Reading Abbey
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Reading
Abbey
RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
C
hampions
of
Southern
Counties North, Reading
Abbey are promoted for the
second year in succession achieving a two
year unbeaten home record. Director of
Rugby Alan Kilford is rightly delighted,
praising his Head Coach Fungai Mutepfa
along with Coaches Tom Burns, Steve
Drake and Karl Luff, all current or exAbbey players. Kilford’s association
touches over 40 years, first playing for
the club aged 16 when encouraged by
school master Mike Probyn now sadly
deceased.
26 Issue 63
The club is bursting with optimism,
different from two years ago when Abbey
were relegated to Berks/Bucks & Oxon
Premiership, level 8, the lowest they had
ever been. Kilford, then giving time to his
family, decided to get involved again.
Kilford aimed to get Abbey back
to level 6 where the club had spent
the majority of its time. ‘Objective
met; a brilliant two years,’ he declares.
‘Next: maintain the momentum, go for
promotion three years running. A big
challenge, but we must aim upwards.’
First Kilford refreshed the coaching
team by introducing Mutepfa an
experienced, talented player who’s been
a revelation as Head Coach, followed
by Burns, Drake and Luff. Their input
was transformational, using players who
stayed the ups and downs: Sam Hallett,
Tom Waterhouse, Aaron Ross, Mark
Toland, are just a few. Then he tasked
players Peter Cooke and Kevin Clift, with
Jess Porter, a female coach to develop the
3rds and 4ths. This season the 2nds and
3rds won their leagues, the 4ths narrowly
missed out; the Colts won their league.
And now quality players are joining the
club.