Marlborough
Marlborough
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Marlborough
Supporting the local
Rugby Club
RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
RIVERSIDE
It is an exciting time for everyone involved with Marlborough RFC with the
club having a strong set up to compliment the attacking brand of rugby they
are playing. Rugby Club Magazine recently caught up with Press Officer Mike
Banfield to find out more about the good work they’re doing.
Involvement
He told us, “I’ve been involved since April 2003. I initially
went down to watch and maybe help out as I wasn’t doing
much on Saturday afternoons. I stopped playing when living
back in Newport but on moving to Marlborough I didn’t
know many people so it was a good way of meeting people.
I eventually got talked into playing and after one season was
named captain for the following campaign.”
Present
“The mood here is great; we have a coach who engages
all the players and the atmosphere is great because everyone
enjoys training and playing. Finance is always difficult and we
rely on sponsors and hard work of a few volunteers.
We have a good player base at senior level for two teams
and both are playing well. Some of the rugby being played by
the 1st XV is fantastic to watch and really skillful and exciting.
The minis section is also strong although a couple of our
junior age groups have struggled. Out Colts, 16s and 14s are
strong which is good for the future as we look to develop local
juniors into senior players.”
2018
“We look for promotion for our 1sts and a 2nd side that
is pushing the top sides with the aim for a strong following
season and promotion. There are always plans to expand and
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develop the clubhouse but with our current numbers and
playing success we are currently out growing the facilities we
have.”
01762 514 875
Youth
“Youth rugby gives us future senior players and is vitally
important. We make sure that the coaches are all properly
qualified and looking after the future of players. Some of our
juniors are looking very good and hopefully have an exciting
future. Above all the enjoyment of all minis/juniors is key both
for everyone involved and also the future of the club.”
Integration
“Integrating players into the senior game is essential and
the link between our colts and 2nds is very good to make sure
that the progression is available to those who want it. They
are encouraged to train with seniors when they can and be
involved. They then step up when appropriate and to ensure
they are able to physically play at the senior level. Plus making
sure they enjoy it and want to keep getting involved.”
Community
“We are there for all the family to be involved. We like (and
financially need) local events at the clubhouse and host things
like pilates, extra school lessons, band nights and pool teams.
We have over 100 footballers using the clubhouse on Saturday
Unit 5, Pelham Court, Marlborough, SN8 2AG
www.marlboroughvets.co.uk
mornings and then 250 rugby players on Sundays as well as
the senior games. We have a lot of local people visiting and
using the facilities due to this.”
Challenges
“The most challenging thing used to be attracting players
to train but recently we have a good atmosphere and this
is a lot better. We don’t have fixed floodlights so training is
always difficult to setup and means we have to have portable
floodlights. Not owning our ground as we play on common
land also means it’s difficult to expand.
The success of the 1st team means we need to expand to
our own playing facilities with floodlit training areas. We
only have two changing rooms and so with two seniors teams
we can only really ever have one team at home. This is also
difficult on Sundays with juniors teams playing. We only have
two pitches and with the constant use of the whole club they
become very worn so again more space is a vital need. As we
get more involved with community there are more calls for use
of the facility for meeting s and events and these would also be
able to have a home.
We continue to build on our playing numbers at all
levels and enjoy rugby. Our ambition is to expand into our
own facility with floodlit training, more pitches and a bigger
clubhouse with more changing rooms.”
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