newsletter november/december 2013
DESCRIPTION
Millwall Rugby Club newsletter November-December 2013TRANSCRIPT
MILLWALL
“I LOVE this club!”
“This is one of the best
clubs I have ever been to.”
“Your clubhouse is amaz-
ing, you have achieved so
much in such a short time.”
“Once Millwall, always Mill-
wall”
“The ‘vibe’ is back—the
club is feeling really good
at the moment”
- Various
Comments collected over the
last few weeks
In This Issue
•Poppy Thanks
• First –Half Season
Round Up
• 20th Anniversary
• In the Press
•Christmas Party
• Future events
Millwall 3rds on the home pitch.
Chair’s Message
Well what a ‘cracking’ first half to the season!
The firsts hold strong at the top of Essex IIs with the seconds chasing hard for the top
spot. Currently third and with a game in hand moving up is certainly within their grasp es-
pecially if they continue to bring home such decisive wins as this weekend with their 85 nil
win against Woodham Ferriers. Go Llamas! It appears again that a female second team
manager has the ‘magic touch’. With Rachel Beech and Sophie Buckman on track to be
our most successful second team managers! Particular credit also needs to be given to
the thirds who have consistently been able to field a team and have only not managed this
on one occasion. This is a clear demonstration of the high caliber and commitment we
currently enjoy from our players.
Lets drive hard into 2014!
The challenge is now to maintain the momentum and keep the all round success going right through into the New Year, the second half of the season and beyond.
The next 18 months are an exciting time for us as a club and in the sport of rugby and we want and need to exploit every opportunity to become bigger and better. We can only do this with YOUR help. Throughout this newsletter are some of the opportunities for you to make a contribution to achieving this. Many of which do not require a huge time commit-ment.
‘Go on...GIVE A LITTLE so that we can DO A LOT.’ Sarah
MRFC Newsletter November/December 2013
Have a
Merry
Christ-
mas and
Happy
New
Year.
The Pitch
As some of you may be aware the committee and RFU have continued to
place pressure on the council to improve the quality of the pitch. This contin-
ues to be an ongoing battle. Although we will absolutely continue to cam-
paign for investment and improvements at a borough level we also recognise
that if we don't do certain things ourselves then they just wont get done.
The development team task force, wonder workers, cape crusaders, Millwall
Magic Makers—whatever they wish to be known by— are the non-committee
members who stood up to be counted at the development plan workshop
and are doing a fantastic job in beginning to plan and drive forward ‘day to
day’ projects and plans for developing the club. The improvement of the pitch
is one of these goals.
Speak to GiGI or Robyn if you are interested in ‘lending a hand’ to make a
difference.
New Signs! Gareth and Ryan (Clubhouse Officers)
Have been working hard to put the club-
house on the map—quite literally. New signs
have been designed and commissioned so
that even after a few pints the most geo-
graphically challenged people will be able to
find us. Keep a look out for their arrival.
New Members
Those of you who come for a ‘quiet’ beer at
the clubhouse on a Friday night may have
noticed some new faces. The members of
the bowling club are now regularly using the
bar and buying social membership in order
to do so!
Please ensure you make them feel welcome
and have a chat.
Talk is afoot of an interclub bowling tourna-
ment. Watch this space for further news on
that fixture which I’m sure will be a lot of fun.
Know any other clubs or local groups who might want to take advantage of our great clubhouse AND prices?
Encourage them to come along.
For £30 per year social membership it’s fantastic value for money.
The dream!
Millwall poppy Appeal
A Huuuuuuuge thank you to all the poppy appeal volunteers who stood in the cold and often windy stations to collect mon-ey for an amazing cause. We are regulars at supporting this charity and last year raised the most money within our area.
Our valiant volunteers who kindly gave of their time...
Wiggy, Sophie M, Caroline, Andy Stephens – Extra Thanks as
covered 3 shifts, Edna, Lady Chair, Louise N, Lucie B, Gareth H,
Kirstie H, Scott V, Flex, Ed Williams.
We raised….. To be announced
As we have a number of new
members recently I thought it
would be useful to share
once again who the elected
committee members are.
This could be YOU next year!
Millwall III Vs London
Lithuanians
30 –11-13
Millwall III Vs Woodham
Ferriers
7 –12-13
Let’s
Go
To
Work!
Millwall
Calendar
They are IN and selling
fast!
Great stocking filler or
for that last minute se-
cret Santa. Get yours
now.
The Shorrocks
Return
It was great to see
Vicky and Matt on the
14th December. Matt
donned the Millwall jer-
sey once again for the
seconds at Loughton.
We need to move
the scrum ma-
chine from the
farm to the club-
house
Players this is
your challenge
to organise and
action!
In the Press
Maintaining a strong media presence is a vital part of the club’s recruitment and reten-
tion strategy. We continue to see new faces joining the club and turning up at training,
even at this point in the season which is testament to the current success of the club
and the press coverage making sure people know that we are here and successful.
