Very sad for a club that was on the brink of Championship rugby last season.

Still looks a pretty good side, although the bench looks inexperienced............

https://twitter.com/ElthamiansRFC/status/1233384263615176707/photo/1" rel="nofollow - https://twitter.com/ElthamiansRFC/status/1233384263615176707/photo/1

Correction, looks like the playing squad is travelling up today.

Only the management came up yesterday. Nice.

Is the Full Back a loan player from Westcombe Park?

I doubt that the OE's side was any younger than the opposition today.

Probably.

Thanks in advance!

Rob    

In the absence of any proper derby game, PARFC have developed a charity fundraising "Men's Day Out" in conjunction with our local hospice. All pariticipants in a 12 km walk around town get free entry, a pint and a pasty. This year, coinciding with the visit of Richmond and scheduled for next Sat. And having beaten them away, we'd be fancying our chances... 

In all seriousness, following the 2m isolation rule?

Probably our biggest gate of the season is cancelled along with everything else scheduled up to end Apr.

A loss of around £19,000 Gate Money.  Then there's the loss of money on Food and Drink sales,  loss of sponsorship, loss of Raffle Ticket and Programme sales.  Hard to say what the total loss would be, but it is many, many £Thousands.

Then we look at why the season was terminated early and any loss of anything Rugby pales into insignificance.

We can but Hope that the new season can start in September, but the way this Virus is spreading, with no Definate signs yet of slowing down, that may not happen.

There are going to be many bad consequences and Huge financial losses for lots of Clubs in all Sports, but we will come through eventually and have to do, as supporters, everything we can to help our Clubs to survive.

Lots of our Season Ticket Holders have stated that they do not want refunds.  This may not be a huge amount of money, but its a start and I'm proud of every one of them.

The decision we await now is what are the RFU going to do about promotion and Relegation.  No one can say now, what results 'Might' have been, or how League positions 'Might' have changed, so to me the RFU should say that the season finished on the day they abandoned it, and points and positions stay as they are now. Promotion and Relegation as per current positions.

We wait with bated breath.  Winners of Nat 2N and Nat 2S promoted, and bottom 2 in Nat 1 relegated.   As the Play-Off game between the runners-up in Nat 2N and Nat 2S cannot be played, then neither should be promoted, unless the RFU decide to Toss a Coin.

Off course the Titans would be ecstatic if this happened as we would stay in Nat 1 next season.  But with the RFU making the decision ANYTHING could happen, and with it being the RFU it will probably be a total B**ls - Up.

Seriously though, BM must be very disappointed with how this season has turned out, even when ignoring the imposed early finish.

We visited BM as the first match of the season and were well beaten but, you could see then that they were not going to trouble the top of the league.

BM's committee had reasonably high expectations, with a new DoR and new signings but they have massively under achieved. Any ideas why?

Dreadful as our season has been, and there's a host of reasons why... - I nevertheless remembered this exchange between us from the week after that match...

http://www.rolling-maul.com/live-scores-september-7_topic17750_page3.html" rel="nofollow - http://www.rolling-maul.com/live-scores-september-7_topic17750_page3.html

sample quote, er one Sid James...

billesleyexile wrote:

Still a bit shell shocked by what I’ve just seen on the Common - beyond champagne rugby, ludicrous passing, 3/4 tries and scoring for fun. Not sure if we were very good, Hull were bad, both, or what. FWIW Hull looked ok. Never seen anything like it.

Confused of North Oxfordshire.

Grooveavenue13

We had 3 Home games left to play

I took our Ave Gate No's,  multified that by £15 (Ave entrance fee), then took off Season Ticket money. 

Various Groups held meetings in the Clubhouse, there was a Salsa Class, a Slimming Club held sessions, the Clubhouse was hired for Birthday Parties, Anniversary's, Retirement's, Funeral Tea's and Wedding Receptions. Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights there was entertainment on the stage, a Singer or a Group or a Comedian.  These are losses as well has those mentioned above.

