Cockermouth
“I have been involved with the club for over twenty
years, since my eldest son started playing tag and before I
knew it I was back playing having realised what I’d missed.
Subsequently, I became a coach working with many different
age groups including the role of Coach Co-
ordinator. More recently I have become the
chairman of the junior section of the club.
The most challenging part of
my role as chairman of the junior
section of the club is ensuring
we have enough volunteers and
resources for the coaching
staff and the other volunteers
to ensure the smooth running
of the junior section. Obtaining
grants
and
sponsorship,
providing financial stability
for the club, also creates a
challenge.
One of the most rewarding
aspects of my role is the fact that
approximately 80% of our first team
have come through the junior section of
the club. Many of our players have gone on
to play rugby at a higher level. It is also a joy to
see so many youngsters playing rugby and being active.
I would say that the mood at the club, as a whole,
has never been better. The junior section from the “rug
rats” (as I call them) to the under 16s have a brilliant and
positive outlook to everything. As far as the senior squad is
concerned I have never seen it so positive and match days
at home and the club house is “bouncing”. We have seen
a significant increase in spectators and sponsorship so the
overall outlook for club as a whole is very positive and very
bright.
So far the season has exceeded expectations both from
within the club and from those outside the club. We are
challenging for promotion this year and I believe and others
involved in the club including the players believe that this can
be achieved.
Youth rugby is extremely important if not vital to the
club. The club would probably not exist today without the
junior rugby section; from the financial support given to the
development of players. The club made a conscious decision
many years ago that in order for the club to survive and
progress we had to be self-generating in players. Therefore,
the club developed a strategy that was focused around
youth rugby to develop it and to develop a player progression
pathway.
Our model was not to worry too much about results but
to develop the players that would take the club forward. This
has taken nearly fifteen years of hard work but
we now have a 1st XV and a 2nd XV, many
of whom have come through the junior
section. Furthermore, we have players
that have gone on to play for teams
in higher leagues and at county
level. So I think we must be doing
something right.
Integrating players into the
senior section comes back to
that the decision we made many
years ago when we realised
that we had to put in place
a system to ensure we didn’t
drive the young men/players
away. We identified team mentors
for the players and then started to
introduce them to the senior squad in
informal training sessions, touch games
and social events.
We feel, as a club, it is important for the older
players to be part of the younger players’ development. The
club also decided that we would not go down a colt’s route
but the second team model. This was simple decision as we
didn’t have the resources to do both and it was felt this would
benefit the club and the young players.
I would consider Cockermouth RUFC to be very much a
community club because in order to survive and develop we
have needed the support of the local community. It is therefore
important that we engage with the local community and as
a result we are always willing to support local charity events
and organisations. This might be fundraising at matches or
offering the use of the clubs’ facilities. For example the club
allowed a charity group to use the whole site for an assault
course to raise funds at no cost. We have other sporting
clubs at the site such as soccer, tennis and archery.
Ideally, I would like to see the club promoted to the
next level and to continue expanding and being successful.
However, selfishly, I would rather it didn’t get too big because
I fear it would lose its atmosphere and its close-knit family
feel.”
Carl Whild
www.rugbyclubmag.com
27