We have resurrected this News/Snippets post to try and keep our members up to date with what is going on around the club and among our club members.
To achieve this we’ve sent our investigative journalists out and about to try and dig out as many interesting items as we can. We await any management contribution so we will do our best in its absence.
Items will be added to this page on a regular basis so do keep coming back.
If any member has any items they’d like adding please e-mail me with the details. wecousin@tynedale rfc.co.uk
Kevin Angus Marshall - August 2024 died peacefully after a long illness, aged 56. Kevin was a mobile, aggressive prop who represented the 1stxV and 2nd XV in the late 1980's.
Membership Help/Support - August 2024
With only a few weeks to go until the season kicks off (first home game v Billingham 14th September), we're keen to complete our membership sign-ups & renewals. You can buy membership by following this link: https://gms.rfu.com/GMS/Dashboard/Organisation
Reminder, if you would like to book a pre-match lunch for any of the home games this season click on the booking page here: https://events.liveit.io/ian-tynedale/tynedale-rfc-pre-match-lunch-booking-202425-4/
For any membership support please email: becky.stewart@tynedalerfc.co.uk
Our Clubhouse Cleaner, Jane, who has provided sterling service for many years has retired. The cleaning responsibilities have now been passed to a small local business.
The Club have bought some round dining tables to use instead of the rectangular ones. They have had a try-out among the mixture of tables currently occupying the bar. They are quite big so elder members have experienced problems communicating with one another across the table but there will certainly be plenty of space for diners to safely position their bottles of red. Hopefully our management (or whoever it is that decides) will retain the very popular high tables and stools for post-match socialising in the drinking area.
Other clubhouse changes being floated around the rumour mill include:-
Floor Painted - August 2024
Chris Lynch has painted the 1stXV changing room floor with some special non-slip paint - it does help to tidy the place up.
Line Marking Machine - August 2024
After 9 years good service our line marking machine is falling apart and not working as it should. Club stalwarts Tim and Karen Tatman have kindly funded the purchase of a replacement machine.
Goal Posts - July 2024
Some of our goal posts have been taken down to allow for the Balloon Festival. Its the ideal opportunity to give them a lick of paint so any volunteers give Craig Johnston or John Austin a shout. (Surprise, surprise - the ever willing Tony Cooke has stepped forward but any other volunteers more than welcome)
Tony has now completed painting the posts and has started rubbing down and painting the gate onto the main pitch which was badly rusted and a bit of an eyesore.
Padel Courts - July 2024
The club have had a couple of independent enquiries relating to the establishment of Padel Tennis Courts at Tynedale Park. Padel is an outside squash/tennis game which is rapidly growing in popularity throughout the UK. What is Padel?
Rhys made his debut for the 1stXV when he came off the bench against Leeds Tykes.
Captains for 2024-2025 - Sept 2024
Nothing official but putting two and two together it looks like Chris Wearmouth will be captain of the 1stXV again this season with Jacob Brown captaining the Raiders,
Barnie Maddison - Sept 2024
Ex-Tynedale player Barnie Maddison has retired from playing and has been appointed Head Coach of Ealing Trailfinders Womens' Team.
Dean Richards gets new knee - August 2024
Coach Dean Richards is recovering from a knee operation so he may not be walking with his normal fluidity for a while.
Thorpes' and Fletchers' - August 2024
Two well known Tynedale names keep on producing quality rugby players.
Well done Conrad Thorpe who started at No12 for Newcastle Falcons U18 against Saracens at Kingston Park on August 14th, A tough match with Saracens winning 72-21. The Falcons U18 play Yorkshire next Wednesday at Kingston Park - some people wonder why are they playing so many competitive matches in August.
Conrad has been selected for the Yorkshire match and congratulations to Ted Fletcher who starts at No10 for the Falcons U17's to play Yorkshire.
Ealing Trailfinders Women - August 2024
Premiership Womens side Ealing Trailfinders are visiting the north-east as part of their pre-season preparations and they held a training session at Tynedale Park on Tuesday 13th August at 10am after which they had lunch in the clubhouse. Ex-Tynedale player Barnie Maddison coaches the Ealing side which includes ex-Panther dual international Caity Mattinson, Caity was not with the Ealing squad at Tynedale as she was with the Scotland squad and will join up with the Eaking squad later in the week. The Ealing squad are staying in Allendale.
Colts in National U18 Cup
Tynedale Colts have been drawn away at Houghton in the first round of the National U18 Cup Competition. The first round is on Sunday 22nd September,
Colts Away Day - July 2024
Our Colts held a successful training and bonding day at Tynemouth beach during the last week of July. After some fitness and ball work the traditional rather boisterous game of rounders took over a large amount of the beach giving spectators a good laugh.
The day was finished with an 'all you can eat' Chinese buffet on the way home.!
Moving back to Hexham - August 2024
No sand and sea but our senior playing squad held their training session on the evening of Thursday 1st August at Tyne Green Country Park, Hexham. On a beautiful Summer evening in wonderful surrounds they held a night of fitness and team games with a plodge/swim in the river and then a BBQ with a couple of cans.
Jez Ainsley has stepped down from his lead role within our Youth Section.
Pre-Season training
Senior Pre-Season Training started on Tuesday 2nd July with around 70 players (including 30 Colts) attending. The evening kicked off with an introductory meeting featuring this season’s coaching team: Tom Wilkinson, Dean Richards, Carl Fearns, Bill Laidlaw and Louis Brown
Colts expand
There is a big intake into our Colts from last season’s Under 16’s. To ensure game time for all our Colts we will be fielding two sides this season – a team in the North East & Cumbria League will play on Sundays and a team will play in the Border League on Saturdays.
Gemma Bell
Ex-Tynedale Panther Gemma Bell has been selected for a Senior Scotland Training Squad who will convene for a 4-week training camp on Monday 29th July 2024. Gemma has been a regular visitor at Tynedale Park in the week leading up to the camp putting herself through what looked like fairly intense fitness sessions.
Player Movements
William Jobling has joined Northern FC
Ben Blackburn has moved to live and work at Macclesfield and he has joined Macclesfield Rugby Club.
Micky Hall has joined Morpeth.
Henry Hayes has joined Ashington.
Joe Lilley has joined Wimbledon.
Paddy Jobling-Purser (Hooker/Flanker has joined us.
James Towart-Adams (Back/Flanker) has joined us
Rodney Wallace is taking over as the Club's Safeguarding Officer
John Austin has picked up a new role with Northumberland County. He is now an "Independent Director"
Ian Lewis has stepped down from his role as Adult Membership Secretary and has been replaced by Becky Stewart.