Percy Park
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Percy Park
RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
P
ercy Park RFC is a club that
is working hard to progress
both on and off the field
at the moment and they appear to be
setting themselves up for a bright at
future. President Keith Atkinson took
the time to tell us more about the good
work that they’ve been lately.
Involvement
He said, “I arrived at Percy Park
during the 1986/87 season following a
tap on the shoulder from Mike Kitchen
and some stern words from Ken Jordan
and his wife Pat whilst socializing in the
bar at the Grand Hotel Tynemouth with
my stepfather. Both being involved in the
management of Percy Park.
At this time I had decided to return to
the game and had joined school friends
at Rockcliff RFC. I had only played a
handful of games before meeting up with
Ken at the Grand Hotel. Being a family
friend he was not too pleased and called
me one or two names!
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Well since I arrived names appear
to have stuck… ‘Big Nose’ appears
favoured, as is ‘Parker’ due to my
alleged resemblance to a Thunderbirds
character, although my recent favourite
is ‘Prime Minister.’ A tag that seems to
have stuck when one of our players, Sean
Williamson, whom after a few sherbet’s
had difficulty in differentiating between
the role of a Rugby Club President and
that of running the country. I take it as a
great compliment that Sean should think
of me capable of running both Percy Park
and the country!”
Welcoming
“From the first day I joined Percy
Park all the players and members warmly
greeted me and they have all remained
firm friends to this day. In particular I shall
never forget Vic and ‘B’ (our Stewards at
the time) who welcomed my wife into the
fold. You would have thought we had
been there all our lives.
One of my more abiding memories
is of Vic bounding across the playing
pitch to tell me my wife was pregnant
with our first child…priceless…however
that ability to make people welcome, the
friendship and sense of belonging that is
engendered has always been a hallmark
of Percy Park.”
The Club
“‘To stand still is to go backwards’…
the greatest challenge for any person
involved with Percy Park Rugby is to
ensure that the club continues to move
forward not only with its playing staff but
to ensure that the clubs facilities remain
attractive and that the club building
continues to meet the demands of its
members and future members.
Our current build was completed in
1999 and as a management committee we
have a vision to improve our facilities.
Percy Park RFC provides rugby for three
senior sides, an Academy (Colts) team,
a touch rugby club (Percy Park Pirates a