August 2008
Ilkley Rugby club are anxious to continue their community work
As the new school year begins and Olympic memories linger, the academic achievements at Ilkley Grammar School rightly draw accolades from all quarters.
The school has also progressed on the sporting front, particularly on the Rugby field where Ilkley Rugby Club’s Community Rugby Development Officer Dave Duxbury’s efforts to put Rugby firmly back on the school’s agenda have paid handsome dividends, contributing to the physical health and well-being of pupils.
Ilkley Rugby Club’s ambitious project to provide Rugby coaching services to the community of the Wharfe valley and beyond was started in March 2004.
It was generously sponsored by three main sponsors Skipton Financial Services Ltd, Magellan Residential Ltd and Myddelton Construction Ltd with match funding from Sportsmatch on a reducing basis over 3 years. Subsequently Ferno (UK) Ltd and Micklegate Special Projects Ltd added their financial support and throughout the period Bradford Council provided some additional funding both directly and via their Community Chest schemes. The RFU also added some support both financial and moral. Other moneys came from schools enjoying the expert coaching provided.
The three year Sportsmatch support has now ended as has the sponsorship from two out of three original sponsors.
Ilkley Rugby Club is tremendously grateful to the sponsors for their commitment to a project which has been a genuine success with many more young people enjoying competitive sport both within curriculum time and during out of school hours. Ilkley Grammar School is now competing at all age groups at an unprecedented, in recent times, level. All the primary schools have tasted and enjoyed Tag rugby, preparing them for sport at the senior school. There are two girls’ teams, under 18’s and under 15’s. The Ilkley Rugby Club Junior and Youth section has record numbers of participants.
Unfortunately all good things come to an end. Sponsorship funding is reducing in the face of the credit crunch and the club finds itself at a crossroads. Ilkley Rugby Club are most anxious to see the project continue and are pursuing all possible sources of funding. If anyone can point the club towards a new commercial sponsor or sponsors the Sportsmatch (pound for pound) scheme is available to us.
These are some of the more notable achievements of Dave Duxbury’s work in the past 12 months:
- Over 1200 hours of coaching delivered to schools last year
- Rugby Union firmly back on curriculum at Ilkley GS
- Teams entered in national and regional competitions
- Tag rugby delivered to primary schools in spring and summer
- Festivals for all age groups and schools from other districts held at Ilkley RFC
- Girls rugby team formed and playing matches
- Teaching staff have been coached to deliver Tag and some to level 1 qualification
- Pupils (inc girls) trained to deliver Tag coaching in primary schools as part of Community Leader Awards
- Ilkley RFC junior membership at record levels
- Ilkley RFC have received many accolades for their community work and their work with Juniors and young people (Seal of Approval year 4, Fundraising Club of the Year 2008, Seal of Approval North East and Yorkshire Club of the Year 2008)
- Bradford University team coached by our CRDO
- Glowing testimonials received from Headteacher of Ilkley Grammar School
- Ilkley Grammar School rugby squad about to embark on a tour to Dubai
- Our mission statement was achieved ahead of schedule and has now been far exceeded
- Ilkley Rugby club regarded as “beacon club” by RFU. As far as we know we are the only “junior” club nationally to have undertaken such a project.
Future tasks for Dave will to involve non-participants in active sport and to identify and promote elite players and athletes, not only to advance their cause in Rugby but wherever there athletic prowess may take them (perhaps even with 2012 in mind). There are initiatives for both elements currently in planning.
The club realise that this is neither a charitable cause, nor does it have any divine right to funds, but they do believe that Dave Duxbury’s work has been of such benefit to the community that no stone should be left unturned to enable it to continue.
If anyone would like to help in any way please call John Hope on 01943 600787 or the club Chairman Richard Scargill on 01943 862983.
