The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Josh steps up to key Strathie Community Trust position
An Angus sports charity has taken a step closer to its vision of a sustainable programme of projects centred on rugby, health and the community by appointing a full-time community project coordinator to fund, develop and run them.
Josh Gabriel-clarke, 32, has been appointed into the role by Strathmore Rugby Club Community Trust and will start at the beginning of July.
The trust was founded last year to increase public participation in sport, particularly rugby in the Forfar, Kirriemuir and Brechin areas and is based at Strathie’s Inchmacoble Park, working in partnership with Strathmore RFC, Brechin RFC, the Scottish Rugby Union and Scottish Rugby League.
Its vision is that by June 2019 it will have created a sustainable programme of projects centred on rugby, health and the community. Last year they began with the creation of a rugby academy for secondary school age pupils which has run sessions during term-time.
Josh was a strength and conditioning coach for the SRU, Sale Sharks and Leicestershire County Cricket Club before moving into rugby development roles at Leisure and Culture Dundee and starting his own consultancy in 2015.
He said: “I’m very pleased to take on this role and look forward to taking the projects forward toward achieving the trust’s 2019 vision.”
Stuart Gray, chairman of the trust’s board of trustees, said: “We’re delighted to be able to appoint someone with such a great track record in rugby and see the trust reach another milestone in its development.
“To do so within 10 months of the charity being founded is a credit to the trustees and shows the quality and importance of the work we’re doing. Thanks to the Forfar Common Good Fund, Sport Scotland and Robertson Trust for their support.”
Fundraising for trust projects is ongoing, with a dinner on Saturday featuring Dundee street poet Gary Robertson, Scottish Rugby age grade coach Colin Robertson and afterdinner speaker Peter Mitchell.