Dagenham RFC game this Saturday

Evening Millwallians,

,

Big thanks to everyone who put their hands up and came down last weekend. It was tough innings against opposition from higher leagues but we can all agree there was some real positives to take from the games into this weekend.

With that in mind, it's time to think ahead to this weekend and our match over at Dagenham. The match is a 4 x 20 minute game, with plenty of opportunities for switching around and trying out new combinations. We want to take 20-25 players along for the day so we will need everyone we can get signed up. Currently we are a few short so if you're available let me know. Anyone looking to put their hands up for matches this season really needs to be making it down for these pre-season games.

As per last weekend we'll need some cars to get over there so if you can drive then let me know, the ground isn't too bad to get to on the tube if we need to jump on to get everyone over there. Meet time will be 11.45am at the clubhouse or 1.15pm at Dagenham, let me know if you're going straight there or meeting at the club. Make sure you're not late.

Send me a Yes or No to selection@millwallrugby.com

---- Supporters ----

Anyone who fancies coming along to support is more than welcome, fingers crossed the weather will be better than last weekend. Kick-off is at 2.30pm and the ground is here. Driving from the club should only take 30 minutes or so.

Good hustle to everyone at training tonight, let's keep the momentum going into the rest of pre-season.

-- 

Shaun

Clubhouse Openings this week (Hargreaves 'Hump-Day' / Curry Weds, Fri & Sat)

Wednesday 28th Aug - Hargreaves 'Hump-Day' & Curry night - Open from 7.30pm:
As training enters it's final stages before the squad training/selection day at Dagenham this weekend, Karen has come up with a great idea to literally spice things up after training and support our sponsors.

This week we have chosen to use one of our sponsors, the Gaylord, to order food for people to be delivered around 9pm when training finishes.To keep it simple and keep costs/fuss down all dishes will come with saffron rice, you just have to answer 2 questions.....

• How hot would you like your curry (Mild, Medium, Hot)?
• What type of curry do you want (Chicken, Lamb or veggie)?
• All this for just  £7.50, paid in advance.
• Orders placed by 8.15pm

In future weeks, if it's a success, we will alternate orders between the Gaylord and Byblos (and any future restaurant sponsors we gain - so if you know of any, let us know).

Friday 30th Aug – Karen's Weekend Warm-up – Open from 7.30pm:
Karen will be your companion to help you ease into the weekend this week, so pop down and see the weekend in in style.

Saturday 31st Aug – Clubhouse Open from 6pm:
The men's playing squad are at Dagenham for a squad training/selection day as part of their pre-season warm-up calendar. Why not pop down and offer your support, then come down to the clubhouse afterwards from 6pm and help Adrienne get through all of our stocks at pre-increase prices!!

Important changes from 1st September:

• Please remember that our bar prices for alcoholic beverages are increasing for the first time in over 4 years from the 1st September (see the link to Ryan's blog). Even with these increases, I'm sure you'll agree that our new prices are STILL some of the lowest on the Island.
• We are also introducing a minimum spend on cards of £5, this is due to increased transaction costs which we have to pay each time a card is used - so why not start a tab...
• Also, a large number of memberships are due from 1st September, please help us by renewing your membership - you can pay behind the bar or via bank transfer (click on this link for more information).

Training Wednesday 28th August

For those that made the trip to Bancroft and gave their all, thank you for your efforts and commitment.

If we demonstrate skills and belief like we did against Chingford in game 2 on Saturday then we will have a brilliant and successful season throughout the Senior section.

That said, we all acknowledged the need to be fitter and to work on combinations ahead of the season proper and therefore lets have even better numbers at training this week than the 34 that trained last Wednesday.

This week we will develop our attacking patterns and game plan whilst also working on our defensive structure so it is vital you all turn up and understand how we will play this season.

This Saturday, we have a run out against Dagenham.  It will be 4 x 20min quarters with plenty of opportunities for players to put their hands up for 1st team rugby.  Please don't let the opportunity pass so make the effort to train Wednesday and play Saturday.


See you Wednesday

David

Clubhouse CLOSED - Saturday 24th August

All,

The Clubhouse will be closed on Saturday 24th August due to no Duty Manager being available.

