ANDOVER
STOCKPORT
competitive rugby and we also organise and host
a Tag tournament for around 20 primary schools
every year.
STOCKPORT
We are also heavily linked with the Army and last
year supported the local garrison by running a
holiday rugby camp for service children.
As a Hampshire pilot club we are at the vanguard
of developing the RFU’s new rules of play,
giving children the most forward thinking and
comfortable environment to develop.”
Andover is also a preferred community partner of
London Irish who fully support the clubs coaching
ethos, adding further to the clubs high profile.
“It’s a relationship that benefits us on every level,”
said Hendry.
We have direct ac cess to top class coaching and a
pathway for our talented players to develop fully.”
London Irish and England Under 20 star Tom
Homer is the most high profile example of this
link at the professional end, but it’s within the
club that the relationship really pays off.
“We’ve had first team players receive personal
coaching from high profile stars such as James
O’Connor recently, and we instil into them that if
it’s good enough for a world superstar, its good
enough for them!” said Andy.
“Our first team players are so much part of what
we do, that they think nothing of turning up
Sunday mornings to help coach the academy age
groups – hungover or not.”
“It’s this togetherness that is the real recipe for
suc cess.”
As Andover look to climb the London divisions
over the next few years, they believe that their
‘one club’ approach, that sees first team players
coaching children and academy committee
members helping to run the senior club, is a
model that others could follow.
“We don’t believe it is a coincidence that we are
thriving when so many are not,” said Hendry.
“We have an organisation of volunteers who really
pull this club together at every level and that is
the secret.”.
Stockport RUFC plays their home games
at The Memorial Ground in Cheshire and
their first team currently competes in the
SSE National League 3 North Division. They
are led by the team of President Richard
Haslehurst and Chairman John Curzon
and the club has made a considerable
amount of progress under their guidance.
They have enjoyed a superb campaign this time
around, managing to put together a record of
having won 21, drawn 1 and lost just 4 of their 26
matches. This left them with a final point’s total
of 102, which saw them finish in 2nd place in the
league.
Although they would obviously have liked to claim
the title having come so close, they have every
right to be proud of their efforts this season. So
long as they are able to keep their current group
of players together they should be able to look
forwards to an exciting future.
A particular highlight of their performances this
season was the attacking brand of rugby that the
team managed to produce. This was reflected by
the fact that they racked up a total of 836 points
in the league alone.
This certainly meant that any supporters
attending their matches were treated to an
entertaining game of rugby which can only help
to get more of the local community behind the
club. Having good support from the local area has
the potential to provide players with a real boost
and can also have financial benefits.
Stockport is not a club that focuses solely upon
their senior section however and they also have a
number of youth sides in place. These teams look
to provide young people from the local area with
an opportunity to develop their skills in a safe and
enjoyable environment.
Unit 3E West Way, Walworth Business Park,
Andover SP10 5AP. Tel: 07769971190.
www.ajwilsons.co.uk
30
ISSUE 45
It is important for any club to be able to produce
their own talent, particularly in the current
financial climate and this is an area that
Stockport appears to have covered. Coaching staff
overseeing their junior section are confident that
they have a number of players involved with the
potential to go on and represent them at senior
level.
There is much to admire about the set-up that
Stockport currently has in place and this is a
credit to the good work that their Committee
have been doin