SOUTH-WEST
GROUND ZERO Hosts Sidmouth and Lydney were involved in a bizarre match when sharing a scoreless draw in One West. Even the league administrator asked: “Did the game not take place or was it abandoned?”
Sidmouth, for whom former Exeter Chief Phil Dollman made his league debut, hadn’t been part of a ‘pointless’ match since their records began 54 years ago. It was the first time in several hundred RFU league games this season that the scoreboard remained at 0-0.
THINKING BIG Ambitious plans are afoot for the redevelopment of South-West Premier club Weston-super-Mare. It will provide state-of-the art facilities with a mix of residential and commercial space. The scheme incorporates a new clubhouse, a café opening on to the Recreation Ground, a 260-seater stand and a new changing-room block.
In addition, 180 one- and two-bedroom apartments and a health centre are among the proposals. It could be fully operational by late 2025.
WING IN World Cup winner Richard Hill, the ex-Saracens and England back-row, officially opened the new £600,000 changing-room facility at Salisbury, his old club. It took more than five years to complete and was named
‘The Arthur Bowden Wing’, in memory of an exceptional supporter of the club who died earlier this year aged 92.
LIGHT UP Wells, of Somerset Premier, anticipate a bright future after receiving £1,000 towards floodlight improvements from Persimmon Homes Severn Valley as part of the company’s Community Champions scheme. The present training lights only illuminate a quarter of the playing area, so Wells are raising £7,500 to replace them with an LED system.
NEW LOOK One East club Marlborough have a new logo and branding, alongside a £10,000 grant from the Hills Group to improve clubhouse facilities. They also aim to introduce a women’s side that befits a club growing in teams and numbers over the past few seasons.
Western Counties West club Truro are upgrading their facilities in four phases: a new stand, extending the existing changing rooms, renovating the kitchen and bar areas, creating a multi-purpose meeting and entertainment space.
BEKI’S BRIEF Beki Davies, Windsor’s coaching coordinator, has become their youth chair but will continue fulfilling her current duties with the One East club. She said: “We welcome all players and one of the youth section’s priorities is to fill vice-chair roles with volunteers for both the junior and minis sections.”
BOOM TIME Aylesbury, of Southern Counties North, are celebrating their 90th anniversary. They began modestly by renting some land on Oxford Road and used the Bell Hotel as their HQ. Now, they have 700 members, a youth academy structure and boast one of the best sports facilities in Oxfordshire.
Dorchester chairman Tony Foot is steering the Southern Counties South club, now 150 years old, to the ambitious goal of raising £150,000 to improve facilities. It includes new floodlights.
LET’S PARTY Chosen Hill Former Pupils and Gordano, both in Western Counties North (WCN), are 50 and putting on their dancing shoes. Gordano marked the occasion with a dinner-dance while Chosen Hill are ending a long wait for their Golden Jubilee Ball. It was postponed in June 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic but will take place at their ground on 18 June next year.
Cleve, also of WCN, are well advanced with their centenary plans for 2022, including a dinner on 21 May.
TOP GONGS David Bassett, Exmouth’s recently retired president, has received a crystal decanter from his successor Roger Holman in recognition of his 30 years in senior roles at the club.
There was also kudos for Terry Aylett, of Royal Wootton Bassett. He was presented with the Dorset & Wilts Bowden Wildash Salver to mark his 43 years with the South-West Premier club.
TIGER SMITH Buckingham are mourning Anthony ‘Tiger’ Smith, 90, whose association with the One East club spanned 70 years. President Alan Leach said: “As well as playing, Tiger was our fixture secretary for 50-plus years in the days before leagues, so arranging matches was an onerous job.
“He was a life member and trustee, ran the touchline for many seasons, then became controller of the scoreboard. We’ve lost our greatest servant.”