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Chairman’s Welcome
Welcome to Amersham and Chiltern’s online match programme. A particular welcome to the players, officials, and supporters of our visitors.
After promotion last year, our 1st XV play in the Regional 1 South East league of the RFU’s London and South-East Division. This is Level Five of the RFU pyramid and provides a standard of rugby that is very testing for a club from a relatively small town like Amersham. We are proud to compete here.
Thanks to the vagaries of RFU administration, our 2nd XV is in the South-West Division, and play in the Counties 2 Tribute Bucks, Berks and Oxon South competition. Like the 1st XV, they were promoted last year.
The Third XV play in an informal competition for Bucks third teams, usually under lights on a Friday evening. They provide competitive but social rugby for those who cannot commit to weekly league matches and training.
Like most clubs, we are always looking for new players. If you would like to join in, at any level, please contact our Director of Rugby, Pete Gibson, or get in touch through the club website. Alternatively, go old school and ask at the bar, or speak to anyone involved with one of the teams. You will be very welcome.
As well as our adult sides, we run extraordinarily successful Mini and Junior Sections, providing rugby for age groups from
Under 6 to Under 18. Last year we won the County Cup at every age group. The club is absolutely buzzing on a Sunday, when training and matches take place. If you have a child who would like to try rugby or one who already plays, please contact Ryan Westmacott (Minis) or Richard Clifford (Juniors) - or just bring your boy or girl along.
If you have five minutes before the game starts, please flick through the other pages of this programme and check out our fantastic sponsors. They are all great local companies; without their support it would be very difficult for us to continue. If you could use any of them, and mention where you saw their name, you would be doing the club and the game a real service.
Along with the rugby, we have a full calendar of social events, details of which can be seen elsewhere in this programme, on the website, or on the posters in the clubhouse. Whatever your level of interest in rugby, it’s a great club to be a member of, and we’d love to have you join us.
Huw Thomas Chairman
President: Peter Kenyon; Chairman: Huw Thomas; Hon Sec: Ralph Hayward; Hon Treasurer: Chris Tavender; Membership Secretary: Sandra Hitchman; Director of Rugby: Pete Gibson; Mini Chairman: Ryan Westmacott; Junior Chairman: Richard Clifford
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Centenary Christmas Lunch Saturday 21st December 2024
CENTENAR Y 1 924-2024
11.30am: Welcome Christmas Drink with our compliments
12 midday: The Bar Opens
1pm: 3 course Christmas Lunch for £30 per head Cold starter, turkey roast and pud plus a complimentary glass of wine with lunch Christmas Raffle & Christmas Shop
2pm: Kick Off against Huel Tring
Booking is essential, please email Paul Clarke to secure your place:pastorclarke@gmail.com or text 07974910179
Party like only A&C can party!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR A&C’S CENTENARY CHRISTMAS PARTY ON 21 DECEMBER 2024, FROM 8PM TO MIDNIGHT!
We’re celebrating 100 years of A&C and the festive season with another memorable night...
BLACK FRIDAY TICKET PRICE NOW: £10 PER TICKET:
Grab your tickets now reduced from £25 per per person to £10 and come along with your friends and enjoy...
Complimentary arrival glass on fizz or beer with Nibbles
The DJ is booked so join us to dance the night away Our new centenary Cocktail Menu will be available at the bar
Slide into the night with style with the next surprise. Can you guess? First shot also included in the ticket price.
Spaces are limited, so book now to celebrate with friends old and new. Book your places now contact Rebecca on rebeccarice89@outlook.com
Places are confirmed once payment is made.
Please pay by BACs to:Account: ACRFC Trading LimitedAccount Number: 1265 5713Sort Code: 40-24-17Reference: CP/your name
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Old Amersham Hotels are ready to welcome you to our breathtaking venues across the Chiltern Hills.
Whether it is a hearty pub lunch by the fire at the Kings Arms, a cosy night in a luxurious suite at the Crown Inn or a stylish celebration under the glittering chandeliers of the Kings Chapel we’d be delighted to have you!
The Centenary Fund
For the next100 years
The centenary of our great club will be marked by many events at the club during the season 2024-25. We are an ambitious, friendly and successful community club providing an exceptional and inclusive rugby and social experience to all our members of all ages and backgrounds.
We are entirely dependent on the support of our members and many generous sponsors. The annual cost of running a big sports club is considerable and we always need to spend large sums on clubhouse and ground maintenance.
