Well-known Sheringham resident Martyn Jackson has been chosen as the Chairman for newly promoted Holt Rugby Club for the forthcoming season.
Martyn has been involved with the Holt Club since the late 1990s but most of his playing career took place elsewhere. He was an accomplished schoolboy in Berkshire before the family moved to Norwich where he joined the Crusaders Club. At the age of 14 he was already playing senior rugby, turning out for the first XV and or seconds as outside half or centre. He then took a job as a trawler man and the heavy physical demands of the job proved incompatible with regular rugby so he decided to take a break from the game – something he now regrets.

After the birth of their daughter Martyn moved to Sheringham to join his wife’s family business, the highly regarded Ellie’s Ice Cream shop. The father of one his employees was a coach at Holt and, hearing of his background, asked Martyn to help out with the juniors. This marked the beginning of almost 20 years involvement. Martyn has coached at all junior levels, acted as fixture Secretary, and spent last season as Club Vice-Chairman.
He is still turns out regularly for Holt’s Thursday night 02 touch rugby and, last season, was once persuaded to play for the Club’s third XV. Ironically this was for a game against Crusaders, his old club, and an injury forced him to leave the field and prompted him to hang up his boots for the fifteen a side game once and for all.

Looking forward Martyn believes that Holt Rugby is in very good shape. All three senior sides achieved promotion last season and he believes that, with the younger players coming through the ranks, they should be able to consolidate this position. He feels fortunate in inheriting a strong team who are supportive and work well together.
However there is growing pressure on local rugby clubs, indeed all voluntary sports organisations, to become more commercially successful as central revenues from the Rugby Football Union are reduced. So much of Martyn’s efforts will be directed away from the playing field. He would also like to see a greater involvement from younger members, particularly the recently retired players, in the running of the club.

Holt’s first home game, in the London 2 NE division will be at Bridge Road at 14:00 on Saturday 21st September against Ipswich. To his delight, Martyn’s son Tom Jackson, also an outside half, will be playing and is this season’s club Vice-Captain.

A version of this article appeared in the Holt Chronicle Issue 431 9th August 2109

Text and photo Martyn Sloman. Photo is of Martyn Jackson (on right) with Holt coach Phil Sharpe