Chingford RFC 1^st XV 2011/12 Update 19/11/2011:

We were continuing this season with 2 1st XV coaches (Guy Gavan and Neil Starling) but the former dislocated his knee and it is unsure if or when he will return to coach or play so John Williams stepped into the breach for a month or so before he had to have a bypass operation. This had been however strengthened by the appointment of 2 Youth Directors of Rugby, Matts Hastings and Lockwood the former with a long term injury, to oversee the advancement of the whole youth section and by replacing Dennis Baronet as Coach of the Colts. Our main objective this season currently is to maintain our position in the London 1 North League.

The squad has seen Luke Campbell leave to join Rosslyn Park and we wish him well at his new club. There has been reinforcement with Dan Boughtwood, David Brown, Wesley Mbewe, Kalem Abbott, Joe Perks, JP Sharpe, Abdel Giles, Andre Cabrera, Joe Shimizu and Brandon Hart all joining and many returning from injury notably Matt Lockwood, Stephen Piper, Mike Lee and Keiron Bowling. However Guy Gavan, Dan Boughtwood, Matt Hastings and James Moy head the current injury list whilst the link to the Colts is helping by continuing its introduction of the new generation notably Jim Griffiths, Tom Lowry and Josh Porter 

Whilst we currently sit 10th in the league the task to remain in this league will firstly demand a successful end to this half of the season as we face Thurrock and Letchworth, joint League leaders, and then Rochford and Hammersmith & Fulham who are in a similar position to ourselves. It is therefore imperative that support for the team both home and away is busy and vocal.  The teams who succeed in promotion have very large squads, very generous sponsors, very successful juniors, well supported matches & events and better facilities then we have. The Executive Committee is working hard to provide improvements in all these areas but we always need new volunteers who are willing to give of their time to help achieve these objectives.

Yours in Rugby

John Garrett