Phoenix RFC

Reviewing the Year
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My second year was certainly different from the first!
Last year I was welcomed with a new clubhouse, a very active preseason, with the likes of a Lions tour, great for the bar takings, a solid 1st XV year, the 2nds getting promoted and the 3rds out pretty often. We broke even, despite our pretty heavy debt repayments.
But it ended with the loss of several key players. So, the committee agreed that we should assume a season as a 2 side club and we trimmed several lines of expense. This was just aswell since by October we often only had one side out, and then the snow hit us!
I guess this is the sort of time when it’s great to be a member of this club.
We put together some flyers and had a recruitment and advertising campaign. We kept the clubhouse open on a Saturday afternoon, and many watched a game on TV. The social programme continued. Bar takings kept on ticking over.
By December we had picked up a handful of players who fitted well into the 1st XV. The 2nds continued to turn out, despite some heavy defeats in the league higher. Phoenix had pulled through.
As a club we continue to get accolades from a range of sources. Referees make a point of always saying they feel welcomed here. The new players haven’t just joined for the rugby, they also hang around for a beer or 3 afterwards. Visiting sides ‘drop in’ on their way home having played the likes of Penns. Each time I talk with County folk they ask if Jerry is still doing his stuff. There is something special about Phoenix which keeps us going. Long may it continue.
We finished the year with several creditable performances from the 1sts, including winning the 2nd half of that game against Slough when they had 3 binnings. The 2nds stuck at it. We did dip into our reserves but we are now in a much stronger position to start next season.

Thanks to the leaders of the on field stuff
Bearing in mind the tribulations of last autumn, proving leadership to our on field activities has been particularly harrowing this season. Thanks must go to Edd Dibb, Ian Watkinson, Allen Carey, Kieron Roach, Tony Golder and others for keeping the show on the road.


Thanks to my team
There are many people who put in much time and effort to make stuff happen off the field. There are several people I’d like to thank.
Firstly Edd Dibb. Being Club Captain involves doing lots both on and off the field. It is particularly tough when the results just aren’t coming. We’ve all seen Edd charging up the field, ball tucked under one arm. Not all of us have seen the energy he has put into the likes of resourcing the coaching structure, recruiting new players, gaining sponsorship etc, etc . Thanks for 3 years Edd. Here’s to your future club contributions.
Steve Rafferty, as President, keeps a watching brief over how the club is viewed by external bodies, calming troubled waters as necessary. He also keeps the local media appraised of our performances.
Terry Furlonger holds the purse strings. A particularly crucial role when times are tough. His suggestions helped us minimise our use of reserves. He is also Bar Chairman and Fixture secretary. So much for a quiet retirement!
Neil Bennett, as Club Secretary, filters out the worst of the excessive bureaucracy that emanates from the RFU.
Dave Harris and Leanne Clark run the social programme. A crucial contribution to the sustained finances and life of the club.
Martin Harris, as our Vice President liaison officer, keeps all those key members of our club in touch. It is great that we can continue to recognise how much these guys helped the development of our club. They also continue to support its viability. Indeed by Gift Aiding their donations, we benefit from a further £1000 pa from the tax man.
Steve Smith, with Andrew Brench, Leanne Clark and Allen Carey regularly give up their Sundays to lead the Junior section. Recent recruitment success means that the section is growing, particularly at the U9/10/11 ages. Roll on the Colts and then young Seniors!
Duncan Wardle contributes considerably to club funds, both by helping us sharpen up the gathering of subscriptions from members and by seeking out sources of sponsorship.
Ron (and Alan) Jones continue to ensure that our bricks, mortar and plumbing are in good shape.
John Lockhart continues to keep us linked with the County.
Howard Neal holds the purse strings of the Phoenix and Claire’s Court Joint Committee.
I’m delighted to say that all these committee members are continuing through next year.
Malcolm Symonds, Mike Hudson and Paul Jefferies have been General Committee members. Mike is stepping down since his nascent career as a County ref might cause a conflict of interest, but he’s staying as a club member. PJ is stepping up to Club Captain, or perhaps will operate more as a Director of Rugby. Turbo is rejoining the General Committee. Welcome back.

And how have you contributed to our club?
I mean apart for the basics of paying the annual subs and putting money over the bar.
A club like ours lives and dies by what all its members put in, it’s not just about the committee.
On game days do you always leave to others to put out or bring the ropes/post protectors/etc?
Will you be at Duncan’s Work Day on June 11?
What about offering your coaching skills to Smithy on a Sunday?
Or offering to help Monkey and Leanne organise a social do?
How many players have you introduced to the club? Who’s your next target?
Have you made a point of making new members feel welcome?

How else can you help our club stay being as good as it is?

And next season?
It feels to me like a corner has been turned. The low spot of last October is well and truly behind us. The new 1st team players are well settled in. Allen C is confident that, especially with the 2nds having some less trying fixtures, we should get a 3rds out from time to time. Padfield has suggested a Vets side. Monkey et al will keep banging those social events in. And I guess we’ll have to spend some early mornings at the club watching some of those matches happening in New Zealand in September and October. Bring it on!

Steve Marsden