Brackley
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Brackley
RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB
Brackley RUFC has enjoyed a positive campaign this time around and remains
committed to playing an important role in the local community. Rugby Club
Magazine recently caught up with their Chairman John Pedder to find out more.
He told us, “I have been involved
with Brackley Rugby Union Club for 33
years, having first moved to Brackley
with work from Yorkshire, where I
played and captained Beverley and
represented East Yorkshire.”
“I have always been transient with
work as we are originally from Bath,
where I was born. However, I was
offered a position with an engineering
company in Milton Keynes and was
allowed to live within a 25 mile radius
of the office, so with Brackley being 25
miles away we made our home here.
Whilst in Bath I played for Oldfield Old
Boys and had the opportunity to play
for Bath at United and Combination
levels.
“I have always been an active
member of the Brackley club and am
currently serving as Chairman, having
been a 1st XV player, Club Captain,
Club Coach, Bar Manager, et al, all of
which brought its own challenges.
“I have tried to bring along people
to help support and grow the club,
which unfortunately proves very
difficult in these modern times where
player commitment has to be shared
with home and work timetables. But
watching my club win and succeed still
brings a tingle of pride.
24 Issue 79
“Brackley have managed to hold on
to 4th in the league of Midlands 4 East,
which when considering the challenges
we faced this year on and off the field,
seems a good compromise. However
the depth of membership is an ongoing
concern as the player and social side is
not growing as fast as we had expected,
with Brackley building 2,500 new homes
in the town!
“This year we have undertaken
many new projects with the help of
sponsorship and grants from local
council and RFU. The biggest and most
expensive of these has been on the
ground, where a clay base has meant
a boggy playing surface for most of
the winter season, which prompted us
to install vertical drains, mole drains,
sanding and reseeding. Plus new Hi-
Lum playing lights, where we can train
and promote evening and social games
on the second XV pitch.
“We are also about to finish the
ceiling in the club room, where we have
installed flat insulated ceiling and LED
down lighters, to save energy (approx
~2kw per hour) in the winter months.
This also changes the room dynamic
and acoustics, providing an atmospheric
feel to attract more social events.
“Our Junior and Mini section is
thriving, although Brackley, like many
other clubs, struggle to convert from
U16 to senior rugby, where the new
laws and outside interest hold boys (and
girls) back from making the transition.
We are therefore in discussion with the