News

December 2011

Latest news by Glyn Dodd

The 2011 /12 season hasn’t started that well on the pitch and the Olney side find themselves currently bottom of South West One, but the club remains as popular as ever with regularly 5 teams playing at the weekend. New head coach Pat Jerram remains upbeat and adds “despite a difficult start the new young players are still excited and giving 100%, This year we are trying some new ideas and new players and this takes time to get it all together” Around recent performances he adds “ in recent games against Bletchley and Cheltenham we came up against significantly bigger wiser and more experienced sides and lost both by very narrow margins, whilst the new boys kept going to the final whistle” we are buoyed by recent games and confident the second half of the season will be stronger as our training and new comers get it together.

Another new comer to the club is English international and Northampton Saint’s player Tom May, having moved in the area with his wife recently commented “Since moving into the area it has been great to be able to enter into the community by helping out with the coaching at Olney RFC. It's a great club with a friendly, family atmosphere. My wife and I are looking forward to meeting new people and enjoying our time living in the area".

It`s not all being great for the club this year with the tragic loss of Chris Talbot in a motor cycling accident in the summer. Chris had being with the club for over 35 years and treasurer for the last 30years. It is a not an exaggeration to say that Chris`s perseverance, tenacity and simple strength of character were responsible for a lot of what the club is today, with a series of money raisingschemes, plus the tight control of the purse strings means that Olney Rugby club will be enjoyed by generations to come.

During October a special remembrance game was held at the club to celebrate Chris Talbot life, and his contribution to the club. His first local club Wellingborough OG`s were the chosen as the opposition, and a large crowd of over 500 people watched a squad of 44 Olney players! Ranging from 17 yrs old through to 67 (well done Dave Boddy) play a thrilling hard fought game with Olney running out eventual winners 42 - 31. A meal sponsored by local business man and lifelong friend Roy Mason was enjoyed by all with discussions late into the night around life with Chris. The evening now an annual memorial fixture, raised over a £1000 for charity and was enjoyed by all.

Chris Talbot 1944-2011.

The clubs Mini and junior sections continue to be the envy of local clubs from around the area with well over 350 kids from under 6 to Under 16`s turning up on a Sunday morning to enjoy the facilities and learn the trade. Paul James Chairman of the Mini section added “We are going from strength to strength with depth in numbers and some real quality Rugby being played”. This success and the quality of both the players and facilities is indicated by the recent choice of Olney RFC to host an under 13 Alliance game Vs Oxfordshire at the club on the evening of the 21st December and no less than 5 Olney club players being selected for the Alliance Squad. Olney RFC is very proud that 5 of its U13's players, H Warn, HBull, T Hicks, D Kent and H Fielden, who have all been with the club since they were U7's have been selected to play for the Northampton Alliance Squad this season.

The ladies team now in its 14th season continues to punch above it weight playing in a league containing some formidable competition.

Olney RFC is a real gem within the community has being around for 125 years and looks in fine fettle for another 125 years The club and its main committee would like to thank all of our current Sponsors at Olney Rugby Football Club for their continued support from Mini's and Juniors through to Seniors, and wish them all the very best for Christmas and the New Year.

We would also like to encourage everyone to come down and enjoy the facilities we have to offer, both for a drink after the game and in hiring out the Main function room (Details under "About Olney Rfc" tab )

A special date for the diary 18th December all welcome to the now infamous carols and annual pantomime, (at the club in East Street from 12.30)