Its association side was mostly made up of Etonians (including Arthur Kinnaird[4] and Morton Betts);[5] a match against the Wanderers in October 1869, with Edgar Lubbock captaining West Kent, was the first-ever association match at the Kennington Oval, and West Kent won 2–0, with two goals from Charles Nepean.

On 26 January 1871, 32 members representing twenty-one London and suburban football clubs that followed Rugby School rules (Wasps were invited by failed to attend) assembled at the Pall Mall Restaurant in Regent Street.

A president, a secretary and treasurer, and a committee of thirteen were elected, to whom was entrusted the drawing-up of the laws of the game upon the basis of the code in use at Rugby School.

The first international rugby match was played between Scotland and England in 1871 and West Kent provided two players, A. G. Guillemard and Joseph Fletcher Green.

[9] The club played in the following colours: The West Kent Cricket Ground was one mile from Chislehurst railway station.