Apologies for any inconvenience.  If you have a spare Saturday every couple of months please email me at Ryan@millwallrubgy.com for DM training.

Meets for tomorrow's games are unaffected.

Regards,

Ryan MRFC Clubhouse Officer

Bancroft 10's this Saturday

Evening all,

As I'm sure you are aware, this weekend marks the start of the pre-season matches for Millwall Mens Sides at the Bancroft 10's tournament. 

Players - We currently have a squad of guys heading over but if you would fancy some game time to blow off the cobwebs from the summer then get in touch with me on clubcaptain@millwallrugby.com and we'll sort you out. Remember it's never too early to start the season...

Supporters - for those interested in coming along to support us the tournament is at Bancroft RFC, next to Woodford on the Central Line. The location on Google Maps is here so all you need to do is put in your starting point and you're away! The tournament kicks off at 2pm, we will be meeting at the clubhouse at 11.45am for anyone who fancies travelling over with the team.

See you on Saturday, and obviously on Sunday for the second highlight of the Bank Holiday weekend, 5 Bells @ Millwall rugby club...

Shaun

Clubhouse Price Increases 1st September 2013

 All,

Just a quick email to let you know a change is coming in our pricing at the clubhouse.

Outline

Over the Summer the Treasurer and I have been reviewing the prices we charge you for the products behind the bar.  

Why have we done this?  

Well as I am sure many of you know we have had our current pricing model for over three years and continue to be the cheapest club in the area!  We have absorbed a number of price increases during this time and have always decided to absorb these costs rather than pass them onto our members.  Unfortunately we are not able to absorb further price increases if we are to maintain  the sustainability of the bar and reinvest in the rugby we play.

Products Affected

All our Alcoholic beverages are included in the price increase.  Soft drinks and Snacks are not included in the price increase.  For details of the increases please follow this link.  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AuF0UE2MUpz2dG56QmxYUWpaNEM4RXZpWkZRSzUyMEE&usp=sharing

A number of options were put forward to the August Committee Meeting with a recommendation of a 12.5% increase moving forward.  This was approved and will be implemented from the 1st of September 2013.

If you have any enquiries or comments please email clubhouse@millwallrugby.com

We thankyou for your continued support.

Regards,

Ryan - MRFC Clubhouse Officer 2013/14 Season

Bancroft 10's Tournament this Saturday

Evening All,

First off, I would like to echo David's post on the blog, the effort at training the past few weeks has been great and sets the tone for how we want the rest of the season to go. However, no time to slack off now with our pre-season matches beginning from this weekend.

This weekend is a 10s tournament at Bancroft. The tournament will be all afternoon starting at 2pm, meet time at midday at the club. We need a squad of 15 guys, so sign up if you're free. Also, if you're willing to drive (and have a car) let me know, we'll need a few cars to get over there. Spectators are more than welcome and the weather promises to be glorious, so come along if you fancy some Bank Holiday Saturday fun in the sun.

Please email selection@millwallrugby.com with a yes or no for playing, and whether you can help with the driving.

See you at training on Wednesday.

Shaun

Training this Wednesday - 19 August

Guys,

Another great session last week with tremendous numbers.  Across the three sessions to date, we have seen over 34 players which is great.  The challenge is to have all 34 at the same session together with those yet to make their first appearance of the season.  You know who you are so please get backsides in gear and make the effort to be there this week.

This is the last session before our first weekend outing (Bancroft 10's this Saturday) so training will inevitably step up this week and have more of a physical edge.

To that end, please ensure you all bring boots/moulds and mouth guards plus any other pieces you need for contact sessions.  The session will concentrate on shape and how we want to structure our attacking play for the season.  Therefore it is vital you all train otherwise you will be letting your team mates down during the season.

This season will not be a walk in the park.  As one of the teams down from Essex 1, we will be seen as the team to beat, we have to live up to that billing every time we take to the pitch in the club shirt.  Lets get things right from now right through the season.

See you Wednesday.

