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BRUFC vs TYNEDALE RFC
Daniel Woods (R), Fraser Gill (AR) & Paul Fincken (AR)
BILLINGHAM RUFC
- Adam Brown
- Jordan Foulds
- Kieran Clark
- Ben Walton
- Mike Walton
- Dan Burns
- John Padley
- Anth Jackson
- Sam Heron
- Peter Evans
- Jonny Horner
- Luke Wilson
- Peter Youll
- Joe Ross
- Elliott Husband (c)
- Ed Graham
- Joe Spoors
- Ryan Kirkbride
- Tom Campbell
- Louie Groark
TYNEDALE RFC
- Gus White
- Jacob Oliver
- Oscar Caudle
- Will Nankivell
- Chris Wearmouth (c)
- Graeme Dunn
- Ralph Johnstone
- Michael Hall
- Ben Douglas
- Jake Rodgers
- Seamus Hutton
- Ryan Scott
- Cam Grant
- Alex Dryden
- Joe Beaty
- Micky Rewcastle
- George Waterhouse
- Ben Haigh
- Josh Leslie
- Joe Johnston
TABLE, FIXTURES & RESULTS
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National League 2 North
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FIXTURES
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RESULTS
CLUB PRESIDENT'S WELCOME
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JOHN KER
CLUB PRESIDENT
In welcoming our visitors in this, our Centenary season, whether you are a player, committee representative or loyal fan, we shall endeavour to make sure that you are treated well, both on and off the pitch, whatever the ultimate result. First of all I would like to apprise you of a few things. As a club we have taken another step (perhaps more of a giant leap) upwards into the higher echelons of English rugby union.
Our rugby club was born out of 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 a 'factory' team. Although our date of inauguration is 1924, during the autumn of 1923, players were recruited, training started and coaching commenced in earnest. The very first game was against West Hartlepool Secondary School when Billingham Synthonia Rugby Football Club won by 8 points to 6. Our first dinner was held in April 1928 and the following year saw us achieve Senior Club status. Although
"… the pavilion was a wooden but and tin basins with cold water did service in place of showers"
We have come on a bit since those days, however, and since the turn of this century we have opened the new clubhouse on a new ground at Greenwood Road, courtesy of lottery funding. Then in August 2017 we added the Artificial Grass Pitch thanks to RFU, but this year, following our league and Durham County Senior cup wins of last season we start life in National 2 North. Not content with promotion, we have added to our facilities in extra special ways, which everyone can enjoy this afternoon.
Annually I put into print my appreciation and thanks to the strong leadership of our hardworking Executive Committee and, of course our very many volunteers, without whom we would struggle. I realise that most sports clubs rely heavily on voluntary help but I think our various groups are a match for any club in the country. I believe it is also 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 is 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.
John Ker
MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN
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MARK ARMSTRONG
CLUB CHAIRMAN
Okay, so who’s excited?
I can’t be the only one?
Huge welcome to our visitors today, Tynedale, on our first home fixture of our centenary season and the first home fixture ever for us in the National Leagues. The RFU get a lot of criticism in some quarters, but I am going to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that they wanted to test us with the first and last match of the season against Rotherham who have made it clear they are going for promotion and give iu a derby for our first home match against our local rivals, you couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to the season.
Tynedale and Billingham are not strangers to each other, but I believe this is the first time we have played each other in the league structure. It’s also great to see the recent trend of 1sts and 2nds playing together. We were tested last week and despite the photos from Rotherham that seemed to have an issue with black and pink in their lens, we put in a solid performance against a very strong, very big team. There is a saying, ‘you don’t know what you don’t know’ and it's true, but what I do know, is we have a squad to compete, and I am looking forward to today’s match to see what we can do.
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So welcome Tynedale, welcome back all of our wonderful members and supporters, enjoy the match, remember where you are, who we are and respect players, officials and each other. Rugby is always the winner.
I have achieved many things in my life that I am proud of (my family being top of the list), I have been to many places, seen many things, met many people and overall, I see myself as being very fortunate. I also know that fortune favours the brave, hard work delivers results and being part of a team, a successful team is a wonderful place to be.
