StacksChat This is the frst StacksChat club update since the last home match programme in March last year. What we all thought would be a relatvely short-lived hiatus from rugby has turned into a dystopian nightmare with no signs of an end in sight. Vaccinatons will be the soluton. Let’s hope the roll-out gets us something like back to normality by early spring. Anyway here’s a quick update on Rugby Club’s 2020 post last season’s abrupt terminaton.

On the feld Covid terminated the season in March and we were arbitrarily relegated to league North One east. Make no mistake we had thoroughly enjoyed our fve years amongst the semi pro’s and were sad to lose our positon in league. Rhys Morgan bemoans the loss of 20 quality 1st XV players over the last 2 years either for work or a higher standard of rugby but all lef on good terms. We have high hopes the majority will return to Ilkley. The wonderful weather of spring inspired the players to keep the team ethos together by holding a sponsored run. Some huge eforts resulted in a donaton to NHS charites of well over £3,000. Well done boys! Training started in July and there were record numbers in atendance with many new players and a new assistant coach, Andrew Clitheroe. Welcome to all! Joe Lowes and Chuckie Ramsey contnue as Captain and Vice-Captain respectvely. With the excepton of Blake Morgan, Luke Pearson and Mat Dakin all the squad of last season were training. Our budding youngsters Harry Smith, Maty Sheard, Finn Gateley and Kodie Brook were joined by Oli Ham, Jake and George Kapur to strengthen the cohort of lads coming up through our Junior ranks. Watch out too for Jack Leibster, Jack Popely and Rob Sigsworth, Steve Costellow, Phil Warboys, Jack Brown, Luke Gamble, George Hill, Josh Pinder and George Wilbur with another 6 or so stll to come. There are also a host of students from . So far we have Sam Garbet, Will Downs, Oli Pearson, Tom Akehurst, Tom Holden, Adam Hopkinson, Angus Kinder and several more. Students coming from Northumbria Uni are the Ilkley born and bred Graham brothers, Callum and Alex both in great nick along with Hugo and Benny King and Harry Boyd. Charles Morgan has been down to help the development of our prospectve number 10’s. Jack Maplesden has also promised to come and help with the number 9’s. Referee Richard Arthur is lined up to come and help through the new laws. The 2nd XV had a really tough season last year ofen playing short of numbers. Coach Si Sutclife will contnue to look afer the 2’s with new skipper Adam de la Rocca. Training contnued building up to the normal September start to compettve rugby in North 1 East league. The Centurions will no doubt gather as and when called for but several have been to training. There are surely a few players amongst their ranks who are capable of holding 2nd or even 1st XV places down should their life choices allow. Andrew Munro and Rhys Morgan had to work within the RFU Return to Rugby protocols developed by RFU and approved by the Government. However, when it became clear there was no compettve rugby in sight, and the virus really took hold, training was paused for a month. Training has since resumed with the tantalising prospect of a hybrid form the 15-a-side game without scrums and mauls or contested lineouts which can be played between clubs locally. Our cluster is Morley, Moortown, Sandal, and ourselves. Provisional start date and Tiers permitng is 23rd January with a possible friendly on Jan 16th. Our lads are straining at the leash to get going with some form of compettve rugby, in fact, any form of compettve rugby! We await fnal instructons as to whether spectators will be allowed to atend.

