A WARM WELCOME TO TONBRIDGE JUDDIAN RFC
It’s Local Derby Day at The Paddock again. Some famous confrontations are specifically named – for instance football’s El Clasico between Barcelona and Real Madrid, and every time Kent play county cricket against Essex it is called The Battle of the Bridge. Some are even identified by road numbers, like the M23 derby between Brighton and Crystal Palace. It doesn’t quite have the same ring to it, but maybe today’s fixture could be known as the B245 Matchup; other more imaginative ideas will be welcome!
However, we can certainly stand alongside other well-known fixtures in playing for a real trophy. The Ashes come readily to mind, and also the Calcutta Cup which will be contested at Murrayfield next Saturday. This afternoon all rugby eyes should be focussed on The Paddock as the ownership of the Gordon Mann Trophy comes up for offer once again.
In the 1950s our President Gordon Mann presented the trophy for annual competition between the Sevenoaks and Tonbridge Rugby Clubs. When the leagues were reformed for 2001/02 with participants now playing both home and away, it was agreed that the aggregate scores of the two matches would decide which club would prevail. By this time Tonbridge had merged with Old Juddian, to become TJs. They now play in a patriotic red, white and blue strip, replacing Tonbridge’s late lamented chocolate and old gold, but more of that later.
I am reliably informed (from a TJs comment last season) that Tonbridge/TJs have their name engraved on the Gordon Mann Trophy 26 times to Sevenoaks 25. If that sounds tight, then this season’s showdown is even more intriguing with our October clash at The Slade ending in a 29-29 draw. There are no calculators needed this time - just a basic case of winner takes all.
So with bragging rights on the line, we extend the warmest welcome to everyone involved with Tonbridge Juddian RFC.
The history of Tonbridge RFC goes back to 1904, while Old Juddian were formed in 1928. The merger between these two clubs, thus becoming Tonbridge Juddian RFC, was achieved in 1999. Before the unification, their own local friendly rivalry was intense, compounded by the fact that they both played side by side on the Tonbridge Recreation Ground, or “over the hedge” as they put it.
When Leagues began in 1987, OJs were placed in a higher division than Tonbridge, but the town club had its Clubhouse in Avebury Avenue and immediate access to the Recreation Ground. OJs moved from the school to The Slade in 1995, by which time the Tonbridge Clubhouse was looking decidedly rickety, to say the least. When the two clubs merged the proceeds from the sale of the Clubhouse were used to develop The Slade and town rugby in general.
While congratulating TJs on their successes over the last 25 seasons, there are still some of us around from both camps who remember those pre-merger days with plunge baths, oranges at halftime, and even the odd song or three afterwards.
However, nostalgia takes second place from 2.30 for the next 80 plus minutes today as the destination of that trophy is decided for this season.
Howard Pearl
Other National League 2 East Division matches being played today:
Bury St Edmunds v Wimbledon Canterbury v Barnes
Guernsey v Dorking Henley v Esher
Old Albanian v Worthing Westcombe Park v North Walsham
