hungerford
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Hungerford
RFC
H
56 Issue 52
ungerford RFC is a terrific example of a well-run community establishment that provides people in their local
area with an opportunity to get involved in the game. Club President Steve Mills took the time to tell us more
about the good work that they have been doing lately.
He told us, “I joined in 1987 when my wife and I first
moved to Hungerford. I knew the then President who
asked me if I would play if they were ever short of
players. The morning I got back from honeymoon he
called to say they were short so it started from then
on. I enjoyed the social side to the club (it was in those
days a Sunday morning pub team).
The club has grown out of all recognition since
those early days in the eighties when our only assets
were one (almost) set of shirts and a couple of balls.
We have now become a business with our own
clubhouse, financial commitments and business plans
for the future. It takes up time over and above our
commitments to our day jobs. The most rewarding
thing is to hear positive feedback from visitors to
the club who praise us for what we've achieved with
the clubhouse, our youth/mini successes and even
simple comments such as thanks for the welcome
making it worthwhile.
The mood here is very upbeat at the moment. The
1st XV are close to the top of the Berks Bucks &
Oxon Premier Division. The 2nd XV (the Lions) are
unbeaten at the top of BBO Division 4 North at the
moment and are riding the crest of the wave. When
the playing side of the club is goin g well everything
goes well. We are already moving as a committee
into planning mode for 2015/16, putting in place a
strategy for increasing still further in this World Cup
year our playing numbers at all age groups and all
levels.
Our Minis & Juniors Chairman has done a truly
fantastic job over the last eight years building up
from our first Under 6s to a situation where we
now have competing year groups all the way up to
Under 14s. Youth rugby is extremely important to us
as it increases membership, improves sponsorship
opportunities and brings involvement from all areas
of the local community.
One of our challenges is to improve the transition we
provide from youth to senior rugby as we have never
so far done it. Another couple of seasons down the line
and we hope to be easing in some of our youngsters
into the senior sides via a Colts representation.
It is our aim to move up with both our teams going
into higher leagues as we are finding that the gap
between the leagues is becoming ever wider. Also
taking our Junior players through to senior sides
without losing them to other clubs in the area will be
important if we are to continue to progress.”
www.pitchero.com/clubs/hungerfordrfc_ Twitter : @HungerfordRFC