The Roar! Spring issue 2025 by Westcombe-Park-RFC

YOUR GO TO Home & Garden CENTRE

Polhill Garden Centre in Kent is a family owned and day-to-day run business with nearly 60 years of gardening experience. Nature, plants and enjoying more time outdoors are a few of our many passions at Polhill and research is suggesting that many of you may be coming along for the ride too.

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Google Review, June 2023

Regardless of whether you can tell a hollyhock from a hosepipe, at Polhill Garden Centre no matter what camp you fall into, novice or expert, everyone is welcome. We can be sure to help you create the perfect outdoor space.

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Large Furniture Showroom

Clarkson Wright & Jakes (CWJ) have been the main sponsors of Westcombe Park RFC for over 15 years and enjoy a very close business and social relationship with the whole club and with several members of staff either playing or coaching at various levels over the years.

Proudly celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2025, CWJ is one of the largest law firms in Kent under one roof. Based just off Orpington High Street in Knoll Rise, CWJ’s aim is to make a positive impact on the local community and for us, ‘Combe, being such a well-respected local club, are the perfect partner.

Through sponsorship CWJ contributes to the club’s development, helping maintain facilities, support youth groups, and promote rugby in the area. The partnership goes beyond financial support, reflecting the firm’s belief in the values that rugby embodies: integrity, respect, and teamwork. These principles align closely with CWJ’s own professional ethos, making the partnership a natural fit.

Our team of friendly, professional lawyers are experts in their fields and provide legal services to individuals such as helping people with their wills, inheritance tax planning, retirement planning, buying and selling houses and dealing with other family issues.

On the business side, we buy and sell businesses, and deal with all manner of property and employment issues and general disputes. By sponsoring ‘Combe, CWJ ensures that local residents and businesses have access to highquality legal expertise when needed and provide legal advice to many of the club members and visitors and continue to receive recommendations from them.

When you next need legal advice give us a call on 01689 887887. www.cwj.co.uk.

Advertising/sponsorship/editorial enquiries

Contact: Sally Oakey

Email: sponsorship@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk Mobile: 07702 428162.

Westcombe Park Rugby Football Club

Goddington Dene, Goddington Lane, Orpington Kent BR6 9SX www.westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

The Roar! magazine is produced in association with Mountain Marketing Ltd

Email: Frank.baldwin@ mountainmarketing.co.uk

Front cover photo: David Barnes

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49 Leesons Hill Orpington

John Aitkenhead President WPRFC

IA welcome from the President

t is my great pleasure to welcome you back to The Tiger Den for the second half of the 24/25 season, and to this latest edition of our club magazine ‘The Roar!’.

I hope all you enjoyed your festive break, and that Santa brought everything you wanted for yourselves and your family. I also hope you all have enjoyed this season of rugby so far and I’m sure we are all looking forward to the rest of the season’s matches. When watching and supporting the ‘Combe teams at the club you will be seeing the result of the hard work carried out by our club coaches, and the skills and fitness all of our players have gained from the hard training sessions throughout the week. Plus, of course, on Sundays there are our mini and juniors sections to enjoy.

Also welcome to our 1st team opponents for today’s game in National 2 East. This league is proving to be another tough challenge for our 1st team this season, alongside all the other teams in this league. At the time of writing, the 1st XV are currently standing 7th with 41 points after playing 14 games during the first half of the season.

We cannot take anything for granted as we have won games we should have lost, and lost games we should have won. I’m sure we will all experience more exciting games as the rest of the season unfolds, so enjoy.

Tigers

Our two’s, the Tigers, playing in County Kent 2, also achieved 7th position in the league, at the halfway stage of the season, with 36 points. The Tigers have faced numerous challenges due to the nature and number of injuries suffered, not only to their own players, but also to the 1st team as key Tiger squad members have to move up to fill 1st XV positions.

Despite these challenges, The Tigers have performed outstandingly so far this season and have played an important part in backing up the 1st team, when members of the squad have been given opportunities to experience 1st team rugby. To those players, well done.

Its very pleasing to see a good level of support from our members who turn out to watch the Tigers games which is very deserving. All our players are part of the ‘Combe family and I’m sure it is very much appreciated by the team. A big thank you to all the supporters and I wish The Tigers continued success for the rest of the season.

3rd Team

Currently the 3rd team are playing friendlies after withdrawing from their league because so many players had to move up to fill in positions of injured players in the teams above. However, we are

looking to rebuild this team as it is vital to the club to do so over the coming weeks, I know the management team are determined to get the 3rds out as many times as possible this season with the aim of creating a permanent team in the near future with the help of our up and coming colts who are also playing very well so far this season.

Mini and Juniors

I can’t praise this section of our club enough due to everyone involved working really hard throughout the week, and particularly on Sundays. Whether it is warm and sunny, or cold and raining, great efforts are made to keep our younger members happy and engaged with the game of rugby at ‘Combe.

Having been a parent and coach and seen my own children playing at ‘Combe from the age of seven right up to adult rugby, I, and many other parents, have had the joy of giving children the gift of the game of rugby which may stay with them all of their lives. This is the case for my own family.

