There’s something good going on at Waterloo Rd
THERE has been a rugby club in Southport since 1872. Although it is home to one of the oldest clubs in the world still in existence it is fair to say that until now it has not troubled the honours board inscribers too much in 146 years. Indeed, any Sandgrounder who has made a name for themselves in the game has done so elsewhere.
But in the coastal town where folklaw has it that the sea never comes in, the tide is turning.
The establishment of thriving Ladies and Mini and Junior sections has added to the mix and in doing so has created an environment whereby players can learn and improve and their talents are recognised.
Over the last couple of seasons, several Southport RFC players have been selected for Lancashire Ladies or Junior representative sides, unheard of in seasons gone by, and this season already three senior players - Charlie Attis, Sam Cross and Dan Whalen - have been selected for Lancashire Royals, and occasional player Laurence Abood on a back-packing trip from Australia has been capped by Lebanon! Recently, a magnificent seven of Hayden Barnes, Tom Guest, Lewis Johnson, Jake Pagan, Sam Penifold, Joe Topping and Adam Wood starred for Lancashire under-18s in a 45-24 victory over Cheshire, and the icing on a well baked cake Colt James Harper being selected for the England under-17 development squad.
For Waterloo Road, Hillside, read Wrecclesham Recreation Ground in Farnham, Surrey? In referring to this it is worth mentioning that a small, precocious blond-haired bundle of energy once turned up at his local rugby club and embarked on a 20-year journey to Sydney’s Telstra Stadium, where his four penalties and that decisive drop goal with seconds remaining in the final secured the World Cup for England.
His name? How can anyone forget Jonny Wilkinson? Yet it all began amid playing conditions which the coach of the Farnham Rugby Club sides in which Wilkinson played as a boy describes as “fairly abysmal now, and when Jonny was there, even worse with mud and puddles. When you’re kicking leftfooted, it helps to have that right foot planted on firm ground. “After a few days of rain, you’d normally end up face down there.” Still, it had certain other advantages for the youngsters in his charge. “When they were coming off after a game, they’d all line up and do these huge ‘Rory Underwood’ sliding dives by the clubhouse. Jonny loved doing that. He was always just one of the team - and still is.” And that ethos is pretty much what the game is all about, particularly at Southport RFC although it has to be said the facilities at the club sound infinitely better than Farnham being amongst the best for a rugby club at this level.
No matter what level you aspire to or play at there is something for everyone at Southport RFC on and off the pitch.
The crop of extremely talented Under-19s Colts is breaking through into the Seniors and more than holding their own, and what an atmosphere a couple of Saturday evenings ago fuelled by young Callum ‘Toots’ Tootle scoring his debut try following a trademark outrageous dummy whilst others are being blooded in the Seconds and Thirds learning from the old heads. And it’s not all about Rugby Union. The club abounds with League fans with St Helens and Wigan to the fore, and the odd interloper from Leeds or elsewhere.
Just this week two of the Ladies team have been selected for the Saints Super League squad - Pip Birchall and Charlotte Hill.
In terms of popularity in the town the game is marching on.
There is a growing number of players of all ages and both sexes home grown and from round about now attracted to the game.
This is fuelled by qualified SRFC members attending local schools through the club’s own Coaching in the Community initiative run by Gra- ham Sutherland and sponsored by Fletchers, links with colleges such as St Mary’s Crosby and Edge Hill University Ormskirk.
Links with sponsors are a vital cog in sustaining the club and building for the future and the Club is blessed with the terrific support from the business community throughout the town and are always keen from others wanting to be involved.
Crowds on Saturday and Sunday match days are on the up with past players and club stalwarts making merry with parents and newcomers in their droves.
There is no admission charge to watch so if you haven’t done so already why not pop along maybe as a group and add a visit to Waterloo Road as a ‘must’ to your weekly social diary during the season.
Above all the club sees itself as part of the Southport community. It is proud to represent this great town and of the lads and lasses who wear the traditional red, amber and black hoops for no remuneration, simply for the enjoyment and to live the dream.
A Southport RFC player scoring the winning points in a world cup final? Maybe seaside dreams can come true...