Ahead of what should have been the Seniors’ Annual Dinner this evening, it feels like an opportune moment to reach out to all of our members – past and present – to wish you all well and to send you our best wishes on behalf of the club’s Committee. I hope that you and all of your families are staying safe during these uncertain times and our thoughts in particular go to Mark Ryan, who sadly lost his father due to the virus recently and also to anyone else who has suffered symptoms of the disease or have close family and friends who have.

The current situation is unprecedented and like many things, sport has become of little importance. Nevertheless, I’m sure that you’re all looking forward to the day, when normal life can resume and we can once again return to the pitches and the clubhouse, whether as a player, a coach, a parent or spectator and once again enjoy the camaraderie that rugby offers. It can’t come too soon.

Tonight should have seen a return to the club of Wales and Great Britain Rugby League and Rugby Union legend, Jonathan Davies. Surprisingly this wouldn’t have been Jonathan’s first visit to the club, however, he’d be unlikely to have found that it had changed too much from his last visit, 25 years ago (although possibly he’d be disappointed to see that the Mersey View is no longer open!) Hopefully, Jiffy’s visit is only postponed and whilst we’re obviously currently unable to offer any re-scheduled date, we’ll of course be hoping to welcome him back once more when normal service is resumed.

Chris Goggin's Spartans

This has been an immensely difficult season for our 1st Team, due to an unexpected exodus of players in September, coupled with long-term injuries to other players which severely impacted the playing squad and ultimately, sadly lead to our 2nd Team folding. We wished Kiko Latta, Callum Glaves and Jordan Hodgson all the best as they left home “to study” at university. We missed Scott Tunstall for the whole season due to the aftermath of the argument that his shoulder had with a lamp-post on Tour in Blackpool last summer. We saw Ed Godwin sidelined for most of the season due to a range of injuries (one nasty paper-cut in particularly keeping him out of action for a full month). Jake Lawson made the foolish decision to relocate to Cornwall and leave behind the greatest club he’d ever play for - Iain Lednor meanwhile made the even more foolish decision to simply just…retire. Helsby’s own Bionic Man (a 70’s reference that will go over the head of most of you young uns), Lyndon English finally saw his body give up on him after one too many shoulder dislocations. Dan Haggett moved on to pastures new in his one-sie and his sandals. James Jaundrell went off to fight for Queen and country, so that whilst we were left without a decent goal-kicker, we could at least sleep safe in our beds at night. Kiel Dunbar gave up rugby on Saturdays to play AirSoft. I’ll say that again. Kiel Dunbar gave up rugby on Saturdays to play AirSoft. Yup, I don’t know what it is either. We missed Josh Warburton whilst he adjusted to life as a dad. Luke Jones, we just missed. Come January, we would experience another blow, when after more Leaving Do’s than Frank Sinatra held Final Tours, Lewis Houghton’s season was also cut-short when he eventually went on holiday to Australia. Our loss was the Aussie’s gain though, and a country that thought things couldn’t get any worse after it had been ravaged with the worst bushfires in a generation welcomed him with open arms. Covid-19 kicked off within a month and as Village reported back – he’s currently living lockdown with five “other” Irish lads in Sydney (plenty of time there to come to terms with his new found dual-nationality).

Amazingly, despite those losses, Club Captain Chris Goggin still managed to lead a side out most Saturdays, although losses would become a regularly heard phrase. A huge thanks to those of you of you who pulled on your boots during what would be a massively testing season and in particular, those of you who stepped up from the 2nd Team to fill the many vacancies that had been created. The biggest thanks of all goes to Chris himself though – after leading the club through two promotions in 2016-17 and 17-18 and then a fantastic 4th placed finish in 18-19, Chris’s commitment to Helsby RUFC again didn’t falter and whilst his work behind the scenes week-in, week-out might not have been obvious to you all, it’s to his immense credit that the 1st Team never looked like quitting, despite the odds being persistently stacked against them.

