STRATHMORE
It has family and community values. It has a real sense
of purpose with links with the council and the schools.
There are talks of a ‘Sru school of rugby’ in partnership
with Forfar Academy. It has ambitions to develop
the game at all levels from P1 to Golden Oldies!
Player welfare is at the forefront with strength and
conditioning, as well as physiotherapy programmes in
place for each programme. We even have a busi ness
plan!
Our new clubhouse is unique in the respect it has a 60
people balcony at upper floor level that overlooks our
park. It’s a hot favourite on match days with home and
visiting supporters, as well as after match banter with
the field of dreams in the background.
We currently have a stage 2 application into
SportScotland for additional changing rooms and a
youth development/educational area and we are talking
to the local council about becoming a sports hub for the
surrounding area.”
Stewart Ross, Development Officer
“This will be my 2nd season coaching the side having
been a player for a number of seasons so I’m definitely
still learning but my approach is pretty simply, myself
and the coaching team aim to improve every player that
crosses the whitewash to train. We aim to ensure every
player has a very good all round skill set and is peak
physical condition to play.
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ISSUE 48
I like to put the boys under pressure in game like scenarios
as much as possible and make sure training is enjoyable
while also relating to what the senior teams are going to do
on a Saturday. Breaking down the basics and involving the
boys in their own learning is a big thing for us as well.
The mood here at the moment is like a coiled spring ready
to ping. We are only in our third week of preseason but
the boys are eager to do everything especially contact so
at the moment. It’s just a case of holding back, breaking
down and perfecting the basics and unleashing our speed
endurance coach Bill Angus who is great at ensuring
the boys are in great shape before we introduce contact
sessions and play pre-season fixtures.
After our team debrief at the end of the season I think the
general consensus from players and coaches a like was
‘inconsistent’, having managed an away tie with eventual
champions Perthshire, in a 33 All classic we lost to teams
who finished below us in the league. A great start, a poor
mid-season with a pretty strong finish would be about right
in my opinion.
For the new season, the players and the coaches are
ambitious and while Orkney and Caithness probably start
as league favourites our goal has to be promotion! While
this is a very competitive league with no easy games we
know if we perform consistently well we will achieve our
target.”