Rugby Club ISSUE 78 | Page 71

Dixonians
© Wayne Warfield December 2017
© Wayne Warfield December 2017
to Birmingham and played for Dixonians
until I retired from rugby in 1988 as a
43-year-old.
“Also, at this time I was Fixtures
Secretary and continued in this role
until 1995, taking up this role again at
the point when the club nearly ‘died’.
Friends I made during this time are still
friends now and the camaraderie, which
developed is permanently ingrained in
my thought process even at 71 years.
“As a retired teacher I get pleasure
from organising fixtures, referees,
changing rooms, refreshments and it
does keep my brain operating and is a
bit like being back at work. Additionally,
it gives me a chance to repay the club
with my time for the great experiences I
had as a player. I have recruited 105 Vice
Presidents who pay £30.00 for nothing
more than supporting and maintaining
the club. The network of former players
generates many pleasurable nights out
with former team mates.
“The challenging aspect is generating
enthusiasm to help rekindle and build
the club up again to the force in rugby
that it was in the 80s and 90s after
barely surviving some seven years ago.
Building up enthusiasm in younger
players, who initially seem unwilling to
© Wayne Warfield December 2017
play every week can be difficult, giving
them the independence to manage the
sometimes arduous tasks necessary in
running a rugby club.
“We have had a dreadful time up
to about three seasons ago when we
struggled to get ten players and only got
games played by borrowing heads from
other clubs. The mood now is excellent
with the players enjoying winning,
the test may come as the challenges
increase. A few players are way above
the ‘average’ skill level and are proving
the difference in most games.
“On a positive note they are also
improving the skills of the less able.
Things started to get better with a
nucleus of keen guys who were positive
and dynamic. Aspects that generated
enthusiasm included club hoodies,
sweat tops, training kit, curry night out,
International Trip, portable training
lights lithium battery charged at home
and a weekend tour to Yatton RFC with
a night out in Bristol. We have used
What’s App and Facebook to generate
the same sort of spirit that occurred 40
years ago, using mobile phones with
these social media to develop a family
atmosphere within the playing members
In Season 2018-19 we intend to try
and get a foothold into the age range
16-17 in the local community, possibly
funding an officer to develop and
coordinate a ‘colts’ team. I think we
need to get regular 2nd team games as
well.
“We have a wide player pool from
the local community because we use the
changing facilities of a church funded
recreation and social centre on the
Bournville estate. This was generated
by two advertising campaigns. We have
a social media committee man who
has developed a presence on What’s
App and Facebook and this has helped
develop a family atmosphere with
members getting up to 30 messages
every morning about things that are
happening amongst the members. A
real community spirit has evolved,
which was developed in the clubhouse
or pub or former times but now the use
of mobile phones circumvents face to
face contact.
“Continuing to recruit players has
been our biggest problem. The players
will determine what our ambitions will
be over the coming years.”
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