Phoenix
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In February of 2019 we are taking
our U16s on a tour to Nijmegen, playing
three matches, one of which will be under
floodlights. The fact that we are able to
offer such an experience to our Juniors is
a testament to the coaches, parents and
players who have raised all the money
necessary to hold the tour themselves.”
Integration
“The programme we have in place for
transition to the seniors starts through
the summer’s pre-season training where
the U16 and U17 age groups will start to
team up in appropriate activities. Where
it is safe to do so and in accordance with
RFU guidelines, we will start to introduce
players in to senior fixtures. We also look
to arrange fixtures with other local clubs
that have development sides so that they
continue to develop their skills and gain
experience at a more senior level.”
Community
“We are very much a community
club. Alongside our winter rugby
commitments, during the summer
months, we provide fitness classes that
are open to the general public. We also
run a cricket XI that plays on a Sunday
and we host a family fun day every year
that attracts hundreds of people from the
local area.
We support the local carnivals
and Xmas fayres and have a good
relationship with the neighbouring scout
group. Several of our sponsors are local
retailers, pubs, restaurants, hairdressers
and, as a club, we make a point of
making sure their sponsorship is repaid
many fold.”
58 Issue 83
Challenges
“Succession planning is on my list
to address. Many of the committee
members have been on board since the
inception of the club in 1963 and I would
anticipate that their level of involvement
will rightly diminish, so we need to
look towards the next generation that
possess the same level of commitment
and enthusiasm for the club to keep the
momentum going.
Maintaining a solid player base that
can support two or preferably three
sides, is also going to be a challenge.
Sustaining a thriving junior’s will
need the help of more volunteers for
coaching and managing everything that
is required on a Sunday morning. It will
also need a concerted effort of school
engagement from ourselves with the
support of Bucks RFU.”
Ambitions
“Over the next five years, for the first
team we intend to solidify a top half place
in the Bucks and Oxon Premiership, the
league above where we are now, and
perhaps flirt with the possibility of a run
in Southern Counties North, a league
where we have played before. We want
to see a regular, well-staffed 2nd XV
playing and a smattering of Vets fixtures
to keep the old faces linked to the club.
For the juniors, I would like to see
strong numbers of children across the
younger age groups as we build the
infrastructure for a sustainable junior and
minis section. We need to do all of this
while maintaining the financial integrity
of the club and, most importantly,
remaining the most friendly, fun and
welcoming club in the area.”