On Saturday 17th December 1983 London Irish were playing London Welsh at Old Deer Park in Richmond in the traditional pre-Christmas fixture when news filtered through that a car bomb had exploded outside Harrods department store. The blast killed three police officers and three civilians, injured 90 people, and caused much damage.

In January 1984 Paddy Hughes, the Mini rugby chair at London Irish, was contacted by the Irish Post and asked if London Irish Mini rugby would participate in a fund-raising event to support victims of the bombing. The event was a charity football match at Craven cottage, the home of Fulham FC on 4th March 1984, and the plan was to set up a series of training drills over which Paddy Hughes would deliver commentary and then play a short match. London Irish invited their close neighbours, University Vandals, now known as Weybridge Vandals, to be the opposition.

On the appointed day London Irish’s Under 8s, led by their coach, John Hirsh, took the field to generous applause and following a display of well-rehearsed drills a match took place against Vandals.