These all add up to a massive loss of revenue since we had to close the Ground / Clubhouse.

I know that many more Clubs are in the same situation and will undoubtably be strugging. The last thing I want to see is any Club going under, but at this time my main thoughts and considerations are towards my Club and their survival.

I read that the Welsh and Scottish Unions are giving money to Clubs to help them through these uncertain times.  Apparently the RFU have said they will not be doing this.  Is it true.

sample quote, er one Sid James...

So tell us why.

p.s. I also said "see you again in April". That won't happen either.

Monkey Boy

Have you been in a Coma for the last 3 Months, have you not kept up with the News, our Country / World is in crisis.  The British Government is releasing Billions of Pounds to help Firms, Factory's, Shops, Hotels, Pub etc, to stay afloat and help pay their employees who have to stay at home through no fault of their own.

The RFU is English Rugby Unions Government, and surely you would expect them to offer some aid to help keep THEIR Workforce afloat.  This Current situation might go on into Next Year, let alone Next Season.  If this happens, how many Clubs, in more than our Sport, do you think will not be around when Rugby starts up again. I hope ALL of them will be.

If thats you attitude, then I hope you don't run any business that employs other people.

We signed  8 from Birmingham & Solihull, 2 played in most of the games the rest I guess less than half.

It did not affect Bournville who signed a few from them and won their league. 

First in the queue should be clubs who because of this crisis are unable to pay rent, rates, utilities, ground maintenance etc.

Last in the queue should be clubs who are unable to pay players.

Anyone who relies on Nat One rugby money is foolish.

What this whole crisis is highlighting is how many things in modern society are totally broken.  Rugby players shouldn’t be getting paid in National One to a level that they see it as a wage.  Compensate them for their time.

If the government wants to Furlough support these players then so be it but the RFU should be concentrating on those clubs who don’t pay players as they are the safe investments who’ll be around for years to come.

The rugby pyramid is a failed prophecy.

If a very rich man wants to spend his pocket money on rugby players and then no longer can do whether it be through an untold crisis like this or something else then that’s that. There’s no requirement for anybody else to pick up the bill.

Look at the facilities at Level 3 and 4 of the game. Compare the investment in them to how much has been spent on the pitch in the same time. Mental.  The governing body should be aiding those clubs with sustainable models who don’t throw cash at players but will suffer through not being open to their membership at this time

If the players are paid by the club and the club pays the tax, NI including employers contribution then the players are entitled to the support the government is offering along with anyone employed in a non playing role. I know no one at Blackheath has his rugby money as sole income.

We have at Well Hall over the last few years spent over £1m on the pitch, lights and facilities and had Continued with this investment this season so we have possibly spent more on infrastructure than players in recent times.

At this time of year we along with most clubs will have a planned maintenance for the pitch to get it ready for next year which will still have to be done and paid for without income but everyone will want it to be in good nick and if it’s not done it will not last the season 

Commendable investment from one of the countries oldest clubs.

However the games haven’t taken place, the players haven’t been training, they’ve had no contact with the squad/club so what are we compensating them for?

What terms were the contracts?  Pay to play?  

Who’s to say who was going to be in the match day squad?  Injury, form etc come into play.

If clubs are genuinely going to use this Government money in this manner then this plague on capitalism really has come at right time. 

It’s for genuine workers who genuinely can’t go out to work and earn a living not to be misused by rugby players trying to top up their income.

National One rugby - two training sessions a week and one game - the vast majority they can still get to watch Soccer AM and still be back in time for Ant & Dec. 

I have a 'singing sixpence' that the vast majority of players contracts at level 3 and below are 'pay for play' and would therefore would not be eligible for the 80% pay out. If they are not playing then there is no damage to the  playing budget, which if your club has a self financing semi-pro top end (as my club does) then they will hopefully have a more than healthy budget when we start to play again.

