in 1927. It was at this time that the club changed colours from broad blue and white hooped jerseys, to maroon and Cambridge blue hooped jerseys. The club's celebration of its centenary with a dinner held in February 1966, was demonstrative that it perceived itself a continuation of the original Wimbledon Hornets.
The club moved to its current clubhouse on Barham Road, Wimbledon in the 1987/88 season, coinciding with the setting up of amateur league rugby in Britain.
Read more about this topic: Wimbledon RFC
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