February 2008
In the meantime Ilkley Rugby Club’s work in the local schools continues apace. Community Coach Dave Duxbury reckons every pupil at Ilkley Grammar School has had the chance to try his hand at boys’ rugby and the growing interest has swelled numbers participating at school and in the junior section of the club. What is more girls’ rugby is up and running with teams in two year groups. A major milestone was reached this week with the first ever girls’ match on Tuesday evening was played on the first team pitch between Ilkley Grammar School and St Mary’s year 11’s. A great game of pace and no little degree of skill was played out with 100% commitment from both sides. Clearly both teams enjoyed the experience, as did the large crowd of school supporters who made more noise than is heard most Saturdays at Stacks Field. Ilkley came out winners, but the real winners were all the girls who participated in a game that demonstrated the best aspects of sportsmanship and bravery.
So great is interest in the sport that a recent Tag rugby course for coaches was attended by five boys and nine girls. These young people will now be able to help Duxbury in his Tag Rugby coaching at primary schools during spring and summer. What is more, it is an important credential for them in their Community Leadership profile.
Duxbury’s costs are sponsored by Skipton Financial Services, Magellan Residential, Myddelton Construction and Micklegate Special Projects with help from Bradford Council.
January 2008
Ilkley Rugby Club up there with the best
Ilkley Rugby Club learned this week that they have earned from the Rugby Football Union (RFU) Year Four accreditation for Seal of Approval.
This prestigious award certifies that the club follow strict guidelines on how the Junior and youth section of the club is run. It covers equity in sport, child well-being, coaching methods and personnel, strategic planning, safety issues, and a host of other elements of governance.
Junior and Youth section chairman Tom Gillon said that the club and its committee have worked hard to achieve this award. Furthermore, it is testimony to all the hard working volunteers who have gained coaching awards and put so much time and effort into ensuring the young people of Ilkley and area receive such a rewarding experience in playing of and training for Rugby at the club. The Junior and Youth section caters for players from under 7 to under 19.
It is believed that Ilkley RFC is one of, if not the, first club in the whole country to be awarded Seal of Approval Year 4 accreditation.
Next year Seal of Approval broadens its scope to cover the whole club. Chairman Richard Scargill said that he felt the club was well up to challenge and was confident that it already meets most of the new stipulations. “We will be working hard over the next twelve months to ensure the club produces the best possible environment for all players, no matter what age, to enjoy the wonderful sport that is Rugby Union”.
He added, “the new Development Project will be a symbol of the club’s ambition to be at the leading edge of sport providers in the community for years to come.”
This weekend the club is holding its third annual Volunteers’ lunch ahead of the league match with Huddersfield YMCA. The lunch will be attended by a number of local dignitaries. Over 100 volunteers were invited to attend, demonstrating huge enthusiasm for the club and the game. These numbers give the club comfort of sustainability for future generations of Rugby players at Ilkley. Sustainability is, of course, an important issue for grant funders considering the merits of the club’s recently announced Development plans.
Ilkley are regarded by their governing body, the RFU, as a “beacon club” in that they have Seal of Approval, as well as employing a full-time Community Rugby Development Officer.
Dave Duxbury delivers rugby coaching into Ilkley Grammar School and the six primary schools in the area. The success of his input to the schools is now very evident. Not only do the Grammar School field teams at every age group, they now can compete well with other schools in local and national competitions.
Duxbury’s input into sport in the school was recently credited by Headteacher Mrs Gillian James for making a great contribution to the school itself earning a prestigious Sportsmark award for the second year running. The award recognises the delivery of the national PE, school sports and club links strategy. 90% of pupils are doing 2 hours or more of PE and Sport in school.
Duxbury’s contribution to a “transition day” last summer, for primary school pupils moving up to the senior school, also helped win an award for the Oakbank School Sports Partnership recently presented by the Youth Sports Trust at a national awards ceremony.
One recent outcome has the formation of a girl’s rugby team. Under the auspices of the Rugby Club there are about thirty or so enthusiastic young ladies who train regularly and are hopeful of putting out a competitive team in the near future. Duxbury commented that there are a number of girls with potential to make excellent players in the sport which has an ever growing participation by women and girls nationally.
The spring term will see the re-introduction of Tag rugby in the primary schools and already a number of teachers have made themselves available for a Tag Rugby coaching course which Duxbury is now qualified to deliver.
