Dear Players & Parents,
The end of season is upon us so I thought I'd let you know what's happening in the next few weeks - apologies in advance for the long email, there's lots to get through!!
This Saturday, 25th of April sees the annual Millwall Festival of Rugby on the Lower Paddock @ Mudhcute Farm. This is traditionally a great family fun day and, touch wood, the weather usually turns out for us. All Millwall teams are playing on the day and this year promises to be even more special with the addition of more youth teams and the formation of the first ever 'Millwall Coaches XV' (you better watch out U17s...we're coming for ya!)
'Millwall Festival of Rugby' day schedule
Time Team Opposition
10.30 U10 Thurrock, playing for the 'Gareth Batley' Trophy
11.00 U13 TBA
12.15 U15 Eton Manor
13.30 England RoW, playing for the 'Wooden Spoon' Award
15.15 Venus Thames Ladies
16.30 U17 Coaches, playing for the 'Dutfield Shield'
In addition to the rugby, we have a bbq, bar, bouncy castle, sweet and merchandise stall. There will also be music and a big marquee tent (just in case!).
We will also be handing out the following awards for each youth team:
Player's Player of the Year
Most Improved Player
Player of the Year
So I'm calling on all players and their parents and families to come down and take part in this great club day. Bring along a blanket or chairs to sit on and relax in the sun* as we celebrate Millwall Rugby Club's best season EVER!
*sun not guaranteed ;-)
On Sunday 26th April, the Clubhouse will be open for the London Marathon. As usual, we will be holding a bucket collection to raise money for Mudchute Park & Farm, who provide the club with our training facilities throughout the year, so come along and help on the day. A separate email later this week will provide further details.
Over 30 club members are heading off to Slovenia on rugby tour over the MayDay Bank Holiday weekend. This is a great tribute to Wiggy & Shaf (main organisers) and the finances are looking good thanks to great efforts by Batesy, Rick Jacobs, Mike Beech and others. Thanks to everyone who supported any of our tour events – look out for another fabulous quiz towards the end of May!
Saturday 2nd May sees the 2nd annual WAGS and Venus pub crawl - also known as the anti tour pub crawl. You can take that as a dress up theme if you like (Wiggy as Cheryl Cole?). Meet at the Greenwich Wetherspoons at 11am on Saturday 2nd May or call Kathy Garwood on 07872167547 if you want to meet us later. There are no rules on what you have to drink or how long you need to stay. Just come along for one or the whole day. This is a really good opportunity for some of the WAGs to get to know some of the other members of the club while their blokes are away so please tell everyone about this event!
Saturday 9th May is the final HUGE day for the club this season, and will shape the face and direction of the club for next season and beyond.
Starting at 11am at the Clubhouse, the club AGM will debate all the hot topics and elect new committee members to run the club through next season. This is always a well attended event (does the free beer for early arrivers help?) and, being the first time in our own clubhouse, this year should be no exception. We need everyone contribute and to make sure that the right people stand and get elected in the right positions – make sure you attend this very important meeting. We will also be voting for Player of the Year, Clubman and other club awards to be presented later in the day. A separate email will go out this week with full details.
Into the early evening on the same day, around 150 club members and guests will be dressed up and gathering for our Annual Dinner taking place at the hugely impressive Palace of Westminster (the proper name for the House of Commons building), hosted by Jim Fitzpatrick MP. Even with the extra dining room, tickets for the annual dinner at the House of Commons are now completely sold out. The clubhouse isn't going to be open this Wednesday so for those of you collecting your tickets from the clubhouse, Kathy will take them down on Sat and have them behind the bar. Please don't loose them!
Youth Training will continue on Wednesday nights throughout the off-season, but will be moved to Millwall Park in order to give the lower paddock a much needed rest.
From Monday 11th May, Touch Rugby sessions - open to all - will take place on Monday and Wednesday evenings on MILLWALL PARK. Children's sessions start at 6pm with adults (and older children) from 7.15pm.
I'll send a seperate email when I get back from Slovenia to let you know what activities will be going on during the summer. Our aim is to keep all of our existing players and recruit a host of new players, so there will be lots to do during June, July and August.
Hope to see you at the Mudchute on Saturday for our club day. Come and celebrate yet another Millwall 'Rest of the World' triumph! (we have won the last 5 matches!)
Thanks
Matt Shorrock
Youth Chair
Millwall Rugby Club
