Blaydon
He told us, “I joined Blaydon as a player from Northern
Rugby Club in 1977 and was 1st Team Captain the following
year, season 1978-1979. I then moved away from the North East
but on my return watched the 1st team games. I was elected
President in 2011 and have continued in that role for the last six
years. I will again be President for season 2017-18.”
“I have enjoyed travelling to some prestigious Clubs
throughout the country, making friendships with their officials
and promoting Blaydon and the North East to their guests
at Lunchtime functions. I enjoy making speeches and think
it important that whilst Blaydon and the North East my not
have the financial resources of other Clubs, we let people know
what a good club Blaydon is.
“We enter a new period this year having been relegated
to National Division 2 North from National 1. We have a new
Director of Rugby in Ally Hogg, and a number of our best
players have either retired or moved away. Thus it will be a
new type of team playing different rugby to previous years.
“We enter the Season with excitement though and look
forward to visiting some new clubs for the 1st time. We are
financially holding our head above water but Sponsorship is
always difficult and we struggle to gain support from local
businesses.
“With the exception of the professional level, the overall
standard of Club rugby in the North East has dropped
significantly from the amateur period pre 1990.However
because Blaydon has had some outstanding players we have
been a shining example in competing in National 1 for so long
against semi-professional sides, but now face the reality that
there are not enough quality young players coming through to
keep the standards high for all Clubs in the future. Additionally
the attraction of the South East for jobs and money mean that
many of our best youth move away either before or after
University.
“The Clubs are also handicapped in that the three north
east Universities no longer allow their best players to play
Club rugby as they strive to compete with the
likes of Hartbury and Loughborough
Colleges at University level. Many of
these excellent young players are
lost to the area altogether when
they leave University as they
have never experienced the
enjoyment and camaraderie
of Club rugby.
“Youth Rugby for all
clubs is vital, and very
popular, as this is where
many of our future
players will come from.
We have an excellent
Youth set up ably run
by Paul Vinnicombe
with many keen and
supportive parents. We
are striving to ensure that
the youth enthusiasm is
locked into the ethos of the
Club to the benefit of all.
“Under 18 rugby, at the
peak of the youth set up, is
sometimes difficult to sustain, as
academic concerns are more important
at that age. However, like all Clubs we try
to identify and retain potential players for the
senior teams and have an opportunity to play some of
the more mature boys in our senior teams in the expectation
that they will be able to move on to 1st team level in due course.
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“Although we have only recently lost our CASC status
for financial reasons, we are very much a Community Club
providing not only facilities for Rugby but also
external functions such as a wide range
of Events, Car Boots, firework nights,
and a venue for many celebratory
functions within the Clubhouse,
well promoted and carried out
by our Stewardess Sharon.
“We
have
been
operating in one form or
other since 1888 so we will
continue to see rugby
played at Blaydon for
many years. We need
to remain financially
viable, which in this
day and age is no easy
achievement, and in
Rugby te