‘Combe also has the benefit of a weekly newsletter which goes out to all club members. It ensures members are kept informed of everything going on at the club, so a big thank you to Matt and Rhys and all of you that contribute to this newsletter.

Club Socials

There is going to be an all-club member end of season comedy night later on this year. A poster will be put up in the clubhouse and in the newsletter once a date is confirmed. All funds raised will be going to the MND charity so please support this club initiative as part of our commitment to our local community.

And finally....

A gentle reminder again to enjoy yourselves when watching rugby at our club, and to also show respect to our opponent’s, match officials, especially the referees, whether you are watching at home or away. Doing so demonstrates your own understanding of the spirit and core values of the sport of rugby with its highest value of respect for others within the game.

John

John Vallely WPRFC Chair

AA welcome from the Chair

s we enter the second half of season 2024/25, I would like to extend our warmest Combe welcome to all supporters and visitors to Goddington Dene for today’s National League 2 encounter.

The first part of the season seems to have sped by and despite a few ups and downs along the way Westcombe Park sit at mid table at the start of 2025.

The way the fixtures have panned out we have only five home games in this period when our opponents are Havant, Canterbury, TJs, Barnes and Old Albanian. We will have to be on our mettle for all our remaining fixtures if we are to maintain our league position.

The efforts in preparing the teams, keeping the grounds in good order and maintaining the clubhouse and bar continue to be challenging to say the least. And every year these challenges seem to mount, whether through economic pressures or the increasing demands to make our sport safe and enjoyable. Thanks to all our valued volunteers and staff who make this possible.

Along with financial and governance pressure there is that of an ever-decreasing number of adults playing rugby. In some ways this is probably the biggest challenge the sport faces and it is something that the RFU needs to address as a priority as I see it as more fundamentally serious than the recent demise of some top-level clubs. Do we really want to end up with a couple of dozen professional clubs with community clubs’ Youth sections being merely feeder mechanisms for them?

Our rebadged Tigers have very much come into their game after a difficult start to the season culminating in a good win against Folkestone in the first game after the New Year. The team has been strengthened by players returning from long term injury. A warm

welcome to all the teams they play in Kent League 2.

Our 3rd XV is now playing social rugby against local rivals and the team is a good option for those who prefer the social side of the game, as well as providing a pathway for younger players to experience adult rugby. Having seen a couple of these games I can attest to the great spirit in which they are played.

The Youth section and the enthusiasm of all who play, coach, manage or simply encourage their children never ceases to put a smile on my face. The Academy is now bedding in, and we’ve attracted players from other clubs, as well as retaining a good number of our own youth. In the next year or so let’s hope to see some of them running out for Combe’s 1st XV.

The Girls’ section is now in firmly in place and in the autumn the club hosted girls from several local schools to give them a taste of the game. If the game is to thrive we need to expand in every way we can, and this is a fine example. Thanks to all involved.

I will repeat my message from a previous edition of the magazine and ask everyone to respect the match officials and all our fellow supporters, keeping up the of respect and camaraderie which is the foundation of all sports.

Match official abuse has been creeping into our game over recent seasons and our governing bodies are very clear that this will not be tolerated. Westcombe Park fully supports this position and will act as needed to stamp this out.

Let’s hope we witness great games of rugby throughout the rest of the season, with all sides striving for the win and celebrating or commiserating in the clubhouse afterwards.

All the best

With the 2025 Six Nations in full swing, we want to invite you, no matter what your sporting interests. Whether it’s Rugby, Football, F1, Cricket we have you covered.

But It’s not just about sport, we have our fantastic new menu launching on 6th February, so it you fancy a quick bite to eat or get together with friends and family .

And for entertainment, we celebrate our second year since re-opening at the end of March, with live music, DJ and competions – keep an eye on our Facebook page for further details

So please join us, you’re always assured of a warm welcome.

Opening times Mon-Wed: 11.00 – 23.00 Thu – Sat: 11.00 – 00.00 Sun: 12.00 - 22.30

Food serving times Mon- Sat: 12.00 – 21.00 Sun: 12.00 – 18.00

Tigers shock runaway leaders

Season update by Andy Forrester

Tigers early season was massively disrupted due to a large number of injuries suffered during pre-season games making it necessary to borrow heavily from the 3rd team, so much so that the 3rds were forced to withdraw from the league due to not being able to put out a side.

The result of this was some heavy losses over the first four games of the London and SE division - Counties 2 Kent season against, Old Alleynians II, Aylesford Bulls, Sidcup II, and Folkestone where, due to the serious lack of backs, four of the team’s forwards played in the back line… which didn’t go well.

Next up were the runaway league leaders Old Elthamians who came looking for a big victory. The Tigers previous results were expected to make them overwhelming underdogs and even the referee and his assessor were fearful of the result being very onesided and difficult to ref and assess.

Fortunately for the Tigers, the large injury list was decreasing. Injured players were also returning to the 1st team squad, which in turn saw regular team members back in The Tigers line-up, particularly some much needed backs. The Tigers played some great rugby from the start and Old Elthamians were beaten 18-12.

