After a weather hit start to the year most of our teams have played some matches and for some teams it has been an excellent start to the second half of the season. Thankfully the first team are now reaping the rewards of some hard work in training and are now refocused into finishing the season on a high. It has been a difficult season for all the senior managers but to their credit they and the squads are keeping together and although some have nothing to win have triumphed in other areas. After a bad start to the season it is good to see the village youngsters being integrated into the fourth team and pulling off some fine performances, work still needs to be done to make them feel really part of the club but a good start has been made.
The junior section has blossomed this year and four teams have made cup semi-finals. The U/16’s were well beaten by Ebbsfleet but they have transferred their good cup form into the league by beating Sevenoaks at the weekend. The U/12’s overcame Balham Blazers 1-0 and await their opponents in the Tandridge League cup final to be played at Chipstead (Surrey) on April 13th, as this is the first cup final a Rusthall team has been in for quite a while we will be working out a way the club can help get as many supporters as possible to the game. Well done to everyone involved with the team in its first season, next year we are entering this team into the KYL so preparations are already in hand for this step up. Coming up, the U/14’s and U/13’s both have semi’s and largely due to the respective managers hard work these teams will finish the season a lot stronger than they started.
The Under 16 girls team have been withdrawn from the Kent League due to numbers really following injuries and commitment issues, they continue to train weekly and will play some friendly games once a month. The younger girls are improving with every game and numbers are steadily increasing the Under 11’s have had two superb wins recently which is just reward for the girls and their coaches hard work.
With the mini-soccer matches returning this month the farm will be buzzing once more after a couple of rain hit months, the grounds are standing up quite well considering fifteen 11 a-side teams and ten mini-soccer teams have played most of their home games at Jockey Farm, not counting two West Kent District teams and St Paul’s Junior School who call the farm home.
All this activity has been well backed up by a dedicated committee who have specific roles behind the scenes, we need to refresh several positions to keep the club moving forward and don’t be surprised if you are approached to help in one way or other.
Yours in Sport
Dave Rusbridge
Chairman
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Unfortunately the decision on our planning application for floodlights has been delayed for a further few weeks due to a technical error on the site plan, once a decision is made, for or against, your committee will be planning a big future for everyone connected with the Club.
The recent wet weather has certainly quietened the farm down the last few week-ends as has the decision to move some age groups training to Southwood Road on a Saturday morning, so far everyone has taken the move well and I’m not aware of any issues.
On the pitch, it looks likely that our best chances of any silverware in the senior ranks lie with the Third team as they lead Div 1 and meet Blackham in the semi-final of the TWCC Intermediate Cup, how-ever I’m sure all concerned will be pushing hard to climb up the various league tables. The cups also present the junior section with the best chance of a return as we still have representation in five competitions from four age groups.
Reviewing our decision to embrace elite teams at U/16,U/14 and U/12 can be classed a success, we still have a few small problems to work through but on the whole we have become a better club for the move and I personally have been lifted by the keenness of all those involved. To sustain the top end of the Club strong foundations at an early age are required, we have that now! But we are not resting here; plans are in place already for more progression next season, attracting better players, playing against stronger opposition, whilst at the same time providing football for all-comers when required.
As a club we will be re-viewing our Development Plan in January, making sure all the principles of being a Charter Standard Community Club are being adhered to, as well as planning our aspirations.
Finally, itgives me great pleasure to congratulate everyone involved with both the Under 16 boys and Under 11 Girls for upholding the sporting ethos of Rusthall F.C. as reported to us by senior officials in their various leagues.Very well done to both teams.
I’m hoping I don’t win the massive cuddly bear in the Christmas Raffle !
