Rugby Club Issue 47 | Page 79

THE BRITISH FULLERIANS AEROPLANE COMPANY FULLERIANS Fullerians RFC is a club that has made a tremendous amount of progress in recent years and are now looking forwards to a bright future. Club Chairman Kevin Brind took the time to tell us more about the good work that they have been doing. He started by telling us about his involvement with the club, saying, “I have been involved since I was 15 (33 years). They were one of the few teams in the area that ran a colts team so as a 15 year old I was keen. The most challenging part of being Chairman is that for the last 6 years I get pulled from all directions! It can be challenging is dealing with people with a range of personalities and ideas. People always tell you what we could be doing but rarely lend a hand! The club was struggling 6 years ago in all areas, on the field and playing and in the bar and kitchen. This has been turned around by a wonderful committee and now we enjoy a great atmosphere, bar and kitchen supplying great food. It is very rewarding seeing us still push out 4-5 senior teams each week and see our pitches full with minis and juniors playing rugby.” The mood at the club is excellent. Good food, beer and company makes for a great club. The playing isn’t bad either! Youth rugby is very important to us, without it we have no future. We had over 25 17 year olds play for the senior section of the club last season which was excellent. We are one of the big 5 clubs in Hertfordshire with regard to mini and junior numbers in our squads. We have just set up an Academy to aid in this difficult transition. Having the senior colts train on the same night as the seniors has helped and of course stash and socials always help! The facility is what lets us down at the moment. We have out grown it and have planning permission to expand. We need money and have raised nearly £60,000 ourselves but need nearer the £300,000 mark to add the necessary changing rooms and social space to meet demands. We were turned down by a recent Sport England bid which was disappointing but will have to try again. We have favourable comments from visiting refs and teams on our friendliness, food and beer. Our pitches look great thanks to our groundsman. We want to improve the club house facility and keep people in the sport especially in that 16-21 year old age bracket and to keep pushing 4-5 senior teams out a week. It is important to keep costs down so members can enjoy food drink and playing without being fleeced. Hopefully we can be a level 7 club in the future, possibly 6 club and will benefit from an improved facility with more changing rooms and larger social space whilst continuing to progress our large mini and junior section.” Travis Perkins Rickmansworth Branch Proudly Supports Fullerians Rugby Club Church Wharf, Church Street, Rickmansworth. WD3 1JB Tel: 01923 777711 Email: [email protected] Opening Hours Monday - Friday: 7am - 5pm Saturday: 8am - 1pm www.rugbyclub.biz 79