However, more injuries meant another big change in personnel for the next match against a well-drilled Gillingham Anchorians side who were 38-5 winners. This was followed by a home game against Vigo, who despite being bottom of the league, proved more difficult than some of our players expected, but the Tigers recorded their second win with a 34-21 scoreline.

As more players returned, The Tigers were able to put out a more competitive side at Maidstone where some very good, disciplined rugby saw the team achieve a 43-0 win.

A close fought home game against Thanet Wanderers ended in a

14-35 defeat when some key injuries during the match proved to be the difference.

Dartford Valley were the next opponents on their plastic pitch when very strong winds, with gusts of up to 30mph, and driving rain made conditions difficult for both teams. Dartford were 9-0 up after the first half but with the wind at the Tigers’ backs, it saw them threatening the line time after time. Despite two disallowed tries, The Tigers went into the final 20 mins firmly believing the win was in their grasp.

However, due to some bizarre events, the referee suffered an injury and was unable to continue which resulted in the game being called to a halt with Dartford still in the lead. This means that, despite some protestations and celebrations from the home side, the fixture will need to be replayed.

The December run-in to Christmas saw The Tigers again decimated by injury and in the match against Medway II, forwards had to fill in for both wingers and a centre - Dave Mewer (prop) Elliott McNamara (back row) and Louis Hoad (second row) respectively. A change of tactics saw us play a forward dominated game which paved the way for a fantastic 35-5 win.

On to Aylesford Bulls where, our best side to date, put on a fantastic performance to run out 2925 winners against very good opponents. It was an exciting game to play in and watch.

With the side almost unchanged from the Aylesford game, The Tigers then took on Sidcup II at home looking to avenge the heavy 65-5 defeat at Sidcup earlier in the season. Again, a very good team performance against a much-depleted visiting side saw The Tigers run out comfortable winners by 62-0.

The injury list is thankfully improving, and The Tigers now have a competitive squad to choose from which will see performances, results, and league position significantly improve during the remainder of the season.

If you want to ﬁnancially help and support Senior Rugby at ‘Combe and enjoy a social Curry every other month, then join us. It is only 12 monthly standing orders of £25 for an individual or £35 for a couple.

We meet at the Bombay Indian Restaurant in Green Street Green every other month (August, October, December, February, April & June).

If there is an unforeseen expense that was not budgeted for, the Chairman of Rugby Playing can ask the club for a contribution. This request is then put to members and goes to a majority decision.

Get involved, enjoy a curry and help support ‘Combe rugby. Phone Paul 07836 570578 if you are interested in joining.

Young guns go for it

Academy makes a welcome return. Report by John Ward Turner

After a four-year break, the Combe’s Academy team is back in action, and to say that they are raring to go would be an understatement.

The Academy, Westcombe Park’s under 18s team, is managed by Shane Pender who also assists with the coaching under head coach, Jack Forest along with Oliver Colegate, a former 1st XV player. The Academy captain is Charlie McCormac who plays in the centre.

Their efforts, and a willingness, by the youngsters who don the blue and white stripes of Westcombe Park, to learn, is already paying dividends as the Academy won its first three games of the season. They have played friendly fixtures against the following clubs, Beckenham Colts away winning 27-12, Canterbury Academy 2’s home winning 82-19 and have so far played one Kent Colts league game at home against Old Alleynian winning 65-5. Their match stats are 159 points for with only 36 against. George Nott scoring 25 of them.

Many of the Academy players have been recruited from local schools including Ravens Wood in Bromley, St Olaves, a close neighbour to our club in Goddington Lane, and Langley in Beckenham, where Graham Purdy, one of Combe’s former 1st XV players is the under 12’s Langley rugby coach.

Some exceptional players are emerging such as Hayden Pender, a hooker, and Finn Curtis-Cobb, a member of the back row, who are

now both in the Kent Under 18’s squad.

Another five players have caught the eye of the Ealing Trailfinders Academy. They are George Vowell, Dan Lloyd, Freddie Edwards, Louis Trace and Michael Etebe who were selected to play on 21 December for the Ealing academy against Coventry academy when a close match saw Coventry come out on top 36-28. They go on to play block fixtures, away to Llanelli Scarlets in Wales then, away to Stade Francais.

Taine Elone and Zac Jones have gained rugby scholarships to Mill Hill school based in North London. Unfortunately, this means that they are contracted to Mill Hill for two years, and the Saracens U18 Academy, and so are unable to represent ‘Combe for the time being.

Taine Elone is also involved with the England Under 18’s squad.

There’s still more to come from this very talented team. Adam Hillier and Hudson Flynn are part of the Oaklands College rugby academy and are both in the Saracens Under 17’s group.

The ‘Combe Academy is already proving to be a remarkable group of young players, and it is entirely feasible that some of them may eventually end up wearing their national shirt in the not-toodistant future.

Watch this space, as they say, and hopefully we may have to find more room in the clubhouse the get those shirts framed and proudly displayed for all to see and admire.

