Chairman’s Report

I am delighted to give my report for 2007/08.

On the rugby front the season was arguably the most successful for Ilkley Rugby Club for very many years and without question it was the most successful season since the introduction of the league system twenty or so years ago. Our 1^st XV had a wonderful campaign in Yorkshire Division One winning 19 out of the 22 league matches and ended the season in second place. This final position gave the Club an automatic League Play Off match at Northern Rugby Club who had finished second in Durham & Northumberland Division One. On Saturday the 26^th April our 1^st XV squad traveled up to the North East with an impressive number of Ilkley supporters to play this vital “winner takes all” match. The game was eventually won by Ilkley, after a tense and uncompromising challenge by both sides, 24 – 28, and the Club will be playing its 1^st XV rugby this coming season in the uncharted waters of North 2 East.  

Our promotion out of the highly competitive Yorkshire Division One was fully justified. The Club had performed well during the three previous league seasons and had never finished lower than fifth in the final analysis. The Club had consolidated its position in this very tough league and it came as no surprise that our 1^st XV squad decided that the 2007/08 season would culminate in promotion. We leave behind many good rugby friends from the various Clubs we have played against in Yorkshire One and we shall miss the local rivalry and associated banter that has developed over the last few seasons. However the time is right for the Club to move on and we face our new challenges of life in North 2 East with confidence and with the knowledge that we are capable of competing at this new level.

The success of our 1^st XV squad last season was determined by a combination of various factors. There was no doubt that we have some very talented players,

We have depth of players and once the team started the winning habit confidence began to build. The squad developed a fantastic team spirit which was evident both on and off the pitch and this spirit and companionship helped the team through the more difficult games. I refer here particularly to the away games at Sheffield and Selby where the team effort and the desire to succeed and not to loose won the day. The 1^st XV was absolutely determined to win every game and this grit and determination will be vital ingredients in our campaign this coming season.

My personal thanks go to our 1^st XV skipper Iain McKenzie who captained the side for a second successive season. Iain’s presence, reliability and commitment both on and off the field are first class. He sets high standards and it is very satisfying that a home bred player is our 1^st XV captain. I would like to put on record tonight the Club’s appreciation for all his efforts and I am delighted that he had the privilege of leading the 1^st XV in our promotion season.

My personal thanks also go to last season’s coach Robin Kay. Robin, as he will often tell you, is a legend within Yorkshire rugby and he continued to build on the firm foundations developed by his predecessors delivering the modern coaching techniques that are so vital in today’s rugby. Robin’s influence had a massive contribution to our successes last season, he showed fantastic commitment and the Club will miss his presence next season. However we wish him every success in his rugby retirement and he knows that he will always be welcome at Stacks Field. Robin was ably assisted by Chris Steele who is very capable, competent and experienced at a young age in the world of coaching and I am delighted that he is on board next season.

Our new Club coach is Hamish Pratt who hung up his Player/Coach boots at Huddersfield Rugby Club at the end of last season to concentrate on purely coaching. Hamish brings to the Club not only a wealth of modern rugby coaching techniques but also experience of how senior teams should perform at higher levels. On behalf of the Club I would like to welcome Hamish on board and I take this opportunity to wish him every success in his new appointment.

The Club reached the last 16 in the Northern area in the EDF Senior Vase Competition, beating Skipton away in extra time and winning well away against Sunderland. We then lost at home to Old Brodleians from Yorkshire Two. This defeat, against a Club in a lower division was not only very disappointing but also gaulling as Wheatley Hills, also from Yorkshire Two, eventually went to Twickenham as beaten finalists.  The Yorkshire Shield has rather lost its way as a County Competition. We beat Old Leos away 10 – 41 and with both Ripon and Doncaster Phoenix not honoring their fixtures the Club found itself in the Semis away to unbeaten Old Brodleians. This game was played on the Bank Holiday Sunday after our play off the previous Saturday. Only four players who played at Northern started the match, however a mainly  2^nd XV put on a fabulous second half performance , but eventually lost by a narrow margin. The league will always be our top priority, however the Club will always support these competitions and will always fulfill the fixtures.

Our 2^nd XV, under the leadership of captain Andy Draper enjoyed a hugely successful season in the Yorkshire 2^nd XV Premier League. This is a very tough league which gave our players the opportunity to play at a much higher standard, compared with previous seasons, against the second teams from the likes of Huddersfield, Morley, Scunthorpe, Wharfedale, Cleckheaton, Harrogate, Sheffield Tigers, Beverley, Driffield, Hull and Hull Ionians. After a hesitant start the team gathered momentum and enjoyed some memorable wins, for example Morley and Driffield away. The team finished the season fifth from the top and the blend of experienced and young talent provided adequate cover for our 1^st XV. Unfortunately we were unable to win The Aire Wharfe Cup for the fourth successive year, loosing in the semis to Old Otliensians.

