Welcome to the Ealing Trailfinders 1871 RFC pod where you can find out all about the people that make up Ealing Trailfinders men's amateur section, and the news that will come from the club throughout the season.
With three teams chasing success in the league and the cup, 2022-23 is set to be a huge year, so keep up with all the highs and lows as the season progresses.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to the Ealing Trailfinders 1871 RFC pod where you can find out all about the people that make up Ealing Trailfinders men's amateur section, and the news that will come from the club throughout the season.
With three teams chasing success in the league and the cup, 2022-23 is set to be a huge year, so keep up with all the highs and lows as the season progresses.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We're counting down the minutes until the 2025-26 season starts, and to get us frothing in excitement for the season to come, we catch up with first XV skipper Lewis Steadman.
It is his fourth season wearing the arm band, and he has a lot to build on with new teammates and last season's success fresh in the memory.
We catch up with him to reflect on the joys of pre-season training and what sort of form we'll take into the new campaign.
#BleedGreen
Saturday 6 September
Ealing 1871 1st XV v UCS, Vallis Way, 15.00
Ealing 1871 3rd XV v Harrow, Vallis Way, 15.00
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
We're on the eve of the 2025-26 season, and the Ealing 1871 squad is ready to explode out for a new campaign.
The players have been grafting hard in pre-season, and we catch up with head coach Phil 'Smudger' Smith to find out how it has gone, what we can look forward to in the coming season, and how last season's success sets us up for another memorable year.
#BleedGreen
Saturday 6 September
Ealing 1871 1st XV v UCS, Vallis Way, 15.00
Ealing 1871 3rd XV v Harrow, Vallis Way, 15.00
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 signalled the end of a wildly successful 2024-25 season with their inaugural End of Season Club Awards Gala, a night that was as spectacular as some of their play this season.
There was much to celebrate, awards and caps to dish out, and praise galore who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the club continues to prosper and grow.
We catch up with the men's and women's players, and those who make the club tick, to find out how their seasons have been.
#BleedGreen
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother."
Last Saturday, Ealing Trailfinders 1871 1st XV stood tall, puffed out their chests, and declared, "This is our day."
Indeed, it was, as a 28-24 win over Old Bristolians brought home their first piece of silverware in many a season, and celebrated in the same style in which they had played.
We catch up with head coach Phil 'Smudger' Smith and captain Lewis Steadman to look back on a day that will be etched in the club's history and talked about long after the heroes of the hour have hung up their boots.
#BleedGreen
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Finals fever is sweeping Ealing Trailfinders 1871 as the 1st XV count down the days before they face Old Bristolians in the Papa John's Cup Final.
Phil 'Smudger' Smith has named his team, and coaches full of supporters are ready to sweep down the M4 to roar on their heroes in green and white.
It is a team stuffed with experience and sprinkled with talented youth, so we catch up with one of Smudger's Young Guns, Theo Szweda, to preview the match, gauge the levels of excitement, and discuss how many of his family and friends will head west.
#BleedGreen
Saturday 17 May
Ealing Trailfinders 1st XV v Old Bristolians, Dings Crusaders RFC (Bristol) - 15.00
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Semifinal fever has swept Ealing Trailfinders 1871 and Vallis Way, with the 1st XV set for a semifinal showdown against Weybridge Vandals in the Papa John's Trophy.
Phil 'Smudger' Smith' will lead the green and white hordes down to Surrey where their opponents await at Cobham Rugby Club.
We hear from Kyle Beck, who hopes to be among the called troops, but first, we catch up on what occurred in the quarterfinal on the Suffolk coast.
#BleedGreen
Saturday 10 May
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 1st v Weybridge Vandals (Cobham RFC) - 15.00
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It is a happy camp at Ealing Trailfinders 1871, and why not after the seconds lifted the club's first trophy in a while with a 43-17 victory over London Scottish Lions 2nds.
Luke Beasley lifted the trophy, but as he was away recuperating, we hear from Danny O'Sullivan, who gives us a breakdown of what happened.
