Chairman’s message of hope to rugby club
ASHBOURNE Rugby Club chairman Martin Fryer chose the evening of what would have been the club’s annual dinner-dance to issue a hopeful message about the future to members.
The much anticipated dinner dance would have been on Saturday night but, like the last four fixtures of the season, could not go ahead because of the coronavirus crisis.
“The good news is that our club, unlike many others, is financially secure and we can look forward to coming together again once the country has worked through this devastating period,” Fryer told club members via Facebook.
“Tonight (Saturday) would have been our club’s biggest event of the year. By 10 o’clock we might have managed to present our annual senior awards and (on Sunday night) the junior and mini presentations would have taken place in the same marquee.
“The dinner-dance is now an event to look forward to in 2021 when things have returned to some kind of normal, but there is no reason why we should not make our awards.
“It is difficult to envisage the seniors being able to have a presentation event any time soon, in which case we will announce the annual winners on our website and social media groups.”
The club will also postpone their AGM, due on May 15, and see no reason to make fresh appointments at this stage.
“There is no rush to make any appointments or decisions while we are in this state of limbo,” said Fryer.
“It is not at all obvious that senior rugby will even start again in September. Given the physicality of our sport it seems likely to be one of the last to restart at grassroots level, as it’s difficult to reconcile scrummaging with people from 50 miles away with social distancing.”
The club’s coaching co-ordinator, Stuart Fletcher, added: “The mini and junior section will aim to hold an awards event when lockdown rules allow. This may be one big gathering or 12 smaller ones, with each age group meeting individually.
“We’ll keep an eye on government and England Rugby guidelines and do what we can, when we can. Thanks to all players, parents, coaches and other volunteers for your support during this most unusual season, especially those club members who are critical workers in our NHS and elsewhere.”