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Founded 1967 by R. A. Ford (1920-2002)
Printed by Gemini Print
50th AnniversarySEASON 2016-17
www.plumptonrfc.com
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PresidentDavid Beale
Vice PresidentsP. BakerN. Box
S. CropperA. Cornford
D. Dunn
J. HunterD. Hunter
G. GlendinningD. LambC. Lee
A. LeeT. Mitchell
G. ScottI. TownerA. West
Life Honorary MembersMr & Mrs M.Allen
Mr G. AwberryMr D. BealeMr C. Fisher
Mr A.FordMr & Mrs P.Gregory
Mr C.G.B. HillsMr G. Medhurst
M. Llewellyn SladeMr C. Woodward
Chairman: Mark Llewellyn Slade07770380647 -
[email protected]
Vice Chairman: Lewis Beale07500106148 - [email protected]
Fixtures Secretary: Mark Llewellyn Slade07770380647 -
[email protected]
Secretary: Chris Woodward01273 476219 - [email protected] - 34
Houndean Rise, Lewes, E.Sussex, BN7 1EQ
Treasurer: Richard Box07710109893 - [email protected]
Bar Manager: Colin Fisher07746752957 -
[email protected]
CAPTAIN: Rory Loftus07525725906 - [email protected]
VICE CAPTAIN: Craig Wells VICE CAPTAIN: Flavian
Obiero07768795734 - [email protected] 07453960257 -
[email protected]
COACH: Rhys Beale07811951372 - [email protected]
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Presidents Foreword . . .Plumpton RFC has consistently punched
above itsweight in the county for most of its 50 years.
An early encounter with Pulborough saw a 4 all draw. We did
manage a win against themin 1986 a three team club. The previous
year we had beaten Crowborough 1st, a teamthat had won the Sussex
cup twice in the previous ten years, at home 10-9, with apushover
try. We have always managed to produce a competitive scrum,
pushover try'sagainst Brighton in the cup a 15-9 loss, Chichester
in the cup ,a 10-9 loss, with morerecently East Grinstead in the
league a last minute 13-12 defeat, these were remarkableresults for
a small village club. At a time in the mid- eighties we were the
club that all thebig teams wanted to avoid in the draw. At first
team level we have also managed to beatHeathfield, and in a season
that saw us promoted to Sussex 1, Seaford along the way.
There have been difficult times I was recently reminded how
close we came to anamalgamation with Ditchling, a fate not worth
contemplating. On occasion we have goneout to play without 15 men.
Over the last 20 years we have often had to rely on Colin
puttingdown his touch flag and taking the field, my hat comes off
to you Colin for playing at leastonce in every decade of our
history, you are what we are all about. What the Plums usuallydo
though is turn up! And after the game visit the opposition’s bar,
regularly the last to leave,moving on to another unsuspecting club
and forcing them to stay open a while longer.
Recent history would see us record a win against Crawley; many
would consider this tobe our finest hour. A team with paid players
and a full time coach, more of this later…
Who would have imagined that a team started by a scout troop in
a small village wouldcommand such respect around the county? I hope
we can carry on for another 50 years.My blood and that of my family
is maroon in colour, I don’t want a transfusion.
Best Wishes to all.
Dave BealePresident
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College connection . . .At a recent college open day I met up
with an old friend that I had not seen for 40 years. Tim
Firmstonewas a lecturer at Plumpton in the late 60's early 70's and
was probably the first one from there toplay for the Plums. It was
Tim that posted the "Players wanted" message on the students notice
boardand I was the first to respond. I went to training one Sunday
morning with Tim who introduced me tothe club; Well what a journey
46 years on.
That first year I was feted regally, I didn't pay a match fee or
subscription hardly ever had to buy abeer (what’s new I hear you
all saying!) and was ferried around to away games, often by Albert
Dennyand his wife Lil, this was a squeeky bum experience as Albert
would often have face to faceconversations while he was driving
with people in the back seats…. In my second year the
Collegeproduced a fairly good rugby side and several of us would
play regularly for the Plums , this had twoconsequences the club
was able to field a fairly regular 2nd team, and my free rugby
ended abruptly.It was during this period that the late Brian Steele
a lecturer at Plumpton, played, he was one of thebest centres ever
to play for us and went on to play first team rugby at Lewes.
