Rugby Club Issue 73 | Page 35

Ashby This part of the club looks to provide young players from the local area with an opportunity to play the game in a safe and enjoyable environment while helping them to reach their full potential. It is important for any club looking to be successful over a sustained period of time to be able to produce their own talent, particularly in the current financial climate and this is an area that they appear to have covered. Coaching staff overseeing this section of the club are confident they have a number of players currently involved with the potential to go on and represent the team at first team level. It will certainly be exciting to see how they are able to progress. In order to help ensure that these players enjoy a smooth transition into the senior game they also run additional sides. This allows them to gain experience of adult level rugby even if they are not yet considered ready for first team action which can be an important step in the development process. Another benefit of having extra sides is that it allows the first team to benefit Andrew Jackson of Fisher German LLP recently took the time to tell us more about his positive association with the club, saying, “I joined as a playing member when I moved to Ashby from North Yorkshire in 1983 and played in the back row for fifteen years. I stopped playing due to old age and have held the roles of 1st XV Captain, Coach, stand in Chairman and President.” “Ashby de la Zouch has always been a mixture of people who were born and schooled in the area and those who have moved in to the town. It has always been a very welcoming club with an inclusive atmosphere. It is well run within its means by the members and ambitious within those means. “It has always relied on a strong flow of younger players initially coming through the local schools and now through the very successful micro, mini and junior sections. It now has a ladies team to underpin the inclusivity I mention. “I’d encourage the club’s current group of players to train hard, play hard but above all enjoy our game for what it is – a disciplined and demanding sport.” from far greater strength in depth. If they are ever short on numbers through injury or work commitments they have the option of calling up replacements with a limited amount of disruption. Ashby RFC is a club that has been playing a vital role in their community for many years and this is thanks to all of the hard work that has gone into the club. If they continue in the same manner then they should be able to look forward to a bright and successful future for many years to come. Supporting local rugby We are proud to sponsor Ashby RFC and other local rugby clubs associated with our 16 UK offices, working for clients’ land and property interests across six key sectors • • • • • • Commercial Development Residential Sustainable energy Rural Utilities & infrastructure contact [email protected] fishergerman.co.uk www.rugbyclubmag.com 35