Rugby Club Issue 58 | Page 66

bradford on avon Bradford on Avon B FOLLOW US ONLINE TWITTER.COM/RUGBYCLUBMAG radford on Avon Rugby Club Ltd and Community Sports Club was formed in 1982, it used a local pub as its clubhouse and played on St Laurence School pitches. Its success, growth and sustainability were such that it developed its own facilities at Winsley by 2003 in conjunction with BAWCASA on a 33 acre site, with Lottery and RFF Funding. The Rugby Club has always aimed to be a Community Sports Club, and has encouraged the use of its facilities by a wide variety of sports organisations. Its growth and involvement of other activities is fantastic. Our Minis, Juniors, Youth and Girls have now grown to just over 400 and Bradford on Avon Youth Football Club have 250 of their members using the facilities. Our Senior XV gained promotion to the Southern Counties South the season before last and aim to consolidate their position, we have a very successful Academy XV as well as regular Adult Touch Rugby. We organise Family Touch Rugby and 7s tournaments, and help local schools with Festivals and other community activities such as Archery, Balloonists, Microlights and a Model Aircraft Club use our facilities. We have very buoyant Mini and Youth Sections, and work hard at providing playing support by encouraging as many parents as possible to participate in Coaching Courses as a means of 66 Issue 58 maximising player retention. A successful Youth section is an essential element in a successful future for the Club. Hitherto we have suffered from the majority of our Academy going to university. However the Govern