Age Grade rugby (juniors and youth in old money!) A severely weather interrupted 2019 and then Covid had starved the Juniors of rugby in 2019/20. The restart afer lockdown therefore came as great relief to once again beneft from physical actvity and social interacton. We were able to move with the RFU protocols up to stage C in August and then D in September. Come December we have progressed to stage E. The protocols have prevented set piece rugby but handling and evasion skills are enabling the running and passing game to fourish. Regretably no matches are possible just yet but there are prospects of compettve rugby in the second half of the season. Sean Gilbert and his team of volunteer organisers and coaches have organised training for all age groups ensuring everything was Covid safe and risk assessed. Coaches were soon familiar with sanitsing equipment and gels. We were blessed with some lovely weather and the bar did open all but feetngly and a bacon bute van provided the traditonal Sunday morning fayre. It has been heartening to see as many as 250 youngsters enjoying their Sunday mornings once again, expertly looked afer by 40+ trained coaches. Parents and carers on the touchline are limited to one per child. The kit swap shop and limited tuck shop have raised over £900 for the pitch improvement project. One of the striking photographs of the season was of every young person in every age group lined up on and around the 1st XV pitch in 2 minutes silence in memory of Mat Ratana tragically killed on duty. Police Sgt Ratana was Head coach at East Grinstead Rugby Club who many will remember were our oppositon when we reached the Natonal Intermediate Cup fnal at Twickenham in 2014.

The Rugby Player Development Programme contnues to draw in the players who show exceptonal promise at their age group. Jack Gilbert, Fergus Ramage and Sonny Gibbons are in the under 15’s group and Will Ogden, Will Cufe and Woody Lufman are with the under 16’s. Our under 17’s have Jake Kapur, Archie Medway, Harry Jackson and Fred Gazeley in the EPDP. These boys will be qualifying for places in our senior teams next season. Anyone watching either in the Gallagher Premiership or Heineken European Champions Cup will have seen Mathew Postlethwaite come on from the bench or start at Lock (4). Mathew started his rugby journey at Ilkley as a 6 year old and progressed right through the age groups before taking a place in the Sharks academy. We will watch his future progress with interest and pride.

Finances Just about everyone is worried about fnances either in business or domestcally. The club is no diferent on that score. The clubhouse development project was paused because our applicaton for additon to our loan was approved but later postponed. When the RFU will have funding available is anyone’s guess. Planning approval has been extended to May 1st 2021, but we are looking at what work would be necessary to permanently secure the current permission. We are therefore fortunate to have a substantal cash pile for the project but due to current cash raising difcultes it will probably be at least two years before the project is completed. However due to our careful fnancial management over the years and the contnued support from members and sponsors and the spring and summer allowing us to re-open facilites, our Treasurer who has worked trelessly through the pandemic is confdent the saving made on outgoings should allow us to get through to next season 2021-22 relatvely unscathed when, hopefully, normality will return. Nothing is certain though and, untl this thing is over the future is uncertain. We look to our Membership Subscriptons and Sponsor contributons to get us safely through this year. We have benefted from the Business Interrupton scheme, furlough grants and other fund raising schemes presented to us by the RFU. We have one more efort for next year which we hope you will help with. Richard Scargill has not let up on his fundraising task. Through his dogged persistence the club Golf Day, the annual cricket match versus Ilkley Cricket Club and the Christmas Draw have taken place, all contributng handsomely to club funds.

Annual General meetng This eventually took place as a virtual meetng, organised by our Treasurer. It was “atended” by more than a quorum and both the Chairman’s and Treasurer’s report gave some comfort about the fnancial health of the club as well as a review of the past season and prospects for the future. Those “atending” signed of with a nice warm feeling despite trepidaton about where Covid would leave us. We are in good hands!

Membership Chris Meyrick has initated an online membership system which will make collecton of subscriptons and maintaining of membership records more manageable and reduce the workload on our Volunteers. There were a few early teething problems but it is now up and running. We are grateful to members who have paid their subs despite having litle to show for them, at least to date. We are budgetng on the majority of members renewing their memberships.

Bar The bar has hardly pulled a pint in anger since lockdown in March. We made it as Covid-safe as possible but it has not proved viable due to Covid regulatons. It will remain closed untl restrictons are eased. We can’t wait to be back in acton and enjoying our favoured tpple!

