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 intrepid 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.
GENERAL
Clubman of the Week
For the past couple of seasons our Director of Rugby, Peter Southern, and his “committee” have selected a Clubman of the Week from nominations received from players and support staff.
This week winner is David Batey whilst previous winners this season have included
Josh Schollick
Ethan Way
Chris Wearmouth
Group of senior coaches
Sam Harrison
This weeks award citation from Peter:-
“After putting four sides out yesterday, we can all be proud as a club in the direction we are heading, so well done all who were involved - in whatever capacity - because we are all one club and that’s the environment we are trying to create.
We have a winner this week and what a winner we have. This clubman has represented the club in nearly every age group and also in every side in the senior section of the club.
After playing over 90 1st team games, he decided to take more of a back seat role, playing for whoever required his services on a Saturday. Last season, he was a regular playing Hadrians’ rugby because that’s where we needed him.
This week, we required him to play in the 1s and he not only turned up and played, but rolled back the years with his heart and commitment and helped take us to a fantastic away win.
This clubman is all about what’s best for the club and how he can help and is also great at reminding the young players about the values of Tynedale and what it means to pull a blue and white shirt on regardless of the side you play for.
Clubmen like this are invaluable moving forward as a club and let’s all celebrate him this week”
Our President
We are not too sure of the story behind the photo (below) which has fallen into our hands but we do know it features our shy, retiring president, Neil Foster, and his wife Lisa.
We suspect that the man with the dyed 'black' hair is Elvis Presley,
That one bloody Crow – November 2024
Five home 1stXV league matches and no victories – two draws and three defeats. IS THIS BAD LUCK?
Senior club member and consultant ornithologist Douglas Hamilton believes (along with many others we’re sure) that a single Carrion Crow may be playing a big part in our disappointing run of home results.
We will all have noticed before kick off at our home matches a single Carrion Crow standing atop the goalposts on the main pitch. Only one!
Douglas believes this is a clear omen – a harbinger of doom.
We believe our Director of Rugby, Peter Southern, is leaving no stone unturned in our quest for an elusive home victory and has a plan in place to either discourage the single crow or attract a mate!
TV Donation - November 2024
The Club are extremely grateful to have received the donation of a ‘very’ smart 75” TV from the Foundation Engineering Company Roger Bullivant Ltd.
Credit must go to long-standing club member Philip (Pip) Howard for organising this donation.
The TV has already been put to good use within the clubhouse.
Joe Marler at Tynedale
95-capped Joe Marler's recent retirement from rugby justifiably brought a mass of media coverage after a long successful and, at times, controversial career.
What many Tynedale people may not know is that Joe, as a young 19-year-old, played at Tynedale Park on Saturday 17th October 2009 when he turned out for Esher in National League One - at the time he was a Harlequins dual-registered player.
In the match, in which both sides scored 5 tries, Esher went on to win 42-27 with Joe scoring one try from a 40-metre dash. Esher went on to win the league with Tynedale finishing 5th.
Among other well known internationals who have turned out against Tynedale is Maro Itoje who played for Old Albanian whilst on Saracens's books.
MEMBERSHIP
Membership Update - November 27th 2024
We currently have 582 paid-up members/subscribers. Last season we finished up with 651 paid-up members/subscribers so we still have a fair way to go.
BE PART OF OUR GREAT CLUB - BECOME A MEMBER!
Membership Help/Support
Follow this LINK for membership advice.
Becky Stewart is our new Adult Membership Secretary. For any membership support/queries please e-mail Becky :- becky.stewart@tynedale.rfc.co.uk
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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 next step will probably be the painting of the existing pine clad ceiling and walls to offer a lighter feel to the place.
The Club have bought some round dining tables to use instead of the rectangular ones.
Work also nears completion on the installation of players' toilets in the unused changing room bath area. Work has been delayed due to the discovery and subsequest removal of asbestos. Although work is "nearing completion" there doesn't seem to be a lot of activity and it looks like we'll be into 2025 before work is completed - not great!!!!
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.
GROUND
A Decent Servant - December 2024
The grass cutting season is drawing to a close at Tynedale Park and its time for our trusty tractor mower to take a well-earned break. The mower will be taken off to Andy Purves's Engineer Department for a spot of welding and a thorough inspection.
The Trimax Procut mower was purchased by the Club in December 2012, a demo-model it cost the Club just over £4k so it really owes us nothing.
When time is called on our trusty mower the Grass-Cutting Team will be pushing to acquire a wider mower to ease the workload and free up staff for other jobs.
Large Car Park levelling - November 2024
Andy Purves and his big blue tractor have been busy attempting to get rid of all the various potholes which populate our large hard standing car park. This is a thankless task and it would help matters if cars and Chelsea tractors were driven in a slow, sensible fashion.
