Rugby Club Issue 55 | Page 59

hampstead “I’ve been involved for eight years. I had been living in London for a year and was looking to get back into rugby. Hampstead was the perfect fit. The ladies were extremely welcoming and within my first five years we had been promoted three times. In addition there was and remains a great social scene. These women have become my best friends. By the end of my first season I had become the Ladies Secretary. I held this position for three years and then became ladies Club Captain for two. After just a year of holding any position, I became Secretary of the Club. It is very rewarding to be involved in this rugby club. So much has been achieved over the last 10 years and it’s great to see what role you have played in it. It can however be challenging. As time goes on people expect more and more but do not always recognise the amount of effort that it takes to run a rugby club, particularly one which has expanded at such a rate. It is always a balancing act between keeping membership fees down but at the same time gaining sufficient funds from fundraising events, grants and sponsorship. Without good and dedicated volunteers, no club can be successful. We therefore work hard to bring in new blood to take on committee positions or get involved via other means. It is also important to never become complacent. You must continually work to recruit and retain players in order to make sure that the club is sustainable.” Deborah Crossan, Club Secretary participated in Festivals, have a few teams in league competitions and in 2013 launched a Girls U15s team. All sections have continue