Saracens boys Adam Hillier & Hudson Flynn

Kent boys

Hayden Pender & Finn Curtis-Cobb

Mill Hill boys

Tiane Elone & Zac Jones.

John Yeates a ‘Combe stalwart

Westcombe Park’s new junior pitch has been named after the late John ‘Yetty’ Yeates (1929 – 2022). John Ward Turner pays a personal tribute to this club legend

John Yeates, affectionally known as Yetty, was the gentlest of men and the kindest. He gave so much to his family and almost as much to his rugby club.

John was a local lad, born in Orpington in 1929, and although he had not been in the best of health over the last few years he, with the help of daughter Rebecca and wife Val, watched some home ‘Combe games from his car, parked at the end of the pitch. Sadly, he died just one and half days before his 93rd birthday.

John, who was educated at a school in Orpington, was of an age which made him eligible for national service. Between 195052, he served in Dorset with the Royal Signals who are the British Army’s communications experts, providing battle winning IT, cyber and information systems expertise everywhere that the British armed forces required.

On returning to civvy street, John worked briefly at the Daily Express and eventually worked for the Daily Mirror as a telephoto operator. This is where he put to good use the expertise gained in the Royal Signals, and he was possibly one of the first people to use the new form of sending photographs back to Fleet Street long before the introduction of other electronic communications.

His first use of this system was sending back images from a terrible earthquake in Agadir in 1960 when some 1,500 people were killed and 35,000 people were left homeless. John also attended the

awful disaster in Aberfan in 1966.

John joined Westcombe Park in 1954/55 having met David Gook - ‘Combe’s 1st XV hooker and son of the owner of The Tigers Head in Chislehurst - and played in the junior sides for a number of years.

In 1966 John met Val who was working at a secretary in London at that time and was also helping out behind the bar at The Tigers Head. It was here every Sunday morning a gathering of Sidcup and Westcombe Park players would meet to discuss Saturday’s games, paying a kitty for the morning of 10 shillings.

John was a keen sailor and initially owned a speed boat moored in Salcombe which was used on occasions for fishing mackerel. One fishing trip was cut short when son Ben pointed out that the mackerel seem to have disappeared possibly because of the appearance of a shark! A hasty return to the harbour was ordered by the skipper.

The speedboat was eventually sold and replaced with a 4-berth sailing boat which was moored in Gillingham and Salcombe. The Yeates family spent many happy days sailing although on one occasion, when the sea was a bit lumpy and there was a strong wind blowing, John, from his usual steering position in the stern, ordered his crew to clamber up the mast to raise the sail.

John faced a mini mutiny when daughter Rebecca, having followed his instructions, found herself having to cling on to the mast for dear life and refused to move!

Bottom

John proposed to Val on Christmas Eve 1966. As Valarie sang in her local catholic church’s choir in Mottingham, she went off to midnight mass while John, obviously pleased his proposal had been accepted, continued celebrating.

John later went to the church to collect Val and when he wandered into the service, still in his celebratory mood, he was immediately set upon by the ushers who informed him that it was not acceptable to be smoking a cigar in the church.

They were married at Holy Innocents RC Church in Orpington, in 1967. Their daughter Rebecca was born in 1968, followed by their son Ben in 1970. John’s extended family now includes two grandsons, Josh and Jack.

John took a major decision in the 80’s when he converted to Catholicism and over the years became a devout catholic.

When John retired from playing rugby he became an enthusiastic supporter, travelling many miles to support the 1st XV. He was vocal in his support, encouraging the team or the referee, so much so that his daughter Rebecca remembers on one occasion he actually dislocated his jaw. Did that keep him quiet? I doubt it.

In the 90s John was made redundant from The Mirror, reportedly due to the mismanagement by Robert Maxwell, and at the same time he and his fellow workers lost a large amount of their pension money.

This gave John more free time which, I suspect much to Val’s exasperation, gave him even more opportunity to assist at the club, something he did with considerable success and a huge amount of effort.

It was an interesting time for ‘Combe as the club had just moved from Craven Road to Goddington Park to join an Orpington sports association consisting of hockey, tennis, football, lacrosse - and possibly pigeon racing.

A year later, after an EGM regarding the managing of the sports amenities, the ‘Combe committee at the time took over responsibility for the running of the Goddington Park facility.

It was also at this time that another legend of the club, Chas Chapman, who was quite heavily involved in county rugby, saw that professionalism, and potentially leagues, were going to become an important part of our game.

Chas, together with John and Robin Taylor, worked out a five-year plan to ensure that Westcombe Park would be in a strong position when these new leagues were formed.

Thank goodness that when this happened we were prepared while sadly other clubs were not and we left behind old friends like Park House, Bromley, Sidcup, Darfordians and many more of our old oppositions.

The time and effort that John put into ‘Combe is, I am sure, not fully appreciated by most members of the club. The many hours of committee work and negotiating all the new contracts with the associate clubs took up a huge amount of time and patience.

John was President from 1988 until 1993 and in the following eight years served as chairman from 1994 until 2002 - a remarkable innings. Prior to this, using his experience as a newspaper man, he was also editor of the former ‘Combe Crier.

