Grandstand
It gives me great pleasure in welcoming you all to Astley Park for this afternoon and our first league home for 2011. Today we are pleased to welcome Chosen Hill and extend a warm welcome to their players, committee and supporters. We trust that you will have a good day of hospitality. We also welcome our referee Ms Natalie Amor for the day.
The last few weeks of the season have been very frustrating, and I would like to say a big thank you to all who helped to get the pitch playable for the game against Camborne, however as you know both the Avonmouth and the Camborne games will be rescheduled.
Christmas.
We had a good Christmas at the club with good days at the bar, especially Boxing Day and New Years Eve, and I would like to say a huge thank you to Peter Cox and all his team behind the bar, also to Jeff, Margo, Tracey and Kate for all their work in ensuring that it was a successful seasonal event.
Boxing Day was an excellent day and we thank all the players and coaches for making it a really good game (even better seeing that the club XV won) and to all of you who contributed to, and supported, the fantastic £1,600 that was raised for Help 4 Heroes A big thank you to the RNA for completing the collection. We are in the process of arranging the presentation.
Last weekend we had some great results on the pitch against Torquay and it was great to retain the Brewer cup against our old adversaries, well done to all!
Over this last week we have had to increase our prices behind the bar to reflect the VAT rise, however we still have some of the lowest prices to our members in the town and compared to other rugby clubs.
The coming weeks will shape the end of our season and I am still very much convinced and committed to helping all our teams succeed and especially I believe that this is our year for promotion so we need to give our lads all the support they need in every way, so if you have a task or job that you could offer the club please see me.
A date for you diary in the New Year is Sunday the 27th of March 2011. We will be hosting the traditional Tamar Cup between Devon and Cornwall; this is a great honour and a good opportunity to show Brixham off. More details to follow.
May I on behalf of all the executive committee wish you and all your families a very Happy and a prosperous New Year.
Chris Forster, Club Chairman.
CHOSEN HILL
Adam Claridge
Ed Higgs
Jon Coles
Max Hough
Justin Andrews
Andy King ©
John Wand
Mike Darby
Chris Dallard
Jonny Mullis
Dean Barnard
Marc Riddel
Ryan Hawkins
Tom Gyde
Rich Austin
Replacements:
Sam Hough
Craig Hopton
Matt Elsom
BRIXHAM
Jamie Shone BT Shopfitting & Joinery Ltd
Tom Goodman Kitworldltd.co.uk
Tom McLean John Yersin
Steve Worth
Matt Dempsey Kitworldltd.co.uk
Ben Lovell Lovell Rugby
Cory Moore Theatre Royal, Plymouth
Jason Stead Mike Keast
Dean Avery Ray Casling, Casling Estate Agents
Matt Skeet MBL Welding Services
Dylan Flashman Steve Shipway
Steve Trust Langdon & Philip
Sam Thomas Paignton Shoreline
Andy Knight Lovell Rugby
Martin Browne Sean Perkes
Replacements
Tom Clark Jock Stride
Nick Strange
Richard Champion Philip Wills
Just because you think you see something that the referee apparently misses does not give you the right to shout at him. The fact that you think you have seen more matches than the ref has had hot dinners does not matter either. As the game has developed in recent seasons the pressures on the referees have increased - don't make it any worse for them.Yes, you have read this before - in every programme - but that is no excuse!
Abuse of referees and match officials will not be tolerated by Brixham RFC
Sponsors
Today's match is supported by the White Coat Brigade - all of whom are long-term members and supporters of the Club. They need little introduction but are represented today by Les Daniels, Len Harvey, Derek Piper, Mike Sharp, Robert Simonetti, Jock Strike and Neil Watson.
For the second time this season, the Ball sponsor is John Yersin.
Brixham Man of the Match awards are sponsored by CostCutter, Pillar Avenue.
Sponsorship Opportunity. Next year we are looking at replacing the senior playing kit and will be looking at sponsors. Is this an opportunity that you or your business would like to find out more about? If so please talk to Chris Forster or Barry Thomas.
Our thanks to Hewett Electrical Supplies Ltd for sponsoring the black tape used to hold players together on the pitch. We are extremely grateful.
CHOSEN HILL FP
The Club was formed in around 1970 by a group of ex-pupils from Chosen Hill School in Churchdown Gloucestershire. These like-minded lads got together primarily to play rugby, have fun and socialise (all of which they did with passion, enthusiasm and a good measure of success). Teams at this time played at the school and drank far too much at the local community centre "The Asso". As time went by a number of these lads had a dream - they dreamed of a Club of their own with the best players, the best beer, the best facilities, the best company in the county. These particular people put their faith in each other and risked many things to help to establish the Club, they sacrificed their time to plan and gain approval for the project and many of them actually built the place in their spare time.
Some 39 years and many thousands of gallons of beer later the Club owes a great debt of thanks to these people as they achieved all of the original aims.
Cover Pictures for the programme are courtesy of Chris Slack (Catharina) and Justine Copik. All were taken at Brixham Trawler Race 2009
Elsewhere today: Next Week
Avonmouth OBs v Clevedon Chosen Hill v Camborne
Camborne v St Ives Cullompton v Avonmouth
Chippenham v Paignton Ivybridge v Walcot
Old Redcliffians v Sidmouth Paignton v Wadebridge
Wadebridge v Ivybridge Sidmouth v Chippenham
Walcot v Cullompton St Ives v Old Redcliffians
Brixham are away at Clevedon
Rearrangements
Feb 12th Avonmouth (Away) Feb 26th Exmouth (Away) - Devon Cup
Mar 19th Camborne (Home)
TEAM MANAGER
Keith Walker has had to stand down as Team Manager of the Albion XV due to his father's illness. We thank Keith for all his work and wish his father a speedy recovery.
Yours for a £5 note!
Phil Wills has limited stock of beanie hats with the Club Badge - to keep your head warm in the winter chill.
Also, for people who remember the great days of Brixham Rugby (I thought now were the great days) you can watch the heroes of 1985 playing for Torbay against the New South Wales Country team.