Paul Dempsey's Barmy Army

The dramatic fall in playing numbers was always going to make life difficult for Paul Dempsey’s 2nd Team, but thanks to a gradual influx of new blood the season eventually got under way. Shout-outs to returning Helsby RUFC Junior, Jack Foulkes, who made his Senior debut this season, along with Ollie Livesey. A massive pat on the back to Steve Grant who made the step-up to playing Senior rugby and would deservedly go on to earn a place in the 1st Team in the space of a few short months. It was also fantastic to see another ex-Helsby RUFC Junior, Kieran Gibson return to the fold, ending the season having firmly established himself in the 1st Team back-row – a position that we’ll hopefully see him occupy for many years to come. The club also welcomed Ben Comer this season, plus Andy Fraser in January – going to show just how effective a recruitment tool, the club’s pre-Christmas piss-up, also known as the President’s Lunch can be. Dan Harrogate also started to put in some impressive debut-season performances for the 1st Team and once again, the club also appreciated guest appearances from our sister-club, Runcorn RLFC – in particular, Dave Patterson, Si Hicks, Cameron Leather, Mark Ryan and Andy McAuley all pulling on the Helsby jersey regularly whenever they were able to. Thanks once again for your support gents - as always it was much appreciated. Last but not least, a special mention to James Houghton who became the final Helsby debutant before the season prematurely ended – welcome to the club James, and hopefully we can look forward to seeing you in Helsby colours once again when playing resumes.

Although the influx of new blood wasn’t enough for the 2nds to survive beyond Christmas, Paul Dempsey’s Barmy Army still managed some impressive wins in the first three months of the season, with victories over Prenton, Sefton, Mossley Hill and Port Sunlight, plus a narrow 19-17 defeat at Parkonians – a match played in tremendous spirit, which highlighted what grass roots rugby is all about (shit refereeing – we were robbed!). A special mention at this point to 2nd Team regulars Lee Hughes, Ian Hutchinson, Alex Rutter, Tim Rutter, Adam Smith and Dave Reid, for not getting too disheartened despite the lack of regular game-time brought about by fixture cancellations. Keep the faith gents, keep fit and be prepared to go again next season, when we’ll be looking to re-build the 2nd Team. (And on that note, Lee Thomas, this lockdown has hopefully given you ample time to recover from your hernia operation, so don’t be thinking about retirement just yet!).

So to 1st and 2nd Team Captains Chris and Paul – a massive thank you for your efforts in leading the teams this season, plus also to vice-captains Kev Weir and Matty Burns and coaches, Phil Arkell and Dan Bruce. Whilst we’re very much a community rugby club, we’re privileged to be able to offer the caliber of leadership and coaching that we do and with good news soon around the corner with regard to our facilities improving significantly, we have every hope that in the seasons to come our playing squad will be restored to it’s previous levels and beyond, so that we can get back to winning ways on the pitch and repay the commitment that Chris and the coaching team deserve.

U11 Junior Rugby

Away from Senior Playing matters, our thanks this season also go to our sole remaining Junior Team’s coaches Gary Jones, Jim Grey and Jason Hocking for leading our U11s through the season. September sadly saw the demise of our other age groups, but under Gary, Jim and Jason’s stewardship, plus with the support of the parents, the U11s not only survived but positively flourished. We remain firmly committed to improving our facilities at the club in the years to come and also re-establishing our Junior section numbers, so once more a massive thank you to those of you who have supported Helsby RUFC Juniors this season and ensuring that we have a foothold to build on for the 2020-21 season.