David

“Winning is not a sometime thing, it is an all the time thing. You don’t do things right once in a while…you do them right all the time.”
Vince Lombardi

Clubhouse Openings this week (Wed, Fri, Bank Hol Sat & Bank Hol Sun)

Wednesday 21st Aug - Hargreaves 'Hump-Day' returns- Open from 7.30pm
After a 1 week hiatus, Hump-Day returns and we are celebrating the following:

• 1770 – James Cook formally claims eastern Australia for Great Britain, naming it New South Wales. - and his brother, Thomas, doesn't seem to do too badly out of his travel agency....
• 1879 – The Virgin Mary, along with St. Joseph and St. John the Evangelist, reportedly appears at Knock Shrine in Knock, County Mayo, Ireland. - however, due to Sunday trading laws, the shrine is closed so they go home...
• 1978 – Birth of Peter Buxton, English rugby player
• 1982 – Birth of Jason Eaton, New Zealand rugby player
• 1990 – Birth of Fabian Heimpel, German rugby player

Friday 23rd Aug – Karen's Weekend Warm-up – Open from 7.30pm
Karen will be your companion to help you ease into the weekend this week, so pop down and see the weekend in in style.

Bank Holiday Saturday 24th Aug – Clubhouse Open from 6pm
The men's playing squad are at Bancroft for a 10's tournament as part of their pre-season warm-up calendar. Why not pop down and offer your support,then come down to the clubhouse afterwards and help Paul Fisher celebrate our inevitable victory!!

Bank Holiday Sunday 25th Aug - 5 Bells @ Millwall Rugby Club - For 1 day only!! - 4pm till 2am.
This coming Bank Holiday Sunday, August 25th , the Urban Bar packs up from its Limehouse home and moves, glitter ball and all, for one special day to Millwall Rugby Club.

The day kicks off at 4pm with a special rugby youth training session organised by City Gateway, followed by a BBQ and auction which will raise money for Charities including the Limehouse Youth Club. As the afternoon turns into evening, things will be stepping up a gear as the gang from the Urban Bar will take over the Millwall Clubhouse.

All the usual trimmings of the Urban Bar will be in place in the clubhouse - glittery cowboy hats, wigs, umbrellas, a hyper active aerobics instructor and soda water. All will combine to create a great start to the upcoming season (and a fitting way to continue celebrations to our first pre-season win from the Saturday)!!

As most of us have no work on the Monday, there is no excuse not to come down and experience the marvel that is Mark and the 5 Bells experience......

For more details and to join the event on facebook, click on this link

Men's Training & Coaching Update

Guys,

We are now two training sessions into the new season and I have been delighted and impressed by the attitude to training and the numbers that have made it down. Week 1 we had 18 players and week 2 we had 22 players. In total 28 different players have attended.

That said, we need more and we need all the guys from last season and beyond who haven't been down yet to start making regular appearances. This has the potential to be an exciting and successful season for all the teams within the club, but for this to happen we need to train and play as a squad and a club.

Training is back on a Wednesday night (meet 7.15pm latest) and from September, we will be introducing Monday night training too. Training is what you make of it and the more people that attend, the more we can achieve throughout the season.

By way of update, we have three pre-season events pencilled in. The first is 24th August with a 10's tournament at Bancroft.

Second, on the 31st August we will be playing a training match against Dagenham. I expect good numbers there and ideally a winning start to the season.

On 7th September, we play Upper Clapton away. This again will be a squad match as well but with much more emphasis on structure and patterns ahead of the following week's competitive start to the season.

Which leads me onto....Saturday 14th September. The 1st XV play Mill Hill in the RFU Junior Vase whilst the Llamas and 3rd XV commence their Merit Table campaigns, away to Ongar and at home to Wanstead respectively.

Do not expect just to rock up and play, it is an insult to team mates who have trained and made the effort all summer. Please make the effort to train and build the team and squad spirit from now.

See you Wednesday.

Dave Paton
Coach

Open Day Prizes including signed Lions Jersey.

Millwall Rugby Open Day 

Auction and Raffle Prizes

Saturday August 10th

Millwall Rugby Clubhouse 6pm onwards…

We have fantastic prizes* this year with some being both outstanding in their value and the timeliness of their arrival given the year that we've had with a  long awaited British and Irish Lions win in Australia. Who wouldn't want to be part of this history with one of the below prizes?

