February
2011
Chairman’s Spring Newsletter February 2011
Hi
Just after midway through a challenging season. Lots to report - lots
to think about. The pitch is laid – there is ‘snagging’ to be done but
the pitch drains, is as flat a pond and the grass is growing. Or it
will be growing again come about March, and that is what we on the
committee have chosen to wait for. We are not short of pitches at TRFC
but the new pitch had the benefit of about only three month’s growth so
the roots are neither deep nor knitted. A decision was taken to leave
it fallow for the winter and then after the spring and early summer
growth the grass would be much fitter for the purpose of playing rugby.
Had we started playing on it this winter, the chances are we would have
to have re-seeded it this summer and whole process would never really
bed in.
We have raised the money for the new floodlights. These will be placed
on the far side of the new pitch - if you are looking from the club
house. It will be a training area for the club and the new steel towers
will be high and bright.
The Junior/Mini club has received the RFU Seal of Approval – this is
huge accolade and massive tribute to the hard work and fortitude of the
Junior/Mini Committee as it is essentially an audit process that
requires folders full of info and statistics and certificates to be
verified by the RFU. Rob Masters the FRU Development Man has guided us
and the club has worked together to make it happen. Now we look forward
to achieving the Whole Club Seal. Why? You might ask. Well in this day
and age applying for funding through grants and also sponsorship from
companies and money from the RFU - all those points of support look to
support clubs that have shown their internal systems are both
transparent but also robust and the ‘Seals’ if you like are proof of
that. Needs must.
TRFC 1st XV have been struggling. We are lucky to have Mike Lewis, Lee
and Luffers and this season is currently just shifting gear with two
wins in a row. We have struggled with injuries and personnel, but have
had the good fortune of great support from our new players and also
young TRFC players standing up to be counted – we need to avoid the
drop and then focus on building the team further. We have good
foundations here at TRFC in playing terms as we do with our
infrastructure now. I am very proud of that. It has taken three years
to sort out the pitch and will take a couple more to really consolidate
the senior teams. Keep the faith.
As always money is an issue. We have benefitted from some excellent
private donations (cheers guys) but also and especially the local
business community – in a time of cut backs this is huge – cheers guys!
You know who you are!
The committee remains boosted but with the presence of some younger
players and we are always in need of people with ideas and enthusiasm
who want to get involved. My oldest son Ollie who has been at the cub
since primary school and is now off to University but....I still have
Cyrus. For those that might not know he is 11 – just and 5ft 10 and is
currently in the U11’s but is taller than the head coach. I am looking
to help coach them next season and also maybe get a coaching
qualification.....Hmmm. Cyrus like his team mates and loves his rugby.
We still have many hundreds of kids playing on Sunday Mornings – and we
always look to bring the players through from Colts into the senior
setup – we are looking to create stronger bonds within senior/Colt
rugby and our Colts are doing well this season – well done lads and
Willy Reed!
What of the future? – I will be standing aside in the summer. We do not
have set time limits for committee service but the chairman is voted in
by the new committee each year. It is not a procedural issue and , if I
wished, I could ask for another year. I have been working as chairman
with many very talented and supportive men and women and this is by no
means a one man show; we are team at committee level just as much as we
need to be as a club side on the pitch. It is just that after four
years I really feel our club is now more secure and the issues with the
pitch that existed and funding issues that troubled us are largely
sorted. There are more deserving people who have served many years on
the committee, that really should be on the honours board rather than
me. I will look to stay on the committee if elected and commit myself
to and seek to support the playing side of the club, building on the
good relations we are building with the Warriors and such like. I would
also like to remain involved in fundraising.
Some important members of our club have had difficulties this season.
Apart from the (now standard) fairly serious rugby injuries, breakages,
tears and what have you that have disrupted selection to a significant
extent, we have had club members whose families have needed our
support. Alyson Wakem, wife of long standing player and previous 1st XV
Captain John Wakem who recently returned home from hospital after a
life threatening accident is in all our thoughts. Some of our current
players have had personal worries in their families and we are here for
you guys too.
Finally; there are three months – that’s around twelve weeks of the
season to go. Yes that all. We need all hands on deck – we need all
players at training and all supporters supporting and I am confident we
will win through, stay up, using a young, positive, team of players and
coaches (well mostly young anyway) and I hope to see you on March 12th
for the VP’s and Sponsors and Members Lunch followed by a good first
team performance for you all.
Check out the excellent TRFC website for details and information:
See you soon
Kind regards and thank you for your support!
Nigel Larcombe-Williams
CHAIRMAN TRFC