MILLWALL RFC MRFC Newsletter
September 2013
Chair’s Message
“I love this! (newsletter)”
The season is well and truly under way. We have had many new member s join both the playing and social side, which is fantastic. A big warm welcome to all new members. As there are new members and there have been a number of changes within the committee we have included a photo board so you know who is doing what. Feel free to contact any member of the management team. We are open to constructive criticism, praise and suggestions!
“Thanks so much for putting this together (and even including my article!) It makes it easy to keep in touch with what’s going on with the club rather than
The New Season has begun
having to subscribe the the
Turn out for training is steadily increasing and its great to see so many new faces. It looked amazing on Wednesday with all the floodlights lit. Some players have experienced a few ‘friendlies’ and run outs at Dagenham and Bancroft which are already showing off players with great promise for the coming season.
different subject emails, many of which aren’t relevant to someone who is not local. Keep it up!” - Matt Shorrock
We would also like to say a big ‘WELCOME’ to our new volunteer Physios (from King’s) who have already caused quite a stir among the players, judging by the twitter and FB activity!
Former Chairman
Sarah
In This Issue •Chair’s •
TGIS
•
20th Anniversary
•t|The
Committee
•Urban •
Getting warmed up at Dagenham
update
Bar Nite
Fixtures
Pitch Update! A pitch inspection took place with Stephen Murray (Head of parks and events for LBTH), Rick Bruin and Neil Sweeney (RFU) myself and Mike Beech representing Millwall at Millwall Park. It was a positive meeting. There are clearly some misguided messages within LBTH with regards to the historic use of Victoria Park and Millwall Park being seen as the ‘priority pitch’. He was put firmly straight on these issues.
SOME OF THE MILLWALL FAMILY….mmmmmmm!
YOUR CLUB, YOUR STORIES Last month we heard all about the global Millwall family and how they enjoyed the Lions tour. We would love to hear from anyone past and present. Tell us what your up to. Send us a message. Send me a quote. Anything you would like to say.
It’s Your club…have your say The Club along with our very own Rugby Development Officer Neil Sweeney (now fully paid up social member) from the RFU, will be running a ‘Club Development Workshop’.
The outcome is everyone is in agreement that the pitch is unacceptable and a clear renovation and maintenance programme needs to be put in place. The RFU has offered financial support and equipment to supplement the borough’s resources. Stephen Murray will meet with the groundsman and send us and the RFU the agreed schedule of works. Slow progress but it’s a step in the right direction.
We take your views seriously!
You said….
It is really important that as many members as possible attend.
‘With the recent bar price increases some of the bottled beer is more expensive than the Thai’
It will be held at the clubhouse on Saturday 21st October when we have 3 HOME games, from 10am till 12pm.
We say…
We will provide you with breakfast and a warm welcome.
After some lengthy research of the local hostelry's we have concluded that...
There will also be a survey coming your way at the end of the month. Please take the time to complete it.
We are still cheaper!
We face many challenges, as do other clubs and it is important that we work together to meet them, ‘head on’. Feel free to prove us wrong!
WE NEED YOU!!
Our boys at the Bancroft 10’s Tournament
The Founding Fathers! How many can you name?
Millwall Past and Present I’m sure looking at the photo above has brought back fond memories for some of you and raised a few questions for others. Millwall Rugby Club is moving very quickly towards celebrating its 20th Anniversary. Yes! This monumental milestone will be met in June 2015. (I think there might be something else rugby related happening at the same time—might be able to link in?)
Memories and Stories In preparation for this event we would like to begin to collect tales, stories (tall or otherwise), memories and maybe even a few facts from the club’s history. No matter how small, we would like you to let us know what you remember or ‘think’ you remember. The idea is to collate all this information alongside our substantial newspaper clip collection to create a ‘History of the club’.
We need your Help What form this will take is yet to be decided. Book, DVD who knows... Hollywood! Please send your stories etc. to chairman@millwallrugby.com If you are a budding historian, archivist or someone who would be interested in piecing together the club’s history forever drop me an email. The more the merrier.
FUNDRAISING After the success of the Millwall Calendar a couple of years ago we are planning to make another one.
IDEAS We are thinking a ‘cheeky’ version obviously maintaining a ruby theme. Maybe along the lines of Calander girls. A boys one and a girls one?
Mission motorsport. Fundraising partner—an awesome track day for the McCabes
INTERTESTED?
