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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:

www.tavistockrugbyclub.co.uk

See you soon Kind regards and thank you for your support!

Nigel Larcombe-Williams

CHAIRMAN TRFC





Chairman's  20010-11 Newsletter



....TRFC