Well it would appear that at least some of you took the trouble to actually read the last newsletter - Well Done! But the rest of you must try harder; we have had virtually no feedback with articles, ditties to publish. You should contact Sue Watson on Great Yarmouth 657052 or e-mail on sue@broadlandrfc.org.uk with any items you wish to publish.

Training Members Subscriptions Chairman's Bit Insurance Tetanus VP's Lunches Youth 1st XV Manager Rugby Balls and Kit International Tickets Sponsors

Your Committee

Andy Ruddick has offered to stand in as temporary 1st XV Manager, and a good job his is making of it too. Please support him as much as possible. Press reports have been supplied by Lee Durrant and Russ Crowley and printed by the Yarmouth Mercury when submitted. You may have noticed that we are getting the headlines for a change.

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Training

Training has improved and we are seeing a larger selection of players in attendance. Don't forget to collect your tokens for attendance whenever you can make it. Training is at Cobholm Playing Field on Wednesdays at 7pm prompt.

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Members Subscriptions

Subscriptions are now due, full playing members should pay £10 per season as soon as possible as we have quite a few bills to pay at the start of each season including Insurance for you all.

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Chairman's Bit

PS: CHAIRMANS BIT (had to add it on to main NIL -roan it was late!)

Whenever Sue says can you do a bit for 'The Lineout' I groan inwardly but smile and say "Ok Sue I'll do it tomorrow" then I go away and try to think of something to write. Do I emphasise the positive or negative, the good or the not so good, usually I concentrate on the, good because otherwise you'd all think the Chairman's always moaning and never has anything good to say.

Well this time I'll start with the good stuff then have a moan after - the season is under way and so far the 1st Team have three wins out of three in the League, I know only one was a proper game but at the end of the season it's the points that count and the attitude amongst the players is very positive (Khan has even given up drinking before the game - how about that for dedication! !).

The Clubhouse has now been decorated and is looking better than it has for a long while and I'd like to say thank you to our President for all he has done.

Now for the moan and you'll be glad to hear it's not about anyone in our Club but about all those other teams who have called off games for whatever reason. So far the Tigers have only played one proper game and that was a pool match following the cancellation of their original fixture. This season started positively for the Club with several new players joining and I am very concerned that if this goes on players will get fed up and look elsewhere for a game - all I can do is ask that you stick with us because things will get better. It seems so unfair that we now have more players available than we've had for a while and there aren't games for them to play. I'd like to thank Toddy our Fixture Secretary for doing his best to find alternative games but even he can't make teams play us.

I could get carried away with this and write lots more but I know you won't want to read it, if you've got this far you probably deserve an award so that's all for this time. More thoughts from the Chairman in the next issue.

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1st Team Manager

I've heard it all before

Here I sit here pondering just what to say and how not to sound as if it has all been said before by previous officers/chairmen/captains/gophers etc. I recognise this is a barren ideal and yet this is still my mission.

The sounds of African music flow from the stereo reflecting a culture that sounds so positive and happy. In truth I have been no closer to Africa than the shores of Norfolk allow and am ignorant of the culture and attitudes reflected in such a vast land. Yet I am inspired by the harmony and rhythm of the music and deep within I feel an oneness with my vision of the running of the teams and the club in general.

The club needs the rhythm of fixtures and events to ensure all members are given the opportunity to partake of our special camaraderie. We need to continue this with all people working together to maximise the output of our endeavours. That does not mean we will all be happy all of the time nor that opinions should be stifled. Just that we trust that all actions and decisions are pursued in good faith and to the benefit of the club

Of all the many potential sources of irritation and disharmony surely selection remains paramount. I suffer no illusions. It probably always will - but indulge me and allow me to explain how we are trying to proceed thus far this year.

Our goals as a club are to win the Eastern Counties Division 3 North and the Norfolk Merit Table. We may not achieve these goals but that is what we are striving for. Philosophically, we are not selecting for 2 sides but One Club. To do this we need the best teams out on the field. Yet we must act in harmony with expectations and conscience. Thus we take into account not merely talent but fitness, commitment and training opportunities taken. (This list is not exhaustive) This is a team game after all and the whole may not simply equal the sum of the constituent parts.

I cannot speak for previous years but this year we are making a conscious effort to reflect on and discuss the merits (or otherwise) of the previous weekends games and identify future training needs. (At times we are looking not just one or two weeks away but sometimes one or two years away.) Development is a game-by-game and training session by training session responsibility of the individual and elected officers alike. Identifying flaws in game plan, alignment, decision making, for example, and addressing these is the platform for part of the improvement. Similarly identifying strengths and abilities and how to best utilise these is essential to success, on the field and off it. If it sounds like a balancing act you may well be right. It is certainly not an exact science and fairness to people who have endeavoured and put themselves out for the club remains important.

It is my belief, and I write as an individual and without a collective mandate, that a structured means of decision-making within selection is essential. This must reflect past performance and direct training plans and, potentially, recruitment. Our goals remain unchanged. Our aim is to achieve these goals as harmoniously as possible but if you still want to cause a headache train regularly and play hard and make the selection process difficult. (Some people already are and we know their names) That would be one hell of a challenge.

After this latest sermon am I still positive despite all that life (and the RFU) may throw? Yes I am. I have great faith that we can achieve our goals and fly the flag of Rugby in Great Yarmouth for many years to come. The challenge is there for us all. Do you want to achieve it too? If you do I am here and dancing to the rhythm of the Magic box. The invitations also open to you.

AR

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Insurance

All playing members are insured under the RFU death and total disability policy BUT you should look into getting a private accident and sickness policy. Any of the insurance agents in the club will be pleased to advise.

Tetanus

Each playing member should make sure that their tetanus injection is up to date. East Anglia is a very vulnerable area.

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VP's Lunches

Suggested dates for the luncheons are as follows:

10th November v Brightlingsea

26th January v Swaffham

23rd February v Mistley

6th April v Southwold

Vice Presidents will be written to by way of a reminder, other members are also welcome to attend. The more the merrier!

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Youth

This year we are rekindling the Alan Stacey schools tournament. 11 local schools have been invited to enter a team and the event will take place at Cobholm on Wednesday 31st October 2001 at 12 noon. Help from the senior club would be appreciated, ie to referee, help organise, serve soft drinks and food etc. Contact Si Ruddick on 781229 if you are available. Youth training is well attended on Sunday mornings again help would be appreciated, contact Si Ruddick. There will be a Youth lunch at the clubhouse on 3rd November 2001 to encourage the youth members and get them to watch a senior game, 1st XV v Beccles. We will also try to organise a game for the youth team on that day.

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Rugby Balls and Kit

There is a noticeable lack of responsibility for the safe keeping of the kit and shirts and rugby balls have already been 'lost' or 'mislaid' this season. Match balls should not be taken on away games and the shirts should be counted in and out of the bags. These things cost a lot of money to replace.

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International Tickets

Yes, it is that time again. The 6 nations application form is here, see the attached notice for details of how to apply. Closing date 15th October 2001.

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Sponsors

We could do with some bits and pieces for the club, ie Kit Bags, training markers etc. Anyone interested in helping out with small donations like this please come forward.

Ring Sue on GY 657052

Thanks for reading this missive, do send in your contributions (printable ones of course), ED

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