End of Season Message From Mini and Youth Chairman – Paul Denyer

Dear Cranleigh RFC Member

It was great to wander around the different age groups on what was our last official Sunday of the season and see so many smiling faces, parents, players and opposition alike.

The end of the season is a time to reflect on what has been an interesting 12 months at CRFC, and a look forward to next season with hope of normality.  Rugby, for us all, has been vastly different, with COVID cutting the last season short and disrupting this one – I believe we had a total of 4 months, in a 9 month season, when we couldn’t play any sort of rugby! 


I am immensely proud of how everyone adapted to the ever-changing climate, which at points changed from hour to hour, and I am sure you will all agree seeing the kids with huge smiles on their faces, covered in mud and playing the sport we all love, makes it worthwhile. It has not been easy for your coaches and team managers to quickly adapt to the new rules and regulations and I am sure you will join the Committee in thanking them for all their hard work.
 

The good news is that the mini and youth section, along with Cranleigh RFC as whole, is in a really good position considering the last 15 months of restrictions.  Membership is up, which is due to the hard work of everyone promoting our great club.  I know a lot of your coaches are keen to continue rugby, in one shape or another, throughout the summer so please look out for details on this.


We are now able to start the works to fix the drainage on the main pitch and you’ll notice that some of this work has already started near the training pitch.  This has only been possible thanks to the amazing fund raising efforts from everyone and our members continued support by paying their membership, even when we couldn’t play rugby.  This makes a massive difference to our small community club – so thank you.

Hopefully by now you will have visited our new website, www.cranleighrugbclub.co.uk, which has replaced our old Pitchero site – I want to say a massive than you to Nick Hendy, Dan Spong and Silverback for getting this up and running and I’m sure that you’ll agree that it’s a vast improvement.  One of the things that will be introduced onto the website in the coming weeks is our membership page, where you will be able to join and pay for next season online.  Details of how to do this will be circulated shortly via your team managers.


Plans are a foot for a summer BBQ at the club on Sunday 29th August – more details to follow.


Lastly, I just wanted to finish off with a few thank yous and sadly some goodbyes. 

Thank you to both senior and junior committees, who have worked tirelessly over the season to ensure that the club can keep running.  The fact that ‘things just happen’ is a testament to their hard work.  Thank you to Gareth and Lyndsey who have been my sounding board in another challenging season.  A big thank you to all our volunteer coaches and team managers for their continued hard work and of course a massive thank you to the parents and players for choosing to be part of the Cranleigh RFC family.


A huge thank you, and goodbye, to Martin, who has worked so hard over the seasons as our Safeguarding officer, Membership Secretary and team manager for our under 16’s.  A lot of the work he done goes unnoticed by our members but it’s immeasurable how hard he has had to work at times – THANK YOU.   A thank to Paul and Alan from the Under 16’s who are stepping down as coaches after many years leading that age group through the club – you both should be proud of how you have developed the boys into fine rugby players and young men.  Lastly a big thank you to Paul from the Under 6’s who is also taking a well earned break from being the team manager and lead coach – how you manage to control 25, 5 and 6 year olds every week is remarkable and will be difficult to follow.   Enjoy your Sundays off.


Have great summer and thank you all for your continued support of Cranleigh RFC