There will also be a series of sessions delivered by Leeds Carnegie Rugby team and a number of Rugby festivals for various age groups.
That is all in the future. The problem this week is to get a match played on Saturday. As of Monday evening the river was lapping at the rugby pitch and, with more rain to come, it will be all hands on deck to get a game on. In the event of a postponement the Volunteers’ lunch will go ahead as planned.
Dave Duxbury is sponsored by Skipton Financial Services, Magellan Residential, Myddelton Construction, Ferno UK and Micklegate Special Projects along with Sportsmatch and Bradford Council.
June 2007
Duxbury’s community work continues to score successes
Dave Duxbury, the Community Rugby Development Officer for Ilkley Rugby Club continues to see his work over the last two years paying dividends.
His immediate tasks are to organise some important festivals for children in the valley.
On Tuesday 10th July there will be a big day for the primary school children when, in the morning year 3 and 4 age groups will at Stacks Field. At present he has 32 teams booked in to take part in a Tag rugby festival.
In the afternoon 16 teams of the older age groups, years 5 and 6 will take part in a festival of Tag rugby.
The Leeds Carnegie (the re-branded Tykes) Rugby Union coaching team will be in attendance along with some surprise competitions involving passing and kicking skills with special equipment often used at Twickenham and other major rugby events supplied by the RFU.
This is the culmination of the years’ coaching programme which has involved both Duxbury himself and Matt Foster from the Keighley Cougars as well as a programme delivered by John Bentley and his dedicated team of Leeds Carnegie coaches.
After that Duxbury, along with Andrew Jennings, the cricket coach from Ben Rhydding Sports Club and Extended Schools Partnership manager Kath Collinge are putting together a multi sport day for children who will be leaving their primaries and heading off to Ilkley Grammar School next term. This activity will help them in their transition and give them the opportunity to meet new staff and pupils all of whom will be helping out the day. This will be an all-day event held at Ben Rhydding Sports club on Monday 16th July.
A five day summer holiday sports camp will be held by the same team commencing Monday 23rd July. Details can be obtained from the individuals involved or by enquiring at the schools.
Duxbury commented that the organisation for these innovative events is hard work but should be hugely beneficial for all the children and, of course, the schools themselves.
He went to add that his target when he took up the role in March 2006 was to get to the point when an Ilkley Grammar school team could be entered in the prestigious Daily Mail Cup for school rugby teams. He is please to have been able to achieve this ahead of schedule this year when the school’s fist fifteen will compete in the competition.
“I don’t expect we’ll win it, he added, but I am confident the lads can make a great account of themselves and will do the school proud.”
Duxbury’s costs are sponsored by Skipton Financial Services, Magellan Residential and Myddelton Construction with Sportsmatch and Bradford Council also supporting the project. Micklegate Special Projects are also sponsoring Dave’s work in the Grammar School so are particularly pleased to see this outcome so soon in the life of the project.
Sportsmatch’s contribution comes to an end this year and the Rugby Club are therefore actively seeking new sponsorship for future years.
January 2007
Girls to benefit from rugby coaching
Dave Duxbury’s work as Ilkley Rugby Club’s Rugby Development Officer continues to develop.
Having invested much of his time last year in the primary schools, this year Duxbury has concentrated his efforts on Ilkley Grammar School. The increase in numbers attending and the quality of the rugby being played is testimony to the faith of the Rugby Club and its generous sponsors in getting this ambitious project off the ground. It is now an integrated feature of the Grammar School’s timetable.
Skipton Financial Services, Magellan Residential, Myddelton Construction and Micklegate Special Projects along with Sportsmatch and Bradford Council can now see real benefits to the community and genuinely positive results materialising.
Young men are getting proper and regular coaching and are playing competitive matches at all levels. The general level of fitness and physical health of all the young people has received a real boost. Coaching has taken place both within and out of school hours adding greater value to the time and money invested by the Rugby Club and its sponsors.
