The Kings Cross Steelers are a British rugby team, based in London. Founded in 1995 it was the world's first gay-inclusive rugby union club. Its founding sparked the beginning of a much larger gay-inclusive rugby movement which to date includes over 60 clubs across the world. History Foundation and name The Kings Cross Steelers were founded in London on 1 November 1995, in the Central Station gay pub, which was (and is) located a street or so away from London's King's Cross Station. The club's name reflects a combination of its geographical roots, and the sporting affiliations of some of its founding members. Geographically, Kings Cross was the area of Central London where the club was founded. Note that since it was not named after the eponymous railway station, there is no apostrophe in the club's name. The "Steelers" is a homage to the Pittsburgh Steelers, an American football team, of which numerous of the founding members of the Kings Cross Steelers were fans. The Pittsburgh Steelers are so named because Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania was, during the decade of that club's founding and renaming, the centre of the American steel industry (and remains the headquarters of U.S. Steel). Whilst naming sports teams after existing teams is a relatively common phenomenon (for example, the Texan rugby team Dallas Harlequins RFC draws its inspiration from England's more famous Harlequin F.C.), the Kings Cross Steelers are one of the few such sports teams to be named through inspiration from a team which competes in a different sport. Subsequent chronology In the summer of 1996 the club joined the Surrey County Union. They played their first game on 21 September 1996, which they lost by 92–10 to Orleans Former Pupils at Strawberry Hill. In June 1999 the Steelers become full members of the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) and at the same time joined Surrey County League Four. In August 1999 the Steelers played a match against the newly formed Manchester gay team, the Village Spartans. This was the world's first match between two gay/bi rugby teams. The Steelers won 22–15. In July 2000 the Steelers took part in the Rugby Sevens competition at the UK Gay Sports Festival held at Waltham Forest. Visiting US team, the Washington Renegades, and the Manchester Village Spartans also fielded teams. In 2001 the Steelers grew to be large enough to field a second squad. The 2nd XVs played