THE LACROSSE CLUB BLUEPRINT

Ever wondered what it might be like to run your own lacrosse club? Perhaps you’ve moved to a new city or town and the nearest club is at least an hour’s drive away, and it would be oh so convenient if there were a club closer by. Rob Ingham Clark had this exact problem, and in 2018 with a little help from some friends, Rob founded one of the most successful lacrosse clubs in London. Here’s exactly how he did it… Get ready to copy and paste.

Step 1 - Know Your Why

The first element of starting any club is to know your reason for launching. For Rob Ingham Clark and Louis Friedlander, this was to bridge the gap in the North London market, creating a club which was easy for North London-based players to get to and save them having to travel to clubs further afield. Rob and Louis then decided on their club values - a social yet competitive lacrosse club - and agreed on a name that would match their vision: Camden Capybaras.

Step 2 - Get The Word Out

After designing a team logo and gathering some lacrosse playing friends, the newly formed Capybaras entered into tournaments and used networks such as English Universities and SEMLA (South England Men’s Lacrosse Association) to aid in player recruitment. SEMLA are also responsible for reviewing club applications for the southern league, and Camden were approved to compete in the 2018/19 season.

Step 3 - Sort Out Funding

With independent financial support to hire a pitch for training, the duo contacted the Centurion Lacrosse Club organisation to request funding for a pair of goal nets and ten club pinnies for their new members. The pitch, by Rob’s own description, was terrible, but cheap enough to get Camden Capybaras off the ground. In the summer the newly formed club would offer free training for any lacrosse enthusiasts in Regent’s Park where they used a simple yet effective pop-up goal, and just in time for their first official season, the club secured upgraded pitch space in Kentish Town for 90 minutes of training per week.