Yours in Sport
Dave Rusbridge
Chairman
This week-end we give a warm welcome for the visit of Samuel Montague Old Boys to Jockey Farm. Not many will remember our first game in the Kent County League 24 seasons ago against today’s visitors which saw us triumph 5-1.Having recruited several of the best Tonbridge League players for this new experience to add to the King Will contingent already at the Club we went from strength to strength to win Div 2 at the first attempt. That game was the start of a long journey for the club and our progress has been steady and sustained which today sees the club with 24 teams, 400 players and a reputation locally to match.
What next, some have asked? Our ambition is clear and set down in a ten year plan formulated four years ago, (it’s not a secret, any member can view the plans, please just ask Robbie Forbes). We are making great strides towards an ultimate goal of having a senior first team with the facilities to match, a junior set up playing at the highest standard possible, with the back up of an excellent mini-soccer academy. Advancing the different sectors of the Club at the right pace has not been easy and has thrown up one or two unforeseen issues, but with a dedicated and loyal bunch of volunteers these have been resolved quickly and efficiently. Currently, we are outgrowing Jockey Farm and will be looking carefully at all options to give everyone the best facilities possible within Rusthall, the last thing we want to do is become another large nomadic club with no single base or identity.
Whilst we have a large hard working committee, a dedicated and enthusiastic coaching team we are getting stretched behind the scenes in the non-playing roles within the Club.
As a first step we are seeking a Volunteer co-ordinator to work closely with the management committee to recruit willing volunteers for the many varied roles we have on offer at the Club at the moment and looking further ahead to next season.
With a young talented teenage son I personally have the extra incentive to achieve one of our ambitions to see Rusthall playing in the Kent League at our own ground in front of hundreds of supporters.
We will continue to grow together in the right direction at the right pace for the ultimate enjoyment of all connected with Rusthall F.C.
Yours in Sport
Dave Rusbridge
The weather is never far from my thoughts and I’m not sure whether to be thankful for a more than dry September or concerned as to what we have in store and how it will affect our football club. Our Car park can fit 100 cars and compares well against other local clubs, but over the last few weeks we have had the luxury of overflowing into firstly the training area and then the mini-soccer pitches. Not only at the week-ends but training nights have been really busy, of course, it’s great, but looking forward we will have to plan games with the car parking capacity in mind. The pitches have held up really well in the favourable conditions and in September we had over 40 games played at the farm, add that to all the training taking place and we can be pleased that we have used the facilities to the maximum so far.
As we move into the traditionally wetter months, in a bid to preserve the playing surfaces on all pitches, please bear in mind the following:
· Warm up off the pitch and ask your opponents to do so.
· More Junior games will be played at Southwood Road, (Sunday afternoons)
· All evening training should now be indoors or at other venues
· You may be asked to transfer your training to Southwood Road at short notice
· Pitch preservation will over-ride everything when deciding pitch fitness.
· Our grass floodlight training area must be pre-booked for mid-week evenings
· Keep out of the goalmouths except of course during matches.
With the co-operation of everyone we can continue to enjoy a decent playing surface throughout the season at the farm.
While we have enjoyed a massive increase in matches and people this season on Saturdays and Sundays this has placed a big burden on our volunteer staff who man the Clubhouse and other facilities. Everyone appreciates our facilities at Jockey Farm but we need extra help urgently to man the Clubhouse and b-b-que on Match days. If you can step in, even occasionally to help out it would be much appreciated, this is your Club and no offer will be refused. Last week-end two mums from the Under 10’s came forward to run the b-b-que on Saturday morning, a big Thank You to them for hopefully getting the ball rolling.
On the social front, I am hoping that the teams planning football trips away next year will organise some fund-raising social events for us all to enjoy whilst subsidising the cost of their trips, more news to follow.
Finally, the grounds committee having completed their summer programme of works will soon be meeting to discuss some exiting new projects to keep everyone busy over the dull winter months, more news to follow.
To everyone who has so far helped us be the ‘best club possible’ Thank You and let us continue throughout the season.
Yours in Sport
Dave Rusbridge
A very warm welcome to all our guests this week-end, it will certainly be a big test for our car park as we have a very full week-end of football.