The Centenary Fund has the target of raising £200,000 and we hope that members past and present will support this project - it will make so much difference to our club and benefit all our members. The Fund will be used exclusively to support key projects around the club, including:
• Clubhouse refurbishment and upgrade
• Extended patio area with multi-weather surface
• Pitch and floodlight improvements
• Resurface north car park
• Improved gym facilities
• Expanded solar panelling
Please support the club by donating at JustGiving/The Centenary Fund - and please tick the Gift Aid option as the club receives an additional 25% on top of your donation.
For donations over £1000, please pay directly into the Fund’s bank, complete a Gift Aid declaration and let me know via email. Fund bank: Amersham & Chiltern RFC, sort 40-2417, account 2266 4879. Any queries, please email.
Peter Osborne Chair, The Centenary Fund posborne@osbornesamuel.com
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Either order from our website or download the CleanCloud App from your App Store using the QR code, and select The Natural Laundry.
‘A relieved Harpenden do enough to hold unlucky Amersham from a league winning dou-ble’
It could have been yet another perfect day for A&C topped off with a visit to Derek’s new home at Harpenden. I arrived early along with Gibo only to find Derek dressed in his finest claret trou-sers and covering his Harpenden badge with his hand on his black waterproof jacket. ‘Goodness me fellas it’s grand to see you all’ he shouted with joy, before sitting down, pouring some tea from the pot and catching up on our news from Weedon Lane. He wiped a tear Match Report - Saturday16th November 2024
‘There’s always gonna be another mountain I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose
Ain’t about his fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb’
THE CLIMB - MILEY CYRUS - RELEASED 2009
from his eye as he does miss us all very much indeed.
This was undoubtedly an eagerly awaited fixture and a match up A&C were confident in doing well in. Only last week both clubs had secured muchneeded wins with the more established level 5 club in Harpenden having a tough time this season whilst the Chiltern newcomers still adjusting to life in the higher level with youthful optimism ever present.
MATCH REPORT
Amersham really did push Harpenden right to the end with a grandstand finish.
And so to the action - Harpenden struggled from kick-off and A&C mounted attack after attack. With a 50-20 kick and the Harpenden defence being easily dismantled for the first quarter it felt that an Amersham rout could result. Even with the first minute loss of the big 2nd row Mike Phil-lips A&C were fast and impressive. The scrum also survived although as time went by significant-ly Harpenden benefitted considerably from a dominant scrum and resulting penalties. These scrum gains turned out to be very telling.
Harpenden’s stand was not as busy as it was in the past although the acoustics were good enough to provide some much-needed vocal support to their local heroes. I ran the line initially on the opposite side from the stand - just in case unwanted opinions shared.
Sadly, I couldn’t avoid some heckling in 2nd half. It’s always the middle-aged men standing in a wee group. Bravery in numbers. I put that down to the undoubted pressure they were feeling and the fact they had nothing else to be concerned about.
Nevertheless, it was A&C scoring in the 10th minute with No8 Kazeem bundling over the line after sustained Amersham pressure. Tough conversion from Tom Fawssett hit the post. (0-5). Only 4 mins
MATCH REPORT
As usual the next score was important, and it was again big No8 Kazeem smashing through for A&Cs 3rd try. (17-17). On the 67th minute Harpenden against the run of play and with a spate of scrum penalties re- took the lead with a converted try (24 - 17). Again, though Chiltern responded silencing an anxious crowd and secured a well-deserved penalty try following sound mauling and cynical defence. Yellow card - cooler time and all square (24-24_ with
later and with Harpenden rocking on the ropes centre Noah Jarvis made the gains and comfortably cut through a weak Harpenden defence for an excellent 2nd try which was easily converted by Tom (0-12).
Against the run of play and with some good fortune Harpenden worked harder and managed to fight back with 3 tries in 18 mins. Only one was converted and one try resulting from a maul after a penalty kick from hand which was judged to have gone out of play within the 5 metre area. HT (12-17)
MATCH REPORT
all the play for. Sadly, though Harpenden played it safe with 2 penalties towards the end from scrum penalties. Saved at the last.
Another home return fixture to look forward to as we strive to survive.
