Chairman's Statement
The Chairman's Statement
Hello and welcome to the GRFC website. My name is Graham Haggar and I am Chairman of Gravesend Rugby Football Club Ltd., I am now in my third year of office and looking forward to another thrilling season of that sport which I love, Rugby! I would presume that you all, likewise are aficionados or at the very least have some tenuous connection with GRFC and that is why you are “hitting” our web site.
In 2007, GRFC 1st Xv were some what in the “doldrums” having had yet another mediocre season and languishing in the bottom half of London League South Division 3. It was at that time that we realised we needed to change our approach to the way we played and our attitude to our players selection. We had recently taken on a new Head Coach, Simon Jervis, who with his enthusiasm, skill and determination coupled with the dedication of the existing coaching team of Bob Hussey and Malcom Moaby, enabled us to greatly improve our league position and eventually after some nail biting matches, reach the dizzy heights of winners of London 3.
This meant promotion to London 2 and as most of you will know by now whilst we didn’t actually win this league we acquitted ourselves remarkably well finishing fourth being the top Kent Club in that league. This coming season because of league restructuring we find ourselves along with many old rivals, in London 1 and we know that we have to be at least as good as, if not better than previously, if we wish to maintain our position as one of the top teams in Kent.
This situation is not being helped by the unfortunate resignation of Simon, whose young family and work commitments have finally taken their toll, we shall miss him and wish him well in his new career. However, we have been fortunate in securing the services of Clive Heather who is well known in the County as our backs coach and along with Bob and Malcolm, we can look forward to an exciting season.
I should point out that we also seem to be getting more recognition from Kent for all our efforts as we had at least six players in the Kent side which lost narrowly to Durham in the Counties Final at Darlington recently and on top of that we also reached the final of the Kent Cup, where we came second to a very strong Blackheath side. Nil Desperandum, there’s always another year!
Anyway, I know that the Club doesn’t just revolve around the 1st Xv but of course it is that team which is the flagship of GRFC and so due recognition must be taken and given. Our 2nd Xv have had a super 2008/2009 season coming second by only two points to Old Elthamians and it is via them that the 1st Xv are able to feed when needed as has so often been the case this year, the demands of league rugby having taken their toll on many.
We also run three other senior side and the Moles which is a team mostly made up of dads of minis and youth players and ably coached and led by Gary Theobald. On that note you will see that we run numerous youth and mini sides under the auspices of Peter Harman and Teresa Gray, who along with a vast number of coaches and helpers make this very important part of our club structure, work. Full contact and subscription details are available on the website, so if you’ve got some youngsters itching to play, bring ‘em along, every Sunday morning in the season, you will be most welcome.
As you will see we are not just a Rugby club but support many other sports Cricket, Tennis, Ladies Hockey, Five-a-Side football, Bowls, Petanque, Table Tennis and Pigeon Racing, this together with our support of PHAB who make use of the main hall facilities every Wednesday and the Endtime Evangelical Ministries every Thursday, go towards making Gravesend Rugby Club, the place to be, with facilities second to none, open seven days a week.
