As I prepare for a busy social calendar over Christmas and the New Year, I extend my very best wishes to you all over the festive holiday season. I hope to see many of you on 30th December when I am looking forward to watching a number of our talented U17s have a friendly outing with some past and present senior players.

As I reflect on the last 12 months, I wholeheartedly agree with Big Si’s analysis of the season to date in Coach’s View – some excellent and promising performances dotted with disappointments resulting from a mixture of injuries, under-commitment and lack of confidence. I have every faith in the squad that the latter two will improve as the season progresses and can only hope that the injury count shrinks considerably.

On the rugby front, I am also delighted and proud with the success of the Crusaders this year and the tremendous results our Junior teams are achieving on a regular basis.

As Chairman of both ARUFC and ANSA, it is also a good opportunity at this time of the year to provide you all with an overview of some work and achievements that have been completed behind the scenes relating to both rugby and the clubhouse:

The development of the new floodlit training area has been completed. I am sure all players are looking forward to training on grass throughout next season once the surface has had chance to mature. A massive thanks goes to Richard Holdsworth for making this happen.
The main pitch was “spiked” twice during the summer. Whilst the pitch remains overly vulnerable to wet weather, I have no doubt that this investment has resulted in slightly better conditions than would have been the case otherwise.
Our “Home” changing room has had the floor re-tiled and been branded.
The heating and hot water systems have undergone a number of (costly) repairs and improvements that will hopefully provide more consistent clubhouse temperatures and hot water supply as well as delivering some cost savings.
A considerable leak in our main water supply was repaired – unfortunately at ANSA’s expense due to it occurring on our side of the meter.
In the last fortnight, we have replaced all the dining/banqueting chairs in the main hall (arranged by our tenants AVSED through a charitable trust donation).
Introduction of a card payment facility at the bar and a more varied drinks offering.

These are just the highlights. Both ARUFC & ANSA committees and volunteers continue to put in a lot of hard work to maintain and improve our facilities at Nunroyd Pavilion (official name of the clubhouse changed during the year if you weren’t aware).

Talking of improvements, a number of initiatives are being investigated, planned, costed etc. as we move into 2018. If and when they all take place will be dependent on funding, permissions, volunteers etc., but here is a flavour of what is being looked at:

Drainage work on the main pitch
Pitch-side barriers and match-day equipment storage container
Additional measures to deter vandalism to sports pitches and the clubhouse
Replacing damaged tiling in changing room 5
Car Park signage
Replacing hard and soft floor coverings in the hall and bar
A new function booking process – expected to generate more club bookings & income

An ambitious list that is likely to take a number of years to achieve – additional volunteers to contribute towards delivery could make them happen sooner!!!

I hope that 2018 brings improved rugby, facilities and participation. In the meantime, enjoy whatever time you have off over Christmas and New Year and remember, the club Panto is returning in February – get your tickets booked early to avoid disappointment.

Cheers, Large.