The above sums up this club for me. I have been fortunate to be part of this club for 35 years of it’s 100 year history and to be it’s Chairman for over 20 of those. A centenary is a milestone in any sport and in life in general and those of us who are members today, including myself, are fortunate to be part of a club that has been built on the back of many generations of players, members and supporters. We may have started out as a works team but back in the day we were a force to be reckoned with and despite the end of the industrial giant that was ICI, Billingham RUFC has gone from strength to strength.
Of course, we have had challenges along the way, including becoming homeless in the 90s, then nearly going out of business in the 00s, but we have come through to where we are today. Many people have contributed to our survival and our growth and the honours board of Presidents, Chairs and Club Captains are a great example of this, but there are many that don’t have their name on boards who have been instrumental in ensuring we can stand here today, with a soft smile on our faces. We have a plan for them too!
If I look at the last 25 years, from the time before we had our clubhouse to where we stand today, many of the people who have helped with our success, are still here today, every day, every game. This club to many, is a big part of their life. Our club is our community and over time our club has become an important part of the community.
When you have a great team, great things happen, and this year, our centenary year, to be playing in the National Leagues, Level 4 of rugby, in the top 60 teams in the country, in our new clubhouse, yes it is a dream come true, but one that was never in doubt.
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We have a great rugby leadership team, we have a great rugby operations team, we have a great rugby development team and we are supported by many volunteers. Not only are we playing in Level 4, but we boast teams from U6 to Colts, 4 senior teams and 3 girls teams, a total of 19 teams. You have heard me say time and time again, if you stand still you go backwards and we have never accepted anything for granted and looked to improve every year.
We look at every part of what we do; coaching, kit, health and well-being support, playing surfaces, changing facilities, club, food, even the beer, and we look to make improvements along the way. Today we stand in a new extended and refurbished clubhouse. We used the have the ‘If Carlsberg made toilets…’ moment (we still do) but now we have the ‘If Carlsberg made members bars’ experience. Yes, I am excited about this, of course I am, and why not, who would not want a private bar, with a private balcony with the best view of the match?
But we are not finished, we want to continue to improve and the next phase is the players, including girls changing and physio facilities. Some might ask how you can afford it and the answer is simple, we invest all of our profits back into rugby but we do not pay players, repeat we do not pay players. They, like every playing member, pay their monthly membership subscription. Some say this will restrict our potential, I say, this is what has got us to where we are, this is the ethos that defines our culture and this is what will ensure our success.
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”.
Mark Armstrong
#OSIOS
SENIOR COACH UPDATE
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PETER EVANS
SENIOR COACH
Welcome to our first home game in the biggest of seasons for Billingham.
Quick reflection on pre-season and last weeks run out. We have worked very hard to get ourselves in a good place to try and play our ‘organised chaos’ game plan. Lots of new faces and returning lads pushing themselves. Last week we were beaten by a better team there’s no shame in saying that. We asked the lads to play a certain style of rugby with heart and workrate and we got that in abundance. Yes we made mistakes but the learning taken is that at this level teams don’t need 3 or 4 chances. They take them straight away. I would like to think we wont face a Rotherham every week!
That said we are keeping that intensity and expecting a very good Tynedale team. We haven’t faced each other in a league structure before but we know they will be very organised with some very experienced campaigners mixed in with some local talent and Newcastle Falcons academy lads. Nothing changes for us, we know where we will be targeted and we have a good idea of the standard now. We set out to do what we can. Elliott has been saying it throughout the weeks – all in 100% of the time.
I am sure you will know and see but we are near full completion of the extension. It’s a shame we don’t have it completed for today but if you asked me 16 years ago on my First team debut where we would be, what the landscape would look like and who we would be playing, nobody would of believed you!
I take immense pride coaching, leading, playing and just being a member of this club, 100 years old and what journey it’s been so far. Time to kickstart the big year Saturday.
Peter Evans
#OSIOS
FIRST XV SHIRT SPONSORS
LATEST GALLERY
Billingham Colts 23/24
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As we enter into the new 23/24 Colts season the whole squad have been busy with another good pre-season and are well prepared for the long road ahead.
