Competitive rugby is back in village after five-year absence
COMPETITIVE rugby is returning to East Leake with the village club being re-formed after a gap in their history of five years.
And early signs show great interest in the new club, which will be playing on the Costock Road playing field, as their predecessors did.
Already around 25 players have signed up and are undertaking regular training.
The original club in East Leake was established in September 1977 and successfully operated for just short of 40 years until lack of interest – and players – forced it to close in 2016.
After its successful start those years ago in the 1970s, from its early days the club grew in strength with a second team taking to the field in 1979.
And such was the early success of the club, at its peak in the early 1980s, up to three teams were turning out to play competitive matches across the East Midlands and beyond.
The club gained promotion through the respective leagues, reaching Midlands Division 2 in the early 1990s and at the same time winning a number of Nottinghamshire Junior Cups along the way.
For a village team, ELRFC could proudly boast it punched well beyond its weight and at the same time quickly gained a reputation for playing excellent rugby tied in with providing players with a welcoming and great social experience.
But in the early part of the new century interest seemed to wane, and there were difficulties being experienced in maintaining the support of the existing players, as well as enticing new ones to join.
Sam Roper, currently chairman of the new club, said: “Unfortunately, due to falling numbers and retirement of a number of key players, the club sadly folded in 2016.”
The new East Leake Rugby Club was re-formed under its original title in December 2020, following, says Sam, interest from a number of young men in the village keen to take up the game.
The club trains and plays at Costock Road Playing Fields and in addition uses the excellent floodlit training facilities at the nearby Sutton Bonington Leisure Centre during the winter months.
Says Sam, underlining the interest they have from the present members: “We are currently training at this venue every Wednesday from 7pm.”
With more playing members, affiliation to Notts, Lincs, Derby RFC and a newly formed, forward-thinking committee, the club is well placed to develop and grow over the next few years.
The club have qualified coaches and physiotherapist support, and say they welcome any new players, whether with experience of playing or wanting to try out for the first time
Sam said: “We offer a friendly and supportive rugby family for you to be part of.”
He added: “As we move forward into our first year of competitive friendly matches, we aim to uphold the former club values of developing friendships, playing our hearts out for the shirt and having a great time socially, whatever the result.”
The chairman told the Echo that anyone who wishes to be part of their journey, or wants to find out more about the club and those involved, and their playing and training arrangements, they can contact him on 07540 799826 or Geoff Justice on 07900 190927 or visit the club Facebook group – East Leake RFC.
British Gypsum at East Leake have sponsored the first set of shirts which incorporate the colours of the original club but also new ones as well, and include the East Leake village crest and a Phoenix emblem,
- underlining the new club rising from the ashes of the old one.
The club’s first official game has been arranged for October 9 against a Moderns XV based at Wilford.