Unsung Heroes

Special thanks also go to our main sponsor for 2019-20, Andrew Hayes and Your Move Frodsham. Also to our ever-present “16th man” – official Club Photographer, Duncan Cowley - and to Miami Vice-Chairman, Jed Denham for his support with the weekly jobs of running the club. To Club Treasurer, Angela Goggin for ensuring that we balance the books each month. To Andy Tunstall for arranging a start of season Do in September, that confirmed no matter how politically correct modern society has become, Helsby RUFC will always remain firmly rooted in the 1970s! To Mary Ryder for her hard work in the kitchen every Saturday and to husband, Tony Ryder for his constant work on maintaining the club’s pitches. To Sale Sharks rep, Jez Anderson for organising the coach trip to the Exeter game in December. To Disciplinary Officer, Jimmy Walker (yes, I know – poacher turned gamekeeper) for overseeing far less red cards this season than in 2018-19. Thanks also to Covid-19 for your part in that too. Thanks to our Past Players Chairman, Dave Orme for his support with our President’s Lunch in December. Thanks to Andy Wheeler, returning to the club to assume the role of Safeguarding Officer this season. Thanks to outgoing Community Sports Club stewardess, Chloe McCormack for her support during the last three years – and congratulations to our own Stan Garner for being appointed as the new Sports Club steward. And last but not least, thanks to Club President, Stu Wilkinson for once again going far over, above and beyond the role of what a Club President should do – we’d be lost without your commitment, Stu and are immensely fortunate as a club to have such a true “Rugby” man leading the way for us. I know that 2019 was a difficult one for you as a family – Carol will be sadly missed but fondly remembered by all of us who knew her and it goes without saying that you, Amy, Joe and Harry will continue to have the club’s support in whatever way we can help in the years to come.

Off-the-pitch Season Highlights

Off-the pitch, whilst the season may have been cut short, there we still a number of notable highlights. The Rugby World Cup in Japan during September and October paved the way for several weeks of glorious breakfast-time drinking – Helsby RUFC Old Boy, George Norcross fortunate enough to attend some of the tournament in Japan in person, on the trip of a lifetime with his son, Dan. Thanks to Denise Tunstall for catering for a packed club Lounge on consecutive Saturday mornings of contrasting fortunes – the first, when we witnessed one of England Rugby’s greatest ever performances when they defeated New Zealand in the semi-final; and the second, when sadly we fell at the final hurdle and fell short against South Africa in the final a week later. What a difference an England win may have made that day, to our own recruitment plans.

A month after the final, however, the club Lounge was once again packed out and for the first time since we established the event five years ago, the President’s Lunch was a sell-out as members past and present were able to enjoy former England and British Lions legend, Brian Moore recount stories from his career. We also took the opportunity at the Lunch to formally establish the club’s Past Players Association, awarding commemorative club ties to those present – at what is likely to have been the last ever President’s Lunch at the club’s current former-BICC clubhouse base.

Perhaps the biggest achievement by the club, however, in 2019-20 is that 142 years after Cragside in Northumberland became the first house in the UK to be lit by electricity (thanks Wikipedia)...we finally managed to install an electricity supply to our pitches! Thanks to Stu Wilkinson, Jimmy Walker, Kev Weir and Peter Ruane for helping to make this happen. Whatever next - a new clubhouse?!?

2020-21 and beyond...

Looking ahead to 2020-21, whilst we of course have no certainty as to when grassroots rugby will be able to resume, as many of you may already be aware progress has been continuing despite of the lockdown on the club’s new clubhouse build on the nearby Meres Edge site. Whilst delays have been experienced due to Covid-19 (opening was originally scheduled for early October), this is nevertheless a fantastic step forward for us as a club – long overdue (we’ve been working on the project for more than 15 years) and it offers us a massive boost with regards to attracting new players and supporters in the years to come. The floodlit 3G pitch with shock-pad will give us a fantastic contact winter training facility; separate Social Bar and Sports Bar areas in addition to a new Function Room/Lounge will give us more flexibility for after-match hospitality – and new changing rooms, in a facility that will also be much closer to our pitches will be a further added bonus.

So whilst we spend this time in isolation, let’s look forward to a brighter future. The club’s Annual Dinner is always an opportunity to reflect back on the season that’s just passed, for former players to re-live their own playing days and for us to remind ourselves that whilst we may be very much a grass-roots, community club, we have a proud history - now stretching back almost sixty years – and we very much have a lot more to look forward to in the years to come. We may not be able to celebrate together this evening, but as is normally our custom please take time this evening to raise a glass to toast absent friends and here’s looking forward to when normal service is resumed.

Stay safe.

Chris Johnson, Helsby RUFC Chairman