Premiership Clubs are in the final 2 weeks build up before they go head to head in competitive rugby. Let us all hope that there are no bumps in the road, as competitive rugby progressively returns to us here at the Brickfields. I am pleased to report that our own team training is going well.
Loads happening in the corridors of power at rugby HQ and in the various boardrooms of Premiership Clubs. Talks, conflicts and divisions continue to fuel the rugby rumour mill as speculation abounds regarding the future of our top clubs and the game in general.
Leicester Tigers appear to be haemorrhaging players at an alarming rate. Manu Tuilagi the latest big name to be departing Welford Road, the big centre signing to join Steve Diamond at Sale Sharks. Exeter is posting many positive PR releases announcing new signings and their training going well, but amidst the good news was the revelation that Chiefs are losing £1 million pounds a month. Chiefs CEO Tony Rowe posted a warning that outcomes at Sandy park could be ‘catastrophic’ if they are unable to open for business soon.
With Wasps Rugby and the Ricoh Arena making a £5m loss in the second half of the 2019 season and a reported further loss of circa £4.9m in the year ending December 2019, one suspects that there are just a few headaches facing Lawrence Dallaglio and the other directors at that Coventry club. Enough of the Premiership… ALBI’s immediate future is in National League Division One.
Watching our lads go through their paces at training, I can report that Damian has already assembled a strong, skilful and powerful squad. Under the driving force of our fitness guru James Bish, I am confident the Albion side you see running out will be as fit and as strong as any of the great teams we have seen at Brickfields in many years. Our playing future is bright – BRING IT ON!
You will have read and heard about our Blueprint to build a ‘HERITAGE CLUB’ as the future for Plymouth Albion. I think it time now to release a few more details of our VISION for the future. Our aim is to field a successful team playing attractive elite level rugby. This is stating the obvious. but the hard lessons of recent years have taught us that discipline, prudence and ‘The Business of Business’ are essential elements to building and sustaining a successful and competitive club
The Plymouth Albion a ‘HERITAGE CLUB ‘involves a team that extends way beyond the boot room and field of play.
Albion – The HERITAGE CLUB
The principle of a Heritage Club is to look to the local community for the playing, commercial and political elements necessary to build and sustain a successful elite level rugby club to fly the flag for our Ocean City…
It is all well and good talking up our potential for Albion in the Premiership, but the multi-million-pound demand for entry to the Gallagher league is currently pie in the sky.
Reality tells us that the Gallagher Premiership is currently up and away, far beyond the reach of any club who does not have an oligarch or multi-millionaire backer. We currently play in National League Division One. It is a good and competitive league with some great opposition to visit and entertain here at the Brickfield.
We do, however, have an illustrious history and proven track record playing elite level rugby. We have the ‘Boot Room’ experience to compete and win rugby games. Our playing squad is strong and in Damien Welch, we have an exceptional young and gifted coach well able to steer us to promotion and success in the Rugby Championship.
Returning to the positive development we have made in recent months. The pieces are in place – Our administration is strong. Our blueprint for the future is fresh, realistic and visionary.
We are driving home our message and invitation to Plymouths business and commercial community to meet, talk with a view to joining us on our journey. Indeed, Chris Bentley is on hand ready to discuss how to become a part of the movement we’ve begun chris@plymouthalbion.com
