The blue and golds 2017 season has just drawn to a close, and the club has been taking stock at its latest monthly meeting.
On the field, the club again finished fourth in the Yorkshire Men’s League but went one better this season in reaching the Grand Final.
The semi-final victory at the previously unbeaten Batley Boys was undoubtedly the performance during the season and indeed the best in many a year.
Further ground for optimism is the average age of the first-team squad that Head Coach Scott Taylor and Director of Rugby Pat Howdle have assembled.
Very few are actually over the age of 25. Luke Shaw and Luke Inglis aged 18 and 19 respectively emerged as two fine prospects in 2017. Indeed, two of Beverley’s most influential and pivotal players in Jack Howdle and Lewis Poskitt are still only 23 and 24.
An ‘A’ team was formed for the YML Entry League in 2017 playing just a handful of fixtures on an adhoc basis. The club intends to enter it’s ‘A’ in a formalised league next season that being possibly Yorkshire Division 5 or the Alliance League. Phil Horsfield has been appointed as ‘A’ team coach and will shortly announce an assistant. This should add strength in depth for 2018.
Beverley’s most notable progress has been off the field where income is up from all sources, including sponsorship and fundraising activities.
The club held two very successful fundraising evenings at The Potting Shed, which featured musical entertainment from ‘This Way Up’ something the newly appointed general manager at the Potting Shed, Darren Bayley is keen to maintain, he said;
“The Potting Shed are big fans of the team and to see them progressing at the rate they are is great for both them and the local community of which they’ve been such a big part of for so many years.”
“It’s great to see all the fans gather at The Potting Shed to watch the games, matchdays have become quite the event here and something we very much look forward to. It’s an honour to welcome the lads back after their home games and has been a privilege to sponsor them this season.”
“We look forward to a long, healthy relationship with Pat, Scott, Duncan and the rest of Beverley ARLC. Hopefully we’ll get Duncan and the band booked in for one of our popular ‘Shedstock’ events.”
A successful Golf Day was held at Hornsea Golf Club, and the Sportsmans Dinner held at Lazatts was the most profitable yet with over 220 guests attending. Crowds are up as the club have created a really atmospheric match-day experience since the opening of the Potting Shed overlooking the pitch.
It is no secret that the club is aspiring to National Conference League status (NCL). Last month, the club submitted an expression of interest to the NCL and were visited by NCL officials who inspected the facilities. They were thought to be favourably impressed by the pleasant location of the ground. They promised to come back with their findings and recommendations by next month.
Director of Rugby Pat Howdle commented;
“The squad has youth on it’s side and there is no better time to move up to the next level.”
The club’s rising profile has meant more work it is set to announce a strengthening of the committee at it’s AGM in December with some new positions created.
Playing wise it is now a quiet time of the year, although light training will shortly resume on Thursday evenings at the Longrcoft artificial surface.
Pre-season fixtures are likely to be planned in January/February ahead of a March start. By which time fixtures will have been published for either the NCL or YML.
