Charlie Crewe, Streatham-Croydon’s scrum half, is to spend the summer playing rugby with Trinidadian champions Harvard.
Caribbean mission: Charlie Crewe in action for Streatham-Croydon
Crewe was put in touch with Harvard on the recommendation of club captain Garvin Toussaint, a former Harvard player. Harvard are the Trinidad and Tobago league champions and cup-holders, having won both for the first time in their history in 2012.
Crewe has been Streatham’s regular first choice at scrum half for the last five seasons and has also played at fly half, centre and full back for the Thornton Heath-based club. The son of former player and under-11s coach Harvey Crewe, Crewe junior’s impressive performances have also earnt him a call up to the Surrey county representative side.
“This is an amazing opportunity for me to see a part of the world I never thought I would experience,” Crewe said. “It allows me to escape the bubble of Thornton Heath and I cannot wait. I’m really looking forward to living a more independent life and meeting new people, but this doesn’t mean I won’t be back at Streatham some time in the next few years.”
Streatham’s president, Dick Towers, praised Crewe’s decision to head for the West Indies, “Charlie’s been in and around the club ever since he was a child and I think this time spent away from Croydon, playing rugby and living in a different culture will help him develop as a player and as a person. Streatham is famed for the historical links we have with clubs around the world and I hope that he will come back a better player”.
Meanwhile, Streatham-Croydon’s head coach Jeff Greenleaf and director of rugby Bob Dean have both stepped down from their positions at the club. The pair have overseen a spectacular turnaround in the fortunes of the club over the last three seasons, winning Surrey 4 and Surrey 3 along with the Surrey Bowl, and only just missing out on promotion to Surrey 1 this season.
Greenleaf will continue to work on the development of the club and has also been appointed to the Rugby World Cup 2015 Legacy and Activation Board. Streatham are expected to make an announcement about next season’s coaching staff in the next couple of weeks.
Streatham’s popular open fitness training sessions begin on May 22 at Frant Road. The sessions are free of charge. Anyone interested in taking part and getting fit should just come along at 7pm on Wednesday evenings.
- Check out the area’s other rugby clubs here:
- Inside Croydon: For comment and analysis about Croydon, from inside Croydon – 267,670 page views (Nov 2012-Apr 2013)
- Post your comments on this article below. If you have a news story about life in or around Croydon, a residents’ or business association or local event, please email us with full details at inside.croydon@btinternet.com
