Aylestone Athletic RFC
Club News
An Open Post to all at The Mighty Ath
This is an open post to all players, members, supporters and anyone connected with the Mighty Ath Please take this seriously.
Dear Ath Member,
In response to some geniune queries, along with some murmurs of discontent I wanted to update you on where we are as a club at present.
In regards to players:
Since last season we have lost or only occasionally see:
Mark Iliffe - in Africa working
Fouldsey - says he definitely has retired
Pat McGreal - not sure but guess he has retired
Pete Freeman - has been working weekends but is back playing in January
Telf - not available very often
Rhys Evans - living 80 miles away. Wants to play when he is around but thats not often
Disco Dave and his 4 mates including Jon Derby - Moved to Wigs 3's as DD made captain
Phil Edwards - Has new baby (congrats fella) so playing is limited
Kev Parker - Moved tp Wales
James Dixon - Moved to London
Nick Parker - Semi retired and is moving to Sweden with a blonde aupair
Luke B plying for his local club in Sheffield
Ranbir - Has been working in Newcastle
Ollie Stanley - has joined the Feds so has physical assesments and can't risk injury
Daz Watson - Working in Scotland a lot of the time and has had injuries
Flan - has retired I think??
Leighton - has retired although I am working on him
Josh (Leighton's son) - Joined another club
Simon Gibson - has been elsewhere but is starting again soon
Chopper - has retired with dental issues
Jon Hunt - abroad for a year
Alfie - ? No idea
Northampton Gareth - ?
H (Henry) - Moved back to the Sceptered Isle
Saf Si - Abroad
Ian Lowry - Semi retired
Jonny Mittens - Semi retired
Simon Hollies - Can't get hold of him
Dave Foster - In panto until Jan 2012
Steve Gillard - Has been unavailable for 2 months due to a few things
Also we have 16 players with long term injuries including for example:
Me - Broken collarbone
Steve Hiles - Broken leg
Karl De Haven - Smashed cheekbone
Dai - Not sure but out until Feb
Gulliame - Not sure but long term
Pete Freeman - Bad foot
Thats 50 players we are down and that is just off the top of my head
We have gained:
The 5 excellent students (Josh, Matt Finch, Matt PJ etc)
Matt Allen
Irish Mick
Matt Liddle
Chris Boulton
Steven Cozins
Sam (10 for firsts)
Matt Conroy
Matt Rockley
James Bennett
Matt liddle and Chris Boulton have been injured for the last few weeks.
That's 14
That means we are 36 players down on this time last year.
The captains are working their bollocks off to get 2 teams out a week and we need everyone's help on the following things:
1. Make sure you are on the website and have added your email address and phone number
2. Make sure you add your availability to the website by 9pm each Monday
3. Ask your captain for some AARFC business cards and help attract more new players to the club
4. Hassle old players into playing
5. Pay your Annuals
6. Feel free to criticise your committee and Captains but remember these people will put 5 or 6 hours a week into supporting the Ath and unless we get everyone using the website properly there is not much time for ringing around. So if you criticise also come up with a solution and be prepared to help make it happen.
7. Offer to be a team admin and help organise things
8. Again get everybody using the website
If everyone is on the website and posts their availability by Monday then we can do the following:
a) First team chosen and posted on Tuesday Evening
b) 2nds chosen and posted by Wednesday Evening
c) 3rds chosen and posted by Thursday Evening
By getting teams up early people will Know what they are doing and are more likely to commit to playing. Other people also see we are organised and we can attract more players.
By not doing this, often players commit to other stuff at weekends (mainly driven by partners and children) and slowly stop playing.
So.........
If you don't have website access - tell your Captain and they will update the site each week for you.
If you want to be shown how to use the website - Post that here and I will meet you all at the Horse and demonstrate the site
I love this club and am honoured to represent the Ath in any way I can. It is special in a way no other club I have played for has ever been.
There are no cliques, no Morons, Players are happy to play for any team and in most positions, we do not argue on the pitch and we have a great social scene and most importantly of all every player and supporter be them young, old, playing their 1st season or their 30th season for the Ath are equals and their points are equally valid this is so important and I do believe everyone should be encouraged to speak there mind.