Next week is a weekend off followed by a vital home match against Bedford Athletic. Harpenden have beaten Bedford and therefore we will do the same - surely……. See you there
Team
1. Raz Dranca
2. Joe Batt
3. Charlie Swerling
4. Harry Bradshaw
5. Mike Phillips
6. Mike Everett 7. Josh Finch (C)
8. Kazeem Olayinka
9. Ben Harris
10. Alex Bower
11. Tom Fawssett
12. Noah Jarvis
13. Dan Kingsley
14. James Morrison
15. Ben Pothecary
16. Doug McGregor-Smith
17. Andrew Toole
18. Jack Green
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FROM THE TOUCHLINE
by Huw Thomas
891 London Rd
High Wycombe
Today we welcome the players, officials and supporters of Bedford Athletic RFC. We haven’t seen them for many years, possibly not since a couple of friendly fixtures in pre-league days. The Ath are currently one place above Chiltern in the Regional 1 South East league table, which unfortunately for both clubs means that they are second bottom. We are four points behind them, they and North Walsham both having fourteen. This is therefore a crunch match for both teams: a bonus point win could see us out of the relegation zone, while victory for the visitors could earn them significant breathing space.
The best outcome for Chiltern is entirely possible. We won our first game of the season last time we were at home, against solidly mid-table Shelford. The reset in selection and tactics that followed our terrible day at Oundle were very evident. Dan Kingsley’s try and two penalties from Tom Fawssett against a fine converted try from Shelford sent us in 11-7 up at half time. The second half was a very tense affair, with neither side being able to register any further scores. Shelford knocked on as they were taking the ball over the line in the last move of the game, but we could and should have settled things earlier and were good value for the points.
Two weeks ago, we went over to Harpenden, losing an equally tight encounter 30-24. Both sides scored four tries, with two penalty kicks (from too many opportunities) giving Harpenden the edge. Kaz Olayinka got over the line twice from close range and we were awarded a penalty try when the home team pulled down a motoring maul, so our forwards competed well, at least in the loose. Noah Jarvis scored the other try, our second, which did put us 12-0 up early doors. To lose from there was pretty gutting for the boys and, in truth, it was another game we could have won – but we can’t keep saying that. The only consolation, and a significant one, was to see Derek Wallace in his new environment – I’m pleased to report that the ould fellah looks well and is in good heart.
No one’s mood was improved on returning to Ash Grove and learning that the 2s had suffered a third defeat of the season (say it quietly) at home to Beaconsfield, by 17-28. They were honest enough to say that they just played very badly. This lapse was all the more surprising because it followed a famous victory away at Marlow, when a severely depleted squad won 12-34. Sport is so unpredictable. Even the 3s had failed to win the night before, this time away at Beaconsfield, though they did manage a share of the points from a 19-all draw.
I hope those of you coming up early for lunch enjoy the occasion. If you can’t make lunch today, please sign up for the Christmas event, now only three weeks away(!). And if lunch isn’t your bag, please come along and support the boys – they really appreciate it.
Huw
THE TEAMS
SATURDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2024, KICK-OFF 2.00pm
AMERSHAM & CHILTERN 1XV
1. Raz Dranca
2. Joe Batt *
3. Charlie Swerling*
4. Jordan Scott 5. Harry Bradshaw* 6. Mike Everett* 7. Josh Finch
8. Kaz Olayinka 9. Ben Harris* 10. Alex Bower* 11. Tom Fawssett
12. Noah Jarvis
13. Dan Kingsley*
14. Rory Vorster
15. Ben Pothecary*
16. Max Morphey*
17. Jacques O’Driscoll*
18. James Morrison*
* Home Grown Players
BEDFORD ATHLETIC
1. Lewis Ager
2. Charlie Darlow
3. Ryan Taylor
4. Nick Thomas cap
5. Lewis Sharp
6. Toby Hunt
7. Josh Dunne
8. Andy Ince
9. Michael Trigg
10. Josh Foster
11. Josh Cassell
12. Harry Sawford-Smith
13. Will Tinley
14. Bradley McKenna
15. Stephen Woodhead
16. Ryley Longmuir
17. Nick Tarr
18. Sam Valpy
Referee - Mr Shane Mansfield - (Wiltshire)
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UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
KAZEEM (KAZ) OLAYINKA
Somewhere deep in a wood in South Bucks I find Kaz sitting on a log looking at his reflection in a small pool of water. Reflectively he says that big boys don’t reach their prime until they reach the ripe old age of 33.
