Thanet Wanderers RFC topped the league of English clubs in the results of the Rugby Football Union’s first annual club questionnaire.
The side from Kent play in Powergen London League One, four divisions below the big guns of the Zurich Premiership.
But they were the highest scorers in the table which awards points for community clubs who encourage participation, have high standards of coaching, plan to improve their facilities and provide a safe environment for players and spectators.
Other leading clubs throughout the country were Luton, in the Midlands; Oxford Harlequins in the South West; and Macclesfield, in the North.
The level of funding received by clubs is determined by their answers to the questionnaire and the survey also provides the RFU with detailed picture of the national game.
“We’re very pleased to have come top and it proves we’re doing things right,” said Thanet secretary Peter Hawkins.
“We’ve been getting everything in order from mini to senior rugby and we’ve taken advantage of all the courses available to get people trained and qualified.”
Thanet rely on their youth policy to develop talent with a liaison officer visiting local schools to coach children. As a result Wanderers have won the Kent Colts Cup for three years in succession.
The next step is to convert that into senior success under new captain Paul Campey and to win promotion to the National Leagues.
“We want to go as far as we can in the leagues and to get as many people involved and trained as possible,” added Hawkins. “We believe we can offer the right environment and facilities to make people want to play for us.”
Macclesfield received their accolade at the end of a vintage 125th anniversary season.
The club hosted an England Under-19 international, won promotion to National Leagues via the play-offs and lifted the Cheshire Cup.
“We found the answers to the questionnaire were readily available,” said secretary Alan Johnson. “Everyone’s working very hard and we’ve got a lot of people involved, so gradually all our plans are coming to fruition.”
One of those plans is to generate new revenue – by turning a poorly drained part of the Priory Park site into a driving range for golfers.
“We were looking to do something with the land and two members came up with the idea,” said Johnson.
“We needed something of that nature that will give us an extra revenue stream.”
The Silkmen’s next mission is to develop their training facilities and to make an impact on the field in National League Three (North).
And they have added to their playing resources this summer by signing up England Counties No. 8 Dave Muckalt to work with head coach Steve Rule
More than 1400 clubs completed the 2002 questionnaire and clubs are in the process of submitting the 2003 online form which has to be returned to Twickenham by October 24.
Information from the survey is also used by the Rugby Football Union to secure funds from a number of partners.
So far it has assisted in securing new funding from Sport England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for the Community Club Development Programme which will invest more than £9million in rugby clubs over the next three years.
The questionnaire gives the RFU an annual snapshot of the game to help provide improved facilities and it also helps Constituent Bodies (the counties) and the RFU’s Rugby Development Officers to target who needs coaching, administration and funding support. |
