Stockton
EEC Electrical Contractors
Residential-Commercial-Industrial
Tel: 01642 674511
Mobile: 07723 328549
Email: [email protected]
Having these facilities is key to
attracting supporters and players alike,
when the cold wet weather sets in. The
sun doesn’t always shine in the North
East contrary to popular belief!
RC: How important is youth rugby to
the club?
KK: It is absolutely key. We went
through a period a number of years ago
whereby the senior and junior parts
of the club were left to develop and
run themselves independently, to the
detriment of both. Our junior section
began to lose players and our senior
section no longer had the conveyer belt
of players coming through the ranks.
Many of the older players now also
coach the juniors and we have recently
expanded the junior section to have teams
at all age groups, which means we have
around 200 registered junior players,
which represents a rise of over 200%
since the move to our new home. We
have also taken coaching into a number
of local schools and have partnerships
with several in addition to Grangefield
Academy.
RC: How does the club ensure that
young players enjoy a smooth transition
into the senior game?
KK: Usually, as players represent the
colts, there are opportunities in a season
for them to be introduced into senior
rugby by occasional appearances for
the 3rd XV and occasionally the 2nd XV
if they are good enough. In both these
teams the older players coming down
the teams are very protective,
supportive and will give
advice and guidance to
the youngsters coming
through. This is
proving extremely
successful and if
we can keep this
development
going I predict we
will have a very
bright future.
RC: Would you
consider yours to be a
community club?
KK: Ours is very much a
community club. As well as the work we
do with schools, we have also partnered
with Stockton Cricket Club. Some of
our players and growing numbers
of children play both sports all year
round. We have been very successful
in attracting sponsorship, mainly from
local businesses, such that this year we
have been successful in having every
strip from seniors downwards, plus
coaches kitted out.
Sponsorship is essential for a club
like ours, we have a lot of out-goings
on kit, medical supplies, laundry and
food for teams throughout the year and
without this income we would not be
able to function. These companies are
increasingly looking for how we are
involved in local initiatives and
schemes.
RC: What do you
believe could be
some of the biggest
challenges
the
club may face in
the next 5 years?
KK: Given the
development via
our youth section, I
don’t think it is out
of the question for us to
progress up the leagues
in the next 5 years. In itself
this will bring its own challenges.
Can we keep hold of the players we
develop? How will we continue fund the
expansion that success will inevitably
bring?
We also need more volunteers to
step forward. Such has been the change
over the past couple of seasons (we
moved home due to the partnership
with the Academy, which has meant
new legal documents, setting up of joint
committees and many other challenges)
that some of the Committee members
probably need a rest!
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