CHAIRMAN’S WELCOME A very warm welcome and a Happy New Year to all our supporters and visitors at Eccles RFC today. I wish you all the best of health for 2022. Let’s hope the year ahead provides us with more certainty and positivity. Our Mens, Ladies and Junior fixtures have all recently been disrupted by COVID and weather conditions, so if you are reading this you can assume the match is going ahead! Our 1XV opponents today, Aldwinians have decent form on the road this season, but have not played away in the ADM Premier League since last November. In the fixture back in October Eccles suffered a 29-20 defeat over at Audenshaw Park and we’ll be looking to reverse that result today and move up into the top half of the table. Consistency of team line up and performance has continued to be a problem for Eccles this season but many of our homegrown young men are adapting well to first team rugby and we hope to see an improvement in the conversation of opportunities into points today. We also welcome Altrincham Kersal 2XV today, who share a similar playing record to our 2XV this season, with both teams tied on 26 points in Division 2 South, so their game promises to be a close and competitive contest (and with both Mens teams at home today I expect the post match clubhouse bar will be the same!) Despite our Senior and Colts teams struggling to find a winning formula on the field, there’s certainly been a renewed camaraderie within the squads and the atmosphere in the clubhouse at the weekend is now returning to its buzzing best (restrictions permitting!) We’re working hard here at Eccles to overcome the set backs of COVID by promoting the game and invigorating its growth within our community. Since last summer, the club has taken big strides forwards with its Mini & Junior rugby, with increased numbers across all 10 teams. Whist other clubs have curtailed their development of youth due to a decline in numbers, we’re a hive of activity and bursting at the seams on Sunday mornings! Our Community Rugby Coach is engaged with local schools and the club is now growing at a healthy pace with over 460 members. Of course, this surge in participation and the maintenance of our facilities would not be possible without the invaluable assistance we receive from our sponsors and the continued dedicated commitment of our volunteers. Donating your time to support the club's activities can be very rewarding so if you’d like to get involved and put something back in please do step forward. Whichever team you’re supporting this weekend, I hope you enjoy your match experience at Eccles and you keep returning throughout the season. Thank you for your support in what will be our 125th Anniversary year. Let’s get stuck in! Chris Gaffey // Eccles RFC Chairman
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