TheWitneystoreisatruecommunitystore, servingthevicinityforthepast40years. Stockingeverythingfromwinetowetwipes andbreadtobananas,CannonPool(asit's affectionatelyknown)isaonestopshopfor HaileyRoadandthesurroundingvillages. On Sale from
Today is 11 01 2025. Number 1101 is a sign to stay positive and manifest your desires. You have ultimate control over your destiny, so focus on what you want in life and imagine your ideal future, starting today.
The name Witney comes from the Saxon word Witan which means King’s Council. Saxon King’s Council meetings were held where Witney now stands.
Player Sponsors
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Charlie Bowyer
Dom Coe
Callum Godfrey
Ben Ling
WRFC Walking Rugby
Matthew Collins Furniture
Barry Bowles & Tony Maycock
Glenn Davies
James Merriman AK Timms
Jack Strong
Tom Gafney
Jason Strong Builders
Ian Loughborough
Marcus Reading Celestra
Cameron Ayris
Angus Brown
Keir MacDougall
Milfield Contractors Ltd
Fowler Hicks Landscaping
Gareth Lewis
Harvey Wattleworth TW Fitness
Jasper Nixey
Jack Daubney
Ollie Dawkins
Haydn Clarke
Rowles Roofing
Chris Delaney
GMD Consultants
Ready Set Solar
Connor Pummery Drive Engagement
Luke Manning Ashcroft
Player Sponsors
Get your name in the match programme, but more importantly you are helping develop WRFC players!
Ollie Toner Drive Engagement
Dan Webb David Willis
Matt Webb Shaw & Co Solicitors
Sam Winstone Mike Dunbar
Callum Cope JC Landscaping
Gareth Jenkins Matt Delnevo
Daniel Wilson Matt Delnevo
Harry Ward WRFC Walking Rugby
Josh Whitehead J S Motors
Liam Cook J Brand
John Mason Blanketmen
Mark Roberts Pole Position Scaffolding
Finn Ayris Haysham Electrical Contractors
Carl Campbell
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Rees Wilson
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Come & Watch Rugby @Witney RFC!
Witney Calling!
Today sees our First Team on the road to Gordano, don’t be caught out by the 2.30 pm kick off, so if you’re planning to head to Bristol be sure to give yourself plenty of time. Our Twos welcome Chesham to Hailey Road, hopefully on pitch 1, let’s stay flexible and see what the weather brings. Our Threes welcome Wallingford Twos, both with an early kick off at 2pm, let’s hope we put last week behind us and move onwards and upwards.
Last weekend our Angels were down to play Silhillians Ladies in Solihull but the weather played its part and the game was abandoned. With only 13 players on the team sheet travelling, it was always going to be a big ask for the Angels and so this is a recruiting call for ladies to come along and join a fantastic group and achieve great personal and team goals. On Sunday, our Angels play host to Old Northamptonians Ladies, a big game with hopefully a big squad. It is even more special that Naomi Godfrey will be making her 150th appearance for the Club, a special day for a special Club member. Read more in the Angels pre match summary.
I mentioned last week that we are installing solar panels on the clubhouse roof. The cost to the Club is £10,000, if anyone has any ideas about fundraising, I will welcome your input. Please email me direct at l8est55@gmail.com.
Witney Calling!
Georgie’s fundraiser for RFU Injured Players Foundation
Most of you will recall the tragic event during Witney Veterans’ game against Banbury Veterans in November when John Baker, JB, was badly injured with catastrophic impact to his vertebrae between C3 and C6. This has resulted in paralysis to his arms and legs, a major blow to anyone but to a very active man in the prime of his life it is devastating.
His daughter, Georgina has decided to raise awareness and funds for RFU Injured Players Foundation. The RFU Injured Players Foundation is a foundation that supports rugby players who have sustained a catastrophic spinal injury or an active traumatic brain injury and help prevent future injuries through research and education. This foundation offers lifelong and immediate support to the players that were injured and to their families.
Witney Calling!
Banbury player John (JB) Baker sustained an injury during a VETS match at Banbury RFC against Witney RFC in November 2024. Unfortunately JB has been left paralysed from the chest down losing function in both arms and legs. His Daughter Georgie has taken on the challenge to complete 12 hikes around the UK in 12 months, something which JB would be both immensely proud of and, also somewhat jealous. If you want to know more about the family, the challenge and donate then visit Georgie’s JustGiving page
What’s On @ Hailey Road!
Saturday 18th January 2025
Chairman’s Lunch kicking off at 11am. Some places still available so if you fancy starting the New Year with a great lunch followed by a display of rugby from our First Team as they host Swindon RFC. Go on, treat yourself and kiss that no drinking New Year’s resolution goodbye.
Saturday 25th January 2025.
Our very own Andrew Nixey is performing at Fat Lil’s with his band, Trauma UK. So pierce your nose, hang some paperclips off it, and don a black bin bag. Or you could just get along to Fat Lil’s for a great night of Punk and Rock. Tickets available here!
Saturday 8th March 2025
Chairman’s Lunch kicking off at 11am. Some places still available.
Nottheconfidentstartwewerelookingforbutawinisawin. Hopefully thatwillgosomewaytoboostconfidencelevelsinthisyoungside. Next weekourFirstTeamareontheroadtoBristolforaclashwithGordanolasttimeoutwescrapedawinathome.
