New Coaching Team on the March at Cindeford RFC

As Cinderford RFC (CRFC) prepares for its third season in National 1 League, the Pride of the Forest club has announced its new coaching team for 2010/2011. Well renowned Dave Pointon, head of sport and director of rugby at St Peter’s School, is moving from his coaching position at Old Patesians to join the National 1 club as the new senior coach. Ed Archer also joins the team in the new position of fitness advisor.

Since taking on the reigns as Cinderford’s newly appointed director of rugby operations Andy Deacon has been building and shaping the squad, coaches and back room team as pre-season training starts on Tuesday 15 June. “We are looking to cement our position in Nat 1 and my job is to build a stronger team, and secure our position in playing rugby at the highest level. I am really excited to welcome Dave as senior coach, he will be a significant addition to the management team – and is very experienced and well respected across the county. I have terrific support in Dave and also Lee Fortey, our forwards coach, as they worked well together previously at Old Pats and both have vast talent in coaching at a high level.” Regrettably former senior coach Phil Greenaway has left Cinderford to focus on his coaching role at Gloucester RFC.

Commenting on his appointment Dave Pointon said: “It was a big decision for me to leave all my friends and colleagues at Old Pats, but I like to think I have left them in a very strong position finishing as runner’s up last year. It’s great to be back working with Lee where we will be looking at all aspects of the game, individual skills, game/player analysis and coaching. My passion lies in working with seniors and developing a cohesive first team of players working at new levels of performance. I also look to continue the flow of new young talent from grassroots and feed them into Cinderford.”

Ed Archer takes up the new position of fitness advisor at CRFC and is excited at joining Cinderford. “My role is to focus on player fitness, conditioning and development, and get the squad ready during pre-season to hit the ground running in August for the friendlies. By implementing a system to monitor and develop the players’ athleticism; we will make an all-important contribution to performance.”
Andy Deacon added: “It’s great to have the experience of Ed who worked with me for many years back at Gloucester RFC. We are looking to build more dynamics and power into our game and I know Ed can sort us out. Our new pre-season fitness programme is already up and running.”

Chris Hall, hooker, has been appointed as the new First XV captain following success last season when he stood in for Andy on a few occasions. Chris starts his second year for Cinderford and is well respected and popular with all the players. He was awarded Front Player of the Year at the recent club awards ceremony.

Matthew Cape, director of rugby at Old Patesians commented: “Dave has been a key part of the recent success on and off the field at Old Pats and is viewed as a friend by all the Old Pats. We have formed strong links with Cinderford and whilst we are very sad to see him leave it is a natural progression for Dave to want to coach the top placed league side, outside the Premiership, in the county. We are sure that he will do Cinderford proud and continue their success and we look forward to continuing to work with him and the rest of the Cinderford management team. I am pleased to confirm that Old Pats have appointed Dan Eddie as backs coach to work with Rob Fidler. Dan will be a real asset to the coaching team having played for England Schoolboys, Scotland Under 21’s, Leeds, Doncaster and England Legends at 10.” (Note to editor: see separate press release from Old Pats for more information.)

About Cinderford RFC
Cinderford RFC was formed in 1886 and was soon playing many leading clubs in England and Wales. The club’s fortunes and that of the local mining community were closely linked and both declined during the inter-war years with a number of local rugby heroes ‘going north’ to seek their fortunes in what is now ‘The Rugby League’. Cinderford RFC re-emerged after the Second World War and regained its Dockham Road home in 1956. Fifty years of hard work and the foresight of a few individuals have furnished the club with a splendid ground that is the envy of many. The club’s 1st XV play in National League Division 1, the ‘United XV’ competes in the South West second XV Merit Table and the ‘Stags’ and ‘Bucks’ have a full list of fixtures many of which are in the Gloucester ‘Citizen’ Merit Table. The Colts XV play in the Bristol Combination Colts competition. A successful mini and junior section provides rugby for youngsters from U7 upwards.

Photo caption: L to R
Lee Fortey, Forwards Coach; Dave Pointon, Senior Coach; Andy Deacon, Director or Rugby Operations; Chris Hall, Hooker and Captain; Ed Archer, Fitness Advisor