THE BRITISH
BURNLEY
AEROPLANE COMPANY
& PENDLE
BURNLEY
& PENDLE
As a relatively new club, Burnley and Pendle has
made a tremendous amount of progress. Rugby
Club Magazine caught up with Club Secretary
Robert Lennard to find out more.
Beginnings
He told us, “I have been involved with the club since it’s
inception in 2010. It was formed by Ryan Bradley, the
current CEO of Rochdale Hornets. Ryan was playing
Union at the time for the local club Burnley RUFC. He
was employed by the RFL as Development Officer for
the Bury, Bolton & Rochdale areas. Even though it was
out of his area, he was the driving force behind the
club.
Interest
“With the community game moving to the summer, a
number of local union players fancied giving League
a go. Quite a few had played League at university
and were keen to pick it up again. When I heard on
the ‘rugby grapevine’, that a Rugby League team was
being formed in Burnley, I was keen to get involved in
whatever capacity.”
Atmosphere
“The general mood at the club is great. We have
attracted sponsorship from local businesses. The
numbers at training are fantastic and this is transferring
to the field of play, where we are having a successful
season so far. We are showing that we can compete
against long established clubs from the traditional
heartlands of the game. We are attracting players
from beyond the two boroughs of Burnley and Pendle
looking to develop their game. The atmosphere at the
club is terrific with players of different experience and
ability working well together.
In Ryan Mirfield and Sam Walker, we do have one
or two Rugby League players with experience of the
pro Acadamy system at Wigan Warriors and Keighley
Cougars respectively. Their experience is invaluable in
bringing on the novice players.”
Youth
“We are great believers in developing young players in
the correct manner. At open age players can take part
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ISSUE 47
at the age of 16. We have a duty of care to the young
players and will not introduce anyone to senior rugby
until they are ready. We are extremely fortunate to have
at our club, as President and Coaching Consultant, Mr
Brian Foley.
Brian has spent a lifetime in the game and for over
ten years was Head of Youth Development and
Performance at Wigan Warriors. Brian has been
instrumental in helping to realise the potential of so
many young players that now play in Super League
and the International teams of both codes of Rugby.
The development of young players at our club could not
be in safer hands.”
Challenges
“The biggest challenge over the next five years is
to attract even more players to the club along with
funding to support our efforts. The establishment of a
youth section is essential to put into place a production
line for the senior squad. We need the formation of a
second team as well, in order that everyone who wants
to take up Rugby League has an opportunity to play the
game.
Because of the lack of facilities available to us we have
had to be content with playing in the North West Mens
League Entry Division. This is a development league
for start up teams and A and B teams of the established
clubs. With the construction of The Prairie Sports
Village, when the time is right, we will be looking to
enter the North West Men’s League proper. We are not
rushing to do things. We are building solid foundations
on which to build.”