What community rugby means to Newent RFC
The Green Army have secured a league title, but what does it mean to those who play and volunteer at the club?
“It is a pleasure to be here every Saturday,” says Georgina Gardner, club photographer at Newent RFC.
Never a true word has been spoken on the season the Green Army have experienced. The club will now play at level five next season after clinching the Regional 2 Midlands West crown recently.
Unbeaten home and away, a 46-14 win over Cheltenham secured a very successful season still with games remaining. Making a trip to visit the club as Newent defeated Ledbury 50-19, I wanted to get a flavour of what makes a proper grassroots rugby club in Gloucestershire - I certainly ended up with conversations which showed the true spirit of what the game means.
Everyone I interviewed, as you will read below, cares about the club inside and out. In particular there are two names, sadly no longer with us, who deserve to be mentioned in this piece first - Mike Poole and John Moore, a story that makes Newent’s stunning title win even more emotional for those involved.
On a crisp spring afternoon with the shadow of May Hill in the distance - this is Newent Rugby Football Club.
“The lads out there now wouldn't be here without them”
There’s a reason why togetherness has led to a roaring season of victories - the spirit which is testament to both Mike and John, two stalwarts the club lost in 2019.
Former club president Mike died on Sunday January 6th and then just one week later, serving chairman John also sadly passed away.
As Gloucestershire’s local media reported, between both of them, Newent RFC rose to new heights after revival in 1970, including trips to Twickenham for the National Cup. Mike was awarded a British Empire Medal in 2017 for “outstanding contribution to the community of Newent over the last 45 years”.
Both had commitment to the club and it’s a family affair too. Mike was father-in-law to both Dave Webb (current chairman) and Laurence Venn (current vice-president) plus grandfather to current player Tom Webb, past players Ross Webb and Seb Venn plus volunteers Gemma and Kayleigh.
John was the driving force into making the club fit for the future. His wife Pauline still attends when she can and sells the programmes on matchday. John is still missed and in their words “he would be so proud of the whole club.”
In the words of those involved today Mike and John’s legacy, especially during a season that has gone incredibly well, means a little bit extra.
Current club president and former player Paul Dando recalls how Mike “once asked me to take on a junior level coaching role and once I got hooked in again, you only have a love for the sport, which both Mike and John had.”
Barry Nicholls, who once played second row for the club, was a teammate of Mike’s and will always remember him as “a legend of Newent.” Club photographer Georgina says: “Mike and John got us through the bad times. I’ll always remember even in his eighties, Mike looking on in the cold and wet to watch a game.”
As son-in-laws to Mike, Dave and Laurence have one good story to tell when Mike invaded the Twickenham pitch in 1951 during an England Five Nations match against France. Running across the pitch to steal the French mascot cockerel, “we all thought it was a myth until we saw newspaper headlines saying local farmer eats French mascot, Laurence recalls. Mike had literally brought it back to Newent to then eat as chicken dinner, but today he would be very proud.”
Laurence adds: “Mike literally dragged so many from Newent out of bed to get playing rugby. If he could see this season and what we’ve achieved, he would be elated. The lads out there now wouldn't be here without them (Mike and John).”
Seeing the club through thick and thin, grandson Tom plays today. His memory of grandad is “someone who loved rugby so much and Newent so much. Grandad gave everything to come and watch a game. As a kid I’d watch Newent get battered but even then I was always encouraged to get stuck in!”
“Clubs like ours are on a tightrope” - what community rugby means to Newent
As you may have read in my latest newsletter, grassroots rugby across the country is not in the healthiest place. Reading the link here, Paul spoke to me on why most clubs are going through a tricky time, an issue “universal” for community rugby.
Indeed as current chairman Dave says, this remarkable season puts the issues grassroots rugby faces into sharper context.
“We’re forever fighting to make sure we can get as much help, Dave said. Clubs like ours are on a tightrope and if anyone around us decided to stop, the club would stop too. Our sponsors keep us going and because the pitch is council land we can't charge. The players have stepped up to the plate this season but next season we know that we’ll need in the region of £10-15,000 to make sure we can put buses on for away trips.”
Promotion up a level is a challenge the club will relish and as Dave adds, grassroots rugby would not be anywhere without committed individuals because “everyone does it for nothing.”
Players have full-time jobs to attend to, families to look after and those behind the scenes deserve as much praise as anyone.
Taking photographs for matchdays, Georgina has been making sure every tackle, scrum, kick or try has been snapped for over ten years. “Meeting the crowd, people, players and families” is just one reason why she enjoys being part of the game. “We don’t have a lot at Newent but this is a place where national rugby gets its bread and butter original players.”
Standing behind the posts is the best position to capture a try, a position also taken by both Dean Fletcher and Barry Nicholls.
Dean, as volunteer co-ordinator, has been involved with Newent for about 12 years. “It is real grassroots rugby with a great community in itself, he says. Newent is a bunch of people having a great time involved with a great sport making sure the community flourishes.”
In charge of the scoreboard, Barry as a life member says, “I love doing the scoreboard. The atmosphere is tremendous and what the team have done this season is brilliant. We’re a great club here and everyone treats each other as one,” Barry says.
“Community and team spirt,” are the reasons why president Paul enjoys being at Newent. “It’s a big commitment to all and when I left school there was no rugby club in Newent but now from 1970 onwards we’ve built something fantastic.”
The final word to the players
Memories of Mike and John, those who make Newent RFC the successful club it is today - it would not be a proper grassroots rugby club without the players.
As you have heard from Tom, grandad was the inspiration to keep rugby going as a passion. From a young age, Tom has been involved with the club and there’s been an incredible amount of teamwork which has worked to produce a promotion-winning side.
“Last season we started really well but with six games to go we threw it away, Tom says. I think we’ve realised this year that with effort we can go that extra mile and we have. A culture has grown within us, where we’ve had tough weeks, but it has paid off. Everyone behind the scenes has made it possible, but we’ve played excellent rugby and we’ve done the best we can to be champions.”
Leo Oakey as player rep describes the team as “a band of brothers”.
“It hasn’t always clicked but this season has been the best rugby we’ve played, Leo says. The families make the club really important and everyone has maintained a real belief that we could win the league.”
Club captain Ben Vincent is incredibly proud at what the team has achieved. “I know every one of the lads has done their very best this season, Ben says. It has been a pleasure to be part of a team where everyone has put their bodies on the line. These players are mates for life.”
The final word goes to Paul, the president where “people look to me as the figurehead!”
“Rugby would die without clubs like ours and the lads out there are a great group. There’s friendship, camaraderie, everything that makes rugby. Well done lads, you’ve been terrific.”
