The club, entering into just its tenth season as an amateur London rugby side, have created the new crest as a look to the future, but also to celebrate how far they’ve come in a short space of time.

The new crest, designed by club committee members and locals Rory Sheppard and Aengus Ryan, features both a new, updated look, whilst also harking back to the clubs’ inaugural logo. It features a tree to represent the famous North London park, an arrow symbolising the area’s hunting-ground history, and the green and gold of the Finsbury Park RFC strip - all captured within the shape of a rugby ball.

Finsbury Park RFC has come a long way since its inception in November 2012. Started by current Club President Sean Burke and long-standing player Stephen Morse in an Islington pub, the first 10 years have seen a meteoric rise through the London leagues making it the fastest growing North London rugby club. For Sean, who also works locally in the Access To Sport project, the main aim was to provide rugby to the young people in the Finsbury Park, Islington and Haringey areas as it was fairly football-dominated.

"People always congratulate me, but the credit goes to all club players over the years who have either donned the jersey or volunteered their time to sit on the committee, help at events or even just pass a friendly word along about the club while in the pub."

This season, the 1st XV placed 5th in London 3 North West, 11 whole leagues higher than where they first started years ago. The club now also has a well-established 2nd XV, too, who were on course for promotion from Merit 4 North East before COVID-19 struck.

However, climbing 11 tables in 8 seasons is no time to simply reflect. 2020 marks the first year that the club’s two senior XV’s have not earned a promotion slot since the clubs’ inception, so all focus is on upping the performance level across the board once again.

But on-field performance isn’t the only focus for the Fins. President Sean comments,

"My long term vision for the club is to develop a new clubhouse and start providing youth and women’s rugby for the community. Given the break, we are now looking at fast-tracking those programs."

The club has also become a genuine social hub for the area, working closely with partners in the form of North London’s iconic rugby pub The Faltering Fullback, Haringey’s The Salisbury Hotel and local Young’s pub The Naturalist amongst others.

1st XV Captain Evan Gwilliam says,

"Finsbury Park is a fantastic rugby club to be a part of, it is a great place to make new friends and enjoy a good social life and that is nearly a bigger success for the club than the results we have had over the years"

Recruiting a fantastic coach in Gareth Chapman has helped the club progress massively, along with the area being such fertile recruiting grounds.

"We always knew this season would be the hardest yet and both squads really stepped up. The addition of a few new players helped push us forward once more, and by adding a few more this summer we will be ready to fight for 2 promotions next season."

These are, of course, trying times to be targeting player recruitment. But the club must continue to grow and promote new ways of thinking to help steer through the situation.
The Fins will start their pre-season on popular running app Strava, with members competing for fastest 5k, furthest distance run per month, and amassing a cumulative club mileage.

Club Players Officer and local police constable Dan Cunningham says,

"The thinking here is to challenge other clubs in the area and keep everyone fit and in healthy competition, as well as recruit new players before we can actually begin any rugby. We’re thinking outside the box."

New and old club members alike can expect to see the new logo rolled out from July 1st. Club Chair Nick Tewson commented,

"With our 10th anniversary just on the horizon, now felt right to update our logo to better represent what the Club has become: modern and sharp, but with a clear nod to history and our sense of place in our community. This new logo is indicative of our ambitions over the next few years."

You can join Finsbury Park in their preseason by downloading popular running app Strava and searching Finsbury Park RFC.

If you’d like to contact the club about coaching, playing or other opportunities, please contact info@finsburyparkrfc.co.uk