Dogs at Tynedale Park
The Club may have to follow the lead of many sports clubs and ban dogs altogether from Tynedale Park if irresponsible owners fail to keep their dogs on leads and clean up after their pets.
Tynedale Rugby Club has issued the warning in order to protect players at risk of contracting the nasty illness toxocariasis which can be found in dog muck.
The rugby club’s 35 acre site, has long been a popular dog walking area, but club members are becoming increasingly concerned about the amount of faeces being found on the grounds (some in bags, some not) where players train and games are played. Club officials have complained about having to clear dog muck off the fields before training and games.
Rat Attack - August 2024
Our small compact tractor has twice suffered from rat attacks in recent weeks. Two separate diesel fuel pipes have been gnawed through with rats either finding the fuel pipes excellent material for maintaining a good set of teeth or perhaps they were desperate for a few drops of diesel in recent hot weather! Steps have been taken to prevent the problem recurring.
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 were taken down to allow for the summer's Balloon Festival. It was an ideal opportunity to give them a lick of paint so the club appealed for volunteers. (Surprise, surprise - the ever willing and very thorough Tony Cooke stepped forward )
Tony also rubbed down and re-painted 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?
BAR1876 goes 'On the Road'
Our highly acclaimed BAR1876 crew went mobile on Friday November 22nd when they set up and ran a bar at a Celebration of Life at the High School event held at the Winter Gardens, Queen Elizabeth High School.
Not surprisingly, although this was their first ‘on the road’ event, it was a huge success.
The team set the whole bar up with draught and bottled beer and cider, wines, spirits and soft drinks with a fully operating EPOS system and card reader in 1 hour.
Can't bring your party to the club? We can come to you!
Corbridge Sparkling Cider is now available on draught at BAR1876 in Tynedale Rugby Club’s club house.
Corbridge Sparkling Cider, which is made from apples grown in the village, is sold in aid of three local charities: -
Dual Reg Players - Sept 2024
After rumours that we would not be getting any dual-reg players from Newcastle Falcons this season its all changed and we now have four:-
- Rhys Beechmans (centre) - ex-Prudhoe HS, ex-Gosforth Academy, ex-Blaydon RFC
- Joseph Davis (scrum half) - ex-Barnard Castle School from Crook, England U18.
- Isaac Keller (prop) - born in Germany, attended Ponteland HS before Gosforth Academy, England U18 and U19
- Charlie Turnbull (flanker) - ex Sedbergh captain and Percy Park.
All four youngsters have featured, and impressed, in 1stXV matches during the first half of the season.
Future Senior Rugby Tours
Our President, Neil Foster, is keen to maintain momentum from the successful Canada tour and is hoping to stage a short tour in May 2025 followed by a longer distance tour in 2026 (our 150 Anniversary year). He is currently seeking the level of player interest for a short 4-day tour to Canterbury, Kent in May 2025.
Captains for 2024-2025 - Sept 2024
Nothing official but putting two and two together it looks like Chris Wearmouth is captain of the 1stXV again this season with Jacob Brown continuing as captain of 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's against Saracens at Kingston Park on August 14th, A tough match with Saracens winning 72-21.
Conrad was also selected for the next match against Yorkshire and congratulations to Ted Fletcher who started at No10 for the Falcons U17's who also played Yorkshire.
Ealing Trailfinders Women - August 2024
Premiership Womens side Ealing Trailfinders viited the north-east as part of their pre-season preparations and they held a training session at Tynedale Park on Tuesday 13th August 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 were staying in Allendale.
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 are fielding two sides this season – a team in the HALBRO 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 was selected for a Senior Scotland Training Squad who held a 4-week training camp in july 2024. Gemma was 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.
Ryan Scott has returned to Aspatria due to work commitments.
Micky Hall has joined Morpeth.
Henry Hayes has joined Ashington.
Joe Lilley has joined Wimbledon.
Jon Devereux has joined Old Albanian
Tom Mann (Back, ex-Wharfedale) has joined us after a time out from the game.
Dan Taylor (Half Back) has rejoined us from Blaydon.
Paddy Jobling-Purser (Hooker/Flanker) has joined us.
James Towart-Adams (Back/Flanker) has joined us
Harry Greenway (Flanker, ex-Newcastle University) has joined us.
Our current Head of Youth Rugby Andrew Neal has been appointed as Northumberland County Chair of Youth. Unfortunately this means Andrew will step down from his Tynedale role after many excellent years of service.
Dave Kendall has stepped down from the President role after two excellent years service and takes over from Andrew Cuthbertson as Secretary (or Honorary Secretary as it was known in the more sensible days). Andrew after many years service on the committee is stepping down due to work commitments.
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" whatever that means! We are sure he'll do a cracking job whatever it is.
Ian Lewis has stepped down from his role as Adult Membership Secretary and has been replaced by Becky Stewart.