Middlesex Cup Semi-final.

On 17th September 2025 the following message was received from match day photographer Pete Jenkins www.fromthebackofamotorbike.co.uk.

Back in the Day - Local team thunder in the Middlesex Cup. Wasps v Ealing, 1983-1984, Repton Avenue.

Middlesex itself stopped being a county back in 1965 when the administrative counties of Middlesex and London were done away with and was replaced by ‘Greater London’

The Middlesex Cup, back in the day at least, was another of those competitions that allowed the smaller local ‘Old Boys’ clubs, to meet up and do battle with the big boys of London, for the most part Harlequins, Met Police, Rosslyn Park, Saracens, and Wasps. Inevitably two of these sides would meet in the final. In its early years the only other side to make the final was Old Gaytonians. Old Gaytonians was one of the three clubs including Roxeth manor and Old Kingsburians now making up the West London Rugby Club.

When the Courage Leagues became a thing in 1987, the Middlesex Cup was rejigged and only the junior sides were allowed to compete. Whilst this opened the tournament up , and gave the smaller clubs a chance it did also deprive those same clubs of the chance to compete with the big boys.

This year and I am struggling to pin down the actual date (my apologies - does anyone remember) Ealing (now Ealing Trailfinders) came to Repton Avenue. Wasps predictably won, and I took this team photo of the two sides

So how many of these players do you recognise?
Which pictures were used in the newspapers?
I love my rugby.
Happy days!

Rugby is a wonderful sport. It is so much more than just a game. It makes us happy, and it provides us with lifelong friends. When play on the pitch stops, those friendships endure and remain with us for ever. Photographs are one way of reminding us of our teammates and the friends that we made over the years.

Photos © 1983/84 Pete Jenkins - Back in the Day - Wasps v Ealing, Middlesex Cup, Repton Avenue