Ilford Wanderers
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Ilford Wanderers
RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB
Ilford Wanderers was first established in 1896 and has gone on to put together a history
of which they have every right to be proud. At present, they are based on Queen
Elizabeth Walk in London and their first XV currently competes in the National 2
South League. They are led by the team of President David Doonan and Chair Michael
Whitfield and the club is looking to progress under their guidance.
The current group of players will be keen to add to the club’s
previous successes and enjoyed a solid league campaign this
time around. They compiled a record of twelve wins, one draw
and seventeen defeats from their thirty matches and this saw
them finish in the top half of the table with sixty-six points on
the board.
This should provide them with a solid platform from which to
build as they look to develop ahead of their 2019/20 campaign.
As long as they are able to retain their current group of players
and can perhaps make one or two quality additions they
will have a good chance of pushing on up the league. It will
certainly be interesting to see how they get along.
One of the highlights of the team’s performances this season
has been the attacking brand of rugby that they have been
working hard to produce. This has been reflected by the fact
that they have scored 445 points in the league alone at a rate of
more than twenty per game.
This will certainly have meant that any supporters attending
their matches will have been well entertained and should
encourage more of the local community to get behind the side
in the future. This in turn has the potential to provide them with
a valuable source of additional revenue which is particularly
important in the current financial climate.
Ilford Wanderers is not a club to focus solely upon their senior
set up however and this is reflected in the fact that they also have
a thriving youth set up. This part of the club looks to provide
young players from the local community with an opportunity
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to play the game in a safe and enjoyable environment whilst
helping them to reach their full potential.
It is important for any club looking to be successful over a
sustained period of time to be able to produce their own talent
and this is an area they appear to have covered. Coaching
staff involved with this part of the club are confident they’ve
a number of players currently in their ranks with the potential
for a bright future in the game.
In order to help ensure that theses players enjoy a smooth
transition into the senior game they also run a 2nd XV. This
allows them to gain experience of adult level rugby even if they
are not yet considered ready for first team action which can be
an important step in the development process.
Another benefit of running an extra side 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 Ilford
Wanderers currently has in place and this is thanks to all of
the hard work that goes into making the club a success. If they
continue in the same manner then they should be able to look
forwards to a bright and successful future for many years to
come. Rugby Club Magazine wishes them the best of luck.