Gradually our teams are reaching the start of their season and this Sunday see’s the Under 16’s open their Kent Youth Campaign against local rivals Sevenoaks Town.
( Seal ). This game marks a milestone in the Club’s development as it has long been an ambition to compete at this level. Good luck to Julian and all the lads as they represent Rusthall for the first time.
On Saturday as well as the 1st team entertaining the resurgent Fleet Leisure at Jockey Farm, our three Tonbridge League teams are all at Southwood Road for a final friendly match before the league starts for real next week.
After attending many of the meetings over the summer in the six leagues our teams compete in, one item keeps recurring. “The control and behaviour of spectators at local grass-roots level”, there is a real push by the FA to put procedures in place to try and eliminate the more unsavoury incidents that occasionally occur at every level of junior football. In the near future it may be compulsory to segregate opposing supporters and rope all pitches off at every game !
For everyone’s benefit, we have at the farm
a few specific ground rules which everyone should be aware of and adhere to:
Ø Only participants in the match
are allowed inside the pitch barriers at any time.
Ø Only those named on the
team-sheet are allowed in the technical areas.
Ø On the 2nd pitch all
spectators must stay behind the rope
Ø Only team officials and
substitutes are allowed on the far touch-line.
As a Charter Standard club we have a code of conduct for Players, Club Officials and Spectators, please read through them, in the Clubhouse or on our web-site. I have already suspended a senior player (for breaking the code of conduct ) before the season has even started, as a club we take this aspect very seriously as the consequences of any incidents from our 24 teams have an impact on the whole Club.
Last week-end saw the Annual “Martyn Still” memorial game, which Lee’s team won 4-2 . James Culmer piped Paul Gifford to the much coveted Man of the match award and the afternoons efforts raised £370 for the “Hospice in the Weald”. A great afternoon which started with the usual Archers and orange toast was ended nicely in the early evening with a round of drinks called “Elephants Snot”. Some have suggested we change the starting toast next year to this awful concoction.
“Shot to Bits” is nearly upon us and our annual pig race is drawing a lot of attention from certain sectors of the Club. Our sponsoring book makers “Choice-Bet” have heard rumours of special feeding of certain pigs and extra sprint training of the one female contestant. Jack (Rusbridge) has apparently spotted a clear favourite and is again running his own tipping service. The Club can assure all punters that everything is above board and the race will be run in accordance with the Jockey Club rules
Finally a lot ofeffort has been put in this summer to make Rusthall the “best club possible” please ensure you in whatever part you play help us to continue to improve and progress.
Enjoy your
Football
Dave Rusbridge
Chairman
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After a very successful season there seems little time to rest before the next campaign is upon us , certainly for some club officials we are busier now than during the playing year. With three new Senior managers, five new junior teams and an extra girls team to look forward to, a lot of planning and organising is going on behind the scenes. Come September we will have 24 teams competing in six different leagues which means 6 Agm’s in this month alone, luckily the workload is spread across our management team.
Looking back over a season, affected badly, by the wet weather all teams completed their fixtures without an evening game, although the necessary double-headers took most of the enjoyment out of some games.
Congratulations firstly to our Reserve side who completed a League and Cup double, a first for the club and a fitting epitaph for the retiring management team of JR and Zilly. Our other teams did well in their leagues with the 3rd and 4th sides both competing in Cup finals of which the latter were successful. Our first team finished a long season just below mid-table in a very even league, next year under Hugo’s guidance we hope to build on the good performances with all three points. After five seasons Robbie Forbes has taken the Club to it’s highest ever position in the National Pyramid and hands over a squad with loads of potential and in good spirits ready for the challenges ahead.
With seven Under 16 players involved with the 4th team this season the Club’s future looks promising, add to that the prospect of next years Under 16’s competing in the Kent Youth League and nine more Junior teams following up behind, many playing ‘A’ league or better, we are certainly building "the best club possible"
How-ever we are not all about winning and this years Under 16’s, Under 13’s and Under 12’s have all succeeded against different odds in very difficult leagues. In fact they can all take great credit from last season.
