For me, it is an amazing honour to be elected Chairman of Clifton RFC and I am 100% committed to helping this Club be the best it can be – on and off the pitch.

The Executive team is nearing completion, and I am particularly delighted that my friend and teammate, Neil Maddocks, has been elected as our Treasurer (we can expect him to use Latin at every meeting).

Our previous Chairman, Darren Lloyd, has done a fantastic job over the last 2 years and the Club in all aspects is in a great place thanks to his leadership. He is now going to focus his energy and passion as our Director of Rugby and it’s my job to make sure his plans for the first XV’s success are supported.
(I would say that there are big shoes to fill but…)

Our senior team will be competing in National League 2 South again (in fact Clifton’s 1st XV are the highest ranked club that isn’t fully professional in the area). It’s a bold move to have gone semi-professional ourselves this season – your Executive feels that to be competitive and recruit/retain the best players we can, it is necessary.

The 2nd XV are also treading new ground by taking part in the Zoo Shield (www.theshieldrugby.com), there’s little doubting the stiff competition they’ll face. I’m sure they’ll display the #WinnersWin belief.

Both our top 2 sides have managed to arrange most home fixtures on the same weekends – there’s no excuse not to come and see quality rugby at Clifton this season regularly.

Our 3rd XV will be competing in the Gloucestershire leagues as usual – these games are full of local passion and rivalry. Come and give your support. You may well see your Club Officers in the thick of the action!

What of our wonderful Minis & Juniors? I have never seen such passion, energy, success and joy from the hundreds of Clifton players that pull on the jersey for us. From u6 to u18, they are an amazing bunch and a real credit to the Club.

I will do everything I can to support them and make their experience even better, so they bring their friends and add to the success story that is our M&Js.

Of course, that doesn’t happen without the coaches, mums, dads and volunteers. Thank you all for being the foundation that the Club is built on in so many ways.

There are real and imminent plans to start a girls team, along with improving our facilities to accommodate them – watch this space.

What of my vision for the Club during my tenure as Chairman?

It’s a mixture of evolution and revolution. What we’re doing well, let’s get even better. What we’re not doing, let’s try new things.

Over the last 18 months, we’ve been talking to you, the Members, and it’s clear that you want excellent facilities you can be proud of, to stay where we are in Cribbs Causeway, to provide superb coaching and a safe environment. To be somewhere you feel at home, providing rugby that’s fun to watch, play and coach.

That’s at the heart of it for me: Fun rugby. Winning rugby. Family Rugby.

If more supporters are watching, more players are playing and our standards are improving then I’ll know I’m getting it right.

At the end of last season, I travelled with the 1st XV to support the team. A couple of things still remain with me from that particular trip: how well supported the opposition club was; how much fun there was; the obvious pride from players and supporters.

We’re not that different here at Clifton but something still stood out. On every wall, every surface was a simple message: “Before you complain, have you volunteered?”

We are blessed with committed Members that run the Club in all the ways you can think of and plenty you probably can’t. Only the players are paid anything, everybody else just does what they can, when they can – and there are far fewer of them than you imagine.

How will I measure a successful season?

How many Club members contribute? Be it time, skills, advice or support.

If you haven’t been to a game for a while, come along.

If you haven’t played a game in while – bring your boots.

If you haven’t brought a friend for a while, bring two.

Tell your employer, your business, and your neighbour about the Club.

Ask what you could do to help.

Enjoy the season ahead, thank you again for being you, and being part of this amazing Club, in this fantastic sport in Rugby World Cup year.

Best Wishes,

Wyn Tingley
Chairman
Clifton Rugby Football Club

#CmonClifton #LavenderAndBlack