Praise for volunteers at Vale of Lune AGM

Chairman Paul McLaren-Dorrington said the common theme that brought everybody together was ‘the love and passion for the club’.

In his annual report, Paul talked of a ‘huge’ number of projects all aimed at keeping the club at the forefront of rugby in the north west.

He said the draining work on the senior pitch had been completed, the new stand was now in place, the clubhouse had been fitted out with new roof, windows and cladding, improvements had been carried out to the squash courts including new heating and new local sponsors had been brought on board.

During the coming year more improvement work would continue inside the clubhouse and the kitchen would be updated to maintain the club’s reputation for social events and functions.

Mr Dorrington said there had been success on the field as well.

He singled out the Colts for winning the Intermediate League and being promoted into the senior league as well as reaching the League Cup and Lancashire Cup finals.

He paid tribute as well to the third and fourth teams for being promoted and congratulated the second team on coming second in their ‘very competitive league’ as well as reaching the cup final.

The chairman said he had been overwhelmed by the success of the mini and junior sections and urged all members to give their support to these sections because they were the future of the club.

He paid tribute to all the volunteers who had helped the juniors to such success.

Mark Sutcliffe said the mini and junior section had out 10 coaches through the Rugby Ready course and five had gone on to complete the next level.

He said: “High quality coaches and volunteers are instrumental to complete the next level.

“The ‘Putting Kids First’ workshops had been a great success and eight volunteers had completed the RFU First Aid Course.”

Mr Sutcliffe also said the girls development had exceeded all expectations and the club now aimed to recruit an under 13 team for next season.

Coaches Martin Powell and Lauren Baines had also started coaching curriculum sessions at six local schools.

Phil Stott was re-elected Director of Rugby with Fergus Owens continuing as the Senior Club Coach. Daniel Baines was elected as the club captain.

Other officers elected: President, Norman Hailes; chairman, Paul Dorrington; Secretary, Phil Rogerson; Assistant Secretary, Stuart Hesketh; Treasurer, Sarah Baines; Assistant Treasurer, Lisa Stott, Press Secretary, Stuart Vernon; Assistant Press Secretary, Peter Lovett-Horn; Squash chairmen, Stephen Thompson and Stuart Heaton; Director of Rugby and Discipline Secretary, Phil Stott; Welfare Officer, Samantha Trowse; Fixture Secretary, Fred Swarbrick.