The Under 11’s had a storming season with the 11 a-side team finishing runners up and the mini-soccer team completing an enjoyable year.
While the mini-soccer was punctuated with cancellations all our squads finished the year stronger and all have had some good results. We are lucky to be able to train ‘somewhere’ most weeks, as other Clubs cancelled everything week after week during the wet weather.
The Girls have by far seen the biggest improvement in their performances and due to their (and Mick and Liza’s) hard work can look forward to 11 a-side with relish next season.
All in all a very successful year and my sincere thanks to all the Team managers, the coaches, the ground-staff and other volunteers who have made the season so enjoyable.
Finally, to all the Club officials who are retiring this year, many thanks for all your hard work over the years, don’t disappear we have other roles to fill once you’ve had a break.
Dave Rubridge
June 2007
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APRIL 2007
With all teams now knowing their remaining game commitments, an end to this season is in sight. Firstly a big Thank You to all the groundstaff for getting games played, when many locally were totally washed out, secondly Thank You to all the Managers, players and supporters for sticking with us in often far from ideal conditions this winter, hopefully we will fully complete our fixtures in all age groups.
This summer looks busier than normal, we have been asked to stage 6 Cup finals over the week-end of 28th/29th April for the Crowborough and District Junior League. We will need support from all sectors of the Club on and before this week-end in order to show off our facilities at their best. This is an excellent start to our quest for Senior status by September.
The following week-end we host the South-East heats of the National Footie-chick competition when again our facilities will be utilized to the maximum.
Over the 7th/8th July we are staging two new competitions, unique in our area for this years Under 10’s and next years Under 7’s, both these new competitions are another example of the Clubs desire to be the best Club possible. (Further details available on web-site)
After a thorough campaign we have selected Hugo Langton as our First team manager starting next season, Hugo is currently managing Gillingham Ladies and has a very strong coaching pedigree, which I’m sure will be of enormous benefit to all coaches and managers within the Club as well as enhancing the status and performance of our first team.
Our growing reputation locally and the facilities we provide, have enabled us to combine with Langton Green Sports Club to offer their current Under 15 side the chance to play in the Kent Youth League as Rusthall Under 16’s next season. This is another ambition achieved and we are hoping to build on this first step into the County competition. I personally hope that my own sons ambitions are matched within RUSTHALL F.C. and be sure I will be working towards this goal continuously as he progresses through the age groups.
Finally, we have successfully filled 4 of the 6 vacant positions for next season; over the next few weeks we will be working on the others to complete an excellent team to continue our aim to be the best club possible.
Yours in Sport
Dave Rusbridge
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THOUGHTS FROM THE CHAIR
JANUARY 2007
With no sign of better weather in the near future, everyone should be prepared for a hectic six or seven weeks at the end of the season, where all teams will have evening games and double headers to complete their respective leagues. After a couple of easy seasons, the respective fixture secretaries will be very busy over the next couple of weeks and it is down to everyone to get games played if at all possible.
With no games being played, most of our Managers are doing a great job keeping their squads together and training which will pay dividends when normal service returns. With the forecast now showing snow I wonder if we will need an orange ball again and luminous paint for the lines in the near future.
Several issues have arisen since my last comments and I’d like to cover a few.
Since Robbie announced he will be standing down as First team Manager at the end of this season and this was mentioned in the courier, several people have come forward and shown an interest in the position, I have spoken to a couple and others have unofficially ‘had a word’ with prospective candidates.
To set the record straight, this is how we intend to handle this vital appointment. We will officially advertise the vacant position next month, all applicants who apply (and hopefully some we invite to apply) will be interviewed by a small group of Senior Club officials and the best candidate chosen to be ratified by the full committee.