My concern is for our paid full time employees and those of a temporary nature, e.g. bar staff and casual catering staff.

The amount of revenue that the club (not the 1st XV - they take nowt from the members club) will lose will have our exec scratching their heads for a while, but I have no doubt that in their infinite wisdom they will pull through.

Skalpy and this is where any emergency fund will go. The full time bar manager will be required when rugby starts up again. Look after them, look after groundstaff etc.  

I totally agree with you, but you were implying that clubs would use the emergency fund to pay players, which I still maintain is outside the remit of the fund. Our ground staff are all volunteers apart from our club steward who looks after the 1st team pitch.

However, what this has to do with the future of O.E's is beyond me.

F F S  - Haven't we been through this enough times? Have not enough clubs been caught and fined, even gone into liquidation? 

Everything, including travel from home, should go through PAYE. 

I don't think contracts will be worth much when the company named on the contract soon goes into liquidation. Plus, rumour has it they have terminated their scholarship with St Mary's University 2 years into a 5 year contract. The death of Kobus Paulsen and now COVID-19 is bringing this club to its knees and I'm sure it wont be the only one to fold.

But, on a positive not I'm sure you will see some good local clubs like Westcombe Park and the likes benefit from Old E's players looking for new clubs.

There is a cut off date - this was discussed last season wrt Carnegie.

Should a club withdraw from Nat 1 by 1st June there are only two clubs relegated wirth knock on down the leagues and all leagues start with the correct number

If any club withdraws after that - the league goes ahead on down.

If a club folds mid season - all its results are null and void for that season.

However, were a championship or promiership side fold between 1 June and 1 August then RFU can require that place is filled and National 1 goes ahead one short.

At a guess between 3 and 4 miles as the crow flies. 

If they withdraw by June 1

Rotherham and Canterbury get to play in National 1. 

And other leagues are adjuste accordingly.

It would be interesting to know what impact that might have on moves from Level 5 to Level 4?

If only one then I believe it is Otley as they have the best playing record.

If two sides need to be not relegated, then Ortley and Sutton get speared relegation.

Even though Preston G have a better playing record than Sutton - it cannot be two from one league and none from the other.

At level 5 Carlisle and Newbury are the top two to be spared.

So at level 6 it is Percy Park and Wimbourne

At level 7 Gateshead and North Dorset.

As Marigold says, this only appies if they declare they will withdraw before JJune 1 and Canterbury might not want to go up and could encourage OEs to stay quiet until June.

This is really very boring!!

Gavinl40,

Under the current extraordinary circumstances we are all experiencing, the "guys" you are referring to may not have anything better to do.

If this discussion does not entertain you, simply leave the thread. Dont tell anyone what they can or cannot discuss/speculate on. This forum is for us all.

I believe that YC (as Leeds) & OE's will play a part in their respective leagues next season. Why not?

Sid I agree, but some of the rubbish that is written has no fact or substance at all, by people who have no knowledge at all on whats going at Oes its farcical.

All that does is leads to is 1001 texts from people that have heard this or heard that! But hey why let the truth get in the way of a good story!

Lets just hope we all come out the other side of this virus safe and sound and then we will see where everybody is next season, what I will say is there might be some very large slices of humble pie being eaten!

Well said Sid James. I recall Gavinl40 coming out with the same quotes on previous threads and coming out with the same "big announcement" pending. But the false promises don't seem to have prevented an exodus of players and a 5 year scholarship partnership with St Mary's University from fading away to nothing.

I hear the St Marys University deal is dead in the water already.

paddym - yes, it is. I'm hearing the Old E's scholars got told by the University that it's finished. The club didn't even have the common decency to tell them or maybe this is another pending "big announcement"

Also are O.E's a particular target of yours or do you have others? 

Speculation is fine but we are starting to repeat the same things; lets wait for some news to emerge then we can discuss that.