4 Jan 2006 - Latchford Albion come top!
North West School to Club Link CompetitionThe RFL recently invited Amateur Rugby League Clubs and Service Areas from across the North West to take part in a School to Club link competition.
The purpose of the competition, which concluded on Friday 9th December 2005, was to promote partnership building between Rugby League clubs and schools.
A School to Club link can be used to kick start Rugby League activity in a school or to build on existing Rugby League activity available to young people in schools. The aim is to increase the proportion of children guided from schools to amateur rugby league clubs.
By creating a link between an amateur club and a school (primary or secondary) a partnership can be developed for the benefit of both organisations. Clubs can provide coaching support and Rugby League expertise to schools, while schools can signpost children into amateur clubs and agree to deliver Rugby League on the curriculum.
Chris Thair, the RFL's North West Regional Development Manager, commented
"Through the hard work of everybody in the North West we have seen a rapid expansion in the schools game over the last few years and it is essential the amateur clubs capitalise on this. In 2002 we had 32 secondary schools and 102 teams playing in the North West, this season we have 128 schools and 510 secondary school teams playing Rugby League. We are now at unprecedented levels with the amount of young people experiencing the game of Rugby League in schools and we hope through this initiative the amateur clubs can use this to boost their membership.
Figures relating to the club game, although rising, have not seen such a rapid growth as in the schools sector in the North West and the school-club link competition was used to help bring these two sectors closer together. Rugby League is a true family sport and with amateur clubs assisting in schools it is helping spread the game to further generations and become part of life to even more families. Amateur Rugby League Clubs are an integral part of community life and this competition is another initiative that highlights this.
School to Clubs links will always be an on going programme, however the competition has helped to raise awareness of the initiative. Congratulations to all participating clubs and long may this continue"
Over seventy forms were returned before the competition deadline. Latchford Albion ARLFC won the Amateur Rugby League Club category, by returning the most completed School to Club link forms. Second place was Golborne Parkside ARLFC and third place was Glasson Rangers ARLFC.
Warrington finished first in the Service Area competition. Runners-up were Wigan & Leigh Service Area, Allerdale & Carlisle Service Area finished in third place.
The winner of each category will receive a cheque for £300 and three bags of equipment. The runners-up in each category will receive two bags of equipment. Third place in each category will receive one bag of equipment.
Presentations will be made to winning Amateur Clubs and Service Areas during January 2006. Photographs and quotes will be forwarded to the necessary press contacts when the presentations have taken place
The School to Club Link form is self-explanatory and can be adapted to suit the school and amateur club involved in the partnership. The two columns on the form state what the club will provide and what the school will provide. A representative from each party then completes and signs the form. A copy is kept by each organisation for future reference.
What are Service Areas?
Development groups are defined by local authority or sports partnership boundaries depending on their geographic location. There are 12 Service Areas in the North West - Allerdale & Carlisle, Barrow & South Lakeland, Bolton, Copeland & Eden, Halton, Lancashire, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, St Helens, Warrington, Wigan & Leigh.
The aim of Service Areas is to provide a structure that enables all groups within the Rugby League Community to work together, and in partnership with other agencies, towards common goals.
Fifteen Rugby League Clubs from six Service Areas entered the competition. As follows
Bank Quay Bulls (Warrington), Burtonwood Bulldogs (Warrington), Clockface (St Helens), Crosfields (Warrington), Culcheth Eagles (Warrington), Glasson Rangers (Allerdale & Carlisle), Golborne Parkside (Wigan & Leigh), Latchford Albion (Warrington), Leigh Miners Rangers (Wigan & Leigh), Rochdale Mayfield (Rochdale), Widnes Moorfield (Halton), Rylands Sharks (Warrington), West Bank Bears (Halton), Woolston Rovers (Warrington), Workington Town (Allerdale & Carlisle)
A School to Club link can be used to kick start Rugby League activity in a school or to build on existing Rugby League activity available to young people in schools. The aim is to increase the proportion of children guided from schools to amateur rugby league clubs.
By creating a link between an amateur club and a school (primary or secondary) a partnership can be developed for the benefit of both organisations. Clubs can provide coaching support and Rugby League expertise to schools, while schools can signpost children into amateur clubs and agree to deliver Rugby League on the curriculum.
Chris Thair, the RFL's North West Regional Development Manager, commented
"Through the hard work of everybody in the North West we have seen a rapid expansion in the schools game over the last few years and it is essential the amateur clubs capitalise on this. In 2002 we had 32 secondary schools and 102 teams playing in the North West, this season we have 128 schools and 510 secondary school teams playing Rugby League. We are now at unprecedented levels with the amount of young people experiencing the game of Rugby League in schools and we hope through this initiative the amateur clubs can use this to boost their membership.
Figures relating to the club game, although rising, have not seen such a rapid growth as in the schools sector in the North West and the school-club link competition was used to help bring these two sectors closer together. Rugby League is a true family sport and with amateur clubs assisting in schools it is helping spread the game to further generations and become part of life to even more families. Amateur Rugby League Clubs are an integral part of community life and this competition is another initiative that highlights this.
School to Clubs links will always be an on going programme, however the competition has helped to raise awareness of the initiative. Congratulations to all participating clubs and long may this continue"
Over seventy forms were returned before the competition deadline. Latchford Albion ARLFC won the Amateur Rugby League Club category, by returning the most completed School to Club link forms. Second place was Golborne Parkside ARLFC and third place was Glasson Rangers ARLFC.
Warrington finished first in the Service Area competition. Runners-up were Wigan & Leigh Service Area, Allerdale & Carlisle Service Area finished in third place.
The winner of each category will receive a cheque for £300 and three bags of equipment. The runners-up in each category will receive two bags of equipment. Third place in each category will receive one bag of equipment.
Presentations will be made to winning Amateur Clubs and Service Areas during January 2006. Photographs and quotes will be forwarded to the necessary press contacts when the presentations have taken place
The School to Club Link form is self-explanatory and can be adapted to suit the school and amateur club involved in the partnership. The two columns on the form state what the club will provide and what the school will provide. A representative from each party then completes and signs the form. A copy is kept by each organisation for future reference.
What are Service Areas?
Development groups are defined by local authority or sports partnership boundaries depending on their geographic location. There are 12 Service Areas in the North West - Allerdale & Carlisle, Barrow & South Lakeland, Bolton, Copeland & Eden, Halton, Lancashire, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, St Helens, Warrington, Wigan & Leigh.
The aim of Service Areas is to provide a structure that enables all groups within the Rugby League Community to work together, and in partnership with other agencies, towards common goals.
Fifteen Rugby League Clubs from six Service Areas entered the competition. As follows
Bank Quay Bulls (Warrington), Burtonwood Bulldogs (Warrington), Clockface (St Helens), Crosfields (Warrington), Culcheth Eagles (Warrington), Glasson Rangers (Allerdale & Carlisle), Golborne Parkside (Wigan & Leigh), Latchford Albion (Warrington), Leigh Miners Rangers (Wigan & Leigh), Rochdale Mayfield (Rochdale), Widnes Moorfield (Halton), Rylands Sharks (Warrington), West Bank Bears (Halton), Woolston Rovers (Warrington), Workington Town (Allerdale & Carlisle)