Rugby Club Issue 89 | Page 35

Haddington Haddington H RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB addington RFC is a fine example of the important role that a club can play in their local community. Rugby Club Magazine recently caught up with Club President Keith Wallace to find out more about how the club has been getting along. Involvement Keith told us, “I got my first pair of rugby boots fifty years ago Christmas past and I am still playing (just). My late Dad was a former Captain and President, he took to me to watch and I used to kick about behind the posts with Ian Clark, now our fixture secretary, so it was some pride that last year I became the first President who was the son of a President. We were, and still are, very much a family club.” The Role “The most challenging part of my role is probably the range of tasks which continually need addressed, and the time this takes up along with getting people to sign up for events early to help with planning. The most rewarding is at both ends of the age spectrum: anytime there are lots of kids playing our great game, following in the footsteps of many, like our minis tournament which sees some 500 kids playing, or a Saturday morning with three pitches in use for our School of Rugby; or when Stewart Cunningham one of our Vice Presidents and I put on the “Old Goats” lunch each year for our over 75s. It is great to see them enjoy “the fellowship of rugby football”. In this respect the buzz of this fellowship in a busy rugby club is always rewarding, such as recently at Hawick Linden.” Atmosphere “The atmosphere here is very positive. Our minis and school of rugby are going well in both participation (more than 200 kids from 5 to 18) and at the senior end of the school of rugby in performance with a far greater number of players making it into representative level at 16, 17 and 18. At senior level after a torrid time last season where we were relegated, it is great to see some smiles return as we score tries, win games and challenge for promotion, and equally good that our seconds are going well again.” 2020 “We are off to Dublin for the Six Nations with a tour party of 42, organised by ex-Presidents Gordon www.rugbyclubmag.com 35