Now it is the chance of girls to benefit from Duxbury’s input. Women’s rugby is a big growth sport and is now actively encouraged within the education system. In fact the sister of Ilkley Rugby Club star Jack Shaylor recently played for England in the Women’s Rugby world Cup final against the mighty All Blacks.
Rugby provides hand and eye coordination skills as well as the obvious physical exercise benefits. Large groups can be coached at the same time. First off will be years 7, 8 and 9. The coaching will culminate in April/May with a festival of girls’ rugby. This element of Duxbury’s coaching has been made possible with an additional funding grant of Ł2,450 from Awards for All (A4A).
Since September Ilkley area primary school Tag rugby coaching has been provided by Matt Foster of Keighley Cougars RLFC in a unique link up with Ilkley Rugby Union Club. The game at primary school is basically generic for both codes.
Duxbury’s input will recommence in the spring. Years 3 and 4 will be the focus group. Foster and Leeds Tykes will also be providing their input to years 5 and 6. Festivals are planned for all these children as the weather gets warmer and the pitches at the Ilkley Club begin to recover from their punishing winter.
All in all the ambitious project pioneered by Ilkley Rugby Club has succeeded beyond anything anticipated, a fact acknowledged and endorsed by the Lord and Lady Mayor of Bradford, Mrs Ann Cryer MP and many local councillors who attended Ilkley’s recent league match against Keighley. Ilkley are regarded as a beacon club by their governing body the RFU.
January 2007
New Shirts for Grammar School 1st XV cement relationship with Rugby Club
New playing shirts for the Ilkley Grammar School 1st fifteen were presented to the school by Ilkley Rugby Club.
The Rugby club’s community rugby project, now well into its second year, is gathering further momentum as the school’s rugby sides benefit from coaching delivered by Dave Duxbury, the Rugby Development Officer. The school’s rugby teams at all age groups are playing more competitive fixtures and are getting excellent results from those fixtures.
So far this season the school 1st XV rugby results are:
Otliensians 10's tournament - 3 matches unbeaten
Ripon GS won 17-5
St.John Fisher GS won 17-12
Roundhay won 12-7
Bingley GS lost 17-0
Benton Park - Postponed
St. Mary's playing 5th December
Sponsors of the Community Rugby programme are Skipton Financial Services, Magellan Residential and Myddelton Construction along with Sportsmatch. This year Micklegate Special Projects has sponsored rugby coaching at the grammar school. Now the results of the year and a half of coaching children and young people in the area are really beginning to show through.
Assistant deputy head Richard Jennings expressed his delight at the quality and standard of rugby, but moreso that many of his pupils were now enjoying competitive sport both in and outside curriculum hours. He went on to comment how noticeable it was that new entrants to the school this term coming from the local primaries all showed an appetite for the game and a level of skill he had not witnessed in previous intakes. Coaching was concentrated last year on the primaries, this year it is concentrated on the senior school.
Community rugby coach Dave Duxbury said that the school was well on its way to entering a 1st XV in the prestigious National Daily Mail Cup. This was the modest target set when the Rugby club embarked on this ambitious project in April 2005.
The presentation of the shirts, paid for by the generosity of a rugby club member, further symbolises the strong ties between club and school. There is an almost seamless link between school and club where all these youngsters can enjoy more competitive sport in a safe and secure environment on Sunday mornings.
Ian McKenzie, the Rugby club’s 1st XV captain and a product of the grammar school and the Rugby club’s junior section said that he hoped the wearers of these shirts, which are in the club colours with the grammar school insignia, would soon be challenging for places in the club’s senior sides.
He said there was nowhere better to learn how compete in a highly competitive world than on a rugby field, and no better camaraderie than with fellow rugby players.
Duxbury added that at the moment he doesn’t seem to have sufficient hours in a day to attend to all the coaching demands but, despite the pressure, the evidence of positive results was gratifying. “My job is only beginning”, he went on to say, “but I can see a real and lasting outcome beginning to materialise. Let’s hope the weather allows us to continue what we are doing. If we do get some bad weather it will curtail what we can do under floodlights down at the club in our out of curriculum hours coaching sessions. The rugby club cannot afford to lose the use of its training/playing pitch as it almost did last year.”
