First and foremost, please accept my apologies for the delay in getting this update out to you – it has been quite a month, and as you will read below, events have rather got the better of us.

Last month I mentioned the weather challenges we were facing. Sadly, February brought little respite. The relentless rainfall combined with severe flooding at Kelham Road hit us particularly hard, with our pitches lying under approximately eight inches of water for several days.

The Flood – Its Impact and Our Response

The consequences have been significant. The flooding forced us to cancel fixtures, training sessions and our much-anticipated Legends Evening – all of which have meant a real loss of revenue at a time when every pound matters. Beyond the immediate income loss, we are also carrying the costs of the clear-up. In the short term this has included items such as the hire of temporary toilet facilities, and looking ahead, we face substantial pitch maintenance works over the summer to repair the wear and tear that becomes inevitable when playing surfaces are submerged for days on end.

What has been truly humbling, however, is the response of our club family.

Our sincere thanks go to the “Tuesday Boys”, led brilliantly by David Pick. In an extraordinary 24-hour period, they worked tirelessly to strip down the grounds and minimise the impact of the floodwater – completing over 60 separate tasks in the process. And of course, once the water recedes, every single one of those tasks must be carefully reversed. David Rhodes then took charge of the painstaking pitch repair work to get us back to training and playing as quickly as possible.
We must also thank Dan Laird for both his hospitality and for the use of his first-class facilities at “Lost Village” over this period. For those of you who have yet to visit his site, I can promise you that you will be very impressed.

To everyone who gave up their time during this incredibly difficult period – we are so grateful. You are what makes this club special. Thank you.

Legends Evening – Postponed

Taking the decision to postpone the Legends Evening was not straightforward, but the safety and wellbeing of all our members and guests must always lead our decision-making. We are working hard to confirm a new date and will communicate this to you shortly. We very much look forward to what will be a fantastic evening when it does take place.

On the Pitch

Amid all the challenges off the field, it has been brilliant to see our senior teams delivering some excellent performances. The First XV have lifted themselves off the bottom of the table, and a win this Saturday against our old rivals Paviors would really make things interesting as we head into the final stretch of the season – please get down and get behind the lads!

The emergence of our Colts has added a real X factor to our play, and we have been finishing games strongly – a thoroughly encouraging sign. Our Women’s team, too, are becoming increasingly competitive week on week, and it has been wonderful to see the numbers of supporters growing alongside them. The momentum feels great.

The Six Nations

What a tournament it has been! Our pie and peas evenings and happy hours at £4 a pint have gone down a storm with our members, and we are delighted by the reception. We want to keep building on this, so please do share your ideas with us – this is your club and we want it to feel that way.

This Saturday we have two games being shown live. England kick off at 4:40 pm. Come down, watch our Firsts, Seconds and Colts in action first, and then enjoy the international in great company. We would love to see a big crowd.

International Women’s Day – This Sunday

This Sunday is International Women’s Day, and we are proud to mark the occasion in style. The NLD Girls Finals Day takes place at the club, kicking off at 1:00 pm. Come along – I think you will be genuinely impressed by the commitment, skill and passion on show. The numbers are growing and so is the standard. We are so proud to be a part of this journey.

Looking Ahead – March

As we turn the page to March, there is plenty to look forward to. Our next £1,000 draw in the 250 Club Lottery is coming up – make sure you are in it to win it. Planning for all of our junior tours is now moving into its final stages, which is always an exciting time. We also start our planning for the Newark Show. Your help will be most appreciated. And Finally, perhaps most importantly of all, we are hoping for some sunshine!

Yours in Rugby,

David Godfrey
Chairman, Newark Rugby Club