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Gavin Jones (Ref), Jono Sidwell-Keeton (AF) & Simon O'Neil (AF)
BILLINGHAM RUFC
- Adam Brown
- Ewan Lydiatt
- Harry Beadling
- Dan Burns
- Ben Walton
- Josh Wilson
- Tom Campbell
- Anth Jackson
- Jamie Lane
- Peter Evans
- Jonny Horner
- Luke Wilson
- Louie Groark
- Joe Ross
- Elliott Husband (c)
- Ed Graham
- Harvey Headlem
- Issac Brace
- Ryan Foreman
- Joe Pickering
SHEFFIELD RUFC
- Aaron Lonsdale
- Rhodri Campbell
- Jake Hicklin
- Archie Crappe
- Dom Parsons (c)
- Alex Fawdry
- Jason Hignell
- Ryan Burrows
- Elliot Fisher
- Callum Posa
- Chris Hooper
- Will Smith
- Jamie Flint
- Jack Dawson
- George Castledine
- Vilikesa (Billy) Wara
- Matt Adcock
- Alex Reid
- Matty Drennan
- George Rogers
Today's Match Day Sponsor
A Warm Welcome to Our Match Day Sponsors, Altrad
We are delighted to welcome Altrad, along with their valued partners and clients, as today’s Match Day sponsors for the game against Sheffield RUFC. Billingham Rugby Club is honoured to have such a prestigious company supporting our fixture, and we are grateful for their continued partnership.
As we prepare for a day of intense competition, camaraderie, and the true spirit of rugby, we look forward to sharing this special occasion with Altrad and our loyal supporters. Let’s make it a day to remember both on and off the field!
TABLE, FIXTURES & RESULTS
Club President & Chairman's Welcome
JOHN KER
CLUB PRESIDENT
Well, that's the first hundred years out of the way; onwards and upwards into the next hundred.
I wonder what Billingham Rugby Club will be like in 2124? Will our wonderful game have changed?
Anyway, in welcoming our visitors this afternoon, whether you are a player, committee representative or loyal fan, we shall endeavour to treat you well, both on and off the pitch, whatever the ultimate result. First of all I would like to apprise you of a few facts.
Our rugby club was founded by the Synthetic and Nitrates Company which eventually became ICI. Originally we were the rugby section of the Synthonia Sports Club and for many years simply regarded as the 'factory' team. Although the date of our inauguration is 1924, during the autumn of 1923 players were
"recruited, training started and coaching started in earnest."
The very first game was against West Hartlepool Secondary School Old Boys when Billingham Synthonia Rugby Football Club
won by 8 points to 6. Our very first players' dinner was held in April 1928 and the following year saw us achieve Senior Club status.
However…
" … The pavilion was a wooden hut and tin basins with cold water did service in place of showers."
We have come on a bit since those days and since 2000 we have opened the new clubhouse on the new ground here at Greenwood Road, courtesy of Lottery funding. Then in August 2017 we added the Artificial Grass Pitch, thanks to RFU and last year extended both our balcony and upstairs room as well as changing over the kitchen and the snug
Annually I put into print my appreciation and thanks to the strong leadership of our hardworking Executive Committee and of course to our very many volunteers without whom we would struggle. I realise that most sports clubs rely heavily on voluntary help but I do believe that our various groups are a match for any club in the country. I feel also, that it is important to acknowledge the many parents who bring their children to join the minis then stay involved to become coaches, team managers, fund raisers and even - referees.
It's difficult in a one-off piece which remains in the programme for the whole season to react to weekly events but the contributions from Chairman, Mark Armstrong, and Director of Rugby, Peter Evans, do change game by game. So a special thanks to both.
In conclusion, after our first season of national rugby we hung on to fight another day - well a second season and this time we know exactly what to expect. Going forward we hope to establish ourselves permanently in National 2 North.
Enjoy the game.
MARK ARMSTRONG
CLUB CHAIRMAN
I am confident that the season 2024-25 will be as intriguing, potentially as frustrating but hopefully as exciting as the last.
We could not have asked for a better season than the last for our centenary year. Achieving National League status for the first time in our history and in our Centenary season too, was more than we could have dreamt for. However, it is something we planned for, and dreams become a reality when you have the commitment and buy-in of a whole club and a whole community.
We knew last year was going to be a tough year and it proved to be so, but our final match of the season against Rotherham, will go down in history as one of the best games of all time for Billingham RUFC.
Okay, some might say we survived by the skin of our teeth, but I would argue we survived out of pure grit and determination and we showed our true colours during the last few weeks of the season and we showed why ‘Our Spirit is our Strength’ is just not just a saying, it’s a belief!