There is a caveat to this
Please remember that the committee and many others such as Thor, Lord Bungle, Snake, Mr Corley, etc are constantly trying to help improve the club and put in so much time..............now we need your help.
This is not a go at anyone.
In fact I would like to thank Alan Lee for caring enough to start the thread that made me realise the scale of the number of players we had lost. Alan taking the time to post is a great example of why the Mighty Ath is such a good club
Please comment honestly on this post and share any ideas you may have to help recruitment etc.
HzB
John Webster
In response to some geniune queries, along with some murmurs of discontent I wanted to update you on where we are as a club at present.
In regards to players:
Since last season we have lost or only occasionally see:
Mark Iliffe - in Africa working
Fouldsey - says he definitely has retired
Pat McGreal - not sure but guess he has retired
Pete Freeman - has been working weekends but is back playing in January
Telf - not available very often
Rhys Evans - living 80 miles away. Wants to play when he is around but thats not often
Disco Dave and his 4 mates including Jon Derby - Moved to Wigs 3's as DD made captain
Phil Edwards - Has new baby (congrats fella) so playing is limited
Kev Parker - Moved tp Wales
James Dixon - Moved to London
Nick Parker - Semi retired and is moving to Sweden with a blonde aupair
Luke B plying for his local club in Sheffield
Ranbir - Has been working in Newcastle
Ollie Stanley - has joined the Feds so has physical assesments and can't risk injury
Daz Watson - Working in Scotland a lot of the time and has had injuries
Flan - has retired I think??
Leighton - has retired although I am working on him
Josh (Leighton's son) - Joined another club
Simon Gibson - has been elsewhere but is starting again soon
Chopper - has retired with dental issues
Jon Hunt - abroad for a year
Alfie - ? No idea
Northampton Gareth - ?
H (Henry) - Moved back to the Sceptered Isle
Saf Si - Abroad
Ian Lowry - Semi retired
Jonny Mittens - Semi retired
Simon Hollies - Can't get hold of him
Dave Foster - In panto until Jan 2012
Steve Gillard - Has been unavailable for 2 months due to a few things
Also we have 16 players with long term injuries including for example:
Me - Broken collarbone
Steve Hiles - Broken leg
Karl De Haven - Smashed cheekbone
Dai - Not sure but out until Feb
Gulliame - Not sure but long term
Pete Freeman - Bad foot
Thats 50 players we are down and that is just off the top of my head
We have gained:
The 5 excellent students (Josh, Matt Finch, Matt PJ etc)
Matt Allen
Irish Mick
Matt Liddle
Chris Boulton
Steven Cozins
Sam (10 for firsts)
Matt Conroy
Matt Rockley
James Bennett
Matt liddle and Chris Boulton have been injured for the last few weeks.
That's 14
That means we are 36 players down on this time last year.
The captains are working their bollocks off to get 2 teams out a week and we need everyone's help on the following things:
1. Make sure you are on the website and have added your email address and phone number
2. Make sure you add your availability to the website by 9pm each Monday
3. Ask your captain for some AARFC business cards and help attract more new players to the club
4. Hassle old players into playing
5. Pay your Annuals
6. Feel free to criticise your committee and Captains but remember these people will put 5 or 6 hours a week into supporting the Ath and unless we get everyone using the website properly there is not much time for ringing around. So if you criticise also come up with a solution and be prepared to help make it happen.
7. Offer to be a team admin and help organise things
8. Again get everybody using the website
If everyone is on the website and posts their availability by Monday then we can do the following:
a) First team chosen and posted on Tuesday Evening
b) 2nds chosen and posted by Wednesday Evening
c) 3rds chosen and posted by Thursday Evening
By getting teams up early people will Know what they are doing and are more likely to commit to playing. Other people also see we are organised and we can attract more players.
By not doing this, often players commit to other stuff at weekends (mainly driven by partners and children) and slowly stop playing.
So.........
