It is great honour to be selected as Club Captain of Sandbach RUFC at such an exciting stage in the club's development. This season is going to see our facilities improve to level that no one has seen at Bradwall Road before and is something I hope all members should be looking forward to being part of.

On the field, as a 1st XV, it is critical we continue to improve, having learnt several valuabale lessons over the past few years. I believe the tag we use to carry 'of just being young side' is no longer is applicable. Although on average the lads are young, on the whole they have all being playing 1st team rugby for a number of years now and should have the experience to deal with whatever is put in front of them.

The appointment of Winston Elliot as 1st team coach has brought a whole new perspective on how we should prepare and play the game. In some areas it has taken a little while to adjust, but ultimately I think this should facilitate further progress of the 1st team and the playing side of the club as a whole. One thing Winston has been keen to instill is that barriers between all the teams in the club are broken and we all work together in moving the club forward- an ethos I fully support and hope everyone buys into.

Following Tim Oakes as Club Captain is always going to be a difficult task, as over the last 4 seasons he lead the team to promotion into North 2 West (now renamed North 1 west) and lead us to winning the Cheshire Vase in 2008. However more importantly, he and the players around him have created a spirit that has to be admired and it was that spirit that lead to a determined finish towards the end of difficult campaign last season. The 1st XV's simple objective for this season is to finish as high as we possibly can in our league, and if every team in the club can strive towards this, it should mean we all have a great campaign and something we are all very proud of by the end of April next year.

Thank you in anticipation for all the support you give Sandbach RUFC.

Will Stockdale

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ub3H8wpK64