Unlike Real Madrid, we trust Rob to continue Managing the team until the end of the season.
After my November article regarding the Junior section of the club, it seems everyone shares my opinions and there is a growing groundswell of enthusiasm to improve this section of our club, the vital feelings of all the junior managers will be canvassed in January before we finalize the new structures, ready for next season. The main thrust of this initiative is to improve the enjoyment of all who currently participate in the junior section.
Following the recent press articles regarding possible mergers, takeovers etc at other Clubs in the town who wish to progress, its worth reminding everyone in our club that we already have everything in place for teams to compete in the Kent Youth League should any team have the strength to compete at this level. It is one of our stated aims and we will promote any age group that is deemed suitable.
Finally, congratulations to the Under 16’s who have played for the fourth team so far, they don’t look out of there depth at all, it would be nice for them all to have at least a couple of games this season.
Here’s hoping for more games in February.
Dave Rusbridge
CHAIRMAN
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THOUGHTS FROM THE CHAIR
DECEMBER 2006
Committee meetings can be very varied, some just look back and go over the same topics as has been discussed before. Sometimes somebody brings something up which causes a debate with a lot of different points of view, which is healthy given the wide representation we have at our meetings.
At our December meeting we discussed how we could improve the Junior section of our club, something I have been thinking a lot about these past few weeks. After a very good discussion when many good issues were raised we now have a very positive concept to take forward and develop. Firstly the chaps at the front line, our current managers, will be having their say at a small meeting before we finalise details ready for next year.
As we now have 18 teams there are always occasions when some post or other will need filling, but two vacancies are perhaps uppermost on my Agenda at the moment. Firstly the role of Commercial Manager will be a separate entity as although Richard has expanded its role and been successful this season its too much with all his other roles. Secondly, after many years and considerable success Robbie Forbes is standing down from the First team managers post at the end of the season. These two crucial roles will require exactly the right appointments so if anyone has any input please let me know, in confidence of course.
Hopefully we can get a few games played before Christmas including the two on Boxing Day. The recent weather has certainly highlighted the need for improved drainage at the farm, our plans will now take on a higher priority next year.
All the best
Dave Rusbridge
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NOVEMBER 2006
After another successful social event, this time the excellent Halloween party it really reminds you that we really are a community club. Just before the fun began on Saturday the first team played Bearsted, a club I have always had the upmost respect for, they have a similar history to our own and now run twenty two teams across the ages. Talking to their officials after the game it was clear that for all their success on the pitch, the one ingredient they lacked was a clubhouse with the atmosphere of the Jockey Club where all could congregate together after the game and for special events. While we know we can host and put on some fabulous social functions throughout the year we can’t forget we are primarily a Football Club and there are a few basic things we could and should be doing.
The biggest concern to me at the moment is the Junior section of the Club, since we combined with the Rusthall Junior Club in 97/98 we haven’t progressed this section very much at all. Taking the most pessimistic view this is a quick snapshot of what normally happens.
· A good natured dad is cajoled into training a small group of six year olds
· This follows into organised games and he becomes coach, manager and ref.
· Feeling inadequate but keen, various training follows
· He now runs two teams and if lucky enlists other parental help
· Games change from 7 to 11 a side and boys drop out for other activities
· Games are now played on a Sunday and the Manager once again does everything.
· Dealing with a dozen teenagers is a whole different ball game and after 8 or so years with numbers diminishing for various reasons the Manager calls it a day and the team folds.
A lot of effort has been put in by many to establish and grow the mini-soccer side to its near capacity status, the same emphasis and energy now needs to be put into the Junior section, to nurture our future players and support the managers to progress our teams to their full potential.
If anyone has any thoughts on the subject I’d be more than happy to discuss anything we as a club can do.
Finally my moment of the month was watching the Under 8’s battle out a brilliant 1-0 win and watching the effort and attitude on their faces as they become little footballers, well done!
