Social
February 2010 Newsletter
Welcome to our first edition of the New Year updating all members on events down at Croydon RFC.
Club teams and matches (Club 1st XV, 2nd XV and 3rd XV)
1st XV and League games
The 1st XV after a run of close encounters produced another superb performance to beat Old Freemans in the league last Saturday. A superb performance from the pack was capped by world class finishing from Will Salvidge on the wing propelling us to mid table in the league – with 3 points separating 3rd from 8th the final 7 league games promise a nail biting end to the season. Our 1st XV League fixtures for the next few months (they are also on the website)
February 6th Away V Farnham (rearranged game), February 13th Away V Teddington; 20th Home V Battersea Ironsides, 28th will be the rearranged Surrey cup game V Old Haiylebarians March 6th Away V London Exiles; 20th Home V Bec Old Boys; 27th Away V Old Whitgiftians April 10th Home V Old Walcountians
Brian and Craig continue to craft a superb open flowing and dynamic style of rugby that belies the league we play in and has been drawing lots of supporters along every week to watch…..the 1st XV need all the support we can provide them - make sure you join us on the touchline….and in the bar for the fine real ale afterwards.
SURREY REPRESENTATIVE RECOGNITION –
Croydon RFC continues its fine tradition as the ‘Academy of rugby’ in Surrey as Dave Thornton shines
As further testament to how our younger players are developing and are groomed into top class rugby players – we are renowned in Surrey and wider afield as the best club providing youngsters with the opportunity to showcase their talents at the highest level - the club were delighted that 3 of our 1st XV players were selected for Surrey U20’s trials – Many congratulations to Will Curtis, Mike Pedersen and Dave Thornton. Dave continued his superb season long form into the trials and was duly selected for the Surrey U20 representative game.
TRAINING
Every Tuesday and Thursday evening from 7pm onwards - we continue to get record numbers and we have seen many new and past players returning to the club to train. Make sure you turn out for training more particularly now as the pitches get heavier and place a premium of top fitness levels. The bar is open on a Tuesday and Thursday evening 7pm until 11pm – Come down, watch Brian putting players through their paces at training and have a beer…….
VICE PRESIDENTS LUNCH -
10th April from 12.15 onwards V Old Walcountians - Top class French or Greek (no plates will be smashed!) cuisine from our resident cooking expert Ian Failes with our usual real ale accompaniments BOOK EARLY so we get your place reserved - After the record turnout for the last few VP’s lunches the game against Old Walcountanians will be the last league fixture of the season. Many people have indicated they are coming so please confirm your attendance to Ian Failes email id and book your place. Ian has themed the lunch around fine French fare as we expect a culinary extravaganza in addition to watching a finely contested rugby game ….places have been going very fast so make sure you BOOK EARLY to avoid disappointment.
2nd XV Jamie Pecorella The 2nd XV continue a good recent run (although like all teams they have been weather affected and had to promote a few players to the 1stXV squads) There is now healthy competition for places in both the 1st and 2nd XV – Come training and get a game
3rd XV team – Captain Trevor Henderson reports
Due to a general lack of commitment from players, we have been struggling to get 3 teams out and have had to cry off the last 3rd team league match against Racal Decca (a side we can beat). Given the efforts made by all team captains, the fixtures secretary, club coach and bar staff (to name just a few) to organise everything necessary for matches to take place, it’s very disappointing we are not getting a bigger commitment from players. Can all players ensure they are available for the remainder of the season. Contact Trevor for a game Email address “Trevor Henderson ;\)”
TAG RUGBY COMES TO CROYDON RFC
The club have entered into an exclusive arrangement with Tag Rugby for the Croydon and surrounding area to run a series of mid week Tag Rugby competitions and tournaments over the Summer Autumn and Spring – each lasting for 8 – 10 weeks. This is one of our major sponsorship and recruitment campaigns starting over the summer. Competitions will be held initially on a Wednesday evenings (7 – 9.30pm) for between 10 and 12 teams.