John had a wicked sense of humour. I remember doing some very silly things late at night and then wondering ‘why am I doing this?’ Then remembering ‘oh yes, I know, Yetty suggested it, where has he gone?’ Only to find, of course, he was nowhere to be seen as he had a talent for avoiding being seen in the foreground - but was always somewhere in the background.

How fitting it is that the club has now honoured John by naming the new Junior rugby pitch, ‘The John Yeates pitch’.

Left picture:

John (centre) surrounded by friends and ‘Combe club members at the Union Jack Club.

Right picture:

John Yeates’ daughter Rebecca under the posts of the new junior pitch that has been named after her father.

right picture:

John (right) enjoys pre-dinner drinks at a club supper.

A ‘player first’ approach to coaching

Early 24/25 season review of minis and juniors by Phillip Cramp, Chairman of rugby

As the 2024 cricket season whimpered to a wet conclusion, the sound of leather on willow gave way to the enthusiastic laughter emanating from the Minis and Juniors teams training sessions.

In fact, as a result of player demands, it is fair to say that most age groups held informal and voluntary training sessions throughout most of the summer months - such is the culture of family and belonging that the ‘Combe coaches engender amongst their players.

This season we saw an influx of players across most age groups which was just one of the many benefits gained from a brilliant programme of having a presence at many of the summer fetes held at local schools.

The new intake of Under 6s, now self-named The Buzzards, has brought another growth in numbers. This coupled with the club’s collaboration with Munchkins, has resulted in more than 20 keen and eager players learning the joys of rugby.

The mini and junior sections currently have more than 350 registered players, which is the highest number Westcombe Park has seen in many, many years and a reflection of the brilliant work of the two Heads of mini/junior coaching ,and all the volunteers, who give up their free time week in and week out.

One of the most pleasing aspects of the early season has been the increasing numbers in our girls’ section (see report on page 28).

Dave Grace and his team of coaches are doing a wonderful job at growing this area at the club and we are pleased that not only do we have over 30 girls registered now, but they are becoming a

strong, formidable unit.

The growing number of players has brought some challenges, mainly with pitch and floodlight allocation. Again, this has been handled with great sensitivity and the club is now the proud owner of a further batch of portable lights to cover greater areas for training during the winter nights.

A deal was also struck with the Harris Academy, and we now rent their plastic pitch for a couple of hours on a Thursday night.

This allows each age group to hone their ball skills in the certainty that training will not be called off.

While results across all age groups have been excellent, we are not overly concerned by the ‘Xs and Os’. As a group, all the coaches at ‘Combe believe in coaching the players the right way so that they play the game in the right way and with the correct attitude.

The coaching group believe in the ‘player first’ approach to coaching, so that we aim to produce good people and good players.

As the second half of the season splutters to a start (now the snow has finally melted), we look forward to what lies ahead.

Each age group has a tour arranged for the Easter break and Festival season starts in earnest for the younger players. The Combe Mini Rugby Festival is set for Sunday 27 April and it promises to be the biggest and best one yet.

All in all, it has been a fantastic first half of this season. There are so many positives to take from it, and so it only leaves us to thank everyone involved in making these wonderful achievements possible.

2024/2025

SEASON

08/02 CANTERBURY (H)

DORKING (A)

TONBRIDGE JUDDIANS (H) 08/03 COLCHESTER (A) 15/03 BARNES (H) 22/03 SEVENOAKS (A) 05/04 OLD ALBANIAN (H) 12/04 WORTHING (A) 26/04 BURY ST EDMUNDS (A)

Westcombe Park RFC sincerely appreciates the support of those who are sponsoring the club during the 2024/25 season and encourages members to express their gratitude by choosing the services of the sponsors whenever possible.

The aim is to avoid ‘second season syndrome’

Ist XV mid-season review by Mark Ley

Agreat start to the National 2 East 24/25 campaign saw us take the victory in a thriller at Goddington Dene against Bury St Edmunds, a side that we have always struggled against. This gave the lads a huge amount of confidence and reinforced the hard work put in over the summer months.

This great result was followed up by a very close but exciting 32-29 home win against Henley, another club we have historically struggled against. A couple of monkeys off our backs and this helped build confidence for the rest of the season.

Our injury list for the previous two seasons had been quite small in number with injuries not particularly serious or long-term. This meant selection was pretty straightforward with plenty of competition for 1st XV jersey’s, but this season our luck ran out and at one stage we had 24 players unavailable due to injury.

Performances have been slightly below what we have become accustomed to on a couple of occasions, but it is difficult to maintain such high standards when the number of injuries results in numerous personnel changes on a weekly basis.

The impact of this was unfortunately felt further down the club as players were pulled up from the Tigers to play for the 1st XV. The Tigers, in turn, recruited from the 3rd team, leaving few players available to fill the 3rd XV fixtures.

Subsequently, a very difficult decision was made for the 3rd XV to withdraw from the league. To their credit, the players affected understood the issues and dealt with it. Thanks goes to Randika and his team for assisting in helping to manage the situation.