But this is not just a player or a club mentality, it is becoming a community belief too. We had over 1,000 people attend the Rotherham game to see a truly spirited performance from our team, and the celebration at the end went on into the night.
As we close out our Centenary year and start our 101st season as a Rugby Club, we start with the same excitement, the same belief and with the same ethos. Our goal is to be the leading Professional Amateur club in the country and if you look around you, we can walk the walk with many professional clubs despite being 100% amateur. I truly believe that this is the bedrock of our success over the last 25 years.
Whilst many clubs have dallied with paying players and been seduced by the riches that professional rugby has to offer, we have stayed true to our values, and we have built an open and welcoming club that is also a fortress. I don’t mean Greenwood Road, I mean Billingham Rugby Club and I mean OSIOS.
It is this steadfast belief that we can achieve the impossible if we stand together as one club united in the believe that rugby, at every level and every age group will be the winner without paying players that has helped us to build a strong playing membership and attracted young, talented local players who want to perform at a higher level.
It was great to see the Chris Hyndman and Craig Willis at our Centenary dinner, former and current professionals alongside Amelia Hyndman, our newest professional player. If we can provide a club that plays at the highest level we can, currently National League, and also creates a platform for local boys and girls to go on to play at an even higher level, then we can be proud and rugby and Billingham RUFC will be the winner, and for the long term.
We currently boast 14 age grade teams including 3 girls teams as well as 4 senior teams and have approx. 400 registered playing members. Our weekends are busy, but our mid-week training sessions equally so and this is why we exist and this is what makes us who we are.
We are committed to improve everything about our club that is rugby related. I am committed to ensure this club has the best facilities, provides the best experience, on and off the field and working with Peter and Danny, ensure that our rugby is entertaining and underpins that experience across the club.
As I said last year, it was John F Kennedy that gave the famous speech in Berlin in 1963, and said that “2,000 years ago the proudest boast was to say you were a citizen of Rome”, and went on to say, “that today the proudest boast is ‘ich bin ein Berliner”. Today I say to you, the proudest boast is to say, “I am a member of Billingham Rugby Club”.
#OSIOS
SUPPORT WHERE IT MATTERS
One of the initiatives I have been especially proud of over the last 10 years, is our support of local charities.
We have put our chosen charities up front and centre in our fundraising and promoted them on our 1st XV away shirts as evidenced by the shirts hanging on the back wall in the main room of the club. You will see Daisy Chain, a local Autism Respite charity in Norton, BCT Aspire, a local Billingham Foundation for young adults run by our very own Paul Burgum and of course Prostate Cancer. Local does not always mean locally based but can mean personal too us.
Charities are very personal choices, and many people support charities due to personal reasons and Prostate Cancer is a great example of that as I know there have been sufferers amongst our club members and bringing awareness to this cancer was our objective. In addition we continue to support the Poppy Appeal.
I am delighted to confirm that our charity for this and next season is the Alzheimer’s Society.
Again, whilst the Alzheimer’s Society is a national charity, it is one that is personal to us.
We recently lost a life long member in Bob Bell and cardio-vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s were the cause of his rapid deterioration. My mother has Alzheimer’s and to see the light and spark of recognition go out from within someone you have known and loved all of your life is a heartbreaking experience. There are new drugs coming to the market and two have recently been approved for use in the UK, but sadly not by the NHS yet. The continued research into this disease is important but so is the awareness and support that charities like the Alzheimer’s’ Society provide.
Our sport is a physical impact support and there is a lit of talk about the impact of our support on dementia in general. Creating awareness off the field alongside ensuring our players have the relevant support in and around the field is a priority for the club.
We kicked off the year with our Centenary dinner and we have already raised well over £1,000 towards the charity and later this year we will have a home match focused on our charity fund raising for the Alzheimer’s Society. I know it’s an over used phrase but please give generously.
There is a donation bottle on the bar – it does take ‘notes’ and we have stickers and badges but if you want a badge, let’s here the rustle of plastic paper please.
MARK ARMSTRONG
SENIOR COACH UPDATE
PETER EVANS
SENIOR COACH
The end of a tough 8 games is in sight and a well-earned rest.
The small matter of a bang in form Sheffield squad to deal with first.
It has been a real positive start to season given the challenges we have faced in terms of top teams and injuries. Some of our performances have been hit and miss and we have spoke about the need to even out our standards, sometimes brilliant sometimes not so! That consistency must improve.
Sheffield lost their unbeaten run in a close match with Leeds last week and will no doubt be hurting and up for getting back on track. Similarly, we lost last Saturday, just not in the same vein. We kept close for the first 40 but lost our way for 20 mins and you simply can’t switch off like that at this level.
It will be a really tough ask to get a result today but we have team that will have a pop and chuck the pill around this weekend. We must move the ball around to make this monster of team work hard for everything they get.