Several of us ex- students played for a few years with the Plums
but by the mid 70's most had movedon ,and I went to do my thing at
Haywards Heath. The College connection carried on through
Sundaymorning games played with the College old boys side for a few
years, but by the time I returned toPlumpton early 80's there was
little interface despite the fact that the Principal at the time
John Wilsonwas a rugby man, his son Ian who played several games
for us while home from Uni was a very goodwing and he also went on
to play at Lewes and was their first exchange player with a club in
NewZealand. We are now mid 80's and the first of only two of the
colleges farm staff Ian Hallam a usefulfullback played for us. It
was not until the 90's when Dave Lamb and Dave Hunter went to work
atthe college that links were re-established. The face of the
college was now changing rapidly and bythe early part of this
century, although student numbers had increased, Saturday morning
lectureshad ended and people disappeared home on a Friday night,
and indeed the college rugby pitch wasremoved and replaced by
tennis courts, mainly to cater for foreign students who came during
thesummer. Well this situation needed a saviour and it came in the
form of Rhys Beale who took over therunning of all the colleges
sports teams and fairly soon had a new pitch installed. Although
the studentnumbers are ten time that of 40 years ago it seems to be
more of a struggle logistically to put out aside, and then, because
students are much younger now, only at under 18 level. That said
the Plumshave benefitted greatly over the last 10 years or more,
not only from students of which we getanywhere from two to ten
available each week (when they can remember its Saturday) but also
staffmembers and this last year the second of the farm staff to
play Flav Obiero. In recent years we havetrained on the colleges
sports ground used the indoor sand school for winter training and
occasionallyused the college pitch. Our connection is now not only
historic , the very first Plumpton RFC gamewas against the Students
of 1967, but crucial, in these turbulent rugby times , a team photo
from thelate 60’s would show 12 or 13 players that lived in the
village, a recent one would show only 2 or 3at the most. Our ties
are invaluable, and uniquely this year for the first time the club
captain, RoryLoftus, was elected while still a student, Craig
Wells, vice-captain, is an ex-student and Flav Obiero,vice-captain,
is on the Farm staff. Long may the college connection last.
Dave Beale; 1st college student player/ 1st ex-student captain /
1st ex-student Chairman /1st ex-student President / 1st ex-student
in the bar (always)
Plumpton RFC Train at Plumpton College 7pm Tuesday’s, all
welcome
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Chairman’s Ramble . . .I started watching Plumpton from my
pushchair backin 1967, and here I am 50 years later as
Chairman.
Memories, I certainly have a good few as you would imagine.
Those memories areconjured by reciting the characters associated
with them. A few of you will know themall; all of you will know a
few. Roy Ford, Don Bradley, Albert and Lill, The Mad Marine,Colin,
Dominic, Pinky Medhurst, Chris Woodward, Rab, Monty and the Beale's
of course.They, along with many others, have helped to shape our
club in one way or anotherinto what it is today...Several words
spring to mind - refreshingly course rugby, informal,fun, relaxed
and all spiced up with a dollop of quality rugby every now and
then. Rhysin full flow stepping effortlessly passed one defender
then another then accelerating tothe try line; Laurie Flowers on
the hoof with the ball impossibly grasped in his righthand ready
for the inevitable one-handed pass to nowhere on the rare occasions
hedidn't somehow score; Lewis offering another poor, unsuspecting
referee the benefitof his vision and wisdom with the help of Brock
who had that rare gift of being able tointerpret the laws in a
uniquely creative way; Mike Llewellyn-Slade
undiplomaticallyscreaming out what everyone else was thinking from
the touch line; Then all off thebar after a good pasting for a post
mortem hosted by the likes of Cropper, Blakey, Craig,Hunter, Dunny,
Lamby and Brock, which always seemed to centre around the
failingsof the back line - if only rugby could be an eight man game
they would rant, after whichdrink and drive laws didn't apply and
monthly tours, Paris international weekend's and'ski' trips where
organised and delivered on a plate by our saviour, Lewis of
course.Perfect!What memories will the next 50 years hold for us
all? Mark Llewellyn-SladeChairman
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SEASONWkend No. Saturday Date Internationals K.O Time
Saturday, 13 August 16 Saturday, 20 August 16
1 Saturday, 27 August 16 2 Saturday, 3 September 16 2pm 3
Saturday, 10 September 16 3pm 4 Saturday, 17 September 16 3pm 5
Saturday, 24 September 16 3pm 6 Saturday, 1 October 16 3pm 7
Saturday, 8 October 16 3pm 8 Saturday, 15 October 16 12am 9
Saturday, 22 October 16 3pm x1 Saturday, 29 October 16 3pm 10
Saturday, 5 November 16 2.30pm 11 Saturday, 12 November 16 Eng v S.
