Saturday September 6 has been circled in diaries of Clifton Rugby Club followers since the club won promotion back in April to return to National League One for the first time in thirty years.
Blackheath, a club like our own with a proud history extending over 150 years, will be our opponents ahead of a fixture list from across the nation including the likes of Rotherham, Sale, Leeds, Rosslyn Park and Sale.
The promotion presents opportunities and challenges both on the pitch and in resourcing the costs of travel and accommodation with some lengthy journey involved.
Inevitably some players have left the club and summer months have seen over fifteen new faces turn up at preseason training. Those moving on include outstanding centre and former captain Marcus Nel and leading try scorer Alex Howman. Both are returning to hometown club Weston and will seriously boost their prospects. Alex Kilbane and Luke Daniels are taking up player-coach roles elsewhere.
Newcomers with hopes of 1st XV places have arrived from far and wide, ranging from the Scottish Highlands Verona to more locally our rivals Dings Crusaders
The presence in the scrums and loose play of Fijian prop Patrick Ratumaisese is creating excitement since his move south from Highland RFC. His mobility rewarded him with the man of the tournament award at the Mull
7-a-side tournament.
Harry Hone, with recent experience at Cinderford and Dings, will reinforce the back row of the scrum and the club looks forward to welcoming his father Wayne, former Clifton coach and Bristol flanker, to the touchline. Four players schooled at Championship side Hartpury College will bring valuable experience, as will Max McCarthy with Irish ties.
A sad note for the club was the passing of former player, chairman, trustee, and president John Raine who lost his brave battle against cancer during the close season. He joined the club in 1966 as a young prop who secured a place in his first team debut against Bristol. Off the pitch a much-respected John followed the team across the country during his fourteen-year time as president and made so many friends within the game with his beloved partner Toni. John was an enthusiastic tourist across the world including trips with the well-known Clifton RATS XV
Clifton v Blackheath September 6 at 2-30pm
Clifton v Rotherham September 20 at 2-30 pm
Clifton v Sale October 4 at 30 pm
Roger Opie