Recent and Older News
Rachael Burford named Vice-Captain of England
November 2007 From RFU news:
Saracens centre Rachel Burford has been named Vice Captain. Burford, who
lives in Walthamstow but is originally from Medway in Kent, has seven caps
for England since making her debut against South Africa in the 2006 IRB Rugby
World Cup.
[England Head Coach Gary ] Street added: “Rachel is another youngster
that has demonstrated she has got a lot to give England rugby and I think
she is an ideal choice to assist Catherine. Like Catherine she has come
through the successful RFUW academy system and has a great game understanding.
She captained our sevens programme last year and showed both natural ability
and confidence. I am looking forward to working with both players this
season.”
Full
RFU news story
Portrait of Michael Burford
November 2007
Following the sad death of Mick Burford back in January, one of our players
approached the Medway RFC Vice Presidents' Association to see if the club
would like a portrait of Mick. Vice President and 2nd team player Gary
Friel commissioned the painting from artist Rosie Maders.
The painting was presented to the club
last Saturday, 10th November, and was unveiled at the rugby club by Mr
Gary Friel and Deputy Mayor, Cllr Nick Bowler.
Gary Friel said, "Following Mick’s death the club had a hole where
a smiling face always used to be. Mick was always there to greet everyone,
win or lose. Now this painting will help everyone to remember what a wonderful
man he was.”
Almost all the club's senior members were there, and several had tears
in their eyes when they saw the picture.
Message from Tony Krasij
The Head Groundsman of Twickenham, Keith Kent, recently visited the club,
inspected, and sent a full report on the 1st XV pitch (aka Show Pitch). His
visit to Medway RFC is further testament to the continuing hard work being
put in by Gerald Farrow, ably assisted by Mel Collins.
The report contained a lot of technical and practical advice that only Gerald
would be interested in, but some points were worth noting and should be of
interest to all club members.
The following are abstracts from the report:
On arrival the pitch jumped out and hit you in the eye! A fantastic presentation
and one that I hope the club appreciate and a credit to the groundsman.
Keep the training off of the pitch. Do not allow anyone to practice on the
surface at all. This will help to maintain what is a very good pitch. Put some
lines off of the pitch for coaches to use for line outs.
I was very impressed with the pitch.
The whole park was really nice and well looked after. With a good maintenance
programme and a good remedial works next year your pitch can look and play
even better.
The above comes from a man who knows what he's talking about, so when Gerald
bleats on about us keeping off the pitch, it's for a good reason, so lets show
him some respect and walk around the pitch rather than across it, and only
play on it when he says so.
Cheers
Tony Krasij (Youth Chairman, Medway RFC)
November 2007
New Car Park
January
2007
Medway
Council will be constructing a new car park at the Clubhouse in the New
Year. Cllr Sue Haydock has managed to secure £50,000 of Council funding
for the works to go ahead, and the main car park is going to be repaired
along side too. The work will be completed by the end
of March 2007. Medway Rugby Club would like to thank Cllr Sue Haydock and
Medway Council for the new car park.
First Team Pitch Maintenance
September 2006
Here is the latest news on the 1st Team Pitch. A lot of members
have remarked on the way the pitch is looking on their return to the Club
after the summer. At the start of August the pitch was looking very
sad with lots of weeds and not much grass. We took advice from the Head
Groundsman from Brompton Barracks who advised us to get the pitch sprayed
with a selective weed killer and a fertilizer and to have it reseeded. After
asking the council if we could do the work, they said we could. The work
started on 23rd August with the Weed and Feed and the Pitch was reseeded
on 1st September this being funded by us the Rugby Club the cost so far
is £1,230.23 + VAT. I can hear you all saying why have the
council not done what they promised back in February. Well all we know
is that the council and their contractors have some issues and until these
are sorted we are looking after things our selves.I would like to thank
every one for keeping off the pitch through out the summer, to help to
look after the pitch I am asking every member and team to try and
keep off the pitch as much has possible. 
I would not like to see any training
on the pitch what so ever, there are lots of pitches marked out that can
be used for training. A lot of the Youth teams have already said they will
not be playing on it this season. I would just like to say if there is
a pitch not being used please use that pitch before thinking of playing
on the main pitch. We would like to keep the pitch reserved for 1st XV
and Floodlit matches only if possible this season. We are looking to reweed
and feed it again at the end of next season. So if we can rest the pitch
as much as possible over the season then this time next year it should
be in 100% condition and hopefully we can have no playing restrictions
on it.
White Lines
Because of the issues with the council and there contractors
the pitches may not always be marked out and even if they are they will
not be marked out to my standard e.g. the lines may not be straight. I
have made the council aware of this problem.
Well this is where we are at with the 1st XV Pitch if you
want to know more about it you can chat with me at the club or drop me
an email.
Gerald Farrow (gerald.farrow@blueyonder.co.uk)
Head Groundsman Medway RFC
Glenfield Rugby Club, NZ
We have a club member living in New Zealand some of you may remember him
Phil (Nutter) Hinchliffe. He has joined a rugby club called Glenfield Rugby
Club. There is a link to there web site below. So if you're thinking
of going off to New Zealand why not send an email to Phil and go along
to Glenfield Rugby Club.
Medway RFC are also making welcome any players coming over from Glenfield
RFC
Email Phil Hinchliffe on hinchliffe@kol.co.nz
Look at Glenfield Rugby Club's website on www.glenfieldrugby.co.nz.