Tag Rugby is a non-contact team game in which each player wears shorts with Velcro patches. The mode of play is similar to Touch Rugby with attacking players attempting to dodge, evade and pass a rugby ball while defenders attempt to prevent them scoring by “tagging” - pulling a Velcro attached tag from the ball carrier. The games will be played on the top pitch at the club and require a squad of up to 12 players with 7 playing at any one time. The competition will be organised and operated by Tag Rugby and we hope to attract many players or all abilities down to the club as part of our recruitment initiatives. We are working closely with Croydon Council and their Kick start initiative, Sports England and developing our links with the local media and press. A new Tag Rugby website will be launched in February and there will be links onto all the Internet social websites like Facebook, Twitter (all players and fans will be sent Tweets to advise them of game arrangements), Gumtree (the free to air website that is very popular amongst the younger members) and much more.
Tag Rugby’s Chairman is the famous British Lions and Wales rugby Union and League player Isteyn Harris who will be presenting the trophies for the competition
Iestyn Harris
We have already had significant interest in the event from many sources – press and media - and members should expect to see a splurge of publicity over the coming months promoting Tag Rugby, Croydon RFC and Croydon Council’s initiative. This will provide a further superb opportunity for sponsors to be linked with a major initiative in Croydon and get significant advertising coverage.
Link to http://www.trytagrugby.com to find out more details
Want to play and organise a team? Let Mike Pendleton know on email of your interest and we will pass the details onto Tag Rugby
Security at the club
The club is now getting busier by the day – we have a growing number of outside events and there are a lot of new people around the club from seniors to juniors.
In addition there are also travellers who have moved in to occupy grounds just up the road from the club. We have taken action to improve security and installed Close Circuit TV’s at the doors and selected areas in the club but we need to ask and remind all members to be particularly vigilant with their valuables and security. Can we ask all players and members not to leave valuables in the changing rooms at any time – and be particularly vigilant on locking up doors and gates.
VETS and TOURS GAMES
EVERGREEN Cup
Our next Plate Evergreen game is V Warlingham to be played before the end of February Trevor Henderson, Stuart Plummer and Ed Pattison are organising the team – Want a game? Dust off those boots and contact Trevor on Ed on email
Ewen Kellas and his team continue to run a superb Evergreen Cup - in the quarter finals of the Cup Maidstone play Charlton Park, Cranbrook play Colfeians, Guildford play Blackheath and in the Plate quarter finals Sevenoaks or Tunbridge Wells play Gillingham Anchorians, Brockleians play- Tonbridge Judd, Dorking or Purley John Fisher play East Grinstead and Warlingham play Croydon.
Final of the EVERGREEN CUP and Plate competitions 25th April at the club Get the date in your diaries now as we will need as much help as we can get on the day and advise Ewen Kellas on email “Ewen Kellas” that you can help – we need help running the Bar B Q, the bar, the car park and pitch etc set up
ARNHEM ON TOUR – over the weekend of the 23rd April – Fancy going to Twickenham for London Wasps V Bath on Saturday 24th Game KO at 5.30pm Tickets cost £10 each for adults (plus transport)
After our tour across to Arnhem in 2008 they are set to visit Croydon and play a game over the weekend of 23rd – 25th April. The Arnhem lads will join the club’s Awards dinner on Friday 23rd (start time from 7.30pm onwards) and then play a game of rugby against a mixed band of juniors and Vets on the Saturday morning – 24th April at 11am. After a few beers Arnhem are off to Twickenham to watch the Wasps V Bath premiership game – Who wants to go along as well? Cost is £10 a ticket. Let Mike Pendleton know if you want tickets and to be included in a coach to and from the game on or 07801 909111
Jeff Jeffcoat Day - Sunday 8th May is Jeffcoat Day Stuart Plummer and Mark Jeffcoat are organising all the details. Want to play as part of the Croydon team? Contact Stuart on or Mark on “Mark Jeffcoat”
SUBSCRIPTIONS
There are still a final few Subs outstanding. Subs were due a long time ago and we have been chasing hard so its annoying we still have to chase down the final few. No one who hasn’t paid subs can play and will not be selected. If you still owe subs see your captain and make sure you pay subs as soon as possible. There are no excuses now.
RECRUITMENT and new club publicity campaign – We need your help and ideas to continue with our recruitment drive
We have an excellent base of players and members at the club…..but we need more - The club are always on the lookout for new players and Kingsley Hunt is leading a new committee to focus on player recruitment across all age groups. Over recent weeks a number issues of varying urgency have been identified and a plan to start to address these, formulated, for example getting an accurate list of senior players willing and able to turn out each Saturday. From this we should be able to establish the extent of the numbers required to get three teams out each Saturday. Additionally the recruitment committee are looking at A “Bring a player” scheme; A clear cut set of options to use when recruiting new members; Greater use of the website and internet; Consideration of incentives schemes for recruitment and retention of new players……And much more, the fine detail of which is being thrashed out.