Our 3^rd XV, under the captaincy of Marcus Mountcastle, had a reasonable season.  Again the side was a mixture of older and younger players. Marcus’s enthusiasm and dedication to duty is to be applauded and I take this opportunity, on behalf of the Club, to thank him for his solid devotion to the captaincy duties.

It is also very pleasing to report that the Club was able to field a Vets XV on a few occasions last season and I think that this is an area where we can develop further once a structure is put in place.

I am delighted to report that Richard Rhodes, a member of the Leeds Carnegie Academy and who played a few games for our 2^nd XV, captained the undefeated Yorkshire Under 17’s last season in their matches against Lancashire, Cheshire, North Wales and Eastern Counties. Richard has recently been invited to join the England Under 18’s Development squad for a week’s training at Loughborough University. On behalf of the Club I would very much like to congratulate Richard on his rugby achievements and his progress demonstrates what can be achieved by our Club providing the correct infrastructure at the Mini/Junior level. The good news is that Richard will be available for senior team selection at Ilkley Rugby Club next season.

It is very gratifying for everybody who is associated with Ilkley Rugby Club that we are enjoying success on the playing fields. The barometer of any Club is the success of its 1^st XV and clearly we enjoyed a super season which culminated in promotion. This success again has improved the Club’s image and profile. However nothing would have been achieved without a great deal of effort both on and off the field and it is vital that we keep our eye on the ball so that we can consolidate this progress. We must not become complacent in any areas of our Club activities.

I would like to confirm the Club’s connection with Bradford University. Last season the Club provided on a Monday evening the facilities and the coaching

expertise for approximately 40 students, some who represent the Club on a Saturday.

On behalf of the Club I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have played and contributed on the park to the success of senior rugby at Ilkley Rugby Club last season. In particular, in addition to those members I have mentioned previously, I would like to thank our Chairman of Rugby Dave Duxbury, the old war horse, his contributions to the organisation of the actual day to day nitty gritty of rugby. His devotion to duty is to be admired. In addition I would like to thank Richard Mulligan and Robert Simms, both who do a fabulous job in looking after the pitches and tackle respectively.

Last season our Junior section continued to prosper under the Chairmanship of Tom Gillon. The success of England in the 2007 World Cup had a dramatic effect on the number of youngsters wanting to play and learn rugby at our Club. Ten age groups played their rugby down at Stacks Field last season and this is providing the lifeblood for our Club. William Armitage, who learnt his trade at the Club, nailed the Number 2 shirt in the Sedbergh School 1^st XV whilst only in the lower sixth, and his younger brother Ed, who also plays down at the club, represented both Yorkshire and England at Under 15’s. A handful of our Under 13’s also represented Yorkshire at this age group. A new “Girls Under 18’s” team was formed and several represented Yorkshire at this age group. On behalf of the Club I take this opportunity to thank all the senior members who give their time to the coaching and administrative duties on a Sunday morning. There is no doubt that our juniors are one of the strongest and most organized outfits in the county.  At least 6 Ilkley home grown players will be playing for our senior sides next season.

On the non playing side of the Club I am happy to report that the majority of our activities continue to remain buoyant and in my opinion the Club remains very strong. Your committee continually strives to run an amateur Club in a very professional way. The Club is already benefited from its CASC status and I am sure that our treasurer will be more than willing to answer any questions on this subject. We received for the fourth successive year the prestigious Seal of Approval award from Twickenham. Basically this award means that our Club’s internal procedures and practices have met the stringent requirements laid down by HQ. A great deal of effort and commitment has again been shown by many Club members over the last 12 months and it is extremely gratifying that our Club has been recognized with this highly coveted award. Ilkley is one of the few Clubs in the country to receive the Seal of Approval award for the fourth successive year and I take this opportunity to thank John Hope and Tom Gillon and their volunteers for the efforts relative to the enormous amount of work required to retain this recognition. 

The full time appointment of Dave Duxbury as Ilkley Rugby Community Officer continues to be a great success. The role is funded by Sponsorship money from Skipton Financial Services, Magellan Residential Limited, Micklegate Special Projects Residential Ltd, Ferno (UK) Ltd and contributions from Bradford Council.  Dave is currently in the fourth year and he has largely been responsible for the resurgence and success of rugby at Ilkley Grammar School which has a knock on effect with the Club.