We also hear from head coach Phil 'Smudger' Smith, who is taking the team to Southwold RFC in Suffolk for the latest round in the Papa John's Trophy.
#BleedGreen
Friday 02 May
Ealing Exiles v UCFB (H) 19.45
Saturday 03 May
Ealing Trailfinders 1st XV v Southwold (A) 14.00
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Break out the bunting, dust off the oversized rosette, Ealing 1871 have a cup final to look forward to.
That's right, this Saturday, 1871 2nds will take on London Scottish Lions 2nds in the MT Bowl Final at Wasps FC on Twyford Avenue.
To mark this momentous occasion, we chatted with skipper Luke Beasley to preview the match, reflect on the season, and discuss his pre-match preparations.
It has been some time since an Ealing 1871 team was in a cup final, so get down to support the team and show the world we bleed green.
Saturday 26 April - 14.00
London Scottish Lions 2nd XV v Ealing Trailfinders 1871 2nd XV
Wasps FC,
Twyford Avenue,
W3 9QA
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
He's back, Phil 'Smudger' Smith joins us to look back over the 1st XVs' final league match of the season and reflect on the league season.
Smudger brings us up to date on the goings on of the second and third XVs, and what action we can look forward to as the summer months kick in.
There's a special shout out to a new fan, and the chance to stay up to date with the social calendar.
Saturday 12 April
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 2nd XV v Hampstead 2nds (A) 15.00
Sunday 13 April
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 Women v Staines (H) 14.00
#BleedGreen
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Friend of the pod Tim Hitchcock returns by popular demand to look forward to the business end of the season.
First comes the final match of the season away to Cheshunt, and then come the summer socials that Tim will take a controlling hand in.
We talk play-offs, student union bar prices, friendly cricket matches, and karaoke song choices.
Saturday 5 April
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 1st XV v Cheshunt (A) - 15.00
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 Women v Ampthill (A) - 13.15
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 2nd XV v Quintin (A) - 15.00
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 3rd XV v Old Actonian (A) - 15.00
#BleedGreen
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Calum Jones can barely remember life away from Ealing Trailfinders, and while work keeps him away more than he likes, when he's available, he's all in.
He's been coming to Vallis Way since he was six, and even while away at university, it was his first port of call when home.
We hear what major government project is keeping him away, what the club means to him, and enjoy a brief cameo from coach Phil 'Smudger' Smith.
Saturday 29 March
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 2nds v Hackney 2nds (H) 13.00
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 3rd v Harrow 2nds 13.00
#BleedGreen
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Akeem Eubank Anderson, an Ealing lad and a product of the club. He's been and gone to see the rugby world but is now back to share his experiences at Vallis Way.
A prop forward who loves his role so much that he wears his scrum cap after training, someone who has trained with a World Cup winner, and someone who starred down Welsh Valley rugby and gave as good as he gets.
He tells us about his rugby story (so far), what Ealing Trailfinders means to him, and what the next few months could mean for the club.
Saturday 23 March
Ealing 1871 1sts v Old Streetonians
Ealing 1871 2nds v Quintin
Ealing 1871 3rds v Ickenham
Sunday 24 March
Ealing 1871 Women v Staines (A) 14.00
#BleedGreen
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
It's back! Tinged golden from the sun of south and south-east Asia, and still flowing in the wind as its owner charges around the paddock. The mullet has returned.
Harry Reed touched down two weeks ago after five and a half months exploring the world, and within a fortnight he was back in the 1st XV and helping the team to victory over Hitchin.
We talk about his return and performance, wandering the highways and byways of Thailand, and most importantly what he has on his pancakes.
Saturday 8 March
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 1st XV v Fullerians (H) 15.00
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 2nd XV v Grasshoppers (H) 15.00
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 3rd XV v Thamesians (H) 14.00
Sunday 9 March
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 Women v Tabard 15.00 (H)
#BleedGreen
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Harrison Slater, joined the club as a boy and now he's a 100-cap man, and didn't he do it in style!