Clubhouse and changing rooms Cleaning, paintng and repairs have been carried out by socially distanced volunteers, staf and contractors as appropriate. Special menton to Chairman Mike Halling who has jet-washed virtually every surface in the club space. Other projects completed by our amazing volunteers: Energy conservaton programme including LE light bulbs throughout and tming sensors on the external lights. (Chairman) Outdoor wooden bench seatng repairs. (Mike Fourie) External cladding and foor under the stand seats painted. Terrace drinks tables re-stained. (Robert Nelmes) Internal clubhouse walls repainted. Upstairs toilets deep cleaned and painted. Further paintng planned for the foyer and changing areas this year. £9,000 upgrade to kitchen (which would have been a part of the extension project) completed. (Jason Shaw and Tony Grifths) 200 sq. metre area of grasscrete hard standing behind the far gate on Denton Road completed with long term aim of doing the whole area behind the 1st XV pitch. Part funding from Ilkley Parish Council (thank you!)

Thanks to all the volunteers and a grateful welcome to new additons to our volunteer roster.

Robbie Moore MP Our hard-working social media savvy Member of Parliament gave Ilkley Rugby Club along with other leading sports clubs in his Ilkley and consttuency a menton in his speech in parliament on behalf of sports clubs. We are therefore immortalised in Hansard! Robbie also showed up to do some volunteering on our NatWest Rugbyforce working party day which neted the club £500. The volunteers pre-social distancing

Chuckie Ramsey shows Robbie Moore a thing or two about how to paint a goal post

Pitches They look magnifcent! All the best looking grounds are those that don’t get played on! Bobby Simms has been doing something or other almost daily since March. We were recipients of a Sport England food remedial work grant. This was utlised to buy 60 tonnes of special Mansfeld sand and more nutrients as recommended by Keith Kent the now retred Twickenham groundsman. Our contractor applied both with extra deep hollow tnes. There’s no doubt the grass cover was improved as a result.

Imagine our (and Bobby’s) horror when the river fooded again in October to record high levels. The remaining pile of sand and no doubt some of what was on the pitches washed away. Climate changes will mean we must keep applying signifcant quanttes of sand and nutrients onto our pitches regularly. Floods seem to be at least a once or twice a year occurrence, whereas they used to be a once in 10 year event.

The planned drainage and irrigaton project has fallen victm to several factors. Grants for pitch improvement have all but dried up and the planning applicaton for a water holding tank in the locaton that we wanted has been turned down but the planners have agreed to an alternatve locaton. We will revitalise the project afer things have setled down and we are back in business. Vandalism, liter and general bad behaviour by a few people who think it is ok to trespass in our grounds have been a bugbear this year. Bobby has had some seriously unpleasant stuf to clear up especially during the long hot spring.

Photographer Our club photographer Peter Clark has been postng lots of pictures from seasons past onto our Facebook and Twiter accounts. The players (and ex-players) do like to see these.

Website, Facebook and Twiter Ken Wardropper has been keeping the website updated. Ilkleyrfc.co.uk Kim Ferris posts up our Facebook page with contributons from our local star turn Andrew Dobby Dobson. Ilkley R.F.C Keith Davison is now running our Twiter account. @IlkleyRugby Other useful Twiter accounts are: RFU. @EnglandRugby RFU. @yorkshire_rfu Both are a great source of informaton on Rugby maters. There is a lot of fun and banter to be had on all these social media platorms. It would be good to have more members actve on them.

Club annual awards As there was no club dinner the awards were made partally at a small gathering at The Ticket Ofce or by Captain Joe Lowes and Chuckie Ramsey on a Zoom meetng. The awards were: President’s Cup: John Oddy, our Treasurer Chairman’s Award: Ascents – John Oddy and his Company for their excellent voluntary work on protectng our fnances and on our new Financial Systems. Clubman of the Year: Kim Ferris, our 1st XV manager and Facebook moderator Volunteer of the Year: John Coen Volunteer Long Service Award: Bobby Simms Player of the Year: Blake Morgan Most Improved Player of the Year: Kodie Brook Most Consistent Trainer of the Year: Finn Gateley Players’ Player of the Year: Dan Lawrence 2nd XV Player of the Year: Harry Smith 2nd XV Most Improved Player of the Year: Adam Della Rocca 3rd XV Player of the Year: George Dale 3rd XV Most Improved Player of the Year: Al Horner Man of Steel Award: Blake Morgan Congratulatons to all.

