Ambitious Nottingham Rugby have agreed a new rolling one-year deal with Notts County to continue playing their matches at Meadow Lane.
And delighted chairman Geoff Huckstep believes it will be the start of an exciting new partnership which will benefit not only both clubs but Nottingham sport in general.
"It is key to our ambitions that we have a base capable of staging top flight rugby and our players have consistently shown with this season’s performances what they think about playing at Meadow Lane," he explained.
"Since we’ve been there our average crowds have increased by 500 and all our marketing and community activities this summer will be geared towards attracting even bigger crowds next season.
"My negotiations with County chairman John Armstrong-Holmes have been straight-talking but cordial and a key component of the talks has been how the two clubs can work together for our mutual benefit.
"I’m confident that the new deal will form the basis of arrangements long after the 2008/09 season.”
Nottingham turned Meadow Lane into something of a fortress last season and although they eventually had to settle for third place in National League One, they are determined to mount an even stronger promotion challenge next time.
Added Huckstep: "I’m sure that our players, supporters and sponsors will be delighted to know that we will be playing at such a great venue again next season."
The effects of dual-purpose use on the Meadow Lane pitch has been a major topic of discussion for County but Armstrong-Holmes said: "We are about to carry out major works on the pitch and I’m sure it won’t be such a big issue next season.
"We were very unlucky last year because we renovated the pitch during the wettest summer on record. The roots didn’t settle, due to the surface water, and that set back the whole growth programme.
"In the long-term we need to look at laying a completely new pitch which is especially designed for high usage, but that requires significant investment and will need to be planned months in advance.
"It’s something to think about for 12 months time, but there are other systems that can be introduced straight away that will improve the pitch, and our ground manager Greg Smith is currently investigating them.
"The new deal with the rugby club, which will be continually reviewed in the interests of both parties, is on much more favourable terms from our point of view. It was important to achieve that but we do think it will genuinely benefit both sides.
"We have a 20,000-seater stadium which sits doing nothing most of the time and it needs to be used.
"We are determined that we will move our club forward, so are the rugby club and it’s exciting to think that we might work closely together in certain areas to help each other achieve our ambitions."
Director of Rugby Glenn Delaney has signed a new rolling contract that commits him to Nottingham Rugby for the foreseeable future.
Delaney has guided the Green and Whites to a third place finish in Division One this season.
"I am absolutely delighted to be staying to continue working with an outstanding group of players, staff and supporters," he said.
"I am really pleased with the way things have gone this season but now we have to start planning ahead again.
"We have a lot of work to do but I am really excited about the future.
"I would back our starting 15 against anyone but we know we need greater strength in depth and to build on what we have achieved this year."
Delaney also announced that he has completed the signing of more key players, with Matt Parr, Alex Dodge, Tim Taylor and Luke Sherriff all agreeing new one year contracts.
A big "Thank You" to all who made our Annual Ball and Awards Ceremony such a great success. The top awards went to:
Nottingham player of the season (Neil Hannah Trophy): Craig Hammond
Player's player of the season: Tim Molenaar
Young player of the season: Charlie Hayter
Green Army/Supporters player of the season: Luke Sherriff
Nottingham Rugby Football Club is rightfully proud of its disciplinary record and was dismayed when Joe Duffy received a red card in the match against Northampton Saints on 29th March.
The club immediately carried out a thorough investigation with the benefit of video supplied by the Saints and interviews with those involved.
Joe did not be plead guilty to the alleged offence and the referee was asked to attend the hearing on Monday 21st April.
Club’ Barrister Adrian Barnes of employment law specialist firm Premier Legal based in Nottingham (www.premier-legal.co.uk) comments: “I was very pleased to represent Nottingham Rugby Club and their hooker Joe Duffey. Joe had been given a red card at the Saints game a couple of weeks ago and faced a maximum 52 week ban for allegedly deliberately kicking or kicking at another player."
The three man disciplinary panel consisted of Richard Moon (Chairman), with Geoff Payne and John Loughton.
After presenting the evidence the disciplinary panel reached the unanimous decision that Joe was not guilty of any infringement or dangerous play.
Minutes from Committee meetings of Nottingham (Community) RFC are available for club members.
Click the links below to request a copy:
Be part of one of the biggest cycling events in the country. This year the Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride, taking place on June 22nd, will have a new, 100 mile sportive circuit added to its routes.
The Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride is bigger than last year, and more riders are anticipated to take part. There are rides open for all ages and of all levels of fitness. There is the 100-mile sportive for the more adventurous and serious riders and the closed lap challenge which families can ride together
The Great Notts Bike Ride will have four routes this year:
- 100 mile ride - a sportive route for the more serious cyclist that will take in North Nottinghamshire and parts of Sherwood Forest and costs £24 per person
- 50 mile ride - a challenge ride that goes to Newark before looping back to Holme Pierrepont and costs £10 per person
- 18 mile ride - a community ride that goes to Shelford before looping back to Holme Pierrepont and costs £10 per person
- Lap challenge - a ride for young cyclists on a closed circuit around Holme Pierrepont and costs £12 per family.
Taking place on Sunday 22 June, during national Bike Week, the Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride will also feature a 50 mile Challenge Ride and an 18 mile Community Ride, open to both individuals and organisations taking part in the Freeth Cartwright Corporate Challenge.
The Corporate Challenge invites businesses to take part in the Great Notts Bike Ride in teams with the challenge of raising the most money for the five event charities, rather than completing the course in the fastest time.
The County Council wants to increase the charitable impact of the event, aiming to double the donations generated from £40,000 in 2007 to £80,000 this year. An additional charity; The Geoff Thomas Foundation, has been added to the four which benefited last year; Marie Curie Cancer Care, When you Wish Upon A Star, Rainbows Hospice and Cerebral Palsy Sport.
Entries are still being taken, so hurry and enter any of the Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride events by clicking on the link below to visiting the website.
Great Nottinghamshire Bike Ride
Thanks to our close partnership with Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club we have two tickets to give away, in the New Stand, for the first day of the npower Test at Trent Bridge this summer on Thursday 5th June.
The winner will be picked at random from all of the correct answers to the following question:
Who was England’s man of the series in the recent 2-1 victory against New Zealand?
Please email your answers to Ben Thompson, using the link below, and include your name, address and telephone number.
Email: Ben Thompson
The draw will be made on Monday April 28th.
See England take on New Zealand in the npower Test Match at the new look Trent Bridge this summer. Limited tickets are now only available for the first day, Thursday 5th June and the fourth day, Sunday 8th June.
For ticket information call the Trent Bridge Ticket Hotline on (0870) 168 8888 or go online at:
During the summer the astro turf hockey and five a side football pitch at The Bay is available for hire.
If you would like details on the hiring availability, prices and times please contact Ben Thompson on (0115) 907 0076, or via email by clicking the link below:
Email: Ben Thompson
The NLD Under 20s play the USA Under 19s on Wednesday 2nd April at Paviors, ko at 7.30pm.
The Nottingham Colts Under 19s have nine players invited into the squad for this game:
James Barnard, Nathan Burton, Kieran Hagan, James Kirk, Alec Leverton, Laurence Pearce, Ryan Simpson, Tom Warren and Damon Wood.
These lads are all 18, with two exceptions - Laurence Pearce and Jamie Barnard are still 17.
This is a great end of season experience for all these lads who haveve represented NLD Under 20s in this seasons Divisional Championship.
The side have some important fixtures coming up. On Wednesday evening they lost by a single point against Old Coventrians in the National Plate Semi at the Butts Park Arena. This Sunday they travel to Mansfield to play in the Nottinghamshire County Colts U19's Cup Semi against Mansfield. Then on the following Sunday they travel to Sleaford to play the NLD Colts U19's Cup Semi against Newark.
"We had not expected to progress in competitions this season," said Team Manager Richard Barnard. "We are a new U19s outfit, at the younger end of the age group, but the lads have played really well.
"In addition, we've had the added disruption in the early season of losing nine players to NLD U18s, and we're now having nine lads drawn from the squad to play at NLD U20s level, even though some of them are only 17 and most are only 18.
"This is a great credit to Nottingham Rugby, the coaches, parents, but most of the lads who've worked very hard this year in their most challenging environment to date."
Olivers Army have a great looking gig coming up so get the date in your diary.
It's on Thursday 1st May at the Running Horse, near Canning Circus, and features C40 and Terrafish.
They will be playing the music of David Bowie, The Monkees, Kaiser Chiefs, Steppenwolf, Pink Floyd, Buzzcocks, Free, Sex Pistols, T.Rex, Bryan Adams...and more!