Having first worn the green and white at five years of age in the rugby rats section, and passed through the minis, youth and academy, he has now racked up 100 appearances for the men's section and has the tie to prove it.
Harrison's 100th (officially) match ended perfectly with him kicking the winning penalty four minutes from time to give the second XV another win as they moved up the table.
He tells us about the match, what the club means to him, and what we can expect as the season comes to a close.
Saturday 1 March
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 1st XV v Hitchin (A) 15.00
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 2nd XV v Twickenham (A) 15.00
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 3rd XV v UCS (A) 15.00
#BleedGreen
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Danny Ford, third team captain and long-time club servant, joins us to look at how the team has been going this season.
We talk results, playing in the mud, the new wave of players, and how this season has become very much a family affair.
#Bleedgreen
Saturday 22 February
Ealing Trailfinders 2nd XV v Finchley (H) 14.30
Sunday 23 February
Ealing Trailfinders 1871 Women v Barnes (A) 14.00
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
When skipper Lewis Steadman was injured, Ryan Conyard stepped up and led the team to a 90-point win on a memorable day for the first-time captain.
It continued the team's good run in January and ensured that for two straight weeks, the firsts and seconds enjoyed victories.
We look back on those wins, talk about captaincy and how much Ryan likes life at inside-centre.
#BleedGreen
Saturday 8 February
Ealing 1871 1sts v Welyn (A) 14.30
Ealing 1871 3rds v Finsbury Park (H) 13.00
Sunday 9 February
Ealing 1871 Women v Aylesbury (H) 14.00
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Luke Beasley has one of the most important roles at the club. As second XV captain, he is responsible for ensuring his players keep the first XV on their toes, making sure they are ready to step up, and bringing up players who have impressed for the third XV.
It is onerous, but he's loving it, especially as the team are beginning to fulfil their potential after a slow start to the season.
More recently they had the only win of the past weekend, and Luke looks back on that win, his anointment as second XV captain, his move to hooker, and forward to a weekend when all three teams head east.
#BleedGreen
Saturday 25 January
1st XV v Old Streetonians (A) - 14.00
2nd XV v Hackney (A) - 14.00
3rd XV v Old Streetonians (A) - 14.00
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Will Day has been with the club since he was eight years of age, and he is now a huge part of the 1871 men's squad, and aiming to help the team to new heights.
Not only is the number 8 chasing folk down on the pitch, but he does all that while juggling his job as a construction manager while gaining his degree.
He came through the Academy with a few other familiar names, and while he usually wears eight, find out why he'd prefer to wear seven, where else he's played, and how much his involvement with the Academy continues to help him today.
#BleedGreen
Saturday 18 January
1st XV v Brunel (A) 14.00
2nd XV v London Japanese (H) 12.00
3rd XV v OAs (H) 14.00
Sunday 19 January
Ealing 1871 Women v Oxford Harlequins (H) 14.00
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Keir Gordon is loving life in London. The Liverpool native is down in London for work, and his short time with Ealing 1871 is going swimmingly.
He has settled into life at Vallis Way, and put in some impressive performances at centre and fullback.
We look back on the big win before Christmas, the three home matches coming this weekend, and what his specialist subject will be at the club quiz night.
#BleedGreen
Saturday 11 January
1st XV v Hackney (15.00)
2nd XV v Finchley (14.00)
3rd XV v Belsize Park (14.00)
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
He's back...Harry Vidler, a friend of the pod and match winner in the latest 1st XV victory, away to Finchley.
The fly-half, and sometimes team captain, reflects on what he claims is "the best team performance since I've been at Ealing," and describes how the team fought back in heavy conditions.
Harry also looks forward to the final match of the season, which will be played at home to Chiswick under the lights at Vallis Way on Friday.
#BleedGreen
Friday 20 December
Ealing 1871 1t XV v Chiswick (H) 19.45
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
