Rugby Club Issue 54 | Page 86

maesteg FOLLOW US ONLINE TWITTER.COM/RUGBYCLUBMAG Fairway House Links Business Park Solutions Systems IT Solutions Customer Care Cloud Technology Microsoft Licencing Consulting Services Application Services Transaction Processes Mobile Printing Systems Print Fleet Management Variable Data Digital Production Mono & Colour MFD’s Wide Format Systems High Volume Print Systems Fax, Scanners & Laser Printers Graphic Arts Finishing Equipment St. Mellons Cardiff CF3 0LT we believe if we hadn’t had Richard’s name at the time to attract players to the club, we probably would have folded that season which would have meant us starting again at the bottom of the league ladder. Richard made sure that we were able to field a team at great personal expense to himself.” Atmosphere T: 029 2036 5222 E: [email protected] W: www.pinnaclecos.co.uk Clive Hamilton is a club sponsor of Maesteg RFC with his business Pinnacle Group and he recently told Rugby Club Magazine, “I played down the valley from Maesteg for a club called Bryncethin. Our Director of Rugby and coach Paul Watkins is an ex Maesteg player and coach and we are very grateful to have his expertise at our club. Paul also coached and captained myself. Maesteg have had their tough times and it’s great to see the team performing so well this year but accolade must also go to the committee for the tremendous effort they have all put in to turn the club around. I would like to wish everyone associated with the Forge Travel Ad:Layout 1 club continued success.”Page 1 07/09/2012 11:11 “There is currently a great feeling at the club, it now feels like a ‘club’ again and there is a great atmosphere between players, committee and supporters. Off the field, we are now nearing the completion of the renovations following the arson attack so there is huge excitement for what we have to build upon. The club renovation has been managed by a local builder who is an ex-player and coach of the club. One of our current players who owns his owns plumbing/ heating company has designed and installed the new heating and hot water system at the club.” This Season “This season has gone well with only one defeat. Whereas finishing the season as champions would be a great achievement, achieving promotion was always the main objective for us. We’ve managed to blood a few youngsters who have joined the senior squad this season after playing youth rugby last year.” Youth “Youth rugby is very important to us, it’s vital for the club to survive in the long run. The situation we found ourselves in a few years ago was as the result of us not having as steady flow of youth players feeding the senior team. There were a few years where we did not have a youth team, we did manage to get a youth side for the past two years but due to a number of them graduating to senior rugby last summer, it has since disbanded again this season. We have a number of age groups of Junior and Mini rugby, but unfortunately, not every age group that we’d like due to competition in the valley from a number of other clubs.” Mini Bus and Taxi Hire Forge Travel are based in Maesteg, South Wales and specialise in door to door transfers for small groups and individuals. We provide chauffeur driven minibuses and coaches for all occasions. We have been established over ten years and offer a prompt, reliable, efficient and courteous service. � Airport & Port transfers � Full private hire � Privates parties � Theatres � Coporate charter � Conventions, meetings & shuttles � School charters � Private health care � Weddings � Race days � Sporting events Call us on 01656 733333 or email [email protected] 86 Issue 54 Challenges/Ambitions “One of our biggest challenges will be keeping together the group of players we have at present. Other challenges include backfilling the natural wastage of senior players with players coming through our youth system and growing the youth/junior/mini player base to ensure future sustainability of the club. We want to consolidate at the division one level for a couple of seasons and hopefully then push on for promotion to the National Championship level, which we believe will be a good competitive level for the club. At present it is unknown whether the club and town could sustain a club playing at premiership level. Hopefully if the club continues on its current path and we get the support from businesses/industry and the wider community we may be able to attain Premiership status and compete at that level once again.