Preston Lodge
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Billy Bingham of club sponsor
Signature Security recently spoke
to Rugby Club Magazine about his
positive association with Preston
Lodge RFC, saying, “I live in Port
Seton and my wife Susan is the niece
of Colin Reynolds who has been
on the committee at Preston Lodge
Rugby Club for many years now
and I was so impressed by the great
community work they were doing
that I decided to become a sponsor.
More recently my son Billy has
started playing for the clubs Under
12s and is really enjoying himself.
It seems the club are dedicated to
working with local people and offer
the young people a positive outlet
through sport and I’m all for that. I
would like to congratulate everyone
at the club on being chosen to
appear within Rugby Club Magazine
and wish all those associated with
Preston lodge RFC the very best of
continued success!”
RC: How does the club ensure that
young players enjoy a smooth transition
into the senior game?
DH: Our Rugby Development Officer
is also a senior player and currently
Club Captain. He works closely with
the senior coaches to introduce youth
players. From a young age, our players
spend time around the senior players.
We have mini days at home fixtures,
and the seniors help at mini and youth
sessions throughout the season.
RC: Would you consider yours to be a
community club?
DH: PLRFC works hard to connect
across our community and we definitely
consider ourselves to be a community
club. Each year, we host a One Club
One Community Open Day where other
community groups are invited. This year
we plan to invite them to go a step further
by taking part in our social touch rugby
matches. We will kick start this event by
running match balls for the other villages
that make up our community. All of these are ongoing and are top
of the agenda most of the time.
RC: What do you believe could be some
of the biggest challenges the club may
face in the coming years? Senior rugby – to continue to offer
rugby at a vibrant and ambitious club
with the facilities to match.
Youth rugby – to retain philosophy
of supporting our young people;
offering rugby as a life anchor for them.
Allow talent and hard work to shine and
support the boys and girls on their rugby
journey.
Ladies rugby – we would hope to
have established a sustainable Ladies
Team.
Mini Rugby – to have grown our
numbers further without detracting
from the fun, safe environment we
currently offer.
DH: Sustainability – we need to keep
on top of the financial challenges.
Players – continuing to keep up the
high standards we have set for creating
our own flow of players into the senior
squads will always be important.
Continue to invest time in growing
our girls’ squads and the creation of a
Ladies’ Team.
Volunteers – fundamental to any
club. We try to ensure our volunteers
feel valued and continue to enjoy their
involvement with the club.
“I was born and bred locally and although my
own main passion was sport many of my friends
were members of the rugby club so when my son’s,
Cameron and Blair, took an interest in playing
rugby I was delighted.
Both boys are products of the club’s mini section
and are both developing at regional and national
level. Cameron, who is 17, is a scrum half and Blair,
who is 15, is a winger.
60 Issue 85
RC: What are the clubs ambitions for
the next five years?
Craigelaw Golf Club is a sponsor of the club and like
to help out when we can. I am down at the club
regularly and enjoy watching all the lads turn out.
It’s great to see how the young ones have developed
and I speak highly of the great community and
social enjoyment available through the club.”
Derek Scott