Kent Invicta

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Kent Invicta
Club information
Full nameKent Invicta RLFC
ColoursBlack shirt with an amber chevron, black shorts and black socks
Founded1983;40 years ago (1983)
Exited1986;37 years ago (1986)
Former details
Ground(s)

Kent Invicta is a defunct rugby league team that were based in Maidstone, Kent and later Southend in Essex.

Contents

History

Kent Invicta RLFC and Southend Invicta RLFC

Kent Invicta RLFC was formed by a local businessman, Paul Faires, and Jim Thompson, Maidstone United FC's chairman; Faires' desire to form the club was reported in October 1982. [1] The club was admitted to the Rugby Football League on 6 April 1983 and entered the Second Division; their application for membership reportedly received "overwhelming support". [2] Faires previously was involved with Radio Caroline and had played rugby union, having been privately educated, but became interested in rugby league after watching Fulham playing. [3] In the summer of 1983 the club signed Bob Mordell, [4] Mark Elia [5] and the veteran Ian Van Bellen. [6] The moniker "Invicta" (unvanquished) is the motto of Kent. The club colours consisted of a black shirt with an amber chevron, black shorts and black socks. The club played its first game at London Road, Maidstone, a ground it shared with Maidstone United. [7] It lost the game 31–12 against Cardiff City Blue Dragons. [8] On 5 November 1983 it was reported that acting chairman Jim Thompson had clinched a deal which would see the club out of its financial problems [9] and four days later it was considered to be in a good financial position and to have reached agreement with other clubs about its transfer debts. [10] The club continued to play competitively, despite its financial problems, and on 11 February 1984 its Challenge Cup tie against Castleford was televised live on the BBC's Grandstand . [11]

Following problems with waterlogging on the pitch at Maidstone, in the summer of 1984 the team became Southend Invicta, and started playing games at the Roots Hall Stadium in Southend. [12] The club colours changed to white shirts with a blue V, white shorts and white socks. Invicta were struck from the 1985-86 fixtures by the Rugby Football League because it was considered not to have formed a team.; [13] for its last home game against Huddersfield that spring, it had attracted a crowd of only 85 people. [14] The club went into liquidation soon afterwards. [15]

Notable players

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References

  1. ↑ "Sports snaps", Daily Mirror page 30, 22 October 1982
  2. ↑ "Sports snaps", Daily Mirror page 30, 7 April 1983
  3. ↑ "The prop picker", Daily Mirror page 29, 27 July 1983
  4. ↑ "Oldham star joins Invicta", Manchester Evening News page 67, 10 June 1983
  5. ↑ "Invicta signing", Lincolnshire Echo page 12, 29 June 1983
  6. ↑ "Invicta's target", Manchester Evening News page 43, 13 July 1983
  7. ↑ "Stars storm into action as Invicta face Cardiff", Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser page 26, 19 August 1983
  8. ↑ "Flying start for Dragons", South Wales Echo page 16, 22 August 1983
  9. ↑ Manchester Evening News page 67, 5 November 1983
  10. ↑ "Sports snaps", Daily Mirror page 30, 10 November 1983
  11. ↑ Sandwell Evening Mail page 28, 10 February 1984
  12. ↑ "Sport in brief", Huddersfield Daily Examiner page 32, 30 June 1984
  13. ↑ "Rugby League suspend two", Bristol Evening Post page 50, 29 August 1985
  14. ↑ "New format follows RL suspensions", Huddersfield Daily Examiner page 18, 29 August 1985
  15. ↑ "Fulham KO sad - but inevitable", Manchester Evening News page 47, 22 March 1986
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