Admission is just £3 and all proceeds go to Olivers Army to help them in their fight to raise awareness of, and fund research into, ALD.
It's going to be a great night so get that date in your diary....NOW!!
Nottingham have signed outside half Tim Taylor for the remainder of the season.
Taylor started his career with Leicester Tigers where he was a member of the Academy and represented England at U21 level.
He then moved to New Zealand where he was part of the Canterbury Crusaders wider Super 14 squad.
He returned to England and joined Premiership club Saracens as a replacement for injured Scottish international Ross Laidlaw.
Director Rugby Glenn Delaney has announced than four more members of the present playing squad have signed contracts for next season.
Nic Rouse, Lee Morley, David Jackson and Andy Savage have all put pen to paper this week.
The news follows last week's announcement that skipper Craig Hammond, vice captain Tim Molenaar, Nigel Hall and Joe Duffey had agreed deals for next season.
"In Lee Morley and Nic Rouse we have two of the best second rows in the league," said Delaney. "They are two very important players for us and I know how much better they can get.
"Andy Savage is one of the most exciting players this club has produced in a long time. He's been in top form this season and I am delighted he is staying with us.
"He will be training with us full time next season.
"David Jackson is a true club stalwart, one who has been here longer than many put together.
"He is a top class player who just keeps getting better, someone we want to keep at this club for the rest of his career."
Nottingham Rugby is proud to announce that our Annual Ball and Awards Ceremony will take place at the Colwick Hall on Saturday 26th April 2008, tickets £60 per head.
We are looking for sponsorship for the event or donations for raffle or auction prizes and of course we hope you will join us on the night and enjoy what we hope will be a fantastic finale to what has been a remarkable season.
If you feel you would like to get involved and help make the night an extra special one, then please feel free to contact either Ben Thompson or Rob Harding with any questions and they will be more than happy to help.
CLICK HERE to download full details.
The inaugural Special General Meeting for Nottingham Community Rugby took place on Wednesday 6th February and elected the following committe to take the amateur section of the club forward:
President - Nigel Bettinson-Eatch
Chairman - John Ward
Honorary Secretary - Andi Starr
Honorary Treasurer - Mark Doleman
Committee members - Glenn Delaney, Tony Garrett, Gerard Milano, Richard Powell,Isabella Smart, Graham Partington, Stewart Redhead, Simon Rostance, Dave Fawcett,Tom Mawhood.
Craig Hammond, Tim Molenaar, Nigel Hall and Joe Duffey have all signed new contracts with the club.
Skipper Hammond has agreed a two year deal, while Molenaar, Hall and Duffey have signed for one year.
"This is a major, positive step in securing our aspirations to compete
at the top end of National One rugby", said Director of Rugby Glenn Delaney.
"The four are pretty critical to me; the club captain and the vice-captain and then two of our outstanding players this season.
"Craig has been an integral part of the progress which the team has made over the last three or four years.
"You can't do anything without the help of a good captain. He provides a whole lot more than just his playing ability. His all-round leadership of the club is a huge asset.
"Tim was the stand-out centre in National League One last year and he is a massive figure for us and a focal point for attacks.
"Nigel can play both sides of the scrum. He is the most dynamic prop in the league, while Joe will run through a brick wall for you. He wants to keep improving and will be able to train more next year."
Further announcements will follow over the next weeks regarding other
players.
The Committee of Nottingham Rugby Football Club is delighted to announce the appointment of a Board of Directors to take the professional section of the club forward.
Nottingham Rugby Limited will be Chaired by Geoff Huckstep, Chief Executive Officer of the Nottingham Ice Centre and Nottingham Arena, a position he has held for the last four years.
There, his ability to exploit commercial opportunities and strict 'hands on' management style has transformed a £1Million operating deficit into a break even financial position.
Huckstep also has extensive experience in professional rugby having held the office of Chief Executive at Premiership clubs London Wasps and London Irish. He achieved a similar financial performance with both, establishing them in the upper echelons of the professional game.
Prior to these appointments he was CEO at Bisham Abbey National Sports Centre for eight years.
His previous management experience includes hotels, ice rinks, leisure centres and swimming pools. He has a Masters degree in strategic leisure management from Brunal University.
