A Message from the President of the Elks

Sean Ryan

 

After nearly 20 years association with the club, I consider it a real pleasure and privilege to be elected by to serve as your President for which will still be our 75th Anniversary season or it will be until we reach our 'Founders Day' on the 26th October.

Last season the club enjoyed considerable success with an 'Anniversary Fund Raising Dinner', and another great Dinner Dance and Club Presentation Evening. The icing on the cake for that evening was having won the Derbyshire 7-A-Side senior and plate competitions, the first time we have ever got them both together, and of course, gaining promotion into Midlands 2, the highest league level we have ever achieved in the clubs long history. Each new season brings its own challenges and there is no understating the challenge ahead for us this season. Nothing stays the same and the only certainty we have is that some change is inevitable, you have only got to look at the law book to get some flavour of what I mean. The close season has been a very busy time as the club has taken steps to meet these challenges. We have restructured our committee system giving us a format we are confident will help us to achieve the ambition we have set ourselves. We have the facilities, the backroom support from the committee, our supporters, and the players to operate at the new and yes, at an even higher level. As we know it is the getting there that can present the problem but this must be our focus for this season and in the coming years.

I feel fortunate in the fact that the club has Mark Powell to fill the roll of Director of Rugby and senior coach. Marks' experience, vision and drive I am sure, bring out the very best in all our players, but don't be at all surprised if some of our tactics are a bit different.  We need to  give our  opposition a  few surprises.  Mark  will of  course be  very ably  assisted by  our new 1st XV skipper, Neill Collier, whose wife Jane has safely delivered a brother for Gus with the arrival of Dexter on the 19th June and weighing in at 6lbs14oz. The following day Jane Loomes delivered their little boy Harvey 7lb4oz, it puts a whole new emphasis on hot bedding it ! Congratulations to both families. Although it will be a few years before either of these little onse will be in contention, there are a number of young players who will be given the opportunity to establish themselves alongside more experienced campaigners and a number of recruits from near and far. The variety of accents at our post match festivities this season may take some getting used to ! Recruits in the past have quickly become part of the 'Ilson' family and their contribution has been part of the clubs movement onwards and upwards. I look forward with eager anticipation to these newest faces inflicting their character on our team play, Club social life and Ilsons' night life !!!

Ours is an inclusive club and we embrace everyone from the extremely talented to the extremely hopeful. Our committee and coaching system caters for everyone, be they social drinkers to social players. Everyone has a part to play in the life of the Club.

Rugby Clubs are about the playing of the game and it is our aim to facilitate this at all levels and all ages. The 2nd XV will be again competing in the Security Plus Pennant Division 1 this season and will be keen to achieve their potential. Being part ofthis competition gives players the experience and the excitement of what it is to play league rugby. For the first time ever the 3rd XV will also compete in the local Notts. RFU Pennant - Group A. As I said, every season brings change and this will mean that for the first time ever all 3 senior sides will be competing for their own individual honours in their respective leagues. This gives every player the opportunity to enhance their individual reputations and make their contribution to the Clubs success.

Many of our senior players came through the ranks of the junior section which has gone from strength to strength in recent years. I understand they are expecting over 120 youngsters playing and training on Sunday mornings this season. This tremendous success owes a great deal to the Rutters committee, coaches and in no small way to the parents who turned up each Sunday to support their offspring and foster the family atmosphere the club wishes to promote. In these endeavours we are helped by many willing volunteers who give up their time freely to fulfill many of the jobs not just on elected committees that such a large organisation like ours needs in order to function. A big thank you to them and to our many sponsors and advertisers who faithfully support us financially - it takes alot of money to run a successful voluntary organisation.

Rugby is what we are about but we also recognise we have responsibilities to individuals and groups in the wider community. They may need our help and support be it in using our facilities to raise money for a charity or doing so ourselves on their behalf. This is an area we wish to develop further and would welcome ideas and contacts. We are a community based organisation with fantastic facilities ..... make use of us.

Finally I would ask you all to support the Club and make every contribution you can in order to make this season enjoyable and successful.

   Sean.