Our young Lions had a very similar result to the 1stXV last week and again it gets no easier. We have a few experienced campaigners back to help with the battle, but the team is stacked with attacking ability. Let’s hope we can have a real go and again chucking that pill about.
Specials mentions today: Skipper and 200 appearances. I have a piece on social media but I just want to say congrats and thanks for all his support and efforts, a top bloke. Wee Jamie Lane on starting debut, the little man will be out for carnage and we love it. Josh Wilson for his 2nd 1st team debut, a constant performer for the 2s and deserves a run.
Lastly to our sponsors today Altrad. Not quite Twickers against NZ but thanks for their support this season and long may it continue.
#OSIOS
FIRST XV SHIRT SPONSORS
We can't thank these and all our other sponsors enough for their continued support throughout the season.
COLTS UPDATE
As we move into County u18’s trials over the next few weeks it’s a good opportunity for the lads to have a rest and enjoy a weekend off.
For some it means the opportunity to trial to play for and represent County Durham, a huge honour for anyone, I’m sure you’ll agree.
We have strong representation in this years trials with a number of lads already having represented Durham at u17’s and u18’s before. Go well and enjoy the experience.
We go into this period sitting 2nd in the Halbro North East and Cumbria league following a win over our friends from Novocastrians and our next league game is away to tough opposition Penrith along the A66.
The lads are also preparing for the next round in the National Colts Cup on the 17th November with a tough round against Darlington. All support welcome as always.
Finally, congratulations to Louie, Ben and Lox who have been stalwarts in the Newcastle Falcons ACE program for Gosforth Academy with a clean record in their games, topping the North table as they move into the next challenge before finals week. Go well lads
The future is bright!
#OSIOS
GIRLS SECTION
After the first couple of months of the season we’re really happy with the progress made.
As always it’s balancing our training between improving the girls as all round rugby players, and preparing for the weekend. Generally speaking the girls have risen to the challenge this season and are knocking it out of he park. The 12s now have grown into something much larger than we’d anticipated and we’re now able to field great numbers most weeks, with some real talent joining both directly into the girls section and being promoted from the minis.
They’re gelling together really well. The 14s have are flying a bit under the radar but are at the moment undefeated and coming off the back of winning their first round in the county cup pool. There’s some serious talent in that group but a few have really stepped it up this year and found another gear.
They were undefeated 2 years ago - can they do it again?? The u16s as the older age group are our most senior team and in a lot of ways provide the air cover for the groups below to operate a little under the radar.
There have been some massive improvements already from the girls who came up from u14s last year alongside those who were already u16 we’ve got the ability to play some great rugby. The challenge for that group is to get it out in ugly game.
A quick mention of our 2 u18s Lola and Freya who are ever present and flying at college at the moment, and also the 4 u16s who are ERRA qualified refs. We’re working with the club to find ways of getting them reffing more.
#OSIOS
CLUB TEAM NOTICES
Sunday Lunches at the Club
Our Sunday Lunches are a culinary delight that combines mouthwatering flavours with a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Indulge in a scrumptious feast featuring a variety of delicious dishes, from succulent roasts to fresh seasonal vegetables, all prepared to perfection.
To ensure we have a table waiting for you, pre-booking is advised. Gather your friends and family, and make your reservation today to savor the best Sunday Lunch in town at Billingham Rugby Club.
Don't miss out on this opportunity to enjoy a relaxing and delicious meal with your loved ones.
WERE HIRING!
Hospitality Staff
Role includes: Table service, Bar service (full description upon interview). 18+.
Please email CV to matthewpinkney1@hotmail.co.uk
#OSIOS
HOLD YOUR EVENT AT THE CLUB
Looking for the perfect venue to host your wedding reception, private party, or corporate event?
Billingham Rugby Club’s recently refurbished clubhouse is the ideal choice for any special occasion, offering a versatile, stylish, and welcoming space for all types of events.
Our modernised clubhouse is now open for bookings for the remainder of 2024 and throughout 2025. Whether you’re planning a wedding celebration, an intimate family gathering, a milestone birthday party, or a professional corporate event, our venue can accommodate it all. With a spacious function room, a fully stocked bar, and tailored catering options, we ensure every detail is covered, making your event stress-free and memorable.
The clubhouse’s recent refurbishments have transformed it into a contemporary space, perfect for creating lasting memories. Our experienced team is committed to working closely with you to customise the venue according to your vision, ensuring a seamless experience from start to finish.
With flexible layouts, ample parking, and a warm atmosphere, Billingham Rugby Club’s clubhouse is a top choice for hosting events in the area. We invite you to contact us today to secure your preferred date for 2024 or 2025.
Let us help you make your next event truly special!