Events Ilkley Rugby Club golf day In prety unfavourable September conditons 92 players all turned up and had a really good day at our local golf course. Some of our intrepid ladies put on socially distanced half way refreshments. The day was capably organised by Patron Jef Greaves and sponsored by Hunters Estate Agents. The winners were: Old Fart Peter Benson’s team of Junior parent Toby Coupe, Old Fart Anthony Flather and top man Chris Nixon. Well done to them.

The Jef Martn trophy for cricket match IRFC vs ICC Another successful day when the weather was a litle kinder. The Trophy was retained by IRFC.

Christmas Draw A Richard Scargill efort. It raised a record £6,050! The £200 prize winner was Life Member Brian Boutell who has kindly donated his prize back to the club. A huge thank you to Brian.

If it hadn’t been for Richard none of the events listed above would have taken place. As always, many thanks to the most persistent man on the planet! Thanks too to all whose “back ofce” roles played a part in ensuring the success of these events.

Memorial to the fallen of the Great War 102 years since the end of the 1914-1918 war that was supposed to end all wars, a memorial to the 27 young members of Ilkley RUFC who gave their lives in that confict was installed in the fower garden at the entrance to the club. The large rock was hewn and shaped by Hawksworth Quarries, letered by Chris Holland and delivered by B&TS. Bobby Simms and Tim Bowles completed the installaton which was privately funded. It will provide a focus for the club on future Remembrance Sundays when we join with the naton in its unstntng and contnuing respect and grattude for all the fallen.

Rest In Peace Sadly the club fag few respectully at half-mast for 7 of its fnest this year. Sir David Jones – Our esteemed long serving Past President. Jon Brayshaw – a generous Patron and loyal supporter. Pat Hems – wife of stalwart and legend Laurie and Mother of Christopher and Nigel who played many games for the club. Charles Cooper – a generous Patron and long-tme sponsor of the club. Jim Brown – A Patron and long service volunteer who was a world champion sweeper. Devoted Grandad. Tony Rising – A man of many talents and who held many roles within the club. Laterly he did a great job with our grant applicatons for the new clubhouse and was Gate organiser for a number of years. John Obank – A Life Member and great supporter in recent years. His greatest achievement for the club was as one of the founders the IRUFC Junior secton.

Here’s one for memory lane: Seven-a-side rugby Some of our older members will remember the Ilkley Schools Seven-a-Side tournament which was started in 1950 and ran untl the late 70’s. They gained a reputaton for being one THE social events in the calendar. The frst winners were Acklam Hall Grammar School. In 1951 and 1952 Heath Grammar School were the winners beatng Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Wakefeld in 1951 and Hemsworth Grammar School in 1952. One J.P. (Phil) Horrocks-Taylor played in both Heath sides before going on to an illustrious rugby career during which he acquired Cambridge Blues in 1956 & ‘57, 9 England caps between 1958 & ’63, Britsh Lions in ’50 and made 61 appearances for Yorkshire, ending his rugby career at as a player and Chairman.

And did you know that a special Post Ofce frank was authorised for the 1971 event. I wonder if anyone has stll got one of those somewhere in the atc!

10th Anniversary of the new facility Can you believe it is 10 years since the new facility was opened with a Yorkshire league One fxture against Scarborough. All the work done during lockdown will at least mean the place looks shipshape for celebratory event and the next decade!

…..and Finally, Good Riddance to 2020. A very happy, peaceful and, hopefully, a much beter all-round New Year to all Ilkley RFC members, sponsors and friends. Further news of what’s to come and when will be sent out when some sense and order returns to our lives. Meanwhile Stay Safe!