If you don't have website access - tell your Captain and they will update the site each week for you.
If you want to be shown how to use the website - Post that here and I will meet you all at the Horse and demonstrate the site
I love this club and am honoured to represent the Ath in any way I can. It is special in a way no other club I have played for has ever been.
There are no cliques, no Morons, Players are happy to play for any team and in most positions, we do not argue on the pitch and we have a great social scene and most importantly of all every player and supporter be them young, old, playing their 1st season or their 30th season for the Ath are equals and their points are equally valid this is so important and I do believe everyone should be encouraged to speak there mind.
There is a caveat to this
Please remember that the committee and many others such as Thor, Lord Bungle, Snake, Mr Corley, etc are constantly trying to help improve the club and put in so much time..............now we need your help.
This is not a go at anyone.
In fact I would like to thank Alan Lee for caring enough to start the thread that made me realise the scale of the number of players we had lost. Alan taking the time to post is a great example of why the Mighty Ath is such a good club
Please comment honestly on this post and share any ideas you may have to help recruitment etc.
HzB
John Webster
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Comments (9)
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John
at last i have finished in newcastle but work haave lined up scandinavia & the baltics for me from jan onwards I will try and get a game but when you are only home a a couple of days every few weeks its hard getting out, i love this club and it was the people within the club who got me thru some bad times , your never forgotten and i will make it on the pitch this season
[Comment removed by Pete Butler ]
Well said John, we all love this club, that's why we're here....
Recruitment ideas..
We could do something charitable to get ourselves some coverage in the local rag??
We could all infiltrate the Tigers Facebook threads making the point that we are the only city centre club is anyone fancies a game??
EVERYONE in the club could go out & find ONE new player??
All fair points John.
As someone who's been around a while (although nowhere near as long as the evergreen Mr Lee) I suspect that what's frustrating Alan is that this is what the Ath used to be like 20 years ago. We've moved on and don't want to go back.
I agree with a lot of the points being made about talking to people. Years ago when I was 2nd XV captain I used to spend the whole of thursday night on the phone...3 or 4 hours, no alternative as there were no mobiles, texts web etc.
Thank f**k the skippers don't have to do this anymore but it does have its place. The reliable core players can be contacted by text, email etc but there is a place for ringing some of the more occasional players.
I know that if I'm unsure whether I can play it's very easy to forget about a text for a couple of days until I get round to asking SWMBO whats going on. If I get a phone call I'll probably give you an answer on the spot or at least explain what's going on.
This is a VERY special club...let's keep it that way! HZB!
hi,well i used to play for Ath ,years ago, 1994 was the last time i played,!!! ,im back in England ,have been for the last 2 years,still fit ,still hit the gym 4 times a week and still lift weights,...and always practice goal kicking and position kicking whenever im near any park with posts,...dont know how id play now though,but can always give it half a game in whatever team ,should you want me ,in the new year, MR HUGH DANN HOW ARE YOU ,YOU OLD GIT ???
Yes, well said/written Mr Webster. Ath is not 'the mighty' for no reason - we need to keep it this way. I suspect, genuinely, that this is a blip more than anything else, but a downward slide could have repercussions. Get Kev back - that's a good start! As injuries mend people will filter back, too.
I have to disagree with Big Dave, though; back in the day Ath was fantastic - only sporting 10 - 12 players on a Saturday it was my one and only chance of playing for the firsts!!!
Thank you to everyone who has replied so far....
It would be great to get more replies....I don't mind if you post saying I am full of crxp as long as you also have an idea that will help improve our club.
I also think this is a blip but we do need to make sure otherwise it is very easy to be a 2 team or even 1 team club.
Merry Christmas to you all
John
Good luck John. If you need me for a game you can get on the phone to me. Give me at least a day's notice mind.
Dixon
Morning Dixon,
How's the big smoke? You are always welcome to play (and would add to our team every week) so I shall make sure you get a text each week. If you are around always let me know because you will always get a game for either the 2's or 3's matey.
Are you around this weekend? If so let me know and you will be in the 2's or 3's.
Cheers
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