I disagree as for me it’s 56 and let’s be honest the bottom line here is that you are only ever as old as you feel. I hate talking about age and I remain a bit old-fashioned in that it’s always rude to ask someone their age. I therefore never asked Kaz but can only assume our new number 8 and top try scorer has reached the ripe old age of 33. Today though I feel youthful and athletic and therefore it’s 18 for me.
For pre-season Kaz made the bold decision to join A&C from Aylesbury RFC.
‘I saw the opportunity Andy to test myself at a higher level and had the disappointment too many times
of being on the losing side at the hands of A&C’.
Kazeem loves walking in the countryside as well as testing himself, particularly playing rugby. Born in New York, USA, he was so good they named him twice Kazeem Kazeem. His family then settled in the UK when he was 12 and travelled here via Nigeria. London and more specifically Hackney was where Kaz spent his teenage years, eating well and developing into one of the most formidable No8s in the league.
Kaz believes in luck. 2 is his lucky number and has a very logical and well thought out rationale for this choice. “If you struggles for storage space at home as a result. As well as liking 2 of everything he is attracted to the colour red. For him he finds it calming and not a sign of danger. He is a lover and not
technic - as they say in Germany’ as he explains his love of the Audi A7. He would have a red one, finding it a stable and secure drive and one that will make heads turn. If he was to get
a wish from his fairy god mother, it would be a wish to be successful. Both personal and for his family as well as for A&C. I’ve booked his Fairy God Mother and wand for midday Saturday.
Amazingly Kaz doesn’t really follow rugby and does not have a favourite premiership side. He spends his time playing, training, walking, staring into woodland pools and working as a youth worker. He undoubtedly has patience, energy, compassion and confidence.
‘Role models are always important in life’. Just briefly Kazeem then goes into his pocket and whips out a ‘Lion Bar’. It’s a bit mushy and melted, but as he had one spare (lucky number 2) we both devoured our bars swiftly, with a roar and with conviction.
Socially and when not driving Kaz sips on JD Honey on the rocks (again 2 ice cubes with one spare). He does not wear waistcoats with his dinner suit as he finds them restrictive for his finely toned muscles. He adores Chelsea football Club and often loves a jog down the Fulham Road,
spending quality time in the company of Chelsea Pensioners. For holidays first choice is always to relax on the Nigeria mainland, dancing on the ceiling to the sounds of Lionel Ritchie.
Kaz loves being at A&C and we love being with Kazeem. Keep up the good work and here’s to you getting your wish every Saturday until the end of the season.
Kazeem - we salute you!
Unit 3, Binders Industrial Estate, High Wycombe, Bucks, HP15 6LJ
SPONSORS AND ADVERTISERS
Why do we need Sponsors
and Advertisers?
The rugby club is run as a charity and in a good year the income from subs and the clubhouse events and sponsors means we just about break even.
This season we celebrate 100 years of our active presence in the local community. The senior club was founded in 1924 and just as importantly we were one of the pioneer clubs who started mini rugby 50 years ago. We continue to provide a wonderful rugby experience for players and supporters of all ages.
Peter, pictured here, always in his A&C attire, chatting on match day
Our loyal members are very supportive and over the years we have done various fundraising schemes to improve every aspect of the club. The clubhouse itself was the biggest and others have followed such as the solar panels, the new car park and of course the borehole. All of these investments make it possible to start the season.
Incidentally with our energy costs increasing dramatically we need to focus on ways to become more energy efficient. Pitch maintenance is another big expense, with an extra £20,000 spent this summer on more ground’s maintenance work and nearly £30,000 on clubhouse repairs. We continually invest and the Centenary fundraising offers a great opportunity to make more progress. One reason for doing this is to make the club house the kind of place people will want to use for events, from private parties to corporate away days.
Of course, our sponsors and advertisers are always welcome at the club for lunch on home match days.
So, without the support of our sponsors and advertisers it would just not be possible to contemplate the level of capital expenses we face every year. We have a huge responsibility to our members and to the wider community, we get no external support even though we are one of the biggest sports clubs in the area and provide outstanding pastoral care and specialist coaching to players of all ages and their coaches too.
We recognise that in return for the fantastic support we get we need to work with our sponsors and advertisers to see how we can help them.
Ruthie Brockett, our Sponsorship & Publicity Manager, will be delighted to hear from you with ideas and suggestions. Please contact her on sponsorship@chilternrugby.com.
Most importantly we want our members to enjoy using the products and services in this programme.
