Leek Rugby Club starts the new 2016/17 season with a new head coach, having appointed Lee Pickles to replace Ian Gittens who announced his departure at the end of last season having done a 7 year stint with the club.
Ian had guided Leek through 2 promotions and a national final culminating in 2 years playing at Midlands 1 level before last season's relegation back to Midlands 2 West (N).
The club wishes to thank Ian for all his hard work and enthusiasm dedicated to the club and its players and he leaves with the senior playing membership in a distinctly better place than when he found it.

Leek's Director of Rugby, Neil Edge, was quick to look at the market for a new coach and one name stood out locally and Leek is delighted to welcome Lee Pickles to the head coaching role. (See photo attached)

Lee was coach at Stoke for the past 2 seasons, so he is quite familiar with a number of the Leek players.
Lee is a school master in charge of senior rugby at Lymm High School, a place he has taught at to the last 7 years whre he has responsibility for the development of the 1st, 2nd and Under 16 teams.
Lymm HS has been highly successful under his tutelage with 5 Cheshire Cup wins, National Cup quarter finalists twice and a National Vase semi final in 2014.

His playing career saw him play for Cheshire under 15s before captaining Notts, Lincs and Derbys Under 20s and that led him to captain the Midlands Under 20 team.
His later playing days saw him at both Lymm and Sandbach rugby clubs where he gained valuable experience at National 3 level.

Lee won his RFU coaching level 2 award in 2010 and followed that with level 3 success in 2014.

At 32, Lee is a progressive coach with ambition to develop players of all ages and ability.

His Leek tenure starts with 3 pre-season affairs which started last Saturday when the club played a training game V Stoke RUFC .

This coming Saturday, August 27th, the 1st serious fixture is held at Esterchem Park when Leek take on Longton KO 3pm) in the opening round of the Staffordshire Cup.

This should be a terrific afternoon with the 2nd also playing at home against Uttoxeter 1sts. KO of the 2nds is at 1pm with the bar opening at midday .

Finally on September 3rd, another friendly fixture is being organised ahead of the opening game of the league season away at Tamworth on September 10th.

Regards

Mark Hardern