September 23rd 2006
Ilkley’s Community rugby coaching programme gathers momentum
The schools are back, and so begins the second school year of Ilkley Rugby Club’s Community Rugby Coaching project.
Funded by sponsorship from Skipton Financial Services, Magellan Residential and Myddelton Construction, with Sportsmatch and Bradford Council’s support, this year sees additional sponsorship from Micklegate Special Projects as the Sportsmatch portion reduces. Micklegate’s contribution is specifically focussed on the Grammar School.
Following last year’s outstanding success, the early part of the year’s programme will have a greater focus on rugby at Ilkley Grammar School.
Dave Duxbury, the Community Rugby Development Officer has struck up a great working relationship with Keighley Cougars’ Development Officer, Matt Foster. Foster will be concentrating his efforts on the primary schools, where Duxbury focussed a lot of his time last year. The legacy of Duxbury’s work is a number of enthused primary school teachers receiving RFU Tag rugby coaching qualifications last year and, with Tag rugby kits donated to each of the primary schools by Ilkley Rugby Club, coaching can continue even without as much presence from Duxbury.
Already the Grammar School input is being appreciated by pupils and parents alike.
Duxbury is providing coaching both during curriculum time and out of school hours.
He is working closely with Stuart Goodbould to ensure each year group benefits.
One parent was quick to say “this is a marvellous initiative. My son was keen to play but not getting enough quality coaching time to maintain his enthusiasm. Now Mr Duxbury is providing that little bit extra his and all his mates can’t wait for the next session.”
Tom Gillon, the Junior Section chairman of Ilkley Rugby Club said “numbers of players have increased dramatically at the club on Sunday mornings. I am sure that is a direct of result of Dave’s work. Whilst increased numbers bring their own problems we have the capacity to cope, provided of course we don’t have the weather we had last year when we almost lost two of our pitches.”
Numbers attending recent out of school hours sessions have been above all expectations.
Competitive fixtures and entries into national and local tournaments are being arranged throughout the school’s year groups, and Duxbury is confident that the Grammar School will have a 1st XV that can aspire to the former glories of rugby played at the school.
“I was given a very simple and relatively modest mission statement” he said. “That is to be able to confidently enter an IGS 1st XV into the Daily Mail Cup tournament that Prince Henry’s have graced for so long. I am confident that, continued funding provided, we will achieve that aim in the near future.”
The management committee of the Rugby Club has been so impressed with the progress they have promised to buy the Grammar School 1st XV a brand new set of shirts, in the style of the new strip being worn by the Rugby Club, but with school badges etc.
Deputy Head Richard Jennings said “the school is very appreciative of what the Rugby club are doing here. It just shows what can be achieved when clubs and schools get together. As an ex-player myself I know how important sport and competitiveness is to the all-round development of young people,”
The RFU’s John Lawn has been advising and helping the Rugby club to fine-tune its coaching programme added “we congratulate Ilkley for what they have achieved. They have shown other clubs the way. We hope the generosity of the sponsors will continue to allow this hugely worthwhile programme to continue. Ilkley are proving to be a beacon club in all sorts of ways. We congratulate them wholeheartedly”
A recent visit to see Duxbury’s coaching in action was made by Principal, Sports & Activities Development at Bradford Council, Ms Zuby Hamard. She attended a session at the Grammar School and expressed her delight at what she witnessed. “The council are keen to promote physical activity of any kind. Our ‘bactive’ campaign is getting more and more young people involved in all sorts of new activities. The Rugby Club’s efforts are really appreciated, especially as the club provides a place where young people can join to enhance the fitness and skills acquired in these school sessions. We are especially keen to see the out of school hours activity progress and fully support Ilkley Rugby Club’s coaching programme. Despite limited budgets we have helped the club as much we can.”
