Rugby Club Issue 73 | Page 62

Thatcham FOLLOW US ONLINE TWITTER.COM/RUGBYCLUBMAG Thatcham RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB T hatcham RUFC is a fine example of the important role that a club can play in its local community by providing people with a safe and enjoyable environment in which to play the game. Rugby Club Magazine recently caught up with their Chairman William Sewell to find out more about the club. He told us, “I starting playing at the Club in about 1990. A now ex-girlfriend’s step brother was looking for 3rd team players, so I went and played a match and never looked back.” “The build of the Clubhouse was my biggest challenge and it’s an amazing reward now it is open and seeing so many people enjoying it, from club members and locals. It is also very satisfying when we have the three senior teams playing on a Saturday and it’s great see so many children learning to play the great game on Sunday mornings and having fun. “The general mood is good here and the players will be starting preseason training at the end of June. I would say last season went ok; the 1st team finished mid table, the 2nd XV got demoted but BBO1 was always a really tough league 62 Issue 73 and the 3rds also finished about mid table in the BBO4S. “The Juniors have new management and Coaches which I think will help them next season. The Minis are progressing nicely. Our aim for this season is for all the senior teams to finish higher in their leagues. We want the Juniors to settle in with the new management and the Minis to carry on enjoying their Sundays. Youth rugby is very important to us as after all, it is the future of the Club. “We are very much a community club, especially now we have the Clubhouse, it’s a fantastic facility and is used by the locals for christenings, birthday parties, wedding, meetings, wakes, etc. I’m happy with the facilities we have here now, it suits us the size of Club we are. Obviously there are things that could be improved, like the training paddock but all in all it is good. “Our biggest challenge is attracting and keeping Club volunteers, particularly finding someone to take on my role as Club Chairman. We also need to find Coaches for the Minis and the Juniors. Our ambitions include to have a full Junior section in the Club, paying off the debt on the Clubhouse and to have a Vets team.” Rugby Club Magazine also caught up with their President Bob Moore who told us, “The club is on a real high at the moment after completing our first full year in our new clubhouse. This is the first proper home of our own that we’ve had in our 36 years of existence and has involved a massive effort on the part of many people.