Dave Rusbridge
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OCTOBER 2006
Hopefully you are reading this as part of this seasons first Rustic, which I personally feel is a vital tool within our Club, to communicate widely what has and is going on, not everyone is Internet literate, a point that is forgotten or too easily dismissed by those that are.
With the season now underway for all sections of our club, now is an ideal opportunity to review all aspects of our club. As Chairman, it’s my responsibility to make sure we achieve the objectives we set ourselves back in 2004, when we formulated our Plan for the future. At the time some people may not have realised that these plans were realistic and could indeed come to fruition. As a committee these are the plans we will be following and planning to achieve, they cover all age groups of the Club and a lot have been attained since we set them down.
All of our progress has to be sustained in the long term and our Treasurer evaluates all potential projects with this in mind. While we may now qualify for a million pound grant to replace our present facilities, firstly we would have to raise over 30% of this total and secondly have the guaranteed income to run such a building. These figures are currently beyond us hence we are taking smaller steps in the right direction, confident that these are sustainable and within our current budgets.
In the near future we will be in a position to submit a planning application for floodlighting the main pitch, if successful this will take the Club to another level. This will include taking up a Lease option on our facilities at Jockey Farm which will incur immediate financial costs, your committee have already started negotiations, safe in the knowledge that the current rental arrangements could stay in place what-ever.
Whilst many age groups struggle valiantly in perhaps the wrong standard all teams have tasted some success the Under 12’s more than most. Our three Tonbridge League mens teams have yet to lose and the first team have had a mixed bag of results but only one defeat. Moving towards Christmas, cup games come to the fore and as always good cup runs extend the season and keep teams motivated, good luck to all managers in these competitions.
Firstly congratulations to George, Alex and Haled on being selected for the West Kent District Under 11 squad who will again be playing their home games at Jockey Farm on Saturday mornings. Unfortunately Alex broke his wrist in the summer holidays and as a keeper could only watch at training and friendlies, unbelievably a day after his cast came off he broke his other wrist. Keep your chin up Alex and remember Bryan Robson broke both legs before he was fourteen and went on to captain England.
Secondly,congratulations to Adam Jeffries (Under16’s) and Jack Rusbridge (Under 12’s) who have both been selected for the CDJFL and will be representing Rusthall in the Inter League games this season, it just goes to prove that you don’t have to move clubs to get recognised at this level.
Socially, wehave just run our most successful band evening to date and a big thanks to the social committee for the excellent organising, what really made it for me was sight of so many different club members willingly helping out behind the bar etc. While we can claim justification for making this an Adult only affair we have planned to cater for families at Halloween and New Year and I gather there is something especially for the ladies in the diary to counter the rather male Poker night.
Hopefully theroadwork’s in the Lane will soon be at an end and don’t worry Longmeads won’t be closed as well although there will be re-surfacing on this road with Stop/Go boards.
My main concernat the moment as we move into darker evenings is the securing of suitable training facilities locally, compared to Tonbridge, Crowborough and Sevenoaks our town facilities are abysmal, a point we will be making loudly to the local council.I have been accused by some of running a dictator-ship within this Club, which is a bigger insult to other decision makers and officers around the club than to mepersonally.
Currently as Chairman my only role is to carry out the expressedwishes of our committee. In twenty eight years connected with the Club we have become one of the largest and most successful not just locally but county wide as well. To continue our progress I believe we must all pull in the same direction for the betterment of the whole Club rather than burdening everyone with unsustainable costs to be enjoyed by a few.
I’ve never feltthis was ‘My Club’ but have and am proud of what has been achieved and will continue to make Rusthall Football Club the ‘Best Club Possible’
Yours in Sport
Rusthall Football Club
Thoughts from the Chair
/ February 08 /
December 2007 / Novemver 2007 / October 2007 / September 2007 / June 2007 / April 2007 / January 2007 /
December 2006 / November 2006 / October 2006
