A message to all friends of Ealing Trailfinders from our Chairman, Mike Stiff.
Our 140th season is well underway and it is great to see so many of you back at Vallis Way. I am sure you would all like to join me in welcoming all the new members who have joined Ealing Trailfinders in the past few weeks
As you will have seen there has been a lot of investment in some physical changes at the Club, the new Officials Stand, fencing with lovely new sponsors signage and grandstand WCs, but also drainage has been improved on between pitches 1 and 2 and a lot of reseeding and pitch preparation carried out on 3 and 4. We are also hoping that work will commence on installing the Floodlights for the main pitch. We must thank Trailfinders for continuing to invest in the exceptional facilities we enjoy at Vallis Way.
This season also sees major investment in our Junior Section with the Pumas section(16-19’s) being launched and the appointment of our very own Community Rugby Coach, Craig Bowley, who will be taking our game into very many more schools and colleges locally and helping promote Ealing Trailfinders across west London. Our new format Summer Rugby Camps were a huge success exceeding our expectations and I am pleased to say these will continue with the next Camp being held during the autumn half term.
Our On-line registration system is in its final testing Phase and will be launched soon.
Flair and Fire, the history of Ealing Rugby Clubs first 140 years is being launched this autumn.
New strip for the whole Club, and other great merchandise for supporters and coaches is now available from the shop.
Our first team has been strengthened and has won its first two games. We had a very good turnout for the Richmond game and I am pleased to say that all three of our teams won their matches. I hope to see similar turnouts for the other 14 home games and that we can encourage more of you to travel to more of the away games.
There have been some changes in the make up the Executive Committee. Now that I am Chairman, Izabella Grzyb has taken on the Minis Chair, Alex Kruczkowski has been appointed to the Executive to ensure that we focus on developing our Senior Amateur Rugby. Our new treasurer, Stuart Thomson has been at the helm for three months now and overseen a very solid start to our financial year. I am delighted with the contribution from the new non-executive directors who are already helping tremendously with the running of the Club’s disparate needs.
Our senior Chairman, David Steene, has decided to call it day after 5 years in post. Very few of you will realise just how much work Dave has put in week in and week out over the years, organising the Seniors (no small task for a National League Club), all his Executive duties, budgeting and that’s before he pulls on the kit to Coach and play for Ealing. His club spirit is an example to us all.
Finally, I want the Executive Committee to be more open and engaged with the membership, we are always willing to discuss any ideas or issues you the members may have, there was a good discussion at the summer AGM. I want to offer you the chance to meet us and representatives from TFSC, so that we can update you in more detail on progress and plans for this season, and you can raise any issues and ask questions.
To this end there will be a Members Forum on the 7th October at 19.00 hours at the Clubhouse.
I look forward to seeing you there.
Mike
