9 replies to this topic

[tim2]

Yesterday the Chargers lost a closely fought (and at times the fighting was a little too close) Open Age match 30-36 against Derby City. A proper "derby" you might say.

With Derby City back and having a squad of 20-25 it looks like they will be performing competitively from the start of next season, as will the Chargers Open Age. Hope Valley are existing ML champions and have topped the league in Division 2 this year.

At junior level the Chargers are going strong in the Yorkshire Juniors U15s and Derby have a solid U16 squad in the Midlands League. Both sides now have separate U13s squads having combined earlier in the season at the Midlands Festivals. This co-operation is also happening at u11 and U9 to help build new squads at those age groups. Between us we have a large number of players on performance programmes and rep level at various age groups. This year Chargers player Lee Sanders became the first product of the club to make his pro debut for Sheffield.

As a county we have had a Community Coach in place for over 2 years and have very strong links to key schools.

The Chargers recently won a Healthy Communities Award to kick start Touch and Masters Rugby in the area. We are already tapping into the love of rugby league that is around from the old Clowne and Shirebrook sides that competed in the 80s and 90s in EMARLA and the Yorkshire League.

Chargers finally have their own base at Barlborough.

Derby University's team was formed in 2010 and have had a solid two seasons in the BUCS competition.

So there's the evidence - is RL in Derbyshire on the way up? It's not easy and we won't know what effect any cuts in funding will have in future. Despite being only 30-50 miles from hard core RL territory we are very much a development area and getting any kind of purchase in terms of volunteer base, players, funding, publicity, awareness etc. is very hard work.

[bowes]

Good to see.

Guess the tricky decision to make for North Derbyshire clubs is do you want to be part of the midlands or do you want to develop within the bottom heartland divisions (as Chester and Bury have managed as expansion clubs and your U15s for that matter)? Hope Valley in particular seem to mainly play heartland clubs.

Edited by bowes, 06 August 2012 - 09:57 AM.

[tim2]

Good to see.

Guess the tricky decision to make for North Derbyshire clubs is do you want to be part of the midlands or do you want to develop within the bottom heartland divisions (as Chester and Bury have managed as expansion clubs and your U15s for that matter)? Hope Valley in particular seem to mainly play heartland clubs.

I'd like to see the return of a North Midlands division. Hope Valley may choose to go to the North West, but I'd be more than happy to see Chargers, Derby, Nottingham A, Sleaford and Hope Valley in a division, possibly with Leicester A as well.

[bowes]

Could work though guess Northampton A would have to go back to East (not ideal but workable and that division struggles for numbers most years)

[tim2]

Or West Mids - only 30 miles from Coventry

[bowes]

Or West Mids - only 30 miles from Coventry

Guess it depends on the format there and if it includes the likes of Gloucestershire. Telford's not that close but guess it depends if that is preferable to North Derbyshire or Bury St Edmunds

[mmp]

Can't see Hope Valley joining a formal league as they play Union in winter so would struggle to meet a formal league schedule. On that basis, doesn't really matter if in NW or Mids as a merit side.

As it happens, "we" played them at both Union and League over the last year as on the day they played in the league at Bury Rugby Union we provided about 9 players alongside four from other RL clubs. should have just played league that day to be honest.

[bowes]

Can't see Hope Valley joining a formal league as they play Union in winter so would struggle to meet a formal league schedule. On that basis, doesn't really matter if in NW or Mids as a merit side.

As it happens, "we" played them at both Union and League over the last year as on the day they played in the league at Bury Rugby Union we provided about 9 players alongside four from other RL clubs. should have just played league that day to be honest.

Midlands league is a short season so could enter a structured league there.

[tim2]

Midlands league is a short season so could enter a structured league there.

That's what i meant - most of the teams could only manage a short season at this stage.

[bowes]

That's what i meant - most of the teams could only manage a short season at this stage.

Same as some of Yorkshire