Rugby Club Issue 67 | Page 44

Westcliff FOLLOW US ONLINE TWITTER.COM/RUGBYCLUBMAG Westcliff RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB W estcliff RFC is a fantastic example of the important role that a club can play in a community with their inclusive and welcoming set-up. We recently caught up with Club Representative Lewis Harvey to find out more about the good work that the club has been doing lately. Involvement He told us, “I was seven years old when I first picked up a rugby ball at school. I already had a few friends that played at Westcliff, but I was very quickly convinced to come down on a Sunday morning and see what club rugby was all about. Well, that was 1987 and twenty nine years later, I am still playing every Saturday. Although I am not much bigger than when I was at seven, and recently, not much faster either. One of the biggest attractions back then (and still to this day, I am a proud to say) is the family atmosphere that is so obvious on both a Saturday and Sunday mornings with a high standard of coaching and excellent facilities.” The Role “I am new to the board, although my father was chairman for three years, so I had a good idea what I was in for and what I wanted to achieve. I am looking to take over, or certainly assist 44 Issue 67 with the club communication and membership, as a scrum half; I do enjoy the sound of my own voice. It is a role that I think it vitally important, as the membership need to know what the policies are for the club, the results on a Saturday and Sunday, and social events that bring this great family club together. My role will be to inform the club of news and events through a variety of media, with the likes of newsletters, Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/WestcliffRFC), Twitter, Emails and the club website (http://westcliffrfc.co.uk/).” Atmosphere “The mood now is electric! We had a very rough season last year with a huge number of injuries plaguing the senior sides, the first team narrowly avoided relegation, the lower teams suffering with a lack of players and the occasional big loss, and the sad loss of a dear friend (Ryan “Rhino” O’ Neil – who lost his fight to cancer). But, after all that doom and gloom, pre-season started