17-5-2009 By Ben Fowler 1st team captain To all the players. It is hard to put into words what it means to me to captain this side. It is all encompassing. I never thought when I was dragged over as a 20 year old in 1997 when the second XV had just started how I would end up. Next year will be my 7th season as 1st XV captain, and I still love it as much now as I did when I first took over. The pride I feel each Saturday is enormous, and you, the players, make it special. I thank you all for your enormous efforts, it has been a tough year, but we will be stronger for it. Bring on next season! To all the supporters. We thank you enormously for the support this season. The touchline at home seems to grow in size each week, and it is a massive lift to all the players. Also special thanks to Mark, Eyebrow (some weeks), Sappo (when he's not at netball games), Mr and Mrs A, Pat and Brad, George and Dangerous, all who have endured long away trips in all kinds of weather to support the boys.
We know it is a big ask, and we thank you. 17-5-2009 By Daniel Hatch Knights team captain As much as it pains me to say, Jack Sim was a superb captain this season, from making in game decisions to leading from the front . To inspire the lads that were not to keen on taking on the big blokes he would look for the biggest man on the field and take him down. Walking back with his cheeky grin he would say ‘That’s how it’s done’. After all the hard work that each member of this team put into getting us promoted I am tremendously pleased and proud to have been through the good and the bad times with them and would do it all again. With the Knights now being disbanded it is the end of an era and the final chapter in what has been such a great adventure.
Thank you all very much
16-6-2008 By Ben Fowler 1st team captain As we put to bed the historic 2007/08 season, the time has come to focus on the challenge ahead. 2008/09 brings with it new opposition, lots more travelling, but a fantastic opportunity to test ourselves at a higher level. For the first XV we make our debut in London 4NE, a division that throws together teams from Essex, Suffolk and Norfolk. It is a big step up, but, the greater the challenge, the greater the reward. The 2nd XV will look to build again, this season under the stewardship of Tom Warwick and Neil Powell, two outstanding stalwarts of the club, who, I am sure will contiunue the excellent work of their predecessors. For the 3rd XV we look forward to more of the same from a side that houses some outstanding young talent, and is helping to shape the longer term future of the club. Both the 2nd and 3rd XV have massive parts to play, not only do they compete week in week out in very competitive BL Merit divisions, but, they are invaluable in aiding the development of future 1st XV stars. We have started to see that work come to fruition over the past couple of seasons, and it is very rewarding to see young players who learnt their trade in the 2nd XV really make a mark on the step up to 1st XV duty. Long may it continue. Senior training begins on Wednesday 25th June at 7pm sharp, this will be increased to two nights per week, when we get closer to the start of the season. As I have outlined above, we have had a tremendous few seasons, but we are entering new territories as a playing squad. We need to challenge ourselves even more this year, and that requires commitment, effort and sacrifice. MAKE THE EFFORT TO GET TO TRAINING, AND TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF REACHING OUT TO YOUR FRIENDS AS WELL! We have seen what we are all capable of when we put the work in, let's aim to make 2008/09 an even bigger success! Good luck for the season, let's enjoy every moment of it. See you on the 25th Ben
15-8-2007 By Ben Fowler 1st team captain As I write, we are 8 weeks into pre-season training and just a week away from our first game. I have been exceptionally impressed with the dedication, the passion and the application the players have shown at training. The sessions have been hard and at times firey, but the players have really stepped up a gear and made sure we have achieved a great deal and that each session has been of the highest quality. Thank you to both players and coaches for this. It is clear that the bulk of the squad have thrown themselves into fitness and weight training in their own time, and that is also very pleasing to see, and underlines the shear determination to succeed that exists throughout the entire playing squad of the club. Make no mistake about it, this is another big season for the club. The fantastic efforts of the players last year, with the 2nds winning their BL Merit Division in style, the 3rds winning their BL Merit Division Plate Final and the 1sts achieving a credible 4th place in their 1st season in Essex One, will need to be built upon in 07-08. The installation of floodlights and the commitment of those who run the club to continue to develop at a staggering pace, means that this club will stand still for no man. These are exciting times at Central Park, and I would like to finish by saying to the players, excellent effort so far, do not sit back though as the hard work is just beginning, let's make this a memorable season for everybody involved. To the supporters, come rain, wind or shine, your dedication and spirit is a huge lift to all of us, we look forward to seeing a big touchline on many occasions this year, we hope we can produce a brand of rugby that will keep you entertained week in week out. Thank you all and look forward to seeing you all on Thursday 23rd August when we tackled Upminster 1st XV in our first pre-season game, kick off 7:45pm at Central Park Cheers
Ben Fowler |
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