A green plaque has been unveiled at East London Rugby Club to mark its historic connection with West Ham United Football Club and the London Welsh rugby team.
All three have called the Memorial Ground in West Ham home and Newham Council marked the relationship by erecting one of its heritage plaques on the clubhouse wall.
The council has embarked on a programme of unveiling plaques about residents that have made a significant contribution to national or Newham life, or places that have historical links with the borough.
The green plaque was unveiled by Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham and the President of East London Rugby Club. He was joined by Deputy Mayor (statutory) Ken Clark, Cabinet member for building communities, public affairs, regeneration and planning, as well as Newham councillors, East London club chairman Nick Bracken, club members and officials, and Richard Austin, President of Essex County Rugby Football Union.
The Memorial Ground opened in 1897 to coincide with the sixtieth anniversary of Queen Victoria’s accession to the throne. The green plaque shows that Thames Ironworks FC, formed of workers from the nearby shipyard in Canning Town, played at the park until 1900 when they became West Ham United. The Hammers continued to use the park until they moved to the Boleyn Ground in Upton Park in 1904. London Welsh Rugby then moved in until 1909.
Councillor Clark said: “We want residents to take pride in their shared heritage, but also encourage them to look after and play an active part in their community neighbourhood.”
For further information visit www.newham.gov.uk/heritage