Kingswood's incentive to attend training
KINGSWOOD are introducing a cheap drinks incentive to boost training numbers at the ambitious Gloucester One club.
Players who attend both the Tuesday and Thursday sessions at Deanery Road will qualify for a couple of after-match pints on a Saturday at cost price.
The move sums up a fresh approach from virtually a completely new committee, headed by incoming chairman Ian Kirley, secretary Alan Bell, treasurer Lewis Voisey, club captain Nick Coe and director of rugby Paul Meaden.
Kirley said: "A club of our size has to do all it can to get people training. It's easy at this time of the year and early in the season, a bit harder when it's wet and cold and dark later on.
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"What we're doing is a fun way to try to keep people interested.
"There have been some big changes here, but I'm keen to stress that this is not a case of getting rid of the old.
"The same people had been running the club for a while, and, although there was a feeling that the time was right for change, we don't claim to know everything.
"The members of the old committee will still be around in an advisory role, and we hope our enthusiasm with their knowledge and wisdom will make a pretty good team."
One of Kirley's first tasks was to draw up a five-year plan to try to secure two promotions and take Kingswood into the ultra-competitive Western Counties North division.
He said: "It's not an easy target and one that will require a heck of a lot of work, but I think the risks of challenging yourself to do better and progress are worth taking."
Key to this plan is providing quality coaching, and developing and then holding on to young, local players.
Kirley said: "Redford Pennycook has taken on the coaching role for next season. Our dads were at school together, he lives just round the corner and he's full of enthusiasm.
"Red will be liaising with Paul Meaden, a former club captain who has lots of good ideas and an overall vision for where we want to be. We've just lost a couple of lads – (prop) Mike Flook to Dings and (centre) James Willmott to Reds – and that shows how important it is for us to progress."
Another key part of Kingswood's vision for the future is to build on their existing rugby tots and junior sides from under-7s to under-11s, and eventually have a full complement of teams through to under-17s.
Comments
by Kingswood3
Thursday, July 12 2012, 12:13PM
“Nobody from the club has said anything about us not wanting our players to progress. We understand and encourage our lads to go and challenge themselves at a higher level if thats what they want to do. By doing this we feel that they will go away on good terms and if they decide its not for them then they know they can always come back and will be welcomed back with open arms. Both Jammer and Flooky know this and still socialise with us but do need to be challenged on the field at a higher standard, which they are both doing and doing very well.
The point I was making in the article is that we know the current level we are playing at may not be high enough to satisfy these young lads with big ambitions so as a club we should strive to get to that higher standard so that they don't need to go elsewhere to play at a good level.
I can see how it got misconstrued though Mouth_RFC, but rest assured that isnt the view of KRFC.”
by Mouth_rfc
Monday, July 09 2012, 1:54PM
“You can't knock a player for wanting to try his hand at a higher level. Both old reds & dings have great youth set ups but that doesn't mean that every single player will make a first xv player. It's natural for a young talented player with ambition to leave a lower league club for better coaching, training and a more professional out look. Kingswood aren't the first and won't be the last to lose players.
The players in question have enjoyed representative rugby last season and if they wish to continue or progress as a player then the best thing for them to do is move on. Surely as a club you should understand that?”
by JohnClease
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 1:10PM
“It's a great pity clubs like Dings & Reds continually raid the smaller clubs for their best players, I know K's are not alone, I have just been speaking to the Chairman of Broad Plain & they have suffered the same. I would think that with the resources available to them Dings & Reds could bring on their own players, if I was a youngster looking to break into thir firsts & found the club had bought someone in, in my position, I would be looking for another club.
But well done Kingswood for looking for innovative ways to improve the playing standards (while maintaining the old traditions).”
by missb0312
Tuesday, July 03 2012, 10:33AM
“It sounds like the club are doing much more than just offering cheap drinks to incentivise players! An ambitious club such as this one will not want to attract lager louts just turning up for cheap drinks, but solid dependable players who are commited to driving the club forward. With Redford Pennyock coaching, im sure that all the players who complete both training sessions will have earned every last drop of their drink! :-)”