Northern
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Present
“The 1st team is performing
exceptionally well thanks to the efforts
of the players, head coach Dave Guthrie
and assistant coach Jim Pollock and the
Wanderers (our 2nd team) is also doing
well. We are even putting an occasional
3rd team out with the numbers available
each week, thanks mainly to the efforts
of Ryan Moore and Dan Coates who
took over the 2nd team manager’s job
this season after career ending injuries.
We are into the second season of Colts
rugby, which is brilliant as we sometimes
struggle to get the Sunday mini-rugby
numbers to make the transition to senior,
Saturday rugby (Saturday school rugby
and the Falcons academy are a big drain).
The aim is for the 1st team to gain
promotion back to NE1, the league we
were relegated from last season. We
would also like the Wanderers (our 2nd
team) to do well in their league and to
win a cup. We want the 3rd team to play
more regularly and for the colts to finish
the season well and for some of them to
progress to senior rugby. Off the pitch
we are looking to make some building
alterations and to create a ‘players
lounge’ for the members.”
Youth
“Youth rugby is well supported up
to the age of 16 when we occasionally
struggle to get teams to progress to U18
(Colts) and then into club rugby. We
provide excellent facilities and youth
rugby is an important element of the
club’s rugby structure which we would
like to become a regular conveyor belt
of players into the senior club. There is
also now a drive to encourage rugby for
girls and this season we have provided
training sessions on Friday evenings
under floodlights.”
Integration
“When a Colts team comes through
from the mini section, we encourage
them to play Saturday fixtures against
other Colts teams so they can experience
the difference between Sunday mini-
rugby and Saturday club rugby. This
allows them to meet and mingle with
senior players and when they are old
enough (and with parental permission)
a few of them play for 87mm
the second or
third teams to get a taste of what senior
rugby is like. This season I believe we
have had three or four Colts playing for
a club side. Our 1st team has had up to
11 ex youth and Colts players represent
the club at this level which is an excellent
return.”
Community
“Northern is definitely a community
club. Our McCracken suite is used
for many different private functions
(weddings, christenings, birthdays etc.)
and club functions (entertainment nights,
New Year etc.) as well as being used
for pilates classes, the Welsh society, a
bridge club, local council community
meetings etc.
01665 830783
One of the directors, Alistair Johnson, has a long-standing
relationship with Northern RFC. Alistair first played for
Northern as a school boy in 1964 and then went on to
represent the first team in 1967 for several years. Alistair
also had a second spell with the club in the 80s under the
captaincy of George Longstaff.
NCCC are delighted to sponsor Northern RFC, this long-
standing and highly respected club. Over 500 handpicked holiday cottages in prime
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52 Issue 83
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