This doesn’t happen on its own. Volunteers take the photos and spend time uploading
and ‘cleaning them up’. Match reports have to be written, notice of events need to be
given, papers need to be primed and relationships cultivated. Sophie Morris does an
incredible job in ensuring we receive lots of positive media attention which in turn
helps to attract bigger sponsorship deals.
Saturday 7th December
Christmas has well and truly begun at Millwall.
The theme— Christmas jumpers and onesies and what a sight it was to behold.
A great turn out where everyone danced, drank, danced and drank some more.
A team of volunteer bar staff and Duty Managers ensured the night went smoothly and the beer ran freely well into the small hours.
DJ Stuey kept the atmosphere lively and jovial with a good mix of old favourites and Christmas classics.
The Christmas Party—Millwall style!
Join us for the next party at New
Year.
Family and friends are all wel-
come.
Sponsorship
Carrot cars are our newest
signed up sponsors. Current
negotiations are in place
with a further two sponsors.
Any Contacts?
We are always on the look
out for further sponsors for
our second and third teams.
Do you know a local busi-
ness that might be interest-
ed?
Email: sophie Mor-
Continued sponsorship from two local restaurants
141 Manchester Road, Isle of Dogs, London
E14 3DN. Telephone : 020 7538 9826 and
020 7538 0393 Email :
12.5% discount to all Millwall Members
(eat in only)
41 Millharbour, London, Greater Lon-don E14 9NB
Phone:
020 7538 4882
10% Discount for all Millwall Mem-bers
Making it a year to remember
Many may not realise this but on June 7th, 2015 Millwall Rugby
Club will be 20 years old.
This is a momentous occasion and we want to go BIG!
We need to create a small group of enthusiasts to help make the
20th anniversary celebration the biggest party that Millwall Park has
ever seen. And we mean Millwall Park!
Picture a large Marque, black tie, live music, out-side bar all set up
on our pitch (where by the way was where those ‘founding Fathers’
first kicked a rugby ball on the 7th June).
Think a grand tour, home or abroad sponsored by local businesses,
think a 20 hour, 20 matches marathon touch tournament/fundraiser.
THINK BIG!
But the organisation needs to start now. Please register your inter-
est with any committee member either personally or by email.
We can’t make it happen without you.
Oh and I suppose we also ought to consider
what we might do for this?
Costs per match per team
Home pitch hire £40
Referee £30
Transport (Ave) £280
Food £88
Laundry £15
Penalty drinks £15
Other costs -
Tackle bags, bibs, balls, shirts, water bottles, phsyio and coaching costs, flood light running costs and maintenance, insurances, clubhouse rent, rates, first aid kit, marketing flyers and post-ers, annual dinner re-wards and trophies, sub-sidised training courses...
Please ensure your subs and club member-ship are paid on time!
Contact Us
Send us an email for
more information about
Millwallwall Rugby Club
Manchester rd, Isle of
Dogs
London,
info@millwallrugbycom
Visit us on the web at
Millwall RFC brings you grassroots rugby.
And finally the serious bit!
We have demonstrated many positives and much success with the club
throughout this and past newsletters. This doesn't happen on its own. There
is a huge amount involved in running a sports club and managing what es-
sentially is a small business in the clubhouse. All this work is achieved by
volunteers who manage their ‘club’ responsibilities around work, family com-
mitments and life in general.
The club has always faced and overcome challenges and will continue to do
so as long as members and players continue to give generously of their time
which many more of you are doing but we still need more of you to step-up!
The CMC have recently wrangled with a number of issues that have dogged
the club, year on year. The two key being pitches and transport.
We are a unique club for a number of reasons but in particular the ‘make –
up’ of our membership who are generally single, 25 and under, with no cars.
This is a great plus for the club in may respects but does create a number of
challenges, in particular for the afore mentioned transport and a lack of will-
ingness of players to take on official responsibilities within the club. Although
there is clear evidence that this is beginning to change.
The committee has agreed that we, the club, need to solve the transport is-
sue once and for all, both in the short and long-term (see pitch issue on p2).
It is for this reason that CMC agreed to trial fund coaches/or taxis for all
matches for all teams, including where needed, Hackney Marshes. This was
in recognition of the fact that the club has limited options with regards to
cars. I think we can all agree that the provision of this has contributed to the
consistency, success and current ‘feel’ of the club. However this comes at a
significant cost and can ONLY be maintained if everyone pays their
subs and membership on time and continues to return to the clubhouse.
Subs and membership even at 100% collection do not cover all the current
playing costs. We are surviving because of the high level of sponsorship,
fundraising and bar takings that have been achieved so far this season. This
is not sustainable, we need to find a long-term solution.
We are currently applying for grants in order to get our own mini bus and
pursue further sponsorship. Any other ideas/help would be greatly received.
Rant over, lots of love Lady Chair