Next up for Duxbury is the return of the Bradford University students. Already a number are firmly embedded in the club’s senior fifteens. The first training session will take place on Monday. Ex British Lion and Leeds Tykes star John Bentley, now player coach at Cleckheaton, is giving a hand to Duxbury to get the University season up and running. It will be a great way to get the new intake to integrate with second and third year students and everybody is guaranteed to appreciate Bentley’s presence and interest. The university, who voted Duxbury last year’s Sports Coach of the Year, have been welcomed to Ilkley Rugby Club and now use it as their unofficial Rugby Club too.
All students are given membership of the club at hugely discounted rates, which are subsidised by the University.
1st June 2006
Micklegate fill the gap
Ilkley Rugby Club’s Community Coaching project received a boost this week as Ilkley based development company Micklegate Special Projects Ltd stepped in to bridge a funding gap for the coming year which runs from April 2006 to April 2007.
Already generously sponsored by Skipton Financial Services Ltd, Magellan Residential Ltd and Myddelton Construction Ltd, with help from Bradford Council and match funding from Sportsmatch, the project is now guaranteed, at least for this year. Sportsmatch invest their money on a reducing basis and it was bridging that gap that was causing the club difficulties.
Managing director of Micklegate, Martin Joyce said, “I became aware of the funding gap through reading the progress reports in the Gazette’s columns. Whilst I am not a rugby fanatic, I was aware of the fantastic work being done by the club’s Community Rugby Development Officer in all the local schools. This is clearly benefiting a large number of children and young people in providing them with worthwhile physical activity in a competitive but safe environment. The influence this must have on young lives and lifestyles is so important to the community as a whole. My firm is based in Ilkley, we have completed some excellent developments in the town and so I felt this was a way of putting a little bit back into it.”
He added, “Ilkley Rugby club is clearly a beacon club as far as their community activities are concerned. The sight of all those youngsters on a Sunday down at Stacks Field is further evidence of what is being done by the club for children and young people. It seems like a very worthy and worthwhile project and I am happy to support it.”
Meanwhile Dave Duxbury’s work continues apace. All the schools with which he has been involved – principally Ilkley Grammar School and its six cluster primaries are delighted with the coaching already delivered and have pledged to do all they can to ensure the project continues long term. School budgets are inevitably stretched and little funding is available to pay for Duxbury’s coaching time.
Such is the enthusiasm for rugby that a number of primary school teachers benefited from a RFU Tag rugby course paid for by the Rugby Club. Now these teachers can pass this benefit on to their pupils.
Plans for this coming year include festivals and tournaments involving teams from other areas. Additionally Ilkley Grammar School is now in a position to enter local and national competitions at various age groups.
Mr Joyce has specifically attached Micklegate’s sponsorship to Ilkley grammar School. He says he looks forward to the day that the Grammar School can hold its rugby head up high against local neighbours Prince Henry’s Grammar School, Otley whose team has played in the Daily Mail Cup final at Twickenham, and produced stars of the future like Danny Care who recently was the stand-out player in England’s seven-a-side squad.
Chairman Richard Scargill said, “the project so far has been an unqualified success. Our job now is to ensure funding is in place to continue it into year 3 and beyond.” He added, “we are hugely grateful to those sponsors and funders who have enabled it to get underway.”
4th March 2006
Ilkley RFC adopt and provide coach for Bradford University
A loose arrangement over recent years has been transformed into a formal commitment by Ilkley Rugby Club in the shape of their Community Rugby Development Officer, Dave Duxbury to provide coaching to Bradford’s successful University Rugby Club. With sponsors Skipton Financial Services, Magellan Residential and Myddelton Construction behind the project and both Bradford Council and Sportsmatch providing support the club embarked on an ambitious project to provide rugby coaching to schools in their local community and to the students of Bradford’s leading academic establishment.
Dave was officially appointed the RUSLO (University Student Liaison Officer) working closely with John Lawn, the local RFU RDO.
Bradford manufacturer of save and rescue equipment FERNO came in with some additional sponsorship which enabled the purchase of smart new Kukri kit and provided some funding for the coach.