Woo Hoo! Some positions have been filled...a Huge thank you to Mr Beech taking over fixtures, Paul Fisher for taking on player registration and merchandise, Ed taking care of safeguarding and a huge welcome back to Antoinette who will be cooking all the home teams food.
What do you think? Want to be in it? Ideas for poses/scenes? (keep it relatively clean please!)
BUT we still need more help...
We would welcome contributions from our global family.
Could you help us with… • Be a key person for touch rugby • Supporting the youth section • Collecting ‘funny /interesting stories’ from players/ members past and present • Collate ‘ruck and maul’ programmes into a book • Planning how to celebrate our 20th anniversary (June 2015) and the 10th anniversary of the youth (Nov 2013)
CMC will have the final say but we would hope to have it ready by the end of November. Just in time for Christmas stocking fillers!
Interested? Contact our volunteer coordinator, Paul Fisher or email secretary@millwall rugby.com
Interested please email Gareth or Sarah at the usual , blah, blah, blah...
Members old and new enjoying the atmosphere of the clubhouse
Urban Bar @ MIllwall Sunday 25th August 2013
by Sophie
Your Sex is on fire, It's raining men, Bye Bye Miss American Pie, rugby balls, other balls, Jaeger Bombs, Skittle Bombs and first day post match. Put them all together and you get 5 Bells at Millwall Rugby for one night only on Sunday 25th August. And what a night it was!
‘Sex Is On Fire’ Mark left nothing behind and brought his crew, his tunes and his special tricks to us – how very affable of him. Needless to say, the night was a great one with Mark setting his ‘sex’ on fire on the bar of the club while everyone around him was clamouring for Jaeger bombs and Skittle bombs, wearing sequined cowboy hats, grinning like fools and hitting the dance floor like they were possessed. It was a vision of beauty, people covered in glitter and green and orange paint.
A Vision of Beauty A huge thank you to all of you who turned up to support Mark – I’m sure you’ll all agree we are looking forward to the next one. Special thanks need to be given to Gareth and Ryan for driving the event AND of course Mark!
Sponsorship Sponsership is an important part of funding the Rugby Club.
1st XV Chattels of London ( a local estate agentcy) have signed as our first team sponsers. They are committed to providing new shirts and water balls for the team and on-going publicity.
Any Contacts? We are always on the look out for further sposors for our second and third teams. Do you know a local business that might be interested? Email: sophie Morriss@millwallrugby.com
141 Manchester Road, Isle of Dogs, London E14 3DN. Telephone : 020 7538 9826 and 020 7538 0393 Email : info@gaylordrestaurant.co.uk
41 Millharbour, London, Greater London E14 9NB Phone: 020 7538 4882
12.5% discount to all Millwall Members (eat in only)
10% Discount for all Millwall Members
Continued sponsorship from two local restaurants
TGIS (Thank God It’s Saturday) Carrying on with the momentum that was achieved with last years TGIF (Thank God It’s Friday) this highly successful event has been moved to Saturdays so that we can get as many people down to the club as possible. The first one of the new season will be held on: 21st of September From 7pm onwards The aim is to encourage friends, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, housemates etc. to join in the ‘fun’ that the clubhouse has to offer as well encouraging the players to stay and ‘chill out’ after a hard game. Venus and social members are encouraged to come down as well to party all together right through the night and for those with extra stamina on to the Urban Bar for glitter, hats and fire!. This month your very own Social Secretary, Jo will be the DM ably supported by Venus barmaids. There will be one each month from September onwards. Trying to have a fun theme each time. Feel free to email socialsecretary@millwallrugby.com with your ideas. This month’s theme will be rubix cube. You come dressed head to toe in all the colours from the rubix cube and the idea is that by the end of the night you are wearing clothing that represents one colour of the cube! Keep an eye out for more details on Millwall Facebook page.
Contact Us
Oktoberfest on Millwall Park Update: We are still waiting to hear if the Beer Festival will gain Licensing Permission. However more importantly I can confirm IF it does go ahead Millwall’s Rugby pitch will not be affected.
Send us an email for more information about Millwallwall Rugby Club Manchester rd Isle of Dogs London,
Games will go ahead as normal on the Saturday and Sunday.
info@millwallrugbycom
As usual we welcome as many of you as possible to come and be spectators and support your team.
Visit us on the web at www.millwallrugby.com
Millwall RFC brings you grassroots rugby.