Rugby Club Issue 76 | Page 23

Siddal Halifax Chapel of Repose Independent Funeral Directors progression to Under 16’s last season. They won the National Cup, Yorkshire Cup, Premier Division of the Yorkshire Junior League and the League Cup. “Of that squad, ten players have joined the academies of Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors. They have been a pleasure to coach and are a tremendous set of young men who we wish all the best for the future. Following on behind them, we also have strong squads in other age groups and our Under 14s and Under 13s have both had tremendous seasons. “We have invested just under £20,000 in additional indoor training facilities on site, which will help with preparation for the season. We will have a new coach at first team level and we’re losing a few players through retirement. I’m sure we’ll remain competitive and we’ll see some players from our second team stepping up to become regular NCL players. “Youth rugby really is vital to us. There is a strong bond between the junior and open age sections of the club and most of our first team players have played their junior rugby at Siddal. Our first team has competed in the last three NCL finals at Widnes - a 120 mile round trip from Halifax. At all three games we have taken almost all of our junior players to the game. Similarly, our junior teams are well supported when they play. “Most of our junior coaches are former players at the club and they tend to stay with their teams as they progress up the age groups from season to season. That helps with the continuity and with the handover from junior to open age rugby. “In the last two seasons we have seen many junior players stepping up. We have a team playing open age winter rugby in the top division of the Pennine League at the moment. That side regularly takes to the field We're here every step of the way From the point that a family contacts us to arrange a funeral, to the weeks following the funeral, we aim to go the extra mile. We offer a personal service with all the arrangements tailored to your exact requirements and to suit all budgets. We will provide an estimate of the funeral costs with no obligation. Please call us on 01422 353 970 www.halifaxchapelofrepose.co.uk with nine or ten teenagers from the seventeen in the squad. “We are absolutely a community club. We open our doors to the local elderly for a weekly get together. The club is also used twice weekly for a slimming club and we have built a playground within the boundaries of the club aimed at under 7’s. “Our biggest challenges moving forwards will be continuing to attract juniors to play rugby league when there are so many competing activities to attract them, developing our facilities to create more training, playing and changing room space and to find the money to cover these additional costs. “It is our ambition to remain as one of the top clubs in amateur RL.” “Our biggest challenges moving forwards will be continuing to attract juniors to play rugby league when there are so many competing activities to attract them, developing our facilities to create more training, playing and changing room space and to find the money to cover these additional costs.” www.rugbyclubmag.com 23