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Chairman’s Welcome
Welcome to Amersham and Chiltern’s match programme. A particular welcome to the players, officials, and supporters of our visitors.
For a second 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 East competition. They are usually, but not always at home when the Firsts are away.
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 U14 and U15 and narrowly lost in the final of the U16 competition. 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 James Stacpoole (Minis) or Rob Elms (Juniors) - or just bring your boy or girl along.
Last year we started up a Women’s team, which has gone from strength to strength. They are keen to recruit new and experienced players and will give both the warmest of welcomes. If you or anyone you know want to get involved, contact Vicky Edington or Gareth Bourne.
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; Deputy Chairman: Andy Saunders; Hon Sec: Ralph Hayward; Hon Treasurer: Chris Tavender; Membership Secretary: Sandra Hitchman; Director of Rugby: Pete Gibson; Mini Chairman: James Stacpoole; Junior Chairman: Rob Elms
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What’s on at Amersham & Chiltern
SATURDAY 20th
A&C MINI FESTIVAL
FRIDAY 7th U13 INITIATION TO JUNIORS
FIREWORKS NIGHT A&C VETS DAY SEPTEMBER OCTOBER
SATURDAY 6th
SUNDAY 5th
CHRISTMAS LUNCH
SATURDAY 13th
What’s on at Amersham & Chiltern
CLARKS DAY
SATURDAY 13th
SATURDAY 31th
BURNS NIGHT SUPPER
SATURDAY 29th
FRIDAY 23th
A&C MINI DEV FESTIVAL SPONSORS LUNCHEON
SATURDAY 7th
DIGGER DAY
SUNDAY 1ST
What’s on at Amersham & Chiltern
SATURDAY 11th
PRESIDENT’S LUNCHEON
SATURDAY 28th
VETS TOUR TO SOUTHEND
MINI AWARDS DAY
FRIDAY 24th
SUNDAY 12th
JUNIOR AWARDS EVENING
SENIOR PLAYERS AWARDS
FRIDAY 22th
SATURDAY 25th
SENIOR OVERSEAS TOUR
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REGIONAL 1 SOUTH EAST LEAGUE
AMERSHAM & CHILTERN 1XV
2025 / 2026 SEASON
MATCH REPORT
Hertford hard work pays off against disappointing Chiltern
‘When all our days turn to night Echoes only left where we hide And you save so many lives But never got around to save yourself And you see the way you wanted it to go Always waiting ‘cause you never know Never know’
Always a delight to welcome the players, officials, and supporters from Hertford. Having done the double on us last season they have found this season a real test in the early games. For Amersham, this match provided a great deal of opportunity to get back into winning ways. With Hertford also being in a similar league position the scene was set for a competitive and hard-fought match.
We welcomed Sean Maughan to the club and to our hooker role owing to the mighty Joe Batt having a sore limb. We also welcomed back big Charlie Bourne to the second row to hope -
MATCH REPORT
fully add some ballast to the scrum and some height to the lineout. Ben Pothecary provided cover in the all-important standoff position after his wee brief trip away to Ealing RFC and back. Would he be refreshed after his time away? Finally, Michael MacKenzie Crooks was welcomed to the bench after scoring a hat-trick for the seconds against Beaconsfield 2s the previous weekend. A bigger test but one he was facing with confidence.
And so, to the action …… after 4 mins Sammy Sinclair from full back decided to take Hartford on with a blistering ‘Blair Kinghorn’ style attack weaving with comfort through a dozing Hertford defence. Missed conversion. Well deserved (5-0) lead. On 8mins Hertford equalise and then lead through a straightforward
conversion (5-7). 14 mins Hertford extend lead with a second try following another successful maul. Converted (5-14). A&C respond well with more pressure and better possession. Harry Stevens steps up scoring A&C second try and conversion (12-14). Hertford again take the lead with another predictable and poorly defended maul – great conversion (12-21). Charlie Bourne with a near immediate response then sprints a good 50yds to score unopposed. The ground shook. Hertford keep things interesting with an unconverted try – Half Time (17-26)
Hertford continue to maul well, and A&C defend poorly opening second half try from Hertford (17-31). Doug McGregor-Smith at prop then rumbles over to close the deficit –
MATCH REPORT
converted by Harry (24-31) – all to play for. Herford again with no prizes for guessing scored another converted try unopposed maul to add spice to our day (24-36). Noah Jarvis then stepped up to score a well worked try on 72 mins to make matters interesting as the final whistle approached (31-33).
MATCH REPORT
Final converted try from Hertford at the death – you guessed it another maul. (31-40)
A match played out by two teams deserving to be at the bottom end. Hertford quite one dimensional and A&C lacking toughness and tackling especially in relation to malls. We expect many of our injured back and we will go again.
This week a very warm welcome to Shelford and fresh opportunity to climb up this league.
