For the first time in our history, we will travel to Caldy this weekend to face the Ravers at Paton Field.

RFU CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 9

Date: Saturday 10th December

Kick-Off: 2pm

Location: Paton Field, Caldy

Tickets: Available from £10 – click here to purchase

Coverage: Live coverage of the game will be available via our Twitter feed and website

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION:

Originally founded in 1924 for former pupils of Calday Grange School, the club quickly progressed, much through the help of the club’s benefactor Sir Alfred Paton. In 1928, Paton gifted the club Thurstaston Hill, the land where the club still play and the original pavilion that was built almost 100 years ago, is still the core of the current clubhouse today.

In 1967, the club levelled up the slope outside the clubhouse to ensure a first-class 1st XV pitch despite the, at the time, £7,000 price tag! They joined the Giro bank North West league a year later, which was a forerunner to the National Leagues. They had mixed success up until 1996 when the Ravers decided to take a more professional approach to their team. Since then the club have won five league titles and were runners-up twice before being promoted to National 2 West in 2007. A decade later they went on a 28 game unbeaten run as they moved into National 1.

Last season, the title race went down to the wire and in the penultimate game, Caldy hosted local rivals Sale FC, both knowing a win would put them in pole position to go up. In front of a crowd of over 3,000, Caldy ran out 13-9 victors and secured their place in the Championship for the first time in their history.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

After being one of the unknown quantities coming into the league, Caldy have quickly become one of the trickiest sides to beat. Every single side who has travelled to Paton Field this year have struggled to deal with the conditions and vocal home crowd.

Close early losses against Hartpury, Nottingham and Ampthill and an impressive away win at Richmond put the new boys on the right path at the start of the season. As they moved into November, the Ravers looked to be losing their way somewhat, but a win against Ampthill in the cup helped put them back on track. When the league restarted, they became London Scottish’s first victims in the league as they lost 19-10 at the Athletic Ground, but they bounced back instantly, with a narrow win over Cornish Pirates in tricky conditions last weekend.

MATCH OFFICIALS:

Referee: Greg Macdonald

Assistant Referee 1: Peter Brunt

Assistant Referee 2: Jamie Leahy

FORM GUIDE:

Caldy:

W: Caldy 15-14 Cornish Pirates (Saturday 10th December)

L: London Scottish 19-10 Caldy (Saturday 3rd December)

L: Richmond 40-15 Caldy (Friday 18th November)

Ealing Trailfinders:

W: Ealing Trailfinders 42-17 Bedford Blues (Saturday 10th December)

Click here to watch match highlights.

W: Cornish Pirates 12-25 Ealing Trailfinders (Saturday 3rd December)

Click here to watch match highlights.

W: Ealing Trailfinders 22-13 Jersey Reds (Saturday 19th November)

Click here to watch match highlights.

Make sure you’re ready for this Saturday’s huge clash as we welcome Bedford Blues to TFSC!

EALING TRAILFINDERS v BEDFORD BLUES – CLICK HERE FOR TICKETS.

RFU CHAMPIONSHIP – ROUND 9

Date: Saturday 10th December

Kick-Off: 3pm

Location: Trailfinders Sports Club, W13 0DD

Tickets: Available from £16 – click here to purchase tickets.

Coverage: Live coverage will be available via our Twitter feed and website.

PRE-MATCH HOSPITALITY

Kick-off your day in style by joining us for our delicious pre-match hospitality. To book email: hospitality@etprm.com or click here for further details.

ENGLAND V FRANCE – WORLD CUP SCREENING:

As Gareth Southgate’s men make it into the final eight of the World Cup, be sure to stick around after the full-time whistle to watch England’s quarter-final against France LIVE in the clubhouse at 7pm. We will have a LIVE DJ playing in the bar from 5pm-7pm to keep you entertained until the football kicks-off.

MATCH SPONSOR – LORDS BUILDERS MERCHANTS:

 

Thank you to Saturday’s Match Sponsor, Lords Builders Merchants. Lords are a long-standing partner of the club, having recently extended their sponsorship for the seventh consecutive season. Lords are an independent business established over 30 years ago with a strong family heritage. The small team that started has grown to almost 300 colleagues, building reputation on customer service, reliability, and flexibility. Their products range from bricks and blocks, sheet and timber, aggregates and cementing to landscaping, decorating, as well as plumbing and heating. Click here to visit the Lords website.

 

PLAYER OF THE MATCH SPONSOR:

Thank you to Bread Street Café, Ealing Broadway, our 2022/23 Player of the Match Sponsor. Book your table at Bread Street Café.