Trying to put some distance between us
1st XV - South West Division
Regional 2 Tribute Severn League Table
Walk-In Hairdressing & Barbering
2 Be or not 2 Be!
Oxford XV 33 : 19 Witney 2nd XV
It’s always a big game, away to local rivals Oxford RFC First team, and so it proved. The Vipers got onto the scoreboard first with a try from Ben Dunkley, Charlie Dunbar bagged the conversion and we were under way.
Unfortunately, that seemed to inspire Oxford who ran in 4 unanswered tries, 3 of them converted, 26 : 7. Witney woke up with 20 minutes to go with a try from Dan Wakeman. Oxford responded with a converted try but Witney had the last say with a try from Callum Cope duly converted by Charlie Dunbar.
This Saturday our Vipers welcome Chesham to Hailey Road. It is fair to say that Chesham have struggled thus far this season, but with last week’s game against Chipping Norton postponed due to the weather, they will be fresh and up for it today.
Witney 2nd XV vs Chesham 2pm KO
Counties 2 Tribute Berks/Bucks & Oxon North
Witney 3rd XV 5 – 40
Buckingham II
Too much turkey and mince pies was how the coach summed up this first performance of 2025 by our Threes against Buckingham Twos. Buckingham had too much pace and our boys were far from their best as Bucks ran in tries from distance and caught our boys sluggishly short. A try from Leigh Manning prevented us from being nilled at home and a stoic performance from Tom Guyatt earned him our Man of the Match accolade.
One of those games that is best just put behind us.
This Saturday see our Boys take to the Hailey turf at 2pm against Wallingford 2nd XV. Last time out East of Oxford our boys went down 35 : 33 in a very close encounter. Hopefully today we can take more than 2 points off them. 5 points separate us in the league, now wouldn’t that be nice?
Come on you Black and Blues!
A Big Game, 6th v 5th and everything to
Counties 3 Tribute Berks/Bucks & Oxon North
Veterans @ Hailey Road
lar belief, you to have: enches of WWI a pacemaker! g either of preclude you aying, a letter from rent.
The Reality is:
You have to be over 35 years old and have been a member of Witney RFC for at least 4 weeks before match day. Sound like this could be for you? Why not come along to Club training nights; Tuesdays and Thursdays.
If you need to ease back in gently, we have Walking and Touch Rugby on Thursday evenings. Contact Simon Copperwheat on: 07904 360561
I
sit and wait, Does an Angel contemplate my fate?
Watch the Witney Angels
@Hailey Road
Sun 12th Jan 2025
KO TBC
Witney Angels vs Old Northamptonians Ladies
Sun 19th Jan 2025
KO TBC
Witney Angels vs Buckingham Swans Ladies
Sun 9th Feb 2025
KO TBC
Rugby Lionesses ladies vs Witney Angels
Angels Calling!
Silhillian Ladies vs Witney Angels
Abandoned
No match report as the Silhillians game fell victim to the weather.
This week the Angels host Old Northamptonians Ladies. Old Northamptonians have won once the season, at home to Coventry Welsh, who’s only win this season came by default as our Angels failed to field a team that day. This must be therefore the best chance of points this season, hopefully we can field a full squad and play the rugby that we know we are capable of.
Regardless of what happens during the game we have something to celebrate. Naomi Godfrey takes to the field for her 150th game for the Angels in her 25th year as a player member of our wonderful Club. In the 25 years, Naomi has been player of the year 3 seasons and the players player of the year in her second year in rugby. Despite being a lock forward, Naomi will often be the chosen kicker, a bit John Eales for those that remember. As well as her performance on the pitch and in training, Naomi has been Team treasurer, coach driver, and agony aunt.
Angels Calling!
A huge contributor to the Club and Witney community, delivering smiles, anecdotes, laughter and warmth to all she meets. Thank you, Naomi, for all you have done for the Angels and the Club, good luck on Sunday and for the rest of your playing days with Witney Angels.
Fingers crossed the Team Sheet is full on Sunday and the weather is kind. Go Angels!
Witney Academy
Let’s Get Back To Winning Ways!
With no match last weekend to report on, we concentrate on this weekend’s rearranged fixture against Reading Colts A.
Reading have won 2, drawn 1 and with an extra bonus point lie just four points above us in the league. This is a great opportunity for our Academy to get back to winning ways, hopefully with a strong squad and on home ground we can claim maximum points.
Before we take to the field, we have some good news to pass on. Our very own Charlie Greenslade has got through to the final stages of selection trials to represent South West Region U18s. Well done Charlie and good luck at the next stage. Come on you Witney Boys!
Witney RFC Walking Rugby.
The Witney Wizards is a group of older players, some with no previous rugby playing experience, all with one aim, to enjoy some fitness in a happy, social environment. We train once a week on Thursday evenings. Skills sessions, tactics, and competitive games, followed by a Supper Club and a social drink in our Hailey Road Clubhouse. The Wizards welcome people of all ages and backgrounds; we do have female players but could always do with more. The Wizards have played competitive matches at home and away, always draws a big crowd and above all else, is always fun. Think this is for you, why not come along and give it a Try!
The club have 8 tickets for England v Italy @ Twickenham on Sunday 9th March. Great tickets at only £119 each. Available to Club members and Sponsors on a First come First served basis. Contact Ian: tickets@witneyrugby.co.uk