Now the university are enjoying one of their most successful rugby seasons ever. They regularly field a first and a second team and are well supplied with replacements. Bradford draw students from all over the world and many are finding out about rugby for the first time. Some very promising players are emerging. The students are invited to become members of the Ilkley club at a low cost rate and regularly turn out for the club’s Saturday sides. Over the years Bradford University has provided a good number of first team players to Ilkley Rugby Club. Many students have chosen to stay in the area after their studies simply because of the enjoyment and friendships derived from their rugby at Ilkley.
The Ilkley pitches are provided for matches and training under floodlights and Duxbury’s coaching and presence at matches is provided by Ilkley RFC, although the University does make a contribution towards the club’s costs.
Now many students are choosing to enhance their own contribution to the game by obtaining coaching qualifications. They are using these qualifications to provide coaching to schools in the Bradford inner city area, introducing rugby and physical exercise to many children who have not previously enjoyed either. They are also helping out with coaching at the club on Sundays.
The students, under the leadership of Shane O’Regan, have put together a University Rugby Club Development Plan to ensure that the present bout of enthusiasm is not temporary but provides a long term plan for the present and future students at Bradford University.
They are currently looking forward to the varsity fixture with neighbours Huddersfield University. This will be a multi-sport occasion; all based on the Rugby Club’s facilities in Ilkley and will take place at venues right down the Wharfe valley.
The student age group has been identified by the RFU as an age at which many players can become lost to the game. Bradford happily seems to be bucking that trend thanks to Ilkley Rugby Club and Dave Duxbury’s efforts.
4th February 2006
Ilkley Rugby Club community work is paying rich dividends
As the first year of the Ilkley Rugby Club Community Rugby Coach scheme draws to a close the club is anxiously awaiting decisions from various funding bodies to gather the financial resources to enable it to continue for forthcoming years. Their applications so far for grant funding has fallen on stony ground despite the quality of the work completed and the many children and young people who have benefited from Dave Duxbury’s expert coaching. So popular has his input been that a second coach had to be employed for the early part of the year.
Chairman Richard Scargill was undaunted, saying “the club will move mountains to keep Duxbury in his post. It seems that the good people of the Wharfe Valley are not a priority when funding for this kind of work is concerned. I’m afraid LS29 is not a great postcode to have in these circumstances. We all pay our taxes, our council tax and buy lottery tickets but none of the grant moneys apparently available to others make their way back to the valley”, he added.
Some measure of the success of the project so far was apparent only this week.
Firstly large numbers of Ilkley Grammar School pupils are coming down to the Ilkley club to benefit from the floodlights there, and from after school hours training sessions.
These sessions are over and above curriculum time sport into which Duxbury also has an substantial input. An ever increasing number attend as the word gets around about the quality of the sessions. Pupils were at the club both Monday and Tuesday this week.
Duxbury is confident that one of the mission statements of the project can be achieved next year. He firmly believes the under 15 squad is now sufficiently accomplished to enter the Daily Mail Cup for their age group next year. “Obviously the school authorities have to agree to it but it is definitely do-able” he said.
Another big step this week was a TAG rugby coaching course held by the RFU at Ilkley Grammar School. Such is the enthusiasm amongst the Ilkley area primary schools for the TAG rugby concept that ten teachers have volunteered their own time to go on the course. This will enable their schools to supplement the work Dave Duxbury does with their own internal expertise. The Ilkley club are funding these courses.
Yet another tangible benefit from Duxbury’s work in Bradford University, where he is the head coach, is the production of a University rugby development plan and along with that a number of students have achieved Tag and Level 1 Rugby coaching qualifications. This enables them to help the Ilkley club on Sundays and to reach out to inner city communities and provide coaching to disadvantaged children. The Bradford University Rugby Club is sponsored by Bradford firm Ferno. Managing Director Philip Ward said, “I am delighted with the association of our firm with the university on commercial grounds but moreso that the sponsorship has enabled the university rugby teams to compete at a high standard. He added “students benefit greatly from involvement in sport. That they also want to put something back into the community is a bonus.”
Duxbury has also enhanced his coaching range by achieving an FA coaching qualification. He says “soccer coaching techniques have a lot to offer other sports including rugby as well as enabling me to offer a broader range of coaching as from time to time required by in
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