Numbers have been great so far with the departure of last years senior colts heading off to Uni, starting apprenticeships and thankfully a few staying locally to make their way into senior rugby at Billingham and a strong group of new colts arriving from last years U16’s things look promising for the future.
As we embark on a new league structure of 22 games in the Halbro North East and Cumbria league, the strength and depth of the squad will be key to completing our journey this year. With the addition of Durham County Cup and National Colts League games it means there will be plenty of rugby for this group of lads this year.
We dusted off the cobwebs with a preseason home game against a strong Middlesbrough side and edged a 2 point margin for the win and lots of valuable learnings for the players and coaches alike.
Our season proper kicked off last Sunday with a trip over the border to Guisborough where we got our first league points on the board with a win over our opponents. Again lots of learnings for players and coaches alike which we take into game preparation this week before heading over the border again to Redcar on Sunday.
Our philosophy and desired outcomes for the Colts at Billingham is to retain players in the game and at the club with as many as possible going on to senior rugby and hopefully 1st XV honours.
Being part of a National 2 club is definitely inspiring for the young players and we want to continue to contribute to that homegrown success.
Good luck to the 1st XV in our first home game of the new season and I’m sure plenty of the lads will be down to support
#OSIOS
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Billingham Colts
COACHES
David Hill, Chris Hyndman, Andrew Plews
MANAGEMENT TEAM
Beth Williamson, Jonathan Mallam
CLUB NEWS
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Ian Sanderson Says A Few Words Following The News Of Our Historic Promotion
I had a request from one of our sponsors ‘Sandmartin’ recently to ask to say a few words following the news of our historic promotion.
For those that don’t know, SandMartin is run by Ian Sanderson who has been involved with Billingham for a lot of years. As a parent, a coach, a referee but more importantly as one of our sponsors. Ian has supported Billingham Rugby Club for 16 years from initially sponsoring the Colts side which won the County Cup whose side included the likes of Peter Evans to becoming one of our main sponsors for the last 15 years. Must be some record there surely?
Ian along with our other sponsors provide much needed support to the community so when I got the request from Ian it was a no brainier to allow him to say a few words.
Anyhow, you can read Ian's article here...
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Billingham u12s vs Darlington u12s September 2023
Opening game of the season for many of the girls.
We welcomed Darlington's u12s to Greenwood Road on the first Sunday of the month, as part of a triple header with all 3 girls teams at home.
All but 2 of the players for Billingham were having their first game, but you couldn't tell. Lot's of great running, and as the game developed under the watchful eye of referee Richie Morrison from touch to grab to full contact our girls grew in confidence and ability.
The future is bright. The future is green and white.
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Billingham Vs Rotherham - Match Report - David Munns Style
Here we go, buckle up and prepare for a centenary season in National 2 which starts with an away trip to one of last season’s top 5 in that division, so quite an opener. It’s been building during the pre-season and judging by the numbers at training there was a pool of talent available with some disappointment when the 20 man squad was announced.
Taking the away bus trips as a supporter as an example, you do everything to make sure you get a seat on the bus but spaces are limited, you may miss out but that doesn’t mean that you don’t try and get on the next one. Refine your strategy, develop your skill set and work smarter to be on the bus list.
It’s the 1st of September, its National 2 and its A19/A1(M)/M1/A629/A630 for the first match of a historical year for the Green and whites. If anyone gets a winning line based on any combination of those numbers then you owe me a cut...
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Ex Players Day this year is on the 4th November.
The game, Leeds Tykes, an ex-premiership team at Greenwood road. How often can we say that!
Change from previous years where it was a ticket event for entry and food. This year as it’s just going to be a turn up on the day and pay the entry fee on the gate.
We want as many ex-players, members, etc, to be there on the day and keep the tradition going, so there's a lot of expectations on us all to pass the word around to our circle of rugby friends and fix the date in our calendar’s.
Let’s keep this tradition going fellas and gather a big squad for a get together and support the lads in NATIONAL LEAGUE RUGBY.
Wagga
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WE'RE HIRING...
Hospitality Staff
Role includes: Table service, Bar service (full description upon interview). 18+.
Please email CV to matthewpinkney1@hotmail.co.uk
#OSIOS