Club Connections 2015/2016
It has been a fantastic first season for Newcastle Falcons’ Club Connections with the programme going from strength to strength throughout the season!
The ultimate aim of Club Connections is to help local clubs grow stronger and to create closer links between local clubs and Newcastle Falcons. The programme started out last August with 42 clubs but is already looking to expand for the 2015/2016 season, with 50 clubs from across Northumberland, Durham, Cumbria and North Yorkshire already expressing interest in joining next season’s programme.
Club Connections teams accounted for over 6,000 tickets redeemed at Kingston Park Stadium during 2014/15, including 2,000 complimentary junior tickets, showing the impact local rugby has had on the Falcons’ 27.3% rise in attendances throughout this season.
The debut Club Connections season saw many highlights for the programme, including many teams taking up the opportunity for player visits and over 250 junior teams taking part in match day festivals at Kingston Park through the Falcons Community Foundation.
The season kicked off in September with 60 players visiting 17 of the Club Connections teams to help with training and offer advice in the club’s inaugural Player Blitz event; the largest ever community player visit run by Newcastle Falcons to date.
Club Connections also offered teams the Ultimate Rugby prize, offering the club who sold the most Falcons tickets throughout the season a money can’t buy opportunity to host a home game at Kingston Park, including full usage of the pitch, changing rooms, score board, PA system and club house post-match!
In a very close and competitive season which came right down to the last game of the season Ponteland RFC emerged victors, just edging out Houghton and Westoe thanks to the consistency with which Ponteland members attended home games throughout the season.
Speaking at the end of his club’s league and cup double winning season, Ponteland Club Connections Ambassador Paul Walker paid tribute to the Falcons Community Team’s hard work and commitment to helping local clubs with coaching sessions and off field CPDs.
He also praised the improvement the team have made this season and the attractive style of rugby on show at Kingston Park, claiming this has helped to encourage club members to come and support Newcastle Falcons.
For more information on Club Connections or to sign your team up to join the programme contact Andrew Matson on andrew.matson@newcastle-falcons.co.uk or 0191 214 2836.
