ROSELAND
ROSELAND
As Chairman of Roseland Rugby Club for the
last 3 years, I’m involved in everything from
player recruitment, to deciding where we go
on tour, and of course giving a speech at the
dinner and dance. I first got involved with the
club in 1999 because my best mate John Poskus
(captain at the time) persuaded me to give it a
go.
Although for my first game I played my only game
at full back (since then always been a forward), the
club was so friendly and the hospitality in the pub
afterwards so good I’ve stuck around. In 2003 I
started my four seasons as captain, and I still play
whenever fixtures don’t clash with milking.
Going into the new season the mood in the club is
really strong, we’re aiming to win the cup, do well
in the League, and get at least 30 people out on
tour - hopefully with plenty of the new youngsters
coming along too. Pre-season we’ve been touring
the villages training on everything from beaches to
cricket pitches, so we’ve got several new youngsters
who’ve joined the club and there’s been a healthy
turnout at training every week.
Roseland is a small club based in the even smaller
village of Philleigh in Cornwall, since 1984/85
we’ve only fielded one side and it’s always been as
much about the atmosphere in the pub afterwards
as it is about the game on the field. Roseland
RFC is a unique place, until 2010 everyone got
changed in the village hall, we’d be separated from
the opposition by a row of chairs and the ref got
changed by the piano!
We still have to walk 5 minutes
down the road to the pitch, and
every once in a while we have
to get the horses off the pitch
before we can play. But that’s
what makes us Roseland. We’re
the club that will drive 100 miles
with only 12 players to honour
a fixture, or turn up at a top
club with a scratch team and
somehow pull off a win. That’s
what makes being part of this
club so rewarding, it’s about the
people and everyone enjoying
themselves.
We are incredibly lucky to have
our unusual set up, with the
ongoing support of our pitch66
ISSUE 48
owner Jim Pascoe and the fantastic hospitality
provided by the village pub, The Roseland Inn.
We’re proud to provide our opposition with the best
food (by far!) of the league, and every visiting club
loves to visit our “clubhouse”. We have an annual
Boxing Day fixture against Truro, and every year the
Truro players try to persuade their club to allow all
the games to be played in Philleigh. Not surprising
given it usually turns into a huge party.
Back in the 1990s we had a mini side, and many of
those players are still playing for us now . Without a
mini side or colts side player recruitment is always a
challenge, and we have a long history of our players
going on to play for much stronger clubs. Whilst
it’s great to see them succeeding we always look
forward to welcoming them back towards the end of
their careers, or a few a pints in the meantime.
Recent players include a trio at St Austell (Mark
Martin, Ben Chenoweth, and Curtis Newbury),
the Cornish Pirates props Paul Andrew and Jack
Andrew (who ran a forwards session for us at
training only last week), and Sam Betty - flanker at
Worcester Warriors. Not forgetting our most famous
old boy - Tony Blair’s spin doctor Alasdair Campbell.
Outside of rugby between the players, supporters,
and old boys we get involved in a fair number
of community events. From charity tug-of-wars,
carnivals, and fun days, to the pub singing group
(yet to be named) some of the old boys have set
up who practice the same night as training. The
community and fun aspect is very much at the heart
of our ambitions for the future - making sure our
players, ex-players, and supporters all enjoy their
time at Roseland.
Article provided by Cornwall’s Youngest Club
Chairman Chris Thomas of Roseland RFC
The Roseland Inn
Deep in the heart of the Roseland Peninsula
nestles, a truly traditional rural Cornish pub.
We pride ourselves on the quality of
their freshly cooked foods. Whether
you want to sit by the fire with a
paper and a coffee, meet friends
for a drink or enjoy a leisurely meal,
the Roseland Inn has exactly the
right kind of ambience.
Contact us now on 01872 580254
Roseland Inn, Philleigh-in-Roseland, Truro, TR2 5NB