Waterloo Rugby

Dear Member,

Can I first of all wish you a Happy and Successful 2012. I hope that you have all enjoyed such break from work as the holiday has allowed and have returned refreshed and ready for action.

Although League Rugby has taken a break over the Christmas and New year, I am happy to report that on Boxing Day the weather allowed the annual match against Crosby St Mary's, the new title of St Mary's Old Boys for those catching up with recent changes, to take place and allowed the Nick Gilbertson Memorial Trophy to be played for. It was a well contested game with both teams comprising more than 25 players and a healthy number in the crowd to support. I am pleased to say that the Waterloo team just emerged victorious, but I think more pleasing is that we are now able to preserve the memory of Nick in a friendly, social sporting occasion.


This Saturday we return to SSE National North 3 action with a visit to our friends at Morley. We were victorious earlier in the season,and Morley find themselves in a position similar to that we faced at Christmas last year. I have to say in my limited playing experience I never found an easy game when crossing the Pennines, and I know that the players have worked hard to be up for the challenge, watching them train on Tuesday in the most inclement of conditions shows that the determination to do well is within them and I hope a good number of you can make it over to Morley on Saturday.

The Seconds and Fourths are at home on Saturday and the Thirds travel to Southport all looking to start the New Year in style. the minis and juniors start the year training, as do the ladies in preparation for their big game the following Sunday against Camp Hill at home. The Under 16's are away in the Lancashire Cup and the Junior Colts are playing Marple with the game at Crosby St Mary's at 12.30 on Sunday.

As a New Year incentive to use the Club, we have re-instated for January 2012, the offer that if members pre pay £100 on their loyalty card an extra credit of £10 will be given to the card. At the same time I would commend to you the raffle in support of improvements to the gym that Jan and the players are running at £10 per ticket.

There are a couple of dates for your diary to note, on the 2nd March there is a Sporting Dinner as part of a celebration of 130 years of Waterloo, with Jeff Probyn speaking. Look out for details. On 27th April is the Annual President's Dinner, this will be one of Steve Christopherson's final engagements of his Presidency and I am sure you will want to support this dinner. I say one of his final engagements because, while retiring, I know that he is heavily involved in an attempt to break the record for a continual game of touch rugby to be attempted at the Club on the weekend of 12th 13th May 2012, look out for more details of that.

There is a lot to look forward to and we are trying to improve things at the Club wherever we can, The Board is looking at making physical improvements to the facilities, over and above the gym improvements, and we also wish to increase the usage made of the Club by Members and by the Community, both through the week and at weekends. If members have suggestions of how this might be done please feel free to pass them onto any Board member. I confirm that I can be contacted on my mobile on 07738766399, but any one of us would be happy to discuss ideas that you have.


Once again I wish you all the best for the New Year and look forward to seeing you soon.


Dave