All of the money will be split between the club and our Charity Partner this year, Mission MotorSport, who aid in the recovery and rehabilitation of service men and women, providing opportunities through Motorsport so your hard earned money is going to two good causes.

Though the auction will be on the night in the clubhouse, you can put in bids with guaranteed complete confidentiality. Please see below for details.

Prize Details

Some guide prices are provided for people submitting bids by email. Of course the actual value could be quite different.

1. A Lions shirt signed by all the HSBC Lions Ambassadors

This is a Lions replica jersey signed by all of the Lions Ambassadors who are truly legendary – Gareth Edwards, Gavin Hastings, Brian O’Driscoll, Jason Robinson and Willie John McBride. They all appeared in the TV advert ‘Legendary Journey’  that used that sailing ship, leveraging  the fact that it is 125 years since the British & Irish Lions first set sail to Australia. Given a famous win which the Lions don’t get too many of, it’s unlikely you’ll see anything like this again and it could be priceless. Guide £120+ proceeds to club

Relive the Journey:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1YdTjHUICVs

NOTE: This is a valuable prize and we expect the winner to be someone who appreciates the significance of the prize for its rugby worth.

2. A Track Day with Mission Motorsport

This is your chance to meet the team from Mission Motorsport at a motor racing circuit, enjoy some fast passenger laps with a wounded soldier who has been through the Mission Motorsport driver development programme. As well as time on track you’ll also work with the pit crew and to top it off, you’ll be in the driving seat for some laps under the guidance of a Mission Motorsport instructor

- The track day is for 2 people at Silverstone, Bedford, Brands Hatch or Thruxton subject to availability to be taken during 2013.
- Both must be over 18 and have a full, current driving licence.
- This activity is strenuous and therefore the prize is not suitable for anyone who is or may be pregnant, who suffers from a bad back/neck or similar or has a health issue that significantly restricts movement, or which movement may affect or aggravate. If unsure please check with your doctor before bidding.
Guide £120+ proceeds to Mission MotorSport

3. The book “Behind the Lions” signed by Warren Gatland and the HSBC Lions Ambassadors

Together with the HSBC Lions above, Warren Gatland has added his signature to this book. Starting with the very first tour in 1888 and taking the story right up to the epic 2009 tour, this is a history with a refreshing twist - as it is told mainly by the players themselves. Apart from the people who have signed the book, the book itself sounds like a great read with 5* reviews on Amazon
Guide £45+ to club

4. An acrobatic flight experience and flying lesson

Fancy leaving the grime of London behind and soaring over the green fields of Essex and then looping the loop before taking control yourself if conditions allow? This is the fantastic prize on offer here.

Some of our club members have done this and highly recommend it. Guide £75+ (shared proceeds)

Raffle Prizes 

(* more are welcome…all proceeds shared equally between MM and club)

1. Heineken Cup tickets - A family ticket (2 adults & 2 juniors) for Saracens vs Toulouse at Wembley, Friday 18th October.
2. Lions Training Top (unsigned)
3. Rugby Ball
4. DVDs and Games
5. Club socks, shorts, some other stash
6. Many more including Flex’s wondrous prize stash…

The Auction

Bidding

The bidding process for the auction prizes will be on the night but you can place bids in confidence up to 6pm on Saturday by emailing developmentofficer@millwallrugby.com. No names will be published and I will update the highest bids via the club’s Facebook account (and Twitter if possible) so you can alter your bid.

Payment

Payment for all of the prizes must be in the club’s bank account by midnight on Sunday August 11th. Any prizes not paid for will be offered to the next highest bidder.

More Prizes?

Can you help come up with other prizes no matter how small, a bottle of wine, a service you can offer e.g. photography, dinner for two if you know contacts in restaurants? Contact me if you can, all are welcome, proceeds to club and charity.

Thanks to Donors and Prize Organisers

The club owes a big thanks to those people who donated the prizes and those club members who went in search of them.







Tim McDonagh
Rugby Development Officer
Millwall Rugby Club
75 Manchester Road - London - E14 3DN
+44 7795 436715 developmentofficer@millwallrugby.com - www.millwallrugby.com

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