Grimsby
Grimsby
RUGBY CLUB
Grimsby Rugby Club have gone through some lean times over recent
years but look to be turning things around with a new, rejuvenated
committee set up in 2017 led by Chairman Martin Simons and Secretary
Andy Picking, a surprising double act, the club fortunes are looking
promising. Last season the club were narrowly relegated from Midlands 3
East but managed to bounce straight back as Champions.
Martin first came to the club 33 years ago in
1986 as the student’s union Rugby Union
rep at the local college tasked with
finding a club to host the home
games on a Wednesday Afternoon
for the colleges Rugby Union
team, “The food Tech Boys”.
He later ended up playing
and coaching the first team
and was responsible for
setting up the junior section.
After a spell away from
the club Martin came back
and stepped into the role as
Chairman.
Andy,
having
played
rugby previously at Uni and a
few social teams, came to the club
in 2003 when his son Evan wanted
to play rugby rather than football.
From being a parent, he was forced into
coaching the U8s as there was no one else! From
there he helped take the junior side all the way
to Colts and eventually became manager
of the 1st team where Evan now plays.
He stepped into the role as Secretary
in 2017.
RC: What are the most
challenging and rewarding
aspects of your role?
AP: Amateur rugby
clubs can swallow money
at an alarming rate through
utility bills, repairs and
maintenance, improvements
etc … so keeping everything in
the black is a massive challenge.
Achieving improvements and
keeping the club solvent is the most
rewarding aspect. The teams winning
are a bonus.
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