On a much brighter note, some of the Academy players will be maturing into senior players from next season, and the aim is that we can reverse this situation and put out a minimum of three senior sides every week.

We entered the Christmas break sitting in a very pleasing 7th position, two places better than at the same time last season. Clearly, progress has been made and we are proving to be a very difficult team to beat, especially at Goddington Dene.

A disappointing 12-14 home defeat in atrocious conditions against Sevenoaks sharpened the coaches and squad’s focus and they

responded by delivering an unbeaten December with a 19-17 away victory over Old Albanians, an empathic 68-19 home win against Worthing, with the icing on the Christmas cake being a triumph over Guernsey at home before we broke for the festive period.

The low scoring match was a classic attritional affair, with both defences coming to the fore. Combe’s defence fared slightly better, conceding a single try and a penalty to ensure the team recorded a narrow but well deserved 14-8 victory.

Injury update

Fergus Chawner – knee injury requiring surgery, unfortunately out for the rest of the season.

Jacob Buckley - recovering from shoulder surgery and has started his return to play rehab with light training.

Joe Ratcliff - an unfortunate, nasty injury during a pre-season fixture against Southend, then suffered a back injury two matches after his return. He is improving will hopefully be back in the squad soon.

Sam Fombo and Cai Devine - both rehabbing well and both should be making appearances during January.

James Burton - now completed his rehabilitation after surgery and has featured for the Tigers working on his match fitness and pushing for 1st XV selection.

Kieran Thomson - almost fully recovered from knee injury and he should be back playing very soon.

Additions to the Squad

Leo Jowett (centre) – joins on loan from Blackheath for the remainder of the season.

Ben Charnock (No.8) – joins on loan for the remainder of the season

James Smith (scrum half/back three) - signed from Barnes

We are now well placed to enjoy the remainder of the season and challenge ourselves to improve on our current league position (7th at time of writing). We were looking to avoid the dreaded ‘second season syndrome’ and actually improve our league position on last year with a top six finish being an ambitious but not unrealistic target.

Your support is as always very much appreciated by the players and staff and we hope you continue to come along, cheer on the lads and support the club as we continue to build on our recent successes.

1ST XV SQUAD 24/25 FORWARDS

1ST XV SQUAD 24/25 BACKS

WPRFC Protocols

This is a reminder about behaviours we expect at Westcombe Park

• Respect match officials, visiting teams, bar staff and each other. Make visiting fans feel welcome

• Look after the grounds and clubhouse

• Make sure that dogs are kept on a leash and that all dog mess is cleaned up. No dogs in the Roughton Room

• Use rubbish bins

• If you need to answer the call of nature, the loos are situated in the clubhouse, not behind the mound or anywhere in the grounds!

• Return glasses to the bar – this will speed up service. Only plastic glasses are allowed pitch-side

• Do not park in front of the emergency gates. Ensure that there is clear ambulance access to the playing fields.

• When using the car park, aim to park within the bays so people can access their vehicles. Please be considerate to other car park users

• On match days that designated areas for the visiting team bus and match officials are respected

• There is a defibrillator outside the clubhouse, but this is kept pitch-side during 1stVX matches

‘Combe set to serve up Padel Tennis

Following negotiations which started at the end of 2024 with a number of Padel providers. Westcombe Park has agreed a partnership with Padel XTRA.

Subject to a successful planning application, the existing tennis courts at Goddington Dene will be transformed into a Centre of Excellence for Padel in the South East.

New! Annual Awards evening

The annual club supper is being revamped with a new format that includes an awards evening where club members and guests will celebrate all ‘Combe’s rugby players from U6’s through to the most senior ones.

The evening is planned for Friday 9th May 2025 in the Club. Awards for the younger age groups will take place between at 6 - 8pm.

Please put the date in your diary and look out for posters in the clubhouse for further details which will be coming soon.

TBecome a WPRFC Patron

o celebrate 120 years of ‘Combe rugby, the club is launching The Westcombe Park RFC Patron Scheme. The scheme is open to all members and includes an annual 1st Team Home season ticket for 10 years, free space on any away coach, and a free pre-game lunch table for six persons per season (excluding the Christmas lunch).

The scheme is for 10 years and costs just £3,000. An admin fee for your membership of £5 will be charged annually.

An Elder Patron scheme is open to anyone over 70 years in that playing season and includes annual 1st Team Home season ticket for life, a free space on any away coach and a table for six people for five years at a pre-game Lunch (other than Christmas).

The Elder Patron scheme is for 10 years and costs just £1,750. An admin fee for membership of £5 will be charged annually.

Tee off time for the JWT golf cup

Teams and individuals are invited to book a

The competition is taking place on Friday 25 July 2025 at Pedham Place Golf Centre in Swanley and will include a Texas Scramble in the morning, lunch, and 18-holes in the afternoon.

See the promotion on page 24 of this magazine for booking details.

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place at the ‘Combe Golf Day when they will have the chance to compete for the coveted JWT cup.

An honour to cap it all

By Paul Cavalli

Honours caps are awarded in many sports to individuals to mark a reward for special achievement. An honours cap is considered a highly valued item by its holder.