Africa 2.3012 Saturday, 19 November 16 Eng v Fiji 2.30 2.30pm 13
Saturday, 26 November 16 Eng v Argentina 2.30 2.30pm 14 Saturday, 3
December 16 Eng v Australia 2.3015 Saturday, 10 December 16 2pm 16
Saturday, 17 December 16 2pm 17 Saturday, 24 December 16x2
Saturday, 31 December 16 18 Saturday, 7 January 17 2pm 19 Saturday,
14 January 17 2pm 20 Saturday, 21 January 17 2pm21 Saturday, 28
January 17 2pm 22 Saturday, 4 February 17 Eng v France 4.5023
Saturday, 11 February 17 Wal v Eng 4.50 2.30pm 24 Saturday, 18
February 17 2.30pm 25 Saturday, 25 February 17 Eng v Italy Sun
3.0026 Saturday, 4 March 17 3pm 27 Saturday, 11 March 17 Eng v Scot
4.00 3pm 28 Saturday, 18 March 17 Ire v Eng 5.0029 Saturday, 25
March 17 3pm 30 Saturday, 1 April 17 3pm31 Saturday, 8 April 17 3pm
32 Saturday, 15 April 17 33 Saturday, 22 April 17 tbc x3 Saturday,
29 April 17 Co. Championship 1pm 34 Saturday, 6 May 17 Pool 1pm 35
Saturday, 14 May 17
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2016-17 Home Away PLUMPTON RFC EVENT
CHAIRMANS BARBEQUE STOOLBALL BANK HOLIDAY W/E 4 teams TURBO 13'S
TOURNAMENT Plumpton Brighton 3 Plumpton Chichester 3 Norfolk Arms
Plumpton Plumpton Burgess Hill 2 Plumpton Hastings/Bex 2 5th Oct-
HARVEYS TOUR Bring a Mate Match BAMM Plumpton Worthing Azurians
reversed fixture Plumpton BSMS (Medics) Hay Heath 2 Plumpton
Plumpton Crawley 2 Littlehampton Plumpton BUS TRIP Plumpton St.
Francis 1 Brighton 3 Plumpton PUB CRAWL Christmas New Year
Chichester 3 Plumpton Plumpton Norfolk Arms Burgess Hill 2 Plumpton
Hastings/Bex 2 Plumpton BUS TRIP Worthing Azurians Plumpton
reversed fixture BSMS (Medics) Plumpton Plumpton Hay Heath 2
Crawley 2 Plumpton Plumpton Littlehampton St. Francis 1 Plumpton
BANK HOLIDAY W/E Tour Game SOFIA TOUR Plumpton 7s (Sunday - 1pm) 7S
TOURNAMENT 50th Anniversary Game 50th DINNER BH W/E Plumpton Races
Ladies Day
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50 Golden Years . . .I was talking to a fellow allotment holder
in Uckfield, heremembered playing against us at the racecourse In
theearly days.
That got me thinking, I remember trays ofsandwiches, before we
graduated to Pie andBeans. Apres match entertainment was
singingitems from the book of rugby songs, havingpreviously
listened to the LP of the same nameperformed by the ‘Jock Strap
Ensemble’ (Youhad to work out the words that had been bleepedout;
not difficult!).
Our idea of a warm-up before the match was tosit in someone’s
car with the heater on….
A few seasons later when visiting teams starteddoing warm up
exercises we consoled ourselvesthat they would be worn out before
the matchstarted. How times have changed?!
The playing time was usually agreed when thecaptains coin toss
with the referee. We tried for35 mins each way, 30 if the pitch
looked heavy.
I recall watching Roger Quittenden referee andinternational on
TV, a few weeks later herefereed us at the racecourse, after all,
they wereboth games of rugby!
My father Roy ford loved his rugby, supported England, Canada
(where he was born),Sussex & The Lions; but Plumpton was his
club. He would have been so proud that theclub was celebrating its
50th Anniversary; a pint in one hand & his pipe in the
other.