"I am delighted to be involved in what is an exciting time for Nottingham Rugby," he said.
"I hope my experience in the professional game will help achieve the ultimate goal of Premiership rugby.
"There is fantastic potential for rugby here in Nottingham and the club is clearly one of the game's sleeping giants."
Joining Huckstep on the Board of Directors will be:
Dave Mantle - Football Association Premier League Learning Programme Manager. Dave is responsible for managing Apprenticeship schemes across all Premier League Academies, a post he has held for the last three years. Prior to that he was the Premier League/Football League Apprenticeship Implementation Manager, working with both professional leagues to implement the Advanced Apprenticeship in Sports Excellence to Academy Players. He is a former Head of PE/Sports Science at Loughborough College and was also Director of Youth Development at Derby County FC, where he established the club's first productive Academy.
Alistair Bow - Chairman of Thomas Bow and City Asphalt. A Civil Engineer and former General Manager of Aggregates Industries, Alistair is also Chairman of the Nottinghamshire branch of the Lighthouse Club, the official charity of the construction industry. He is heavily involved with the Scout movement and is Chairman of the scouts camping and activity centre at Walesby Forest.
Russ Burton - Head of Property for Enterprise Inns Plc with responsibility for £5.3Bn property assets and a £60M investment program, a position he has held for the last ten years. Prior to that he was Director of his own Property Management company during which time he built two restaurants for Anthony Worrall Thompson, and refurbished the set of Coronation Street's Rovers Return for Granada Studios. A former Nottingham player Burton has coached the club's Junior sides and last year was appointed Coaching Co-ordinator for the whole club.
Ken Grundy - former Chairman of Nottingham RFC. Grundy is also Chairman and major shareholder of Hello Telecom(UK) plc, a publicly quoted company, and Chairman of the Trustees of St Joseph’s School. He is also a former player and has been a member of the club since 1961.
Also on the Board will be the current officers of the club: Nigel Bettinson-Eatch (President), Mark Doleman (Honorary Treasurer) and Andi Starr (Honorary Secretary).
Nottingham Rugby has a unique sponsorship deal with local charity Olivers Army which sees the charities logo on the front and back of all First XV home and away shirts.
Olivers Army was started in memory of Ollie Liley who sadly died a year ago of Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD). ALD is a rare terminal illness which is usually only detected when a young boy shows symptoms of the illness, by which time it is too late to save his life.
It is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks and breaks down the myelin around nerves. Without myelin nerves cannot function.
Oliver was well known locally as an up and coming young rider with great potential. In 2002 he qualified and rode at Hickstead and at the "Horse of the Year" show. He also rode in the England Under 12 team.
"We are proud to be associated with Nottingham Rugby, and hope our association with them will bring more awareness to a disease that has no UK funding or backing," said Mark Liley, Oliver’s father.
Glenn Delaney, Director of Rugby at Nottingham, is delighted with the clubs involvement with the charity. "Our relationship with Olivers Army began last season but we feel that the progression to shirt sponsor further highlights our clubs community focus and spirit, as well as raising the profile of worthy charity that is doing so much to fight ALD and find a cure."
There is currently NO government funding for ALD research and Olivers Army has been formed to raise money and awareness, and to help families living with this progressive illness.
Full details of fundraising events can be found on the Olivers Army web site, which includes an educational video.
These events are proving very popular and most are nearly sold out.
The Olivers Army clothing range is also available to buy online. These are really trendy and will make ideal Christmas presents.
Supporters wishing to register their support or to make a donation, can visit the Olivers Army web site by clicking on the logo above.
With so many injuries recently Glenn Delaney has brought in a couple of loan signings to bolster his squad.
Prop forward Alex Corbisiero has joined us from London Irish.
Alex was born in New York, and is currently studying at the London School of Economics. He joined London Irish in 2005.
He has represented England at Under 18 and Under 19 level.
Local youngster Greig Tonks has joined us from Leicester Tigers.
Greig is a former Nottingham High School student, and started his career with Newark before joining Tigers as a 16 year old
He has also gained representative honours, playing for England at Under 16 and Under 18 level.
We welcome Alex and Greig and hope they enjoy their time with us.
Our Online Shop has a wide variety of replica kit and equipment for you.
You can also purchase your match tickets in advance.
Keep track of our initiatives, activities and events within the local community.
Check out our school holiday training camps.
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