# Kent Invicta

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kent_Invicta
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kent_Invicta.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_Invicta
> Source revision: 1291996626
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

**Kent Invicta** is a defunct [rugby league](/source/Rugby_league) team that were based in [Maidstone](/source/Maidstone), [Kent](/source/Kent) and later [Southend](/source/Southend) in [Essex](/source/Essex).

## History

### Kent Invicta RLFC and Southend Invicta RLFC

*Kent Invicta RLFC* was formed by a local businessman, Paul Faires, and Jim Thompson, [Maidstone United FC](/source/Maidstone_United_F.C._(1897))'s chairman; Faires' desire to form the club was reported in October 1982.[1] The club was admitted to the Rugby Football League on 6 April 1983 and entered the Second Division; their application for membership reportedly received "overwhelming support".[2] Faires previously was involved with [Radio Caroline](/source/Radio_Caroline) and had played rugby union, having been privately educated, but became interested in rugby league after watching [Fulham](/source/London_Broncos#1980-1991:_Fulham_R.L.F.C.) playing.[3] In the summer of 1983 the club signed [Bob Mordell](/source/Bob_Mordell),[4] [Mark Elia](/source/Mark_Elia)[5] and the veteran [Ian Van Bellen](/source/Ian_Van_Bellen).[6] The moniker "Invicta" (unvanquished) is the [motto of Kent](/source/Invicta_(motto)). The club colours consisted of a black shirt with an amber chevron, black shorts and black socks. The club played its first game at London Road, [Maidstone](/source/Maidstone), a ground it shared with Maidstone United.[7] It lost the game 31–12 against [Cardiff City Blue Dragons](/source/Cardiff_City_Blue_Dragons).[8] On 5 November 1983 it was reported that acting chairman Jim Thompson had clinched a deal which would see the club out of its financial problems[9] and four days later it was considered to be in a good financial position and to have reached agreement with other clubs about its transfer debts.[10] The club continued to play competitively, despite its financial problems, and on 11 February 1984 its [Challenge Cup](/source/Challenge_Cup) tie against [Castleford](/source/Castleford_Tigers) was televised live on the BBC's *[Grandstand](/source/Grandstand_(TV_programme))*.[11]

Following problems with waterlogging on the pitch at Maidstone, in the summer of 1984 the team became *Southend Invicta*, and started playing games at the [Roots Hall](/source/Roots_Hall) Stadium in [Southend](/source/Southend-on-Sea).[12] The club colours changed to white shirts with a blue V, white shorts and white socks. Invicta were struck from the 1985-86 fixtures by the [Rugby Football League](/source/Rugby_Football_League) because it was considered not to have formed a team.;[13] for its last home game against Huddersfield that spring, it had attracted a crowd of only 85 people.[14] The club went into liquidation soon afterwards.[15]

## Notable players

- [John Donnelly](/source/John_Donnelly_(rugby_league))
- [Mark Elia](/source/Mark_Elia)
- [Gary Freeman](/source/Gary_Freeman_(rugby_league))
- [Gary Hetherington](/source/Gary_Hetherington)
- [Lynn Hopkins](/source/Lynn_Hopkins)
- [Bob Mordell](/source/Bob_Mordell)

## External links

- [Kent/Southend Invicta social media website](http://peterflower.tripod.com/)

## References

1. "Sports snaps", *[Daily Mirror](/source/Daily_Mirror)* page 30, 22 October 1982

1. "Sports snaps", *Daily Mirror* page 30, 7 April 1983

1. "The prop picker", *Daily Mirror* page 29, 27 July 1983

1. "Oldham star joins Invicta", *[Manchester Evening News](/source/Manchester_Evening_News)* page 67, 10 June 1983

1. "Invicta signing", *[Lincolnshire Echo](/source/Lincolnshire_Echo)* page 12, 29 June 1983

1. "Invicta's target", *Manchester Evening News* page 43, 13 July 1983

1. "Stars storm into action as Invicta face Cardiff", *[Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser](/source/Kent_and_Sussex_Courier)* page 26, 19 August 1983

1. "Flying start for Dragons", *[South Wales Echo](/source/South_Wales_Echo)* page 16, 22 August 1983

1. *Manchester Evening News* page 67, 5 November 1983

1. "Sports snaps", *Daily Mirror* page 30, 10 November 1983

1. *Sandwell Evening Mail* page 28, 10 February 1984

1. "Sport in brief", *[Huddersfield Daily Examiner](/source/Huddersfield_Daily_Examiner)* page 32, 30 June 1984

1. "Rugby League suspend two", *[Bristol Evening Post](/source/Bristol_Post)* page 50, 29 August 1985

1. "New format follows RL suspensions", *Huddersfield Daily Examiner* page 18, 29 August 1985

1. "Fulham KO sad - but inevitable", *Manchester Evening News* page 47, 22 March 1986

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kent Invicta](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_Invicta) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_Invicta?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.