Sutton Coldfield Women's R.F.C.
a section of SCRFC Mens and Juniors
History
The new women’s team was founded in July 2003 when Sophie, Jo and Marcia met up with Matt and Sandy on the first team pitch for our first weekly training session. It was then that we decided that a ratio of two coaches to three players was a bit over the top and perhaps we should set about recruiting some other players. Posters, newspaper articles, and ringing around ensued and for the next month our numbers doubled every week. We soon had our photos in the Sutton Observer and the Evening Mail, having repeatedly turned down The Times, Hello! magazine and FHM.
Come September Matt and Sandy upped the stakes to training twice a week, Tuesday AND Thursday, and we still managed a turn out to rival the men’s first team, as well as clapping each other a lot more often. Jo had by now reinvented the post of Social Sec and broken all records for the length of skirt of a rugby player. Sophie then got spontaneously, unanimously and involuntarily voted in as Captain down the pub after training, naturally falling into her rightful role within the Sutton rugby club elite. Come November with the prospect of our first match approaching, Ruth stepped up to the Vice Captain position, vowing to overtake Mr. Wilkinson as the world’s greatest flyhalf. She accepted, however, that the team would never be as excited of seeing photos of her receiving physio as they were about the aforementioned love machine.
At the end of the season 2003-4 Sandy retired as our coach in favour of stepping back into his rightful role as a key member of the SCRFC first team. We were saddened by his loss, but were relieved when Chris stepped in and offered to help us out. As a fitness freak he made fantastic efforts to beat us into shape. His dedication to us was clarified when he still came to coach us while on crutches after tearing his Achilles tendon – bless! At our first AGM we formed our first formal committee, at which Ruth was promoted to Captain, and Adele got voted in as her vice.
Over the season we managed to play sufficient friendlies that we were able to be entered into the league for 2004-5 season. We’re training hard now, so follow our progress as we challenge other teams for our rightful place in the league (where ever that may be!)