In the 1830s velvet caps were worn by senior boys at the famous Rugby School which were shaped like smoking caps or jockeys caps as a more practical form of headgear than the top hats which were usually worn, and which were expensive to replace when crushed on the field of play.

They were also used to identify one side’s house from another and were later embroidered with dates, teams, and other house honours awarded.

The practice of awarding caps spread like wildfire throughout the UK and eventually it extended to the highest levels of professional and international rugby.

Today, ‘Combe honours caps are awarded annually to players from each team at the discretion of the team’s skipper and can be awarded for outstanding play, teamwork or purely for the effort that a player has contributed to that team.

The first 1st XV honours caps to be awarded at ‘Combe were to D.C. Grey and C.I.S. Wallice in the club’s inaugural season of 1904/05, and to A.K. Guyer for the A.XV. To date some 742 ‘Combe honours caps have been awarded since that first season.

The design has changed little over time but essentially it is a blue velvet cap with a silver braid and heavy bullion wire tassel with silver bullion cross ribs. It is embroidered on the peak, again with

silver bullion with the season that the cap was awarded in. Above the peak is the WP logo and above that, more recently, the team the cap represents.

The cap design is usually six cross ribs for a 1st XV team cap, four cross ribs for the A.XV cap down to no ribs on a Gentlemen XV or Colts XV cap, but over the years some anomalies have been made. I saw one recently with five ribs and many older caps do not have any ribs at all.

You can be awarded another cap for playing in a higher team, but you cannot be awarded a cap for playing down in a lower team.

There has also been a special cap designed and awarded and framed in the Roughton Room to Fraser Thomson for period 19802009 for “Outstanding contribution to the 1st XV”.

Honours caps are worn at the club supper when new caps are awarded. At the Vice Presidents supper a jug is passed around for donations to help replenish the cost of making the caps, which currently are approximately £80 each

We have 17 honours caps framed on the wall in the Roughton Room where families have given the caps back to the club. The oldest framed A.XV cap was awarded for season 1906/7 to C.F. Roughton, the brother of founder member Dudley Roughton which was presented to the club by his widow.

If anyone would like to donate an old cap back to ‘Combe we would be proud to receive it, and this piece of the club’s history will be framed and displayed accordingly.

Player of the Match

September 24 to December 24

Elliot Roofe

21 September vs Henley

Let’s hear it for the girls!

A look at exciting plans for the

future

Did you know that in the past, ‘Combe was in danger of becoming the largest club in the south-east without a Ladies and Girls section?

This all changed last year when a Girls section was introduced. Dave Grace is the Head of Girls Rugby Development and head coach of the U11/U12Gs team, and we spoke to him about the exciting proposals for Girls/Ladies Rugby at the club over the next 3-5 years.

The Plan is:

1. Establish a sustainable girls rugby section by recruiting at least 50 girls by end of 2025. Teams for those aged between the ages of 812 have already been established and these will be followed by U14 (2025) U16 (2027), U18 (2029)

2. Provide a pathway for local girls to play senior rugby at ‘Combe with the aim of establishing a sustainable and competitive elite woman’s squad by 2030

3. Develop female coaches and managers who will have prominent positions of influence in the club.

2024 review

At the start of 2024 Girls rugby was introduced at ‘Combe following a previous soft launch.

In March, the U9/U10’s took part in their first Girls festival at Hove. Plus, a group of U8-10’s enjoyed a Bournemouth Tour in April.

April saw Westcombe Park hosting the first Mini Girls tournament at the ‘Combe Mini Festival. There will be a girls pool at this year’s Festival U10/U11 and this will continue going forward.

To enable ‘Combe to grow the girls game at the club, focus has been given to the running of ‘Love Rugby Camps’, to attract and encourage new girls to play rugby. A trip to Twickenham to watch the Red Roses vs Black Ferns was also organised. Other incentives included Touch Rugby Festivals where local primary and secondary schools entered teams, and a half term rugby camp during October 2024.

U12G pre-season training started in July 2024 and there have been some amazing highlights since the launch including epic matches against Brighton, Crimson Becs, Dartfordians, Bromley and BASS. In addition, the U10’s, U11’s and U12’s teams have played in a number of Festivals in the final quarter of 2024.

In January the U12 girls played in the Kent Waterfall finals day where they won two out of the three matches they played, bringing home the Kent Vase trophy.

There is already plenty in store for the girls for the rest of 2025. This will include:

April: ‘Combe Mini Festival U10/11 Girls

May: Isle of Wight Tour

June-August: Summer recruitment days

September: Launch of U14G alongside U12G

September: Woman’s Rugby World Cup Events

Momentum is growing with other plans for 2025-26 already in the pipeline. Woman’s touch rugby will start in summer plus the appointment of females to coach and manager positions for U12 + U14 for 2025-2026 season.

‘COMBE NEEDS YOU!

Did you know that 55% of the public don’t realise community sports clubs are run by volunteers. In fact, although Westcombe Park RFC is 120 years old it has only survived that length of time due to the support of volunteers and simply wouldn’t be able to run without them.

