Nine hundred and fourteen days after they last stepped on to a rugby pitch, OEs begin a new life this Saturday when they travel to Whitstable in the newly restructured Counties 3 Kent - the ninth tier of English rugby.

National League away-days to historic, grand old clubs such as Coventry, Rosslyn Park and Richmond might be a rapidly fading memory, but the air of despondency that descended around Elthamians’ dramatic and well documented decline in 2020 has dissipated. Instead, after a number of false dawns, there is a feeling of cautious optimism and of a new beginning.

It’s still early days, of course, and much work to be done, but after the financial turmoil and uncertainty of the past two years, there is now consolidation and a plan for the future built on sustainability. ‘Project Reset’ is now under way.

It was on March 20 2020 that Elthamians suffered a 31-15 National One defeat against Rams at College Meadow. It was to prove their final game as a National League club. It could also potentially have proven to have been their final game as a senior rugby club.

What followed has been the most turbulent and calamitous period in the club’s long history.

The considerable financial fallout following the death of its main sponsor towards the end of 2019, the ensuing pandemic and the loss of its home ground at College Meadow left the club lurching towards possible extinction.

It somehow didn't sound the death knell, however. Rather than attempt to re-form a new semi-professional side, the senior committee focused instead on returning the club to its amateur roots at the heart of the Chislehurst community.


After the 20/21 season was cut short because of Covid, the club elected to withdraw from the league pyramid for the 21/22 campaign in order to regroup and address their dire financial situation. It has been a slow and painful process as the club has effectively been forced to start again from scratch both on and off the field, learning from the mistakes of its recent history while attempting to rebuild the senior section on firm foundations.

Having hit rock bottom, however, the first green shoots of recovery began to emerge during the summer. The club returned to its spiritual home in Chislehurst and will play home matches this season at the Queen Mary ground in Perry Street, a venue where the club enjoyed three successful years from 2013-2016 following its departure from Foxbury.

A 44-man squad has been registered for the new campaign, primarily made up of players who progressed through the hugely successful OEs mini and junior ranks and have returned, eager to be part of the club’s rebirth.

Mark Garratt, who coached the club’s successful Zoo One side and also several of its Academy teams, has returned to OEs after coaching stints with Westcombe Park and Charlton Park, and will link up again with his former assistant coach Martin Hennessy, to run the new look squad.

Following a comprehensive restructuring of the league pyramid by the RFU, Elthamians have been placed in Counties 3 Kent alongside Whitstable, Kings College Hospital, Footscray, New Ash Green, Medway 2nds, Blackheath 3rds, Dartford Valley, Faversham, Gravesend 2nds and Old Alleynians 2nds.

It might be a far cry from their National League days, but after all the setbacks of the last two years, this Saturday is a day many inside the Elthamians camp thought would never arrive and the sense of excitement and anticipation at simply playing again is evident.

Senior club chairman Johnny Mack said: “There is still a long way to go yet, but out of adversity I truly believe we have a great chance to rebuild the club, and back where it belongs in Chislehurst.

“We aren’t setting targets this season, results are almost irrelevant. Just stepping on to the field to play again is a triumph frankly and in our darkest days it’s something that I thought might never happen. So, win or lose, as a club I think we intend to enjoy every minute, starting with a tough game at Whitstable on Saturday.

“We have had a tough couple of years but we are not feeling sorry for ourselves. We lost supporters when we moved to Mottingham, now I hope they will come back and support their local club. I’m delighted that we are back.”