Your Club Needs You....

When I accepted the role as your Chairman, I did so with my eyes wide open. I understood that there was much to do. What has taken me by surprise is how few of us there are who actively undertake the tasks required to keep the Club running and operating effectively. The current set up is unsustainable.

Whilst on the field rugby will always prevail, there are far too few of us involved in helping the players enjoy their role in the Club. The senior section of our Club is desperately short of “doers” at the moment, particularly on match days. A very small group of 2 and sometimes 3 volunteers have far too much to do on any given Saturday, when we have a home match. Pitch preparations (flags, seating, protectors, rope barriers, etc.) are done by the same two people for 3 pitches. They are also involved in managing the 1st XV and selling raffle tickets/programmes. We have a 2nd XV with no manager and therefore the captain (who is also our bar manager) is not supported in the manner in which you would have been back in your day. The same 2 people who put all the gear out have to clear away all the ancillary equipment after the match while most others retire to the bar. Admittedly there are a few who might help, it not on a regular basis.

What I am asking for is a few more willing volunteers who regularly come to the homes games to come along 2 hours before kick- off to help prepare the kit in the changing rooms and equipment on the pitches. A team of 5 or 6 will have all the required preparations sorted in 30 minutes and could then join others in the Shopland Snug for the pre-match pie and a pint. Similarly, cleaning away after the home matches would be done in 20 to 30 minutes and you could then be back in the bar for the raffle prize draw. We also need a few people to actively sell the raffle tickets for the post match raffle draw from 14:00 onwards for a 15:00 kick-off.

If you can help, please contact Alan Chambers direct on 07944 222041 and he’ll coordinate efforts.

Off the field, this is a time of great change at Chichester RFC. The clubhouse needs finishing off so we can make the most of the facilities it provides, and the opportunities it offers, beyond the core rugby events. There are numerous fitting out and maintenance tasks that need addressing now. We urgently seek your help to get these completed. A few hours on a week day evening or more if you are able during the working day will help us greatly. No matter how little it may be, any time you can give the Club will be massively appreciated.

Please contact me directly on 07879 010609 and we can discuss how and when you can help.

Please do not automatically close this page without due consideration for your Club. We need you to #StepUp and join a very small number of members who are presently doing too much. We need to share the workload so that everyone can enjoy their time at our Club.

Please come forward, we need you!

Yours in rugby

Paddy McAlpine
Chairman

Updated 11:20 - 30 Aug 2019 by Simon Tanner