7. Michael Everett 8. Kazeem
9. Ben Harris 10. Ben Pothecary 11. Josh Fisher
12. Noah Jarvis (C) thirteen. Harry Stevens
14. MacKenzie South 15. Sammy Sinclair 16. Max Morphey 17. Liam Bruno 18. Michael MacKenzie Crooks.
Team – 1. Doug McGregor-Smith 2. Sean Maughan 3. Charlie Swerling 4. Harry Bradshaw 5. Kieran Booth 6. Charlie Bourne
Olayinka
Please support our Planning Application
Investing in Club Fields and facilities safeguarding for future generations
Develop and improve sport facilities for the community
Create improved facilities for all users
Support the NEW girls & womans teams
Provide for care home and dementia for local area
Additional parking and better access
The club needs everyone to support our case please register your support on the council website.
FROM THE TOUCHLINE
by Huw Thomas
21-23 Little Marlow Rd, Marlow 01628 898 866
Shelford RFC are our visitors today, for an important game towards the bottom of the London Regional 1 South East league. Chiltern are currently second from last in the standings, two places and five points behind Shelford. We extend a warm welcome to their players, officials and supporters.
Although Shelford are usually one of the stronger teams in this league, we did manage to beat them home and away last season. Both games were close. We won 19-23 at Shelford in February, one of our best performances, to add to an 11-7 victory at home almost exactly a year ago. It is interesting to note that only three players seem to have survived from that 9 November 2024 Shelford team, whereas our side is very similar. No doubt, we’ll find out exactly what that means this afternoon.
There was no game last week, so I can only report on the last home game, a 31-40 loss to Hertford. Despite the score, it wasn’t a game of a particularly high standard, with both sides significantly depleted by injury and therefore prone to errors. We scored five good tries through Sammy Sinclair, Harry Stevens, Charlie Bourne, Doug McGregor-Smith and Noah Jarvis. We could have scored more with more precision and patience, and a recognition of where our strengths lie. Hertford were focussed and scored the same try four or five times in a total of six. We have some of our main men back today: we hope for and need a better performance.
The mighty 2s travel to Henley 3 for a match in Tribute BBO Counties 2 East. Henley (even Henley) have not always been able to put out a team this year, but we are assured that they have a side today. We sit comfortably mid-table, though the fact that we beat table-topping Beaconsfield last time out, and that we have a game in hand, suggests that we should be aiming to finish higher.
Gripe for today: one thing that immediately strikes you when you look at the 2s league table is that it’s the second week in November and teams have played four, maybe five games. Do the RFU want people to play or would they rather that we all just watched the TV?
High Wycombe
On a brighter note, last night saw our annual Fireworks Event light up the Amersham sky. We now have the reputation of putting on the best show for miles around. Ollie Cato and his team of volunteers from the Under 9s deserve massive credit for working so hard to see that we remain unchallenged in that. See you on the touchline!
Huw 891 London Rd
1 Charlie Swerling*
THE TEAMS
SHELFORD
1 Nathan Taylor
Miles Huppatz (Captain)
Oli Emsley
Alex Hales
Osian Williams
Callum Burke
Michael Dunnett (VC)
Luca Martinelli
Ned Westbrook
Harvey Taylor
Mark Leckie
Lewis Cracknell
Matt Reaney
Tui Baleisolomone
Preston MacFarlane
Ben Ashman
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UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
WILL SWERLING
I find young William to be a busy wee boy, and quite secretive, as we meet for at a coffee nearby a local wholesale fish supplier. I thought a strange location to meet, but as soon as Will explained all became clear.
Unbeknown to me Will is and has been for some time one of the team training the dolphins at Regent Park Zoo. ‘They’re God’s creatures… Andy’ he emphasizes, as he looks the part in wet suit, Amersham RFC top and wellies carrying a large bucket of flopping around fish.
A whistle dangles close by his mouth although no dolphins nearby. I help to escort Will and the fish to his car. He loads up ready to travel to Regents Park for their dinner time. I have a flask of coffee and some homemade biscuits as we walk around a small fishing loch.
William Swerling was another Chiltern rugby player born nearby in High Wycombe. An August child he enjoyed the sizzling summer of 2003 within, before bursting out and joining the rest of the Swerling family on the farm. Will always has a smile, be him at training, playing, or drinking.
His love of dolphins he has kept very secret and has asked me not to talk about it too much. His main ambitions though are to love playing rugby with his mates and become as skilled as he can at work to ensure the dolphins can jump high as possible and balance that ball on their nose – no splashes!
Will shares my love of blue. He is though extremely specific and explains that it is specifically teal blue that he adores. ‘It reminds me of the sea Andy’. It is no surprise to me that his lucky number is fourteen.
As a red hot, jinky, strong and elusive winger he is well suited to both he 14 and 11 wing positions. 14 though is his lucky number and being an even number is a further bonus. I then talk about things Will does not like. He mentions ‘cruising’ and I get a bit concerned before he goes onto explain that people cruising in the middle lane of the motorway annoy him intensely.
‘I shout out move!’ He agrees with me that they may not here him.
I share this further frustration when he explains that when he walks around the house in his socks he can step in some little puddles of water in the kitchen. Soggy socks he cannot tolerate, and he cannot be bothered changing into dry ones. My cat dribbles her water and my son tribbles tomato sauce. I too just keep my slightly soggy socks on.
