Promotion twice in 3 years is a fantastic achievement and congratulations to all involved, players, coaches and administration. Staying up will be difficult but is well within our means. Most certainly we will need to strengthen the squad, however the vast majority of the the squad with further development are capable of playing in North Prem. If we stay relatively injury free, strengthen in the right areas and perhaps most importantly the players commit to what this step up in league will demand we will be ok.
Next season we will only have 2 other teams from Yorkshire in our league (Sandal & Otley, yes Otley, who would have thought that 3 years ago with I believe 4 levels between us) and 9 trips across the Pennines. These will involve all day trips with early starts and late returns, how are wives and girlfriends going to accept that. Putting rugby ahead of personal life for 8 months of the year is a big ask. Finding the balance and communicating availability and honouring there commitment will be key. The powers that be I understand are addressing all this, but player buy in to what the club is doing is paramount.
We will also now be playing rugby at one level below Rotherham and Hull Ionians, if you add Otley to this list these are all team that have often approached our key players. Key players that have remained loyal to York and are now enjoying all fruits of their and the clubs hard work and ambitions.
Maybe just maybe some of these teams players may want to be part of what we have built and are looking to achieve. After all we are at the centre of Yorkshire and are arguably the county’s capital.
I was asked today did we want to be promoted, to right we do, the vast majority at the club share my view, those running the team certainly do, 100% the players did. If more members become further involved more closely then let’s see where we can go. As a club in the early 80’s we got to then level 5, we couldn’t sustain those heady heights. Let’s get it right this time.
DK the time previously that York got to this level many of the players couldn't get their boots on due the the thickness of brown envelopes in them!! and when they could get them on they bxggered off!!
The temptation to bring players in other than your own home grown talent, especially from teams from higher leagues, will be expensive and divisive!!
In the chasing of signings, don't overlook what has got you to where you are!
Otherwise you might lose the support of the players, who have chosen to return to York rather than chase a pay day shilling!!
Don’t want to dwell to much on the past DAA our team back then consisted of 8/9 of a colts team from 8/10 years earlier....4/5 of us tried our hand at senior clubs and then came back...does that ring bells with what’s happen in the last 2/3 years....and the majority of others moved to the area through work, Nigel Connell ex Morley, John Ainslie ex Selkirk to name just 2 they certainly didn’t come for money.....granted we did get a few quid in our boots but nothing to the extent you allude to....nor should it happen to the extent you suggest.
We should bring as many home grown players through the youth section and we will , after all it is arguably the best in Yorkshire.....as for recruiting other players.....yes we should.....how it’s is done is the key.....I’m pretty sure our existing players want to continue to be part of a successful team in a successful club.....they need to buy into this and hopefully accept that it will enable them to continue to play at this level and maybe higher still...more experienced players will help them develop their skill set even further...they should not see it as a threat to their position in the squad they should see it as a challenge....they only need to look at the experience our current backs coach brought to the club to see that at first hand......just one further thing DAA how many players are playing at Otley, Hull I’s and Rotherham that came through our youth section...may be they will return like others already have and finally how many others living in York travel to these clubs to play.... depends on everyone’s ambition as to where we end up
DK to deny the past is a mistake, just like the probable £1000.s that were squandered on expenses for players who did not improve the club and cleared of as soon as a better offer came along!
I concede that the recruitment of D has been worth every penny as a player/coach. However we did not have an out and out 10 who could run a game like he does. Additionally he has brought some excellent coaching skills that the whole group has benefited from !!
you know as well as I do, that the club aren't going to pay expenses to players who are going to sit on the bench or play in the 2's?
If a player is receiving expenses the coaching staff or recruiter will be compelled to play them irrespective, to justify the expense! That will mean someone will have to make way and that is where the rot sets in!
Play the side at the level they can cope with together as the unit that have brought us this far. Learn the lessons of the past, we are supposed to be an amateur club!