There will be regular updates as plans unfold and progress.
Like anything it needs the support and more importantly involvement of everyone in CRFC. From committee member to player from supporter to volunteer because without that support it will not happen. You will see us increasing our advertising and visibility in the local press, on the Internet (through some Social networking sites), new banners, flyers, posters, targeting local schools, colleges, workplaces, gyms and launching the new Tag Rugby initiative with Croydon Council to draw more players to the club.
But lets get a start - know a mate who you can bring down the club? Get him down playing Tag or in one of the teams for training and playing. No club can ever have enough players and we need all members and players to introduce and bring down new players – standard irrelevant!
Got any other ideas that Kingsley and his team should consider? If so please collar him (and buy him a well deserved drink) in the bar.
JUNIORS and a new Club and RFU funded Juniors Coach for our area (Francis Pecorella and Brian Attfield write up) (Junior Rugby Chairman Francis Pecorella email - Tel. 020 8776 1353 (h))
As many members will know the club recently entered into a major commitment and investment in the development and coaching of our Junior set-up – In conjunction with the RFU and Surrey RFU we employed and funded our first Junior full time RFU coach – Paul Wilson - for liaison between the local schools and the club, to assist with training, developing our coaches and working with our juniors. The early success of Paul’s work has enabled us to ask Brian Attfield to work with our Juniors and the local schools and generate more local juniors to the club. To-date we have now formed training and playing links with Edenham, Shirley High, Croydon College, Applegarth (New Addington) and Addiscombe High School who are all sending their pupils down to the club to train and play in our Juniors set-up. Already we have numbers to get 2 junior age group teams up and running - Junior training is every Sunday from 10am till 12pm. Any queries please do not hesitate to contact Francis Pecorella on email
BAR
Stuart Plummer and his team continue to work their magic in and around the bar. There is always the excellent Greene King real ale and we will shortly be changing the Scrumpy Jack cider for Carlsberg as a result of popular demand. All prices were reduced at the start of the season and a great pint is now just £2.50…..
RECENT HOUSE AND GROUNDS DAYS AT THE CLUB
Many thanks to everyone who helped get the club in shape at the recent House and grounds events (pre and post Xmas) Much of the work is done – and there but there are a few painting jobs to finish and we will have a further date in the close season.
GIRLS
In addition to his second team activities Jamie Pecorella is continuing to develop and train the girls team who now co train and play with Esher Girls. Training every Wednesday night from 7pm onwards contact Jamie Pecorella (Girls Rugby Coach) email - 07800 766551(m)
Sponsorship Opportunities 2010-2011
Don’t forget our Sponsors - in addition to our long standing club sponsors like Mott Macdonald, The Kings Mill partnership, Premier Autocentres, Streeter Marshall, IBM and Jimmy Bond/Surrey Kitchens we are looking for new club sponsors to take advantage of some great promotional packages – these will include pitch-side banners; road-side advertising; shirt sponsorship and promotion on the Club website. One of the major projects we will be doing over the coming months is the re-modelling of the entrance to the club – we lack enough club visibility and are not working our club and sponsor advertising space well enough. The front gate area will be re-designed and set back and new Croydon RFC and sponsor boards will be advertised more prominently. Along with this work we are now looking for sponsors to take advantage of our excellent sponsors package.
There is a document attached which sets out an outline of the opportunities available for the 2010-2011 season - and there is flexibility in all the packages. If the attached does not appeal but you have an alternative idea then come and talk to us.
In taking up one of the sponsorship opportunities not only will you be promoting your business amongst Croydon’s business and sporting community but you will be contributing in a major way to Croydon RFC’s vision “to be one of the top rugby clubs in Surrey”.
We would like next year’s sponsors in place by 1st June and are therefore requesting that you commit before 31st May 2010. Are there any other companies out there that you know of that would want to be connected with Croydon’s premier rugby club? If you can help the committee drive our sponsors and fund raising efforts please contact Paul Taylor email id on or mobile 07774 152847 or work 0208 686 7942.
CLUB SHOP
The club shop continues to trade very healthily – What kit do you need? – training shirts, shorts, socks, mouth guards, head guards and much much more. Whatever you need let Sue know or see Sue down at the club to get your kit requirements.
