FELTHAM Rugby Club hope winning the Middlesex Merit Table Division Five will be the start of a turnaround in their fortunes, writes Tim Street.
Well, when we say winning, they have may have finished top after beating Staines IVs 55-0 in their final game on Saturday - but must now win a Guinness Premiership-style play-offs system as well to land the title.
But whatever happens, Feltham are on the way up again after having to drop out of the Herts/Middlesex League two years ago.
And they made it a double celebration after negotiating a future for their clubhouse at Park Road, Hanworth, with Hounslow Council.
Chairman Frank Parslow said: "We've been here since building the clubhouse on trust land almost 30 years ago, which the council are tenants of, meaning we have had it at a peppercorn rent.
"But after the old deal came to an end, they were going to up our rent from £1,200 to £6,000 a season.
"Thankfully we have agreed a sliding scale increase, which will see it go up little by little over the next five years, which gives us a bit of time to increase our player base and reverse our fortunes.
"We had to drop out of the Herts/Middx Leagues as we couldn't compete, but hopefully we are on our way up again.
"We also start a link-up with Feltham Falcons Rugby League Club in the summer, with them playing at our ground, setting up opportunities for code-crossing, and helping gets kids off the street and playing sport."
Staines IVs join Feltham in the play-offs, along with Old Isleworthians IIs and Old Streetonians IIs.
