Welcome to East Grinstead Rugby Round Up. If you are reading this on the website, or via Facebook, please sign up to receive this Newsletter via email, which contains loads of pictures and other content, please email m.marriott@btconnect.com and we will add you to the list.

SENIOR RUGBY
So disappointed to have all three senior games off last weekend! The 1XV game against Old Cranleighans because of a freak mixture of illness, absence and injury, which led to OC’s conceding the match. Five points are always welcome, but the boys were gutted! The 2’s and Womens games fell foul to the foul weather!

This Saturday, our 1’s take on ‘top of the table’ Teddington whom they so nearly met at Twickenham last season! This will be an intense and brutal game that I am very excited about. Our unbeaten 2XV travel to Uckfield as their promotion bid continues. Both games kick off at 2.30pm. There are still spaces at the ‘Sunshine Sevens Special’ pre-match meal before the Teddington match - See article below for details and how to book.

On Sunday our Women travel to Worthing raring to go after the disappointment of last Sunday! Kick off is at 2pm and your support would be much appreciated.

AGE GROUP RUGBY
Sunday finally brought some blue skies and sunshine. Sadly a bit late to save the pitches being playable after a week of non-stop rain.

The large celebrations at Saint Hill Manor limited the Plan B options but, with a bit of a shuffle from the normal order of play, the Astro pitch came to the rescue to allow our juniors to get out of the house and enjoy some rugby.

The coaches quickly changed their plans to adapt and although there were limited time allocations everyone got a run out. It was great timing for the older children to have a week off contact and refresh their passing and handling skills. It was business as usual for the others with the parents enjoying the bonus of not having to spend their Sunday afternoon washing muddy kit!

A big thanks to all for adapting the shift in plans and getting to your allotted time slots on time.

Two away Intermediate results to report; Our U15’s travelled to Chobham, with the hosts running out 36 - 12 winners. While our Under 12’s played out a very entertaining 12 - 12 draw at Hove.

One last thing is to mention our awesome U13’s, who are really keen to pick up a few more players for the rest of the season. If you, or your child, are in year 8, come for a try out on Thursday evenings from 6 - 7pm and Sunday’s from 11am - 12.30pm. The first few sessions are FREE, so come and give it a go!! Please contact James Seal on 07792 769961 for more info.

‘SUNSHINE SEVENS SPECIAL’ PRE MATCH MEAL
What a brilliant match we are going to see at Saint Hill this Saturday as our 1XV take on Teddington. What could be better than to eat a delicious three course meal at the club before kick off. At the same time, hear from the Sunshine Sevens crew, as they announce and present gifts to this years chosen charities.

For all the info and to book your seat, please click here: SSS Pre-match meal

FACILITIES & MAINTAINANCE UPDATE
You may have noticed a few strange diggers and other bits of equipment at the club over the last few months?

The current board has run the club for nearly 8 years and during this time we have made some significant improvements to the club infrastructure, which began with the Junior clubhouse, new roof and insultation, increased patio deck, balustrades, exit staircase, new changing rooms, new cellar and DoR office which cost £120,000.

We wanted to say thank you to all of you for your continued support and thought you might like to hear about some of what we have been up to recently, and to see what your subscriptions go towards.

New AV systems including large screen
HD distribution system HFD projector and moving existing assets to junior clubhouse
Cost £8,000

New CCTV system
New cameras updated system and monitors
Cost £3,000

Repair of Sink Hole
Dig out, back fill, cap, new cylinder, new discharge pump, new piping to remote soak away
Cost £21,000

New pitch 3 lighting and replacement of training pitch lighting
With LED systems and improvements – currently underway
Cost £75,000

New posts on pitch 2
Removal of damage units, installation of new sockets and erection of posts
Cost £6,000

Old tennis court conversion to Astro training area
New fencing, new gates, creation of plant storage area, new astro subbase and artificial surface
Cost £23,000

There is always loads more to do, so please keep supporting us with your subs, and maybe, consider volunteering? See below...

VOLUNTEERS URGENTLY NEEDED
EGRFC are incredibly lucky to own outright all our buildings and land (about 14 acres) but with this ownership comes a significant responsibility to maintain the building and pitches to the highest standard we can achieve with the budget we have.

To this end our volunteers are critically important to us they mow the grass, paint the walls, help behind the bar, clean the car park and do a thousand other jobs - And we really need more of you to help!

Every hour someone volunteers is an hour we don’t have to pay for and therefore increases our capability to make the club better. Whoever you are, if you feel you could give up an hour or two of your time to help us, please email Bob at operations@egrfc.com

Massive thanks in anticipation of your support.

200 CLUB WINNERS
October winners are as follows:
1st, no 1 - £125.00
2nd, no 78 - £50.00
3rd, no 60 - £25.00

Well done to all our winners! If you want to contact us and let us know what you spent your prize money on, we would be delighted to hear from you!

Why not join the fun and be part of our 200 club, please click here for more details and how to sign up: 200 Club

OTHER NEWS
If you have any news about any aspect of our rugby family here at East Grinstead, get involved and email m.marriott@btconnect.com. See you next week!!