Moortown
RC: How does the club ensure that
young players enjoy a smooth transition
into the senior game?
CTJ: Two of our established First XV
coaches regularly referee the Junior
teams on Sundays which builds
familiarity and relationships. The junior
section is encouraged to come and watch
senior rugby on Saturdays and in reality
so many of the young players attend it
is great!
Adding to that quite a few senior players
actually take training sessions. Our Colts
squad are involved in senior training for
all aspects excluding contact. This gives
them the same high-level coaching, it
means they are learning the same skills
as our senior players and also means that
in their first Saturday of playing they
will know pretty much everyone in the
changing room with them. I think this is
so important! Extravaganza this year attracted 2100
spectators and was a brilliant community
event!
RC: Would you consider yours to be a
community club? CTJ: To continue to win more games than
we lose at senior level, continue to offer
Rugby for all and to keep the conveyor
belt of talent coming through so that
five years from now we can look at our
senior section and see many of the faces
that are on the wall in the Club rooms in
Junior Pictures from years gone by.
CTJ: 100%! We have links with several
junior schools and secondary schools as
well as regularly host Yorkshire Carnegie
Community events. All that being said,
we run several events that are open to
not just the rugby community but to all
in the surrounding areas. Our Fireworks
RC: What are the club’s ambitions for
the next years?
Keith Oakes is an ex-player who started as a rugby league player and then by chance got into
Rugby Union. He told us, “I finished playing RL at school aged 16 and there were no league clubs
about. One day whilst in town I bumped into an ex PE teacher involved at Moortown RFC who, when
he found out I wasn’t playing any more invited me down to the club. My brother Nick who is five years
younger followed me into the club also.
I played for a few seasons, then went off to join the army, playing for the REME and combined
services. My main playing position was centre and I played for the army all over the world and for the
Hong Kong Tigers.
My wife Mandy is ex forces and although she continued her own battle with MS once leaving the
forces she has always been a great great example of inner strength and acceptance to my family and I.
Mandy travelled everywhere to support me and after twenty plus years of following me and during
a conversation where I mentioned as I left the field of play ‘that was definitely a forward pass’ to Mandy
she replied ‘What is a forward pass?’ I couldn’t believe my ears and replied ‘you’ve been watching rugby
for twenty odd years and you don’t know what a forward pass is?’ Mandy replied, ‘No, I have just been
watching you for twenty years.’
I continued playing up until I was 47 and more recently am committed to getting back to the gym
and fitness. I am still very much a club supporter and sponsor the club through my employers Finnings,
the well know CAT suppliers.”
Ian Short is a valued club sponsor of Moortown
Rugby Club. He is managing director of integral
blinds manufacturing company Morley Glass &
Glazing which he runs with his wife Kath. Ian
recently spoke to Rugby Club Magazine about his
long and positive association with the club, saying,
“I can`t speak highly enough about the club, Nick
Oakes, Carl and the willing band of volunteers who
tirelessly give their time and efforts to their local
club and community.”
“It can still be an amazement to me to see
many of these guys not just turn up for the odd
training session and go through the motions but
to consistently commit their time and put their
heart and soul into developing young people and
growing Moortown RFC into what it is today.
“As a sponsor, supporting the youth at the club
is what really appeals to me. The club’s work and
commitment is so impressive - they provide the
best they can whether that’s coaching, inclusion,
friendship or comfortable facilities.
“Kath and I have sponsored the club for over five
years now and like to help out whenever we can.
We would like to wish the club the very best of
continued success and send our best wishes to
all the teams for the remainder of the 2018/2019
campaign!”
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