From the Touchline – Saturday 24th February (Programme extract)

A good afternoon to one and all today as we tackle our visitors from South Leicester in this rearranged fixture from 16th December. Their players and officials are very welcome today and it is a pleasure to have them here..

Although I know little about them, the Club was established in 1919 and certainly in recent seasons they have been consistently successful close to a City that not only has a strong interest in Rugby but also a rather more successful Football team that one across the Tyne from us!

I hope they have time to stay after the match and watch the International game/s with England at Murrayfield against Scotland and Ireland in Dublin to host Wales.

We were all delighted to see the boys win last week against Sheffield and lets hope we can push on today against another difficult team.

Can I also welcome all former members of 47 Regiment RA who have come from throughout the country and will be playing a match against Blaydon Crows (our Vets)  at lunchtime on behalf of Help for Heroes (all donations gratefully accepted). They meet I different locations each year and its a massive thanks to them, and Paul Strachan in particular, for coming to Blaydon. I hope you have a great day lads and enjoy our hospitality and the International matches

We met with the RFU representative, design team, and contractors this week and were able to finally agree a start on site for the new pitch with a date of 26th March. All the detailed matters have now been sorted and so we should be able to look forward to next season with great anticipation and an amenity that will enhance the Club.

.
One thing we do need is more sponsors around the pitch. The RFU are putting boards around the perimeter at their cost and thus we will reduce the cost to advertisers to £100 per board . Frankly this is as cheap as chips considering the publicity the sponsors will get. PLEASE try and find one sponsor from each supporter and send me their e-mails. I will do the rest.

.
I will be away for two weeks and am unfortunately not attending today’s game but I look forward to returning to a revived league position and plenty of e-mail addresses!
Bill Locke