Dave’s mandate is to deliver rugby coaching into Ilkley Grammar School and the six feeder primary schools.The idea of this appointment is to provide rugby coaching in these schools, where previously there were little or no resources, with a view to encourage these younger players to join our Club at junior level, in the hope that they provide a pipeline of senior players in the future.

The infrastructure of our Club continues to improve and the completed works have greatly enhanced the profile and standing of Stacks Field and again it proves that our Club is gradually becoming more established and recognised on the northern rugby map. Last summer circa £50,000 was spent putting a modern drainage under the 2^nd XV/training pitch. It will take a few years before this improvement becomes totally satisfactory, however there is no doubt that already the drainage problems have been eliminated. The project was mainly funded by the RFU with the Club chipping in the balance.

I would like to quickly mention the salient points of our Club’s activities.The membership is at an all time high, particularly in our junior section, and now stands at over 580 or over 1000 if all family members are counted. The Subscription, Sponsorship, 100 Club and fund raising revenues remain very strong. All these sources are vital as our Club’s expenses continue to increase.

On behalf of the Club I take this opportunity to thank Duncan Feather, Maggie Gilbert, David Sayers and Richard Merkin for all their efforts in their particular fund raising activities and I take this opportunity to confirm that these fund raising activities are absolutely vital to our Club. It actually costs, over 52 weeks, £2000 a week to run the Club and these costs have to be paid.

I would like to report on the progress of the “New Development”. To confirm, Planning Permission was received in September 2007 only six weeks after our application was submitted. The speed of this most positive response was due to our very professional application combined with the accurate detailed reportage that was required by the Planners. The response time was some sort of world record for Ilkley and the speed of the positive approval was very surprising. However, these were positives and a “Fund Raising Committee” was quickly

organised.  The project is dependant on monies being raised/given from basically three distinct areas. The Club itself has been challenged to raise £800,000 with the balance of the funding to be met by other funding bodies including the RFU and Sport England.

The fund raising response from the Club has been fantastic and this has been positively recognized by both the RFU and Sport England. So far circa £580,000

is in the pot and this figure does not include the two CASC tax rebates that have already received for 2006/07 or 2007/08, nor does it include the £40,000 from Ilkley Parish Council. The monies raised include donations/pledges from Club members, donations from Corporate Sponsorship, Corporate Advertising revenue from the “New Development” brochure, revenues from the “Celebration and Auction “ dinner when Martin Johnson was our Guest of Honour and many Club fund raising events. In addition Club members have donated over £40,000 of products and services “free of charge”.

Both the RFU and Sport England are very supportive of our project. However there is no doubt that the 2012 Olympics has attracted a great deal of government money and both the RFU and Sport England do not have as much money to divert to amateur sports clubs. Consequently we have recently gone back to our architect with the remit to take out a load of costs from the current design for which we have the Planning Permission, but retain the overall specification of the building.

The ideal would be a new Community Clubhouse that can be built for a bottom line cost of circa £1.3/1.4 million + VAT. This would be funded by the Club (£800k), the RFU and Sport England and other funders. I do not have any firm information to give you re this cost reduction exercise, however we continue our internal “Fund Raising” activities etc. Already various events have been planned throughout the 2008/09 season.

There is the opportunity, under item 8 of tonight’s agenda, to discuss the “New Development” in more detail.

My thanks, again on behalf of all our members, go to the Club Committee for all their hard work during the year 2007/2008. Without their commitment and enthusiasm the Club would not be in such good shape. In particular to Duncan Feather, our President, Ken Bernard, our Club Secretary, Gary Ferguson, our Membership Secretary, David Adam our Club Treasurer, Tom Gillon our Junior Chairman, Tim Bowles who looks after the bar/house, Gerry Whiteley who looks after the administration of the rugby Club’s allocation of international tickets and John Hope for his unflinching efforts in looking after our Web site, for his work re CRDO and for the writing of the weekly match reports. A very sincere thank you to all Club Committee members and to the Thursday gang volunteers who help to keep the changing rooms and Club House in good order.

In conclusion the Club is in good shape. However there continues to be a shortage of volunteers and I appeal to those members who feel that they can contribute to step forward. Every little helps. Please make that extra effort and I would be delighted to hear from anybody who would be willing to become more involved with the day to day running of the Club. The Club is on as high, we must now all keep the pressure on to continue the Club’s progress both on and off the pitch and at the same time preserve the wonderful family and friendly atmosphere that has been created over the years.