Unfortunately, we now find ourselves in a very challenging position of not having enough volunteers to run the club. The majority of our current volunteers who have been serving the club for more years than we can remember are retiring and we are now looking for volunteers throughout the club, especially from the younger demographics, to step up and fill the gaps

Anyone can volunteer and you don’t need to be a player or have any previous experience of rugby to join the numerous volunteers who give up their time to support Westcombe Park RFC and make a difference!

Some roles will only require a few hours a month, others need weekly input. Are there any members who have skills in the following areas who would consider volunteering at ‘Combe?

· IT support

· PR and marketing

· Event management and planning

· Financial/bookkeeping

· Managing our commercial relationships

· Recruiting volunteers

· Supporting the maintenance team with skilled labour

· Supporting the Mini Festival team

· Membership

If you feel you can make a difference please get in touch with John Vallely or any other member of the management committee for a no obligation chat

WPRFC Who’s Who & Club Contacts

Management Committee

John Aitkenhead, President president@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk T: 07752 752734

John Vallely, Chairman chairman@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Paul Woodhouse, Acting Treasurer treasurer@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Phillip Cahill, Club Secretary secretary@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Phill Tagg, Buildings & Maintenance Manager maintenance@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Kieran Walsh, Pre-Match Manager combelunches@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk T: 07860 942797

Sally Oakey, Business Development Manager businessmanager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk T: 07702 428162

Phil Cramp, Chairman of Rugby Playing rugbychairman@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Mark Ley, General Manager generalmanager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk T: 07734 616425

Operations

Phill Tagg, Buildings & Maintenance Manager maintenance@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Stacey Revell, Minis/Juniors membership Secretary youthmembership@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Kieran Walsh, Membership, membership@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Graham Seppings, IT Comms, webmaster webmaster@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Clare Merron, Bar and house manager housemanager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Kerry Elone, Catering manager, catering@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Kieran Walsh, Pre-match lunches, match entry combelunches@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Paul Cavalli, Player and match sponsorship playersponsorship@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Frank Meakin, 200 Club 200club@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Senior Squad Contacts

Phil Cramp, Chairman of Rugby Playing rugbychairman@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Mark Ley, General Manager manager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk T: 07734 616425

David Marshall, Head Coach headcoach@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk T: 07532 490999

Matt Pinnick, Scrum coach

Harry Hudson, Forwards coach

Andy Pratt, Coach

Mike Melford, Strength & Conditioning coach

Andy Forrester, Tigers coach

John Ward Turner, Match day manager matchdaymanager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Randika Abeydeera, Tigers Manager tigersmanager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Randika Abeydeera, 3rd team Manager 3rdteammanager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Tom Lewis, Lead physio physio@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Dusan Preocanin, Referee liaison

Gareth Desborough, Referee liaison

Roy Maybank, Match day analysis

Jason Smith, Videographer & analysis

Youth Management

Rhys Spiers, Co-Director of Youth Rugby youthdirector@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk T: 07881 924093

Matt Day, Co-Director of Youth Rugby youthdirector@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk T: 07702 860569

Doug Knock, Head of Mini Rugby headofminirugby@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Greg Pring, Youth Logistics & Compliance youthlogistics@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Phil Cramp, Club Coaches Co-ordinator coachcoordinator@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Shane Reid, Youth Player & Coaching Development Lead coachdevelopment@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Dave Grace, Youth Player & Coaching Development coachdevelopment@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Stacey Revell, Youth fixtures secretary youthfixtures@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Claire Drury, Youth festivals & tours youthfestivals@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Shane Pender, Academy manager academymanager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Jack Forrest, Academy Head coach academycoach@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Candice Morgan, U16 manager u16manager@westcombeparkruby.co.uk

Shane Reid, U16 head coach u16coach@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Alex Belcher, U15 manager u15manager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Neil Belcher, U15 head coach u15coach@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Miles Roper, U14 manager u14manager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Kieran Moloney, U14 manager u14manager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Nick Scott, U14 head coach u14coach@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Ben Assender, U13 manager u13manager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Scott Huggins, U13 head coach u13coach@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Doug Knock, U12 girls manager U12girlsmanager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Dave Grace, U12 girls head coach U12girlscoach@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Paul Marshall, U12 manager u12manager@westcombeparkrugby.co,uk

Matt Day, U12 head coach u12coach@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

James Potter, U12 head coach u12coach@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Zane Joubert, U11 manager u11manager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Dave Grace, U11 head coach u11coach@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Doug Knock, U10 manager u10manager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Chris Fuller, U10 head coach u10coach@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Rebecca Wilson, U9 manager u9manager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Rob Warburton, U9 head coach u9coach@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Chloe Marks, U8 manager u8manager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Josh Maybank, U8 head coach u8coach@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Kelly Moody & Melanie Helm, U7 managers u7manager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Nic Avery, U7 head coach u7coach@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

Doug Knock, U6 manager u6manager@westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

U6 head coach u6coach@ westcombeparkrugby.co.uk

The Roar! Spring issue 2025