GET YOUR STOCKING FILLERS:

With it being just under three weeks until Christmas, make sure you get your stocking fillers before they all sell out! Our club shop, including our 2022/23 replica shirt, will be in operation from 1:30pm and the shop will remain open throughout the game and post-match.

DIGITAL MATCH PROGRAMME:

Our free digital match programme will be published on the Friday before the game. The programme will be available on our website and social media channels. You can also scan the QR code posters at the ground to read for free.

MATCH DAY SCHEDULE:

1:30pm: Shop Trailer Open (Kit & Merchandise)

2:55pm: Guard of Honour

3pm: Ealing Trailfinders v Bedford Blues

Half-Time: Ealing Trailfinders Community Games & Activities and T-Shirt Cannon

Full-Time: Bread Street Café Player of the Match Announced

5pm: Post-Match entertainment including live DJ in the bar

7pm: England v France (World Cup Screening)

ABOUT THE OPPOSITION:

Bedford are one of the few clubs in the Championship who have previously been in the Premiership, having been in there in the 1998/99 and 1999/2000 seasons.

They dropped down to the Championship at the turn of the century and after mixed fortunes in the early 2000s, they appointed Mike Rayer as their Director of Rugby in 2005. Rayer, who had previously played at the club as well as at Cardiff, has been at the club ever since and is the longest serving professional Director of Rugby in the country, having gone on to coach over 500 games for the Blues.

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Bedford are known for being the great entertainers in the league, constantly looking to throw the ball around and currently have the second highest points scored in the league this season (only behind ourselves).

Despite a narrow 26-18 away loss to Coventry on the opening night, they bounced back to win their next three in a row, including an impressive 21-41 victory down at The Mennaye against Cornish Pirates.

They have however come unstuck against teams below them in the table, losing to Richmond at the end of October and then London Scottish in their Championship Cup opener.

Recently they have returned to form however, with strong performances against Coventry and Doncaster, before claiming a narrow 32-31 victory last Saturday against Nottingham.

LAST TIME WE MET:

Bedford travelled over to Ealing in mid-February knowing that the Trailfinders had not yet been beaten at home all season.

Ealing started the better of the two sides, scoring early though Simon Linsell but Matt Worley responded almost immediately for the Blues. Jan-Henning Campher then put Ealing in front again as he peeled off the back of a rolling maul, but then on the stroke of half-time Bedford hit back through now Trailfinder Ollie Newman, to make it 14-12 at the break.

After the interval Bedford came out of the blocks fast, scoring twice through prop Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi and hooker Jack Hughes to put them well in front.

Ealing did answer back through centre Matt Gordon but this was then cancelled out by Jamie Elliot as Bedford recorded a famous 19-31 victory.

FORM GUIDE:

Ealing Trailfinders:

W: Cornish Pirates 12-25 Ealing Trailfinders (Saturday 3rd December)

Click here to watch match highlights.

W: Ealing Trailfinders 22-13 Jersey Reds (Saturday 19th November)

Click here to watch match highlights.

W: Nottingham 19-26 Ealing Trailfinders (Sunday 13th November)

Click here to watch match highlights.

Bedford Blues

W: Bedford Blues 32-31 Nottingham (Saturday 3rd December)

L: Doncaster Knights 29-20 Bedford Blues (Saturday 19th November)

W: Bedford Blues 27-21 Coventry (Friday 11th November)

HOW TO FIND US:

By Road:

From the A40 take the B452 turn-off towards Ealing (actually signposted as Perivale) along the Argyle Road. Pass through a set of traffic lights and across a roundabout. At the second roundabout, (about 0.5km) turn right into Vallis Way. Trailfinders Sports Club entrance is at the end of the road. Click here to view map.

Car parking is available at the ground and costs £5 per vehicle. You can purchase your parking ticket at the gate via card or cash.

By Rail:

You can take a national rail train from Paddington to Ealing Broadway and then hop on a bus (see below). Click here for the latest National Rail updates.

By Tube:

The London Underground will be operating and you can take the Central Line, District Line or Elizabeth Line to Ealing Broadway, and then take a bus, taxi or walk to the ground (approx. 20 minute walk). Alternatively, you can take the Elizabeth line to West Ealing station and then walk to the ground (approx. 15 minutes).

By Bus:

Many buses stop in the vicinity of Trailfinders Sports Club, including the 297, E1, E2, E7, E9 and E10. The nearest bus stop to the ground is ‘Scotch Common’, which is a five minute walk to the club.

CUSTOMER SUPPORT:

For further information or assistance please email us on: info@etprm.com.

WE HOPE YOU ENJOY YOUR MATCH-DAY AT EALING TRAILFINDERS!