Season 2007-08
We are once again approaching the start of a new season, featuring the 2007 RWC in France where Cranleigh RFC will be represented on tour in Nantes, so now is an appropriate time to update CRFC members on what has been happening over the summer & look ahead with eager anticipation to the forthcoming rugby season.
President
It was excellent news that we have continuity in the 1st XV captaincy; I wish James Moore & his team every success.
Also the election of Will Davis as 2nd XV Captain represents an excellent opportunity to develop our ever expanding youth element within the senior sides; Will is to be congratulated for putting himself forward for this vital role within the Club.
Mike White will also be coaching our first proper Colts side for many seasons, many of whom I am sure will very soon be pushing for places in the senior sides. This prospect fills me with optimism for the future playing strength of Cranleigh RFC.
It is hoped that at various times we may also field an U21s team along the lines of the highly successful Academy side that Kenny Edwards & Jez Shayler ran a few seasons ago, providing the bulk of the influx of young players into the current 1st XV squad.
Surrey are running competitions at Christmas & Easter aimed at players returning from University.
Neil Clisby is also to be commended for taking on the most demanding job on the playing side of the Club for the 7th season running, that of 3rd XV Captain. This season the strategic decision has been taken to rename them as the Cranes & enter them into the Vets B league in Surrey.
This should continue to provide playing opportunities for all those who want an occasional or regular run out, be they former 1st XV regulars, new or returning players under the Go Play Rugby initiative, who may have not played the game for a number of years but now wish to get involved again.
Putting all this lot together I am sure that that the Club will improve across all sections this year.
Finally summer was tinged with sadness with the loss of Dave Green who was a cherished member of the Club; our best wishes are with the Green family.
Luke Margetts
Chairman
We are about to start our 40th Season of the Club & 30th of the Mini Section this September. To celebrate this, we will be holding different events to mark the occasion.
It is hoped that Simon Shaw will be Guest of Honour at a Players Past & Present Dinner, but since his call up to the World Cup Squad, finding a date is proving a bit of a problem. Details will be announced ASAP.
We have invested a considerable amount of money in the Club this summer. The Training Pitch has had its much needed drainage done as well as seeding & fertilising the other pitches. The Clubhouse has been redecorated; new carpets & lighting have been fitted.
As a result of the new Bar Area carpet, we are asking you to make sure that all players, coaches & spectators, change into clean clothing & footwear before entering the area.
The Bar will not serve anyone in dirty kit or clothing. Sorry to be a bit draconian, but we are determined to keep the Clubhouse respectable this season.
May I also take this chance to wish all sections of the Club a successful season.
Nigel Spong
1st XV
Here we are again on the verge of another season, with the excellent team grounding of last year I’m confident we will achieve our objectives.
1) To win the Surrey Shield.
2) Come no less than 3rd in our league.
With new faces & the return of some old ones down on a Tuesday & Thursday nights its clear that everyone is enjoying preseason training but, we are now anxious to start the season off.
It’s been great to see the integration of all ages at training together, from seniors through to juniors & the divisions within the club are clearly merging.
Although we are separate teams we all play for the same club in the same colours, which seamlessly brings me on to the hot topic of the new club kit which Luke Small, Jamie Williams & the legend that is Robin Williams have been working on.
Keep your eye on the website, emails & notice boards as the new kit will be on sale soon. I’ve seen samples & we will be looking the business.
All that’s left for me to say is bring on the first match for us all & let us enjoy the season even more than the last one.
James Moore
Grounds
During the summer Robin has overseen £20,000 worth of work on our pitches, most of which has been spent on gravel banding the training pitch. With all the wet weather that we have had this summer at least we should not have to worry about them sinking as happened on the lower pitch over the road for two successive summers.
All the rain has meant that the grass has been growing like made, so we have been kept very busy cutting the pitches & our poor old tractor has never worked so hard, however now that they are all marked up I am pleased to say that they are looking as good as they have done for quite a while. I’d like to thank both Nigel & Robin in particular for their many hours on the tractor.
The final touches will be applied over the next few weeks, including a new set of posts on the 1st XV pitch, with the old ones due to be painted & relocated to the upper pitch over the road where the current post are well past their sell by date, being some 30 years old!
New rope for the spectator fencing will replace the frayed old blue nylon stuff & we are looking for someone to sponsor a new set of post protectors for the 1st XV pitch which will cost about £200, depending on the exact design. Please contact me or Robin if your company is interested or you know of anyone who might be.
Robin has also continued to renew the ground advertising boards & has sourced quite significant revenue from these. He is also erecting a scoreboard which we hope to have manned by teams from the Minis & Juniors on match days.
Toby Eves
Clubhouse
For those of you who have not been down the Club since the end of last season, you will hopefully soon notice that the Clubhouse has been redecorated, with a new carpet laid around the bar area & new light fittings installed.
Kevin works very hard each week cleaning & other members have to undertake regular maintenance to deal with the general wear & tear that is inevitable in any rugby clubhouse.
So to echo Nigel’s earlier comments, please make an extra effort to keep the place looking neat & tidy throughout our 40th Anniversary season.
Cliff Ilsley
Financial
The RFU have written to confirm that the Club is covered for compulsory insurance, however it is important to stress that all players should consider taking out voluntary insurance to cover such issues as weekly payments for loss of earnings. Members are advised that the club cannot be held liable for any such claims.
The RFU website has some useful information on this (see: www.rfu.com & refer to Virtual Adviser on the Community Rugby page)
Cliff Ilsley
Mini & Junior Registration Day
Sunday 2nd September
Please see your Team Manager after training in the Clubhouse to register for the new season. If players are not registered they are not members & as such are not insured so cannot play. They are also not covered by the standard RFU insurance when training either.
We are introducing ID cards for ALL players this season which require a photo on them, so please expect your Manager to either ask for a photo or to take one when you register.
We are also reminding all parents that as a voluntary organisation EVERYONE is expected to do their bit at least once or twice a season in the kitchen & to assist in other ways whenever possible. Team Managers have a list of dates for Kitchen Duty & may ask for other help from time to time. Please do your best to accommodate them.
FYI O-Pro Mouth guards will be available on Sunday 9th September.
Finally I’d like to that Nicky Richards for all her hard work over the summer to help form a new South West Surrey District Girls’ Cluster teams, both at U15 & U18, which are the new girls’ age group from 2007-08.
We are joining forces once again with Camberley, but have also added Chobham & Guildford to the mix, so hope to be able to offer rugby to girls of all abilities as we have entered a Development Team in League 2 at U15s & both an A & B team in Leagues 1 & 2 at U18s.
Contact Nicky on 01483 200961 for further details.
Toby Eves
