Rugby Club ISSUE 85 | Page 55

Nuneaton Old Edwardians Nuneaton Old Edwardians RUGBY CLUB Nuneaton Old Edwardians Rugby Club is a fantastic example of the important role that a club can play in their local community. Rugby Club Magazine caught up with Club Representative Ged O’Neill to find out more about how the club. He told us, “From a facilities, social and membership perspective things are hugely positive, also our coaching set-up is excellent and all players are buzzing. In 2017, we completed Phase 2, the final stage of a new drainage system under the main pitch at a total project cost of almost £80k, mostly funded by Sport England. We should be able to discount wet weather as a reason for not using the main pitch in future and accommodate Friday evening floodlit games even the night before Saturday fixtures.” “A major achievement has been the establishment of a Junior Academy from Under 8s to Under 16s in collaboration with the RFU and local schools. We’ve resurfaced our car-park funded by generous members donations, the whole community uses the carpark as a starting point for country walks and for taking the dog for a walk. “We aim to continue to collaborate with local schools to promote school rugby festivals on our pitches and to use these festivals as recruitment opportunities for our junior academy. We also aim to increase membership numbers further by utilising GMS’s email functionality which enables potential members to buy Membership on-line. “We started a junior academy in November 2016 and from this humble beginning we are seeing steady growth in numbers. We are a Community Amateur Sports Club (CASC) and actively encourage the local community; schools, colleges, clubs and residents to utilise our facilities both for social functions and sporting activity. We host outdoor Commando boot-camps, local static bike club activities, coffee mornings for our local community of dog-walkers and we actively aim to do more of the same via our Community Development Officer Louisa Crook: [email protected].> “We are very happy with our facility but we are also keen to develop further. Some of our biggest challenges moving forwards will be growing the playing numbers and succession planning for senior management roles. It is our ambition to continue to perform well in Midlands 2 West (South), regularly field two teams and sometimes three and to make Nuneaton Old Eds the best Social and Family oriented Club in the area, while managing our expansion plans in to effect successfully.” W Smith & Sons have been providing funeral services to the Nuneaton area since 1851. We offer services to suit every need whether it be traditional or non-traditional, religious or non-religious. We are experienced and practiced in arranging services for all religious denominations and beliefs and it is our aim to provide all of our clients with a respectful and completely bespoke service. Jaguar Cars | Rolls Royce Cars | Pre-paid Plans | Memorials www.wsmithandsons.com Nuneaton T: 02476 382124 E:[email protected] Avenue Road, Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV11 4JT www.rugbyclubmag.com 55