Cheers!
Andrew Ford Founder member
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50th Anniversary Headline Sponsor
Sponsors
Affiliated Pubs
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Forty Years Of Hurt. . . .One hundred and fifty thousand,
against fifteen hundred men, that should be just slaughter,but
we’re Plumpton so Think Again.
Rain like the tears of a silent witness pored, of, Harrold
Ellis, Mike Slade, John Davies, Roy Ford.Only one present could
remember what had gone before (this is Colin by-the-way) when it
wasPlumpton 0 - Crawley 104.
The game kicked off at a frantic pace, Crawley confident, the
Plums, just wanting to save face.The backs were valiant all through
the game and tackled like demons again and again. Our number10,
Rhys with the wind at his back put in long raking kicks in defence
and attack, he marshalledthe line and tackled with power, and to me
this was His finest hour.
“And Cropper was there in spirit”.
The forwards were magnificent where the scrummage excelled and
the Crawley drives wereforced back and repelled, Grant and Craig
put their heads where it hurts, smashing anyone inMagenta into the
sodden racecourse turf.
“And Cropper was there in spirit”.
Our young Tight head Lochie, just a boy looking like ‘Little
Lord Fauntleroy.’ Had his opposite manto the referee puffing; the
Ref said look pal you’re just getting a stuffing. Then Juicy did
…………er…..……………..well what Juicy does!
“And Cropper was there in spirit”.
The game now entering a crucial stage, found the Crawley coach
on the pitch in a rage, he wasconstantly annoying the Ref with his
nagging, but a quick red card soon sent him packing.Plumpton, now
buoyed took control of the game, as their coach took that very,
very long walk ofshame.
“And Cropper was there in spirit”.
As our scrum half Lewis cried for one final effort and seek a
remarkable win. The crowd eruptedon the final whistle as we
realized what we had seen, Crawley 12 - Plumpton 13. Rain like
thetears of a silent witness fell,………. but mainly on Crawley , so
what the hell.
Now our revenge is complete we have settled the score, and the
poor Crawley coach was soonshown the door, but as a gesture of
compassion, not wishing to mock, Hunter offered the poorman “Part
time work at the Cock”.
“And Cropper will be there for the spirits”.
So when Noah says Grandad tell me a story with villains and
Hero’s striving for glory, I’ll regale ofthe day when Plumpton beat
Crawley. But don’t worry when I tell him of the Plums Days of
Yore…….. I won’t mention Cropper,
“The wee lads only four”.
Take a bow: Craig Wells, Rob Blake, Lochie Elliot, Ed Bowman,
Alex Aston, Joe Hodgkiss,Grant Restieaux, Steve Blake, Lewis Beale,
Rhys Beale, Joe Bryant, Justin Smith, DanFranks, Liam Dunkley,
Gareth Lourens.
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Final WhistleDon Bradley Jack Cook
John Davies Albert Denney
Harrold Ellis Roy Ford
Tony (Hank) Hancock Steve Hole
Rod Bellringer-Jones Bill Merryfield
Mike Rust Alvaro Samblas
Mike Slade Peter Smith
Kenney Snell Brian Steele
Plumpton Rectory, Plumpton Green, BN7 3BUFifty years ago this
season, a group of individuals came together and formed a RugbyClub
in the village of Plumpton, East Sussex. And so “The Mighty Plums”
team was born.Enthusiasm, commitment, comradeship and team work
became the order of the day notto mention the social activities
after the matches! Over the last fifty years there havebeen many
achievements and successes. In paying tribute to the present
membershipof “The Might Plums” we should also remember all former
members of the Club andespecially those who are no longer with us.
“The Mighty Plums” salute those whofounded the Club and all past
members.
The Revd. G.D. BrosterRector of Plumpton and East
Chiltington.
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PLAYERS WANTED
C O M E O V E R T O T H E
D A R K S I D E
Training on Tuesdays 7.00pm @ Plumpton College
BECOME PART OF THE MIGHTY PLUMSFOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT RUGBY
AT PLUMPTON VISITwww.PLUMPTONRFC.co.uk
PLUMPTON PLAY IN THE SUSSEX DIV 3 (ORANGEBOOM)
or Contact : Rory Loftus 07525725906 Email:
[email protected]
