Caldy has played Richmond FC just the once before in a xv a side fixture. 10 years ago on 5th May 2012.

The National 2 play-off was memorable for all who were there. A game which the Guardian newspaper called 'the most stomach churning, nail biting of contests' was eventually won by Richmond 20-13 but only after the most colossal struggle.

Richmond were on their ascent from the basement of English rugby. After the insolvency in 1999 and demotion from the pinnacle of the Premiership down to level 9 Hearts and Middlesex 1, this great club Richmond FC was on the cusp of being reunited in National One with the great historic clubs of England, Coventry, Blackheath and Rosslyn Park. All they had to do was beat an unheralded club from Merseyside, Caldy RFC. Simples!

The gulf between the clubs was striking. Richmond had been pipped for automatic promotion by National 2 South winners Old Albanians (in reality Saracens) and Caldy had somehow scrambled to second place in National 2 North, trailing winners Loughborough Students by a massive 22 points. There was no doubting which team was the underdog………’under puppy’ was probably a more accurate description.

Richmond’s website promoted the play off with justified gusto and exhorted their supporters to get behind the team. This was surely their time and their moment. The banner headline ‘the Northern hordes are coming’ was the call to arms. The Caldy supporters, who were expected to number around the dozen mark, were tickled by the moniker. None of this very small band of supporters who followed their club around the North had ever been part of a ‘horde’.

The build-up was eventful. Full back Andrew Soutar (’Sooty’) was Caldy’s best player and his influence would be crucial. However, being the leader of the ‘Ultra’ LFC supporters had certain responsibilities and attending the FA Cup final at Wembley (also on 5^th May) where Liverpool were to play Chelsea was very definitely one of them.

The solution, a motorbike courier to take Sooty from the RAG to Wembley for the 5 p.m. kick off. It was just possible, with a 2 p.m. start at the RAG and a fast motorbike Sooty might make it. No one factored in the unlikely possibility of extra time!.

Traffic chaos on the M6 didn’t help the Northern Horde get to the RAG either but the 8 alickadoos accompanying the team arrived just in time for a splendid lunch at Richmond. It was a great occasion and the wonderful oratory of the Richmond President had everyone, including the Caldy contingent, thumping the tables in fervent applause…….and then eventually it was Caldy President Jim Churchill’s turn to say a few words.

Jim was never a man for a monologue, a no-nonsense former hooker and as tough as teak, Jim standing erect and defiantly proud encouraged everyone to join him in a toast. 400 diners got to their feet ‘A toast’ said Jim ‘”to Old Albanians the team that actually won the f….ing league”

The game

Richmond started the better and when after 20 minutes Caldy 2^nd row Jack Collister was red carded for an inadvertent tip tackle and moments later giant tighthead prop Degsy Salisbury had to leave the field it was surely curtains for Caldy.

Caldy’s 14 players went deep. Somehow through dogged defence and nerveless kicking by Welsh wizard Gavin Roberts they hung in but with only moments to go to full time they trailed 13-6. Then the magic happened. A sublime move put Caldy full back Sooty in under the posts, 13-13 and extra time beckoned.

It went all the way to the wire and it took a rampaging Kyle Sinclair to put Will Warden in for his second try in the final minutes to give Richmond the victory.

Oh what a wonderful day for Richmond and for Caldy who had played their part. But disappointment for a fraught Andrew Soutar who travelled across London at illegal speed only to see his beloved LFC lose 2-1 to Chelsea.