Rucking Good News The AKRFC Newsletter: October 2012 Introduction Welcome to this latest edition of RGN. Club Development Future Development Fund Raising As previously reported in RGN, future profits from the annual AK Firework Display will be ring fenced for future development projects, and longer term improved floodlighting / training space, a new roof, heating system, enlarged / improved car park, and increased changing facilities are very much on the agenda once we have the necessary funding. In previous editions, the previous buy a brick or has it is now called Be a part of AK s history fundraising was mentioned and accompanying this RGN are full details of the latter. So far the best part of 30 entities (individuals, families etc) have signed up for this and design options are now being considered. This will hopefully be sorted out in the next couple of weeks so there is just one last chance to get your name in lights so to speak for a long time in the future. The final closing date for this now Friday 26 th October 2012 Finally as regards AK Development, please also remember that the current improvements to the clubhouse came about through views expressed at the Club Members Meetings back in November 2011. As well as improving the facilities for benefit and rugby experience of AK members, they are also intended to attract more lettings and therefore income to AK. So if you have a special do coming up or know someone that has, please do consider using the AK clubhouse for your event. Club Steward Chris Barlow will be happy to discuss your requirements and can be contacted on 07983 724106 Team photos In the Halo bar we now have a good display of Junior, Mini and Colts photos from the various successful teams over the last few years. A few more have been received recently, which will be enlarged, framed and displayed in the near future. Likewise in the downstairs bar we now some Women s Team photos on display and some more recent photos of the men s teams will be going up in the near future, underneath where the international shirts now are. The older men s team photos will also be displayed on the stairway in due course. If anyone has any other team photos (mens, womens or junior / minis) that they consider suitable for display, can you please let Dave Elliott know asap. Still have plenty of space and spare frames for these if appropriate.
Dates for your diary Saturday 20 th October 2012: Curry and Karaoke Night + The Junior Colts are putting on this evening, so please come down to support them. Rumour has it that Doz Leach is cooking, but don t let that put you off. Worth a tenner to see him in a pinny and trying to fathom how a cooker works!!! Tickets are 10.00 from either Doz Leach or Suzanne Tsiantar Saturday 3 rd November: AK Fireworks Display AK s biggest fund raiser (weather permitting), so please firstly make sure you attend and secondly spread the word as far and wide as possible as to what a great event this is. Also remember it only happens through lots of volunteers from the club as follows On the Friday and Saturday help set up the fencing and other equipment etc On Saturday evening to assist on the gate, bar and stalls and act as stewards around the grounds On Sunday help dismantle the fencing and equipment So anyone available to help on any of those days and / or areas please let Mike Wildgoose or Dave Elliott know asap. Autumn Internationals The following games, kicking off at 14.30 will be shown on the big screen at AK 10.11.2012: England v Fiji 17.11.2012: England v Australia 24.11.2012: England v South Africa followed by Wales v New Zealand 01.12.2012: England v New Zealand Six nations games will also be shown throughout February and March next year, so come on down and boost the bar profits at AK
Saturday 1 st December: Take Me Out Night at AK Following the phenomenal success of last year s event, it s all going to happen again! So lock up your daughters or in the case of the Convilles your sons, and make sure you are there! See AK website for full details as tickets are on sale now Paddy McGeddis interviews (or was it insults???)trizzo at last year s do December 2012: AK Xmas Draw and Kids Xmas Party Details are currently being finalised for both. Future edtions of RGN and the AK website will give further details Saturday 26th January2013: Burns Night Another event being organised by the Junior Colts, with a haggis dinner, band and dancing. NB. This event is restricted to 100 people and a good number of tickets have already been sold. See Dom Leach or Dave Conville for more details and tickets. Friday 8th February 2013: AK Annual Sportsman s Dinner To be held at The Cresta Court Hotel, Altrincham 7.30 for 8pm. Guest speaker this year is Scott Quinnell, ex Wales and British Lions star, who also played a bit of Rugby League as well. Always a great night and Berty will be chasing you for tables in the near future, but to reserve please contact him on 07971 870591. Saturday 11 th May 2013: AK Annual Ball Also to be held at the Cresta Court Hotel. More details in due course
