April has been a solid month for our club — one that has reminded all of us why we are so proud to be part of this club. On the pitch, off it, and in the community, the effort and commitment shown by so many people has been outstanding. I am delighted to share my 9th update of the season.

OUR COMMUNITY, SCHOOLS PROGRAMME, COACHING & PLAYING DEVELOPMENT

I want to begin by paying a very special tribute to all of our Coaches who make this club so special. In particular I would like to mention the work that has been completed by Ben Ennals, Richard Byrom and Tom Mapp. Their work over the last few months has been nothing short of extraordinary and will no doubt make this club so much stronger going forward.

Our decision to invest in helping all of our Coaches to be better skilled and to extend our reach into our local Community means that we are receiving some terrific feedback from many of our members and Schools. We are hopeful of being able to provide further good news in these areas over the next few months.

On behalf of the entire club — thank you, Ben, Richard & Tom. Your commitment to Newark Rugby is genuinely appreciated, and it does not go unnoticed.

HUBBARD-SCOTT CUP — EASTER SATURDAY

What a day Easter Saturday turned out to be. The Hubbard-Scott Cup match was one of those occasions that perfectly encapsulates what rugby and community are all about, and I am thrilled to report that it attracted a record crowd to Kelham Road. The atmosphere was fantastic, and it was wonderful to see so many familiar faces — and many new ones — come through the gates to support the day.
The event raised vital funds and awareness for the charities being supported, and I was personally moved to see the generosity and spirit shown by everyone in attendance. Events like this are only possible because of the volunteers, sponsors, and supporters who give their time and energy to make them happen — and we are truly grateful to each and every one of you.
The Hubbard-Scott Cup has grown into one of the highlights of our calendar, and this year’s record attendance suggests it is going from strength to strength. Thank you to everyone involved in organising such a memorable afternoon.

APPRENTICESHIP EVENING — 15TH APRIL

On the 15th of April, Newark RUFC hosted an Apprenticeship Evening in partnership with DBC Training, and I am delighted to say it was a hugely successful event. The evening was very well attended by our young players and a strong representation of local sponsors and employers. The feedback has been very positive. Well done to Alan Staines and Cath Albans.

It is incredibly important to us as a club that we look after the futures of our young people — not just on the rugby field, but in life. Events like this, which connect our players with local businesses and help open doors to careers and apprenticeship opportunities, are exactly what a community rugby club should be doing. Seeing so many of our players engaged and enthusiastic on the evening filled me with genuine pride.

Our thanks go to DBC Training for their continued partnership, and to every employer and sponsor who gave up their evening to attend. The support for our young players from the local business community is something we hold very dear.

PLAY-OFF FINAL — SATURDAY 25TH APRIL VS OLD SALTLEIANS

The biggest day of our season is almost here. On Saturday 25th April, we travel to Old Saltleians for the Play-Off Final, and I want every single one of you to be there.

The club will be providing free transport for both the playing squad and supporters, so please make use of it and come and get behind the lads. We know that many of you will also be making your own way there — and that is fantastic. The more of us that make the trip, the better. Let’s make our presence felt and, if we can, let’s outnumber the home fans. The players, the coaches, the management team — everyone has worked incredibly hard. Now it’s our turn to play our part as supporters.

Details on transport arrangements have already been shared on Pitchero and on our socials. If you would like a seat on the coach, please reach out to Ann at the club — there are a few seats remaining.

On the same day, our Seconds travel to our local neighbours at Southwell. I expect this will be an absolute cracker of a game. Our rivalry goes back decades, with some huge nights of celebration too. If you cannot make the trip with the Firsts, you will receive a very warm welcome from our friends just down the road.

This weekend, our senior Women also finish their season at Home to Scunthorpe on Sunday. It has been a challenging first season after last year’s promotion. The good news is that lessons have been learned and I am 100% sure that we will see better results going forward.

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE SHOW — 9TH MAY

Looking ahead into May, the club will once again be represented at the Nottinghamshire Show on 9th May, and we are still looking for a few more volunteers to help out on the day. This is a brilliant opportunity to fly the flag for Newark RUFC and the income generated for the club is significant.

SO…If you are able to give up some of your time to help, please do get in touch. Every pair of hands makes a real difference. Please reach out to Ann if you can help on

post@newarkrugby.com.

FINANCIAL UPDATE

They say that into every life a little rain must fall, and by golly – it certainly fell over the last quarter! Financially, the season has presented several challenges to date – the flooding in particular during January and February led to a loss of bar revenues and the cancellation of the Legends Night, giving a hit to income of around £15,000. Rising costs, combined with the unpredictable nature of income in community rugby, have also made their mark. Overall, at the end of March, we were some £22,000 worse than in the previous year and against budget. In the context of the overall plan for the year, which ends in July, that means that we will be break-even at best and quite possible worse, so there is work to be done!

That having been said, however, the club remains in a stable position in the short to medium term. Our committees and administrators have worked diligently to ensure expenditure is controlled and that we are operating in a responsible and sustainable way. It is not perfect, but the foundations are sound, and with continued support from our members, sponsors, and the wider community, we look to the future with some confidence though not with complacency.

As a final note, continued investment in sponsorship, fundraising activities such as the Hubbard-Scott Cup, and events like the Nottinghamshire Show all play a vital role in keeping this club healthy. Thank you to everyone who has contributed financially this season — your support matters enormously.

OTHER CLUB NEWS

• Congratulations to Rob Hughes, who won our second £1,000 prize draw in our new 250 Club Lottery. Well done, Rob!

• The PING Golf Day has now sold out. A huge thank you to John Clark for organising this and for the incredible support from PING.

• This weekend our Mini & Youth Tour takes place in Derbyshire. 120 of our youngest members will enjoy a fun-packed weekend. Sleeping on Sunday night will not be a problem for players and coaches alike!

• On Sunday our Under 16's play in the main NLD cup final at Ilkeston. kick-ff is at 2pm. Good luck to our Boys.

• Next weekend, we have our own Minis's Festival at Kelham road with close to 1.000 boys and Girls taking part. It's a huge day for the club and great fun too.

• U13s are also playing in their NLD final next Sunday 3rd.

• Looking ahead, I am very pleased to confirm that we have been selected once again to host the University Tough Festival at Kelham Road over the summer. More details to follow.

And finally, after all the rain, this week we have started to irrigate our pitches due to the dry weather. Can you believe it?

IN CLOSING

I want to say how immensely proud I am of this club. Proud of our players, our coaches, our volunteers, our staff, and our supporters. Newark RUFC is a special place — and that is because of the people who make it what it is.

Let’s finish this season in the best possible way. Come to Old Saltleians on the 25th and make some noise. Let’s make every moment count. See you there.

Yours in rugby,

David Godfrey
Chairman
Newark Rugby Union Football Club