WELCOME TO WAVERLEY ROAD
ADDRESS
The Clubhouse, Waverley Road, Kettering NN15 6NT
OFFICE OPENING HOURS
Mon- Fri 9am - 1pm
CONTACT US
T: 01536 485588
E: info@ketteringrugbyclub.com
STAFF DIRECTORY
PRESIDENT DIRECTOR OF RUGBY
Peter May
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN
Steve Wilson
HON SECRETARY
Mark Byers
HON TREASURER
Jon Stables
FXTURE SECRETARY
Peter May
FACILITIES MANAGER
Steve Wilson
CLUB ADMINISTRATOR
Clare Warren
MINI/JUNIOR CHAIRMAN
Liam Noble
DIRECTOR OF YOUTH RUGBY
Gary Chambers
YOUTH HEAD COACH
Michael Rawlings
HEAD OF GIRLS RUGBY
Steve Love
REFEREE CO-ORDINATOR
Peter May
Dickie Heath
HEAD COACH
Graham Wilson
CLUB & 1st XV CAPTAIN
Josh Cox
MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
Helen Bridgeman
VP’S MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
Bob Wheeler
SAFEGUARDING OFFICER CLUB SHOP
Rebecca Horne
DISCIPLINARY OFFICER
Mark Byers
As always we offer a warm welcome to our match officials today.
Clare Warren
It’s possible you won’t agree with every decision they make during the course of the game, but please remember this is Rugby Union, not Association Football – if you’re the type who enjoys berating or even abusing officials, I would respectfully suggest this is not the place for you.
Please respect the match officials.
WELCOME FROM THE PRESIDENT
It’s a pleasure to welcome our visitors from Broadstreet, their officials, players and supporters to Waverley Road this afternoon.
The last time we played Broadstreet was in the 2019 – 20 season where we managed a victory here at home but before we could visit their fantastic facilities at The Ivor Reece Centre the Covid epidemic hit our game and the season ended early.
We have not started the season as well as we might have anticipated, but I know the boys are all straining to build on last year's 5th place finish and I hope today sees a step up in our organization and commitment in order for them to fulfil their ambition!
May I take this opportunity to extend a massive thank you to all our sponsors. Your support and commitment are hugely valued by the Club. I hope that you, and your guests , have a truly memorable and enjoyable season with us and are able to generate meaningful business whilst you are here.
Particularly I would like to thank Berrys and T James for stepping up as Main Sponsors when the UE Group decided not to renew their sponsorship this season. The shirts on show today reflect our new Main Sponsors – thank you!
On behalf of everyone at the Club can I say a big thank you to all the Match Officials who will come to Kettering this year. Without you there is no game, and we greatly appreciate your efforts.
Finally, to our fans, undoubtedly some of the best in the league, have a great season home and away and, as ever: Be Loud, Be Proud and Be Respectful.
Peter May – President Kettering Rugby Club
THE DUGOUT
A Warm welcome to everyone from Broadsteet and
The boys are hurting after two very under par and disappointing defeats in which we have for one reason or another squandered countless scoring opportunities . This weeks training has all been about mind set , desire ,
The effort and energy has been fantastic from everyone
Congratulations to Will Homer and Luke Conyard on their 1st xv debuts last weekend, two very exciting and talented individuals who I’m pretty sure you will see a lot
As always looking forward to a catch up in the bar
KRFC COMMUNITY CORNER
KRFC is much more than just the rugby played on the pitches.
We are a grassroots club whose ethos revolves around building people and our community as much as the physical rugby we love so much.
As part of the day to day activities around the club there is an immense amount of community work that goes on and here is where we try to highlight some of the great things happening at the moment.
Sunday Lunch with the Neighbours!
Any club that sits within a built-up area has to work extra hard to keep a balance with their neighbours between all the match day activities, training and social events while minimising the impact to those around them. At KRFC, we work very hard to keep all the local community informed through regular newsletters, event invites and discounts, along with a strong drive to get them to become active members and benefit from the great facilities on their doorstep.
This Sunday sees a Sunday Lunch being catered for local residents in Hillcrest Ave who really wanted to get together as large group but were struggling to fit all together at one house. Following a discussion with some of the residents we are now hosting them for a gathering of around twenty neighbours for a two-course lunch at the club.
This lunch offers friends and neighbours, including those who may normally be alone on a Sunday afternoon the opportunity to meet and enjoy each other’s company within walking distance of home.
They are being joined this time by some of our Sunday regulars and hopefully we can extend and expand this into a regular community event for all to enjoy.
We may have some spaces left so please enquire at the bar if you are interested or would like to do something similar in the future.
Rugby Club hosts Mark ‘Barney’ Barwell Memorial Football Match
More than 120 players have taken part in an annual charity football tournament in memory of popular Kettering man Mark 'Barney' Barwell who died in 2017. Barney was part of FC Unit, a Sunday morning football team who have organised a fundraising six-a-side memorial football tournament in his honour every year. Friend and tournament co-organiser Tom Smith reminded players of the importance of looking out for each other's mental health. He said: “The most important thing for me is that we need to look out for each other. If you get a feeling that something is wrong with a mate, there is probably something wrong.”In six years more than £60,000 has been raised for charity by the tournament, with this year’s causes –The Samaritans Kettering, Johnny’s Happy Place, The Barney Legacy Fund and the Jack Williams Treatment Fund. Twelve teams battled it out on Saturday (September 21) with Team Hormone triumphant. Tom added: “It is always an honour to be able to help organise such a wonderful local event in honour of Mark, his kind heart and big personality resonated with so many people. “We would like to extend our thanks to Kettering Rugby Club for hosting us once again, our sponsors Premier Roofing, The Food Barn and local band The Distraction for making this wonderful event possible.”
To donate to the three charities supported by Barney’s friends go to: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/barneylegacyfund2017.
INTRODUCING THE TEAM
There are currently 27 lads registered to play for the 2024/2025 season. The majority of whom have been in the team since Mini’s.
We have Adam, Ano, Ben, Brendan, Charlie, Connor, Ewan, Finlay, Gavin, George, Harry B, and Harry J. Haydn, Jack, Jackson, Jared, Joe, Matty, Morgan, Pacey, Pharis, Sam, Tim, Will B, Will M-R, Willoughby and we welcome Will L to the team this season.
We were recently super proud of Ewan, Jack, Jared, Haydn and Will B for putting in a fantastic effort at the Saints trails having enjoyed a great season with U15s there. Ano also attended to show off his qualities as a Rugby player. It was a tough trail as essentially two development centre’s were reduced to one, the weather certainly added additional complexities.
We congratulate and wish Ewan Neeson, all the very best as he was accepted into Northampton Saints foundation Under 16’s programme.
Last season we also had players representing East Northants rugby team (Adam, Ano, Ben, Connor, Gavin, George, Pharis and Willoughby) we look forward to trailing for this season and expanding the boys experience in representative rugby.
PASSION AND DRIVE...
The team are coached by Paul Neeson, Ben Watts, Matt Sandy, Martin Young, Richard Campbell and Clive Mutemasango.
We train midweek Tuesdays and Thursdays alongside the Colts expanding on the skills and drills.
Certainly, a team to watch, we have some great players who have a dream … Aiming to be the 1%’s.
Meanwhile others come for the friendships and laughs, the fitness goals and community spirit, to representing their local team. #Blues.
REGIONAL 2 MIDLANDS EAST LEAGUE TABLE
