Club Spotlight
Stannah Lifts Safety at Andover
The fitness, health and safety of their 340 young members has always been at the forefront of the Youth Academy of Andover RFC. They recently provided international specification post protectors for the goal posts at Charlton Down, thanks to local company, Stannah. Jon Stannah, MD of Stannah Lift Services, went along to meet many of the youngsters who will benefit from the upgraded post protectors and said, “‘Health and Safety is a crucial aspect of any club or business. We are delighted to help Andover Rugby Football Club and protect the wellbeing of the hundreds of youngsters who train and play at the club every week.’
George’s Marvellous Effort
Tony Simpson
Candlelighters George Stocker Meets Hero Lee Mears
George Stocker is attempting to raise over £50,000 to support the charity that helped him while going through treatment for cancer. Diagnosed with a brain tumour in April 2008, shortly after being on tour with Wetherby Rugby Club, George underwent over 80 weeks of treatment, spending most of the 18 months in a wheelchair dealing with the symptoms and side-effects.
Driving the 11-year-old throughout have been two big ambitions - to play rugby again and to raise money for the Leeds-based children’s cancer charity Candlelighters. After discussions with his doctors and the RFU, George was given special dispensation to start playing rugby again in September 2009. Says Gavin Davies, Chairman of Wetherby Juniors, “George has been an inspiration to the whole club. Watching the way he has dealt with his illness and his determination to play again was something to behold. Twelve months ago he used to come down in his wheelchair to watch his mates. To see him back in his favourite position of hooker is something that many of us thought might not be possible. It’s an unbelievable achievement.”
The Candlelighters connection has remained strong as George has pursued his ambition to support the charity that provided support for him and families in the same position and also funds research. George’s father Roger explained, “The support from Candlelighters was essential, I do not know how we would have coped without it.” George has so far raised over £30,000, mostly through rugby events. The next is a charity match on April 18 between parents from Leodiensians RFC in Leeds and their counterparts from Wetherby, with combined ages totalling around 1,600 years! This has been organised by Stuart Moran, the Junior Chairman at Leos. It will be followed on June 20 by the annual Fun Run organised by Wetherby Rugby Club which raised over £10,000 for George last year.
In addition, Roger Stocker has a cycle ride from Wetherby RFC to Twickenham at the end of July, a project which will give George, mum Louise and sister Kelly and dad the chance of a second visit to headquarters this year after the family attended the England v Ireland game as guests of the RFU. On that occasion, Rob Andrew and the England team really pushed the boat out, so that George toured the stadium and the dressing rooms, watched England’s ‘behind closed doors’ final training session, met players and was part of the Guard of Honour as the players took the field.
To support George’s ongoing fundraising visit www.justgiving.com/geoge-stocker or visit www.candlelighters.org.uk
Macclesfield Making a Difference
Tony Simpson
Teams from St Nicholas and Sir John Deanes after the game
Macclesfield RUFC’s community rugby involvement saw them recently host a day-long series of events kicking off with a Further Education College 10-a-side festival, with 10 Cheshire teams taking part. The festival, together with coaching in Macclesfield local colleges, was supported by the RFU’s National Community Club Contingency Fund, which is aimed at helping clubs in the national leagues to continue backing community projects in tight financial times. The final was an all-Northwich affair, with St Nicholas 6th Form College beating Sir John Deanes College after a competitive game.
Macclesfield then played host to another round of the Macclesfield Borough State Schools fixture pool, with All Hallows getting the better of Knutsford High School in a keenly-fought Year 10 encounter. The final component of a busy day was a very specific community project – a Whole Club Development workshop, designed to help clubs look at their strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and potential threats and form a plan for the future. Over 25 members had their say and came up with some very positive steps to take the club forward over the next few years.
With the club hosting the Cheshire U13 and U14 District Development squad elite coaching a few days later, when the three County district squads came together for a morning of coaching followed by round robin games as a culmination of their season, Macclesfield has been a hive of community activity.
Colchester Celebrate
CRFC Club President David Wright, Martin Pratley, John Abbot & Jim. (Photograph by Tim Slaven)
Colchester Rugby Club recently hosted an evening celebration to recognize the vital contribution of sponsors and volunteers. Colchester is enjoying success, the senior side league champions last year and chasing promotion again this season and youth and minis sides winning local competitions at all age groups. Club President David Wright praised the volunteers who enable Colchester to field six senior teams plus youth and minis teams for over 600 players. Club Chairman John Powell outlined progress made on the field and off including improved social areas and upgraded floodlights and reported that he estimated that if paid for the work done by volunteers would cost over £250,000 a year.
The evening thanked three people who have given outstanding voluntary service: John Abbot who supported two sons through the club before getting more involved with his third son’s team. He got his Levels ! and 2 coaching qualifications and stayed with the team through the age groups from 6 to 19. With two teams, John very unselfishly elected to manage the second of those teams. Having watched the boys move out of age group rugby he helped the Under-16s as a backs coach to become Suffolk Cup Winners. Martin Pratley, who started with his son in the mini age groups and took his Level 1 coaching qualification. Martin became Chairman of the Mini Section and started to play becoming a stalwart of the Fourths. Then as safeguarding of young people leapt to prominence, Martin led Colchester’s efforts before being asked to help with the Eastern Counties Rugby union set up.
Jim Crowley joined Colchester as a player in the mid 1970s, playing into the late 80s before coaching in minis and then youth, then taking on the role of Chairman and overseeing a major growth spurt for the Club. In 2004 he was elected President. This year Jim has taken on the role of Pre Match Lunch Organiser with a record attendance - including on one occasion seating 170 people.
