Phoenix
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crowds, full up and lively after match
days till late after both 1s, 2s and 3s
matches, raffle rekindled and doing well
each week. All the players no matter what
side enjoy mixing and the ‘one Club’ feel
is definitely there. A coach of 50 went
to our furthest away game and all those
playing at home waited until the coach
was back, with a late night had by all!
It’s been a very good season and
the 2nds have secured 4th spot in their
league, which is fantastic considering the
twos found it hard to regularly put out a
side. Also, fixtures for a 3s side have been
arranged and a side put out on numerous
occasions.”
Success
“When I saw Phoenix at a VP day last
season as a guest (I’m a life member), I saw
that despite all the hammerings received
during the season there was something
to work on, battling spirit, never say die
and with a few tweaks and some structure
in place maybe things could be slightly
better.
I took on the job, but insisted that
I should have a team of guys with me,
we had Bill Duncan come on board
as Forwards coach, Anthony Padfield
as backs coach and Tony Golder as 1s
Manager. We named our captains for the
1s and 2s, Tom Porter and Paul Byrne
respectively. We also chose Russell Golder
and Mark Cook to run the 2s.
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A structure was set out for pre-season
and ensured we had regular meetings as
a playing committee to monitor progress,
making sure we were all singing off the
same sheet. The players and coaches have
bought into the structure and game style
that we have used all season.
Targets have been realistic
and achievable and we
do not look too far
ahead, week by
week, month by
month. So the
success
has
been a total
team
effort
based
on
those small
tweaks and
changes.”
Youth
“Our
youth
section is flourishing,
many youngsters stay
on year after year, and we
are seeing young guys whom
were here as kids coming through the
ranks and into the first team. It also brings
together parents and those parents now
watch senior games too, the clubhouse, as
said is full, so the youth section plays a
massive part in club success.
Our youth section is extremely well
run. They are coached well and we try to
get senior players to assist coaches and
we have several players from the senior
section whom are able to assist. One thing
I wanted from the outset this season was
for there to be a direct link with youth and
Senior rugby.”
Integration
“On
senior
match day we
have youngsters
down who help
out and it’s a
good rapport
b e t w e e n
youth
and
Seniors.
I
also had a
progression
coach
come
in as part of a
team, this coach
has a direct link
with local schools,
coaches an age group
on Sundays in the youth
set up and on Tuesdays takes
New guys to rugby, youths coming up
as old enough for senior rugby and so
coaches the basics etc. before these guys
go onward to more specific coaching with
Forwards and backs, so in a nut shell it is
a clear managed pathway from youth to
senior.”