3 rd to 6th May 2013: AK Club Tour to Hamburg After last year s successful tour to Madrid, the foreign office have once again granted AK permission to tour overseas. God only knows how!!!! The destination is now going to be Hamburg, as this venue is considered far more cultural (museums, art galleries, wine bars etc) than Portugal. Dates are over the early May bank holiday, which will then give a few days to recover before the AK Ball the following weekend. Total cost approx 250 with 125.00 deposit required by the end of November, to procure cheap flights. RGN has been assured that Trizzo isn t arranging the accommodation this time, and that we are actually staying in a hotel with only two to room that is until people start losing their room keys / get over friendly etc!!! Remember this is a club tour with all welcome (over the age of 18). So come on, sign and make that deposit you know it makes sense just talk to anybody who went last year I m sure they won t stick rigidly to the old adage what goes on tour stays on tour Press Reports Most weeks AK gets reports in both the Sale and Altrincham Messenger and Sale and Altrincham Advertiser. In the past these have mainly concentrated on AK 1 st Team results, but over the latter part of last season there were quite a few mentions (and photos) for the AK Women, Mini and Junior Teams. For season 20011/12 it is intended to continue with a more rounded report of club results and scorers, plus suitable photos. So if you want info (results, scorers (must have full names), photos, county / international call ups etc) re your team published, you need to get the required information to Dave Elliott (email dave.elliott29@ntlworld.com) by first thing on a Monday morning, as the full report has to be with the respective papers by lunchtime the same day. Press reports are restricted to 200 words (if a photo is also sent, which probably has much impact as the reports), so it will be a balancing act and some games may go in slightly out of date. Rugby matters After a bit of a hiccup against Vale of Lune in the first game of the season, the AK 1 st team have since gone unbeaten and given some really impressive performances to rise to fourth in the league. This with a very young team (Coach Geddis excepted), predominantly comprising players who have come through the AK Junior ranks. Last Saturday the team visited top of the table Sale, who were on a 36 game winning run. Backed up with a massive following from the Stelfox faithful, the AK lads produced a great performance to win 14 9. To say Sale were not pleased was a bit of an understatement and there have been lots of congratulations coming in from other teams in the area. The young AK team are playing some great exciting and expansive rugby, but also resolute defence with a great team ethic of playing for each other. This coming Saturday AK are at home to Widnes ko 15.00 at Stelfox. The last two games have seen great support for the team, so please come down and cheer them on. Also remember to check out the Cardinals match reports on the AK Webpage
The AK 1 st Team after beating Sale (happy boys and Smithy!) Unfortunately the 2nds and 3rds have struggled a bit in their respective tough leagues and the 3rds could certainly do with a few more players. So if you fancy a run out or know anyone that does, come down on a Tuesday or Thursday at 19.00 for training or get in touch with Chris Smith (AK Manager of Rugby) on 07976 868444 The AK Women s Team also took a bit of a battering in their first game of the season away at Sheffield. However with lots of new faces and a few old ones (Stella!), they have since bounced back with two good wins away at Chester and home to Darlington. Those two wins lift them up to second in their league. They too are always on the lookout for new players so if interested please contact Rhino aka Lee-Anne Cardus (AK Manager of Women s rugby) on 07753 685168 AK Women s Team before their game against Darlington
In the Juniors, the AK Junior Colts were unbeaten until last Sunday when they narrowly lost at Chester. Despite that loss they remain in second place in the A League. The AK Under 16s, 15s and 13s all had wins against Chester last weekend, with the Under 14s going down narrowly to the same opposition. All teams are having successful seasons so far In the Mini Section, the AK Under 11s were successful in the recent Stockport Tournament, winning all their games and the Tournament. The Under 9s won three and drew one of their five games in the same Tournament to finish runners up. Also good to see that all our Mini Teams beat Sale in the recent fixture. Obviously inspired to the AK 1 st team to their win over Sale last Saturday! The successful AK Under 11s at the Stockport Tournament The AK Under 12s are looking for new players, so if you know anyone in that age group who might be interested, or any age group for that matter please contact Dominic Leach (AK Junior Chairman) on 07530 273775 Future Editions of RGN Will be as and when considered necessary, with the next edition probably likely to be late November Dave Elliott (Editor RGN)