Cleobury Mortimer
FOLLOW US ONLINE TWITTER.COM/RUGBYCLUBMAG
Cleobury Mortimer
RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
Cleobury Mortimer RFC is a fine example of a club working within its
means in order to be successful. Rugby Club Magazine recently caught
up with Club Representative David Hinves to find out more about how
they’ve been getting along lately.
Beginnings The Role Atmosphere
He told us, “I have been involved
from the start of Cleobury Mortimer
RFC. I came to the area as a PE Teacher
to the secondary school in Cleobury
Mortimer, called Lacon Childe, in 1980
as an eager newly qualified teacher.
What I found was a Head of
Department Roy Powell who played
Rugby for Tenbury Wells, but having
recently moved in to Cleobury Mortimer
just prior to my arrival, was eager to
build on the sports being taught. We
were both keen to start a Rugby Club but
had to build up the talent almost from
scratch.” “The most challenging aspects of
my role are finding sufficient funds to
operate the Club sustainably especially
in recent difficult financial times.
Another challenge is finding the number
of players willing to turn up week in and
week out to operate the two sides we
need to remain competitive. We often
have some enthusiastic youth willing
to play 2nd XV games, but insufficient
older more experienced players willing
to trot out and help them, they would
prefer to watch the 1st XV games!
The most rewarding aspects are the
times when we are successful in getting
about 35-40 players to play enjoyable
competitive matches with the club house
is full afterwards. Another thing that is
rewarding are those occasions when the
Club plays a vital role in the life of the
town and supports the community.” “We have had two promotions
in three seasons, so the mood is very
good. In 2015, our star No 8 from the
Twickenham season, Paul Hulland,
returned from playing at Luctonians
RFC in National League 2 North. He
‘retired’ from that level to return to his
home town club and play in the same
team as his brother and several friends.
His presence has galvanised the
youngsters and he brings a certain
professionalism. As a result we were
promoted as Champions from level
9 in the 2015/16 season, then after
a steadying year at level 8 we were
promoted to Midlands 2 West (North) as
Runners Up last season.
At the end of the 2015/16 season
I had a surprise phone call from our
ex-coach Roddy Yapp, who had been
coaching a great crop of youngsters at
A New Club
“During the 1991 World Cup a
‘street-scrum’ occurred when 2-adjacent
pubs emptied after live screening of a
World Cup match involving England.
The traffic was stopped, overseen by the
Vicar at the time who leaned on the high
railings to watch the action like some
‘divine-referee’!
There was so much good-humoured
fun that both pubs decided to have a
game against each other and they came
to their former PE Teachers for help
and a Referee. Once this game had
taken place and was enjoyed by all both
groups decided to amalgamate to play a
proper game against another Club. The
fixture was arranged against Dudley
Kingswinford 4th XV and the Rugby
Club was born!”
58 Issue 76