200 CLUB – In it to win it
The big 200 club draw, with a free bar and huge £950 of prize money including a £500 prize will be at the club on 5th February 2010. We have free numbers and anyone wanting to join should contact Trevor Henderson. Don’t forget that prizes consist of the following:
7 x £50 draws every month; 1 x £100 draw every month; 1 x £500 draw once every six months with a Free bar once every six months and all for the princely sum of a ticket subscription price of £5 per ticket per month. Please contact Trevor Henderson on and sign up asap
SOCIAL EVENTS
The club’s Social Secretary – Stuart Plummer – continues to drive the calendar of club events (email id ). You can see what Stuart and his team have arranged below - The following dates for your diaries and contact the nominated people for tickets and details –
Club Awards Dinner 23rd April start time 7.30pm Tickets at £20 each to include a top of the range curry, excellent banter with all the teams and players .
Let your captains know you are coming and get your tickets from behind the bar
Stuart and his team are in the process of organising a Race night and Casino night with much, much more. Watch out for the dates ……which will be coming soon.
TREORCHY MALE VOICE CHOIR at The Fairfields Hall on the 20th February at 7.30pm. In conjunction with Rugby’s own charity The Wooden Spoon the club have negotiated special discounted rates for any members who would like to attend the evening concert - £15 for side Stalls seats ( these tickets are normally priced at £24.50 ). Please contact Alan Jenkins on to book your tickets. This is a superb opportunity to go and hear the wonders of Valleys music on our doorstep Don’t miss out.
OTHER Club News
Clubhouse Hire – NOW open to 21st birthday parties and 18th birthday parties (18 birthday parties for club members only)
The club website has now been fully updated with details of the club rooms available for hire -
Link to the details on: http://www.croydonrfc.com/hire_the_clubhouse. If you know someone who wants to hire our facilities on a regular basis during the week, or for parties, events, weddings? If you do please contact Christine Pecorella (Email )
Got any good ideas for what the club should be doing?????? – Events, organising or whatever – please send or speak to any of the committee members – All ideas welcome!
Get all the up to date Club news from the Club website, including ‘what is on this week’ at
http://www.croydonrfc.com and coming in the next issue a write up on Who’s on the club’s committee……
Mike Pendleton, Chairman
If you fancy contributing an article to the future editions please send anything you feel should go into the club newsletter to
CROYDON RUGBY FOOBALL CLUB
2010 – 2011 SEASON
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
[All prices quoted are for one year’s duration, unless stated otherwise]
PITCH SIDE BANNERS
3 metres by 1 metre – mounted on stand alone base
Cost:
(a) Banner and mounting cost to be borne by sponsor and invoiced direct to Sponsor. Organisation to be undertaken by the club or sponsor.
(b) Yearly advertising cost £750 plus VAT
SHIRT SPONSORSHIP
First Team . Limited to one Sponsor on Training Tops (Currently Mott McDonald advertise on the playing shirts).
Cost:
(a) Cost of 22 training tops with logos design incorporated. Cost to be borne by Sponsor and invoiced to Sponsor. Organisation to be undertaken by the club (Estimated cost is £550 plus VAT for the training tops plus design and print costs on top).
(b) Yearly advertising cost £750 plus VAT.
Second, Third and Junior Teams
Cost:
(a) Cost of 22 playing shirts with logos design incorporated. Cost to be borne by Sponsor and invoiced to Sponsor. Organisation to be undertaken by the club. (Estimated cost is £660 plus VAT for the shirts plus design and print costs on top).
(b) Yearly advertising cost £500 plus VAT for second and third teams and £300 plus VAT for any junior team.
SPONSORS BOARD AT ENTRANCE TO DRIVE
To advertise on the Board at the entrance to the drive is £1,500 plus VAT per annum. Limited to two Sponsors.
POST PROTECTORS.
Limited to one sponsor per team
Cost:
(a) Cost of post protectors logos design incorporated. Cost to be borne by Sponsor and invoiced to Sponsor. Organisation to be undertaken by the club. (Estimated cost £350 plus VAT plus design and print costs on top).
(b) Yearly advertising cost £500 plus VAT.
All of the above also includes:
Inclusion on Sponsors’ Board in clubhouse.
Logo and link from Club website to yours.
Invitation to Club social events for two people
Prices
All of the above prices are based on current price lists. Exact quotes will be provided prior to commitment.
