Rugby Club ISSUE 85 | Page 49

Barnes It is important for any club looking to be successful over a sustained period of time to be able to produce their own talent, particularly in the current financial climate and this is an area they appear to have covered. It will certainly be exciting to see how their youngsters can progress in the coming years. Barnes Rugby Club is committed to playing an important role in their community and this is reflected in the fact that they also run additional sides. This allows them to give far more players the opportunity to play the game each week. Another benefit of running additional sides is that it allows the first XV to benefit from far greater strength in depth. If they are ever left short on numbers through injury or work commitments they have the option of calling up replacements with a limited amount of disruption. There is much to admire about the fine set up that Barnes Rugby Club currently has in place. Hopefully they will be able to continue in the same manner for many years to come. “I first became involved with the club as a player in September of 1994; it came about from a chance conversation at a party with Andy Beever who joined just before I did. I had moved to London and was looking for a club and played for Barnes in the 2nd row between 1994 and 1998 when a hip injury stopped me playing. I also started sponsoring the club in 1996 when my brother and I bought the lease on a pub in Fulham. In 2004 we stopped doing the pub and set up an accounting practice and continued to sponsor the club through the new business. We always keep up with how the club is getting along and it is great to see them doing so well. Keep enjoying the game and retain the traditional values that makes Barnes a proper rugby club!” Tim Haggard Photography © Roy Carlisle WE TA C K L E FIGURES PROUD SPONSORS OF BARNES RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB tel : [phone] | email : [email protected] | www.haggards.co.uk www.rugbyclubmag.com 49