We positively then consider what there is to love
in the world. For will ‘Top of the Pops’ is spending quality time with his loved ones and mates. He also enjoys travelling to countries he has not been to before and when there being adventurous. As an animal lover he is an avid watcher of all naturalist documentaries and impressively has absolutely no hesitation in holding spiders of any
UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
WILL SWERLING - CONTINUED...
shape, size poisonous or otherwise. His bookcase is also heavily populated with Dinosaur books with his favourite being a pop-up dinosaur book from when he was a wee boy. Single wishes wise he would like to be able to point at something and ‘fill it up’. Will is clearly a deep thinker and as it is lunch time, I ask him to point at me. Laughter ensues. :)
Walkers Prawn Cocktail crisps are his favourite snack and can eat an entire 6 pack multi-pack in 1m 45 secs. I suspect that could even outpace a dolphin as he explains that he crushes all the bags before opening each and them pouring the resulting crumbs down his food pipe. Will runs faster than his ‘Prop’ brother Charlie. I cannot say that is a surprise. He does though also say he is stronger. I will leave that claim to them to discuss.
As Movember is now upon us, we take time to focus on how we can all play apart in supporting men’s health. Will is now officially an ‘organiser’ as he leads for the club this year’s challenges. It is a charity that is remarkably close to his heart as he knows people who have lost their loves owing to male health issues and mental health struggles. It is devastating! One man will take his own life every minute and that is scary!
As a member of the rugby club Will believes that there are great opportunities to help those in need. Check in on your mates, family and loved ones – that just might be what is needed for them to get help after struggling in silence for so long. For anyone reading we all encourage people to have those difficult conversations as it could save a life. You can also donate, share, and just support the club as we do our bit for the cause. Together we can stop men dying too young.
We pause – sip some more coffee and dunk our final biscuit. Will Swerling – Dolphin lover, fast runner, and charity organiser – We salute you!
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ADVERTS IN OUR ON-LINE MATCH PROGRAMME – 1st XV GAMES
11+ Home Matches to be played throughout the 2025/26 Season
Sent to all our Club Members (approx. 2000)
Full Page: £600 + VAT - Half Page: £350 + VAT -Logo link on Club Website
PLAYER SPONSOR: £450 & VAT
Sponsor your favourite playing position in our 1XV Online Programme, i.e., Full Back
LARGE PITCH-SIDE HOARDING FACING THE CLUBHOUSE or SIDE OF 1XV PITCH:
Facing the Clubhouse: £1200+VAT plus £500+VAT production cost
One pitch-side advertising board size 4000mm x 720mm
Logo link on Club website
Plus featuring in our Sponsor Spotlight in our newsletter and on our social media, FB, X and Instagram
PITCH-SIDE HOARDING: FACING THE PITCH SIDE: £600 plus £350+VAT production cost
One pitch-side advertising board 2000mm x 600mm
Logo link on Club website
Plus featuring in our Sponsor Spotlight in our newsletter and on our social media, FB, X and Instagram
CENTENARY SCOREBOARD: £100
SENIOR/WOMEN/COLTS
XV KIT SPONSORFOR
NEXT SEASON 25/26
Your logo on the shirts/kit worn by the Senior XV for all their games
Plus, a company feature in our Sponsor Spotlight in our newsletter which goes to all Members and on our social media, FB, X and Instagram Logo link on Club website
SENIORS/WOMEN
MATCH DAY SPONSOR: CLUB PACKAGE £2,000 + VAT
Please enquire for more information.
MAIN SPONSOR OF THE MINIS DEVELOPMENT FESTIVAL/EVENTS
If you are interested in any of the above opportunities, please complete the below and return to Ruth Brockett sponsorship@chilternrugby.com
Full Name
Business Name (if applicable)
Email address
Mobile number
Sponsorship package/ packages
Personal Club Donation
Bringing dreams to life one room at a time
Today we’re shining a light on one of our newest sponsors — Amersham Dec.
Run by Mike, whose grandfather first started the business over 30 years ago, Amersham Dec is built on family values and a true commitment to supporting the local community.
They’re proud sponsors of our A&C Colts (U16–U18) team — helping the next generation of players make the step up to senior rugby.
At A&C, we’re incredibly grateful for the generosity of our sponsors who make such a difference to our club. Please support them as they support us!
Thinking about a refresh?
Consider Amersham Dec for your next decorating project — and be sure to mention A&C Rugby when you do.
Interested in sponsoring our Colts or becoming a club sponsor?
Contact Ruth: sponsorchilternrugby@gmail.com
Follow Amersham Dec on Instagram @amershamdec Facebook Amersham Decorating Supplies
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.
Last season we celebrated 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 51 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. 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.
Thank you for supporting our great Club.
Peter Osborne Director
OSBORNE SAMUEL GALLERY
AMERSHAM & CHILTERN WOULD LIKE TO THANK ITS SPONSORS AND ADVERTISERS FOR THEIR CONTINUED SUPPORT THROUGHOUT 2025/26
