Rugby Club Issue 48 | Page 74

NEW MILTON NEW MILTON Based at Normans Way in Hampshire, New Milton and District RFC will compete in the London 3 South West League in the coming campaign. They are led by the team of President Rohan Thomas and Chairman Andy Frend and the club is looking to progress under their guidance. Sally and my connection with New Milton Rugby Football Club began in 1968, just after we moved to Hampshire from Essex, where I played rugby for Upper Clapton Football Club. I joined the Club to play rugby and also for both of us to make some friends – some we have had for over 46 years. In my early years at the Club I was Team Captain for the 3rd Team. In the mid 1980’s I held the position of Chairman of the Senior club and also Chairman of the Mini Junior section and my wife held the position of Treasure for the Mini Junior section. I have also held the position of President. My wife and I are now Life Members. Andy Frend who recently took the position of Chairman is our Son and I have played rugby with him on many occasions and now our Grandson - Charlie Frend age 11 years, plays in the Mini Junior section. Sally, my wife has supported the Club over the years in organising the weekly team teas with other wives and girlfriends and fundraising events. I have represented our Club as a Senior Steward at Twickenham for over 20 years. We have a Holiday Cottage, which we let on the Gower Peninsular and felt it was an opportunity to advertise whilst supporting the Club by sponsoring the Athletic XV supporting our family Club. We wish New Milton R.F.C well for the new season 2014/15. For Information regarding Pembroke Cottage on the Gower go to – www.pembroke-cottage. com Last season their first team put together a solid campaign as they compiled a record of having won 8, drawn 1 and lost 13 of their 22 matches. This saw them finish in a safe mid table position with 45 points on the board. There were a number of positives to take from the way the team played and one of the major ones was the attacking brand of rugby that they managed to produce. This was reflected by the fact that they racked up an impressive 520 points in their 22 league matches. Playing with such style and flair will certainly have meant that any supporters attending their matches will have been well entertained and should encourage more of the local community to get behind the team in the future. This in turn will help to provide the club with a valuable source of additional revenue. They will now have turned their attentions towards the new season and making sure that they are well prepared in order to hit the ground running. As long as they are able to retain their current group of players and perhaps make one or two quality additions they should have a good chance of improving their record. 74 ISSUE 46