Weston Rugby Club Past Players Association
Newsletter No 48 - October 2022

Dear PPA Members

I hope you are keeping well. As we move into autumn and winter, we are facing economic challenges and are still living with Covid. Despite the vaccinations many people remain vulnerable and are suffering when contracting the virus. However, we remain optimistic
that we can work through the crises.

Association Officers and Committee
At the Annual General Meeting, in June, Rod Crocker stood down as Past Players Association (PPA) Chairman. Tony Morgan and Gerry Williams stood down as committee members after many years of service.
We thank them all for their service to the PPA. In recognition of his outstanding contribution to the PPA, Rod was elected Honorary Life President. Rod has served as Chairman & Treasurer, with distinction and commitment, for 27 years.
I was elected Chairman, George Papworth as Secretary, Ian Thomas as Treasurer, Tony Bush and Nigel Cullum as Committee members. I am honoured to have been elected as your chairman.
To say I have a hard act to follow is an understatement. We want the Association to be inclusive and welcoming for all the Past Players, Past Committee members and our loyal Club supporters by providing events and activities that appeal to all members age ranges.

Contact and Communications
With the increasing cost of postage, whenever possible, and by consent of the member, we have to use electronic means to communicate with PPA members. Can you please send me your email address to millard_chris@hotmail.com so that I can set up group emails with more frequent and up to date information.

If you are receiving this newsletter by post it means we haven’t got an email address for you! We have a PPA WhatsApp Group which you can join by letting Tony Bush know via 07786244763.
We have a PPA page on the Rugby Club Website at Past Players Association
You can also contact us at https://www.westonrugby.co.uk/contact.

Bank Account
The PPA now has Bank Account at NatWest Bank. The Account details are:
NatWest Bank Sort code 60-04-12 Account number 87197944. Payments for PPA events, such as pre-match lunches and PPA subscriptions can be made by BACS or cheques, payable to WSM Rugby Club PPA. The Account name for BACS payments is also WSM Rugby Club PPA.

Subscriptions
The Association Annual subscription has been kept at 10 for the next year and were due in September 2022. We rely on subscriptions to run the Association so please pay as soon as possible. If paying by BACS please add your name and Subs as the reference, e.g., Millardsubs. Thank you to those who have already paid for this year.

PPA Events and Activities
During the summer months there has been a lot of activities organised by Tony Bush and other Association members including a golf tour, touch rugby on Saturdays, Ten Pin Bowling and open water swimming in Marine Lake. We linked up with Steve Barnard from Talk Club, an organisation that supports men’s mental health.

We held our first event of the season Saturday 1st October with a very successful pre-match lunch before the 1st XV game against Launceston. Prior to the lunch George Sparks, Director of Rugby, gave a talk on the on-field plans for the season.

Please note these event dates for your diary:
2022
Friday 18th November (evening) PPA 25th Anniversary Dinner (postponed from 2020)
Saturday 26th November Away trip to Yatton by train to watch the United.
Saturday 17th December Christmas pre-match luncheon (1st XV v Chew Valley)
2023
Saturday 28th January The club is showing the 1973 Barbarians v All Blacks game with a lunch before the 1st XV v Camborne match
Saturday 25th February Snail racing Charity Night
Saturday 11th March 2023 Away trip to Brixham v 1st XV

Other events will be organised during the season. Supporters can travel on the 1st team bus to away games for a charge of £10. Details can be found on the club website.

Player Sponsorship

The PPA is sponsoring 1st Team prop Ollie Streeter for the season. He is a great character and has been a 1st XV stalwart making 162 appearances and scoring 13 tries. We are pleased to be able to support him and wish Ollie all the best for a successful season.
Leagues

The league restructure took place at the end of last season. The First Team remain in South West Division Regional 1 Tribute South West, which has been reduced to 12 teams so there will only be 11 1st XV home games.
The RFU will be announcing a cup competition later in the season, but it remains challenging to bring in sponsorship and financial support to the club with so few games.
The United compete in Counties 2 Tribute Somerset and the Athletic in Counties 4 Tribute Somerset South. The Colts will play on Sundays.
Our Junior and Minis sections have age groups from under 6 to 16’s and the Roses have girls Under 12s and14s teams.
The veterans will be managed by Stuart Board and captained by James Matthews. We hope to see plenty of PPA members dusting off their boots, squeezing into a shirt and having a run out.
We wish all our teams well for the coming season.

Grand Rugby Club above
We have lost a number of past players and friends of the Association to the grand Rugby Club above.
Mike Fletcher passed away after a long illness. Mike was a Club Captain and excellent footballer. His view of life and his relationship with referees is club legend.
In 2021 we lost Seamus McNally a Past Player and Club supporter.
Ken Kidger passed away in March. He was a loyal club supporter and has left a significant donation in his will to the Club.
Robert (Bob) Hedges passed away in July. A Life member, Bob’s meticulous record keeping, his creation of the first junior rugby section and his match day commentary will always be remembered.
David Reardon passed away in July and Adrian Gillett in August and Rod Mintern, William Burdge and Brian Jones in October.
In 2022 we have lost Clayton Hope and Peter Jenkins. Peter made 129 appearances and was captain in 1969/70. Clayton was captain in the 1959/60 season and again in 1965/66. Clayton made 271 appearances and served for several years on the Committee, including as Club Secretary.

Club Development
The development of the club continues to go through the local authority planning process. It will improve facilities for the players and spectators, ensuring that the club can grow from strength to strength. As with any project of this scale there are inevitable delays and obstacles to overcome.
Details of the development plans can be seen on the club website at https://www.westonsupermarerfcdevelopment.co.uk/.

We look forward to seeing you at the Club.

Yours in rugby
Chris Millard
PPA Chairman

Weston-super-Mare RFC

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