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Post by Dayne on Mar 20, 2007 22:56:31 GMT
I can say with 99% certainty the Juniors will open the final game at EHR. The committee and volunteers are having a meeting this Thursday to discuss and designate all the things we want to do for this day. Will keep you all posted! I hope that goes for the colts to, we have an up coming cup game and it'd be really great if we could at least play there at least once, I'm sure some of the other lad have before but I havn't and alot of the other lads have barely even seen the pitch let alone played on it. Pretty please??? |
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Post by Pricey on Mar 21, 2007 8:53:28 GMT
Its a great shame the juniors can't play on EHR when i was in the colts they were the games we looked forward to most.
I bet alot of the juniors have never played on it.
But hopefully in the future when we build are new ground the juniors will have the bennefit to play on the main pitch.
It will be a very sad day when the final game finishes I hope i'll be in the 19 who's picked as it will be a famous day for this club a new start and hopefully a brighter future.
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Post by strebor48 on Mar 21, 2007 9:04:08 GMT
There is nothing better for the juniors than playing on the first team pitch over the years teams I have had have won games they never would have won on other pitches. Their heads lift so much when this oppertunity comes along lets play all the junior teams on the last day or at least do a parade of all the Junior section in club shirts get them on the half way line and get them all to chant "ORRELL" as they do before their games perhaps even in a full junior section huddle let the people Of Orrell hear the cry of defiance to DW and ML And in fact the whole committee who won't let them know what is going on "YOU MAY BE A BADLY INJURED JUNIOR SECTION BUT YOU HAVE THE STRENGTH NOT TO DIE WITH OUR GROUND" HARD LUCK ML RUGBY UNION WILL SURVIVE IN WIGAN" and next time wigan warriors need to fiddle the salary cap leave other clubs and sports alone be defiant to the last AND ALL PLEASE NOTE I HAVE NOT DESERTED THE CLUB I HAVE MOVED TO HELP ANOTHER CLUB START A JUNIOR SECTION AND AS SOON AS I AM ASKED I WILL ONCE AGAIN RETURN TO WHAT I CONSIDER AS MY CLUB. come on lets get a proper amateur rugby club up and running again as soon as possible
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Post by john on Mar 21, 2007 9:30:52 GMT
that would be smashing if that could happen. esspecialy if all the junior teams had a match on that day! would be a great way to say that we are still here and fighting strong! as dayne said alot of our team have never played at ehr and would be great for the lads! i have played their once before, but it was a few years ago now, think we were under 14s or 15s
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Post by Richard on Mar 21, 2007 13:27:49 GMT
I can't say I have been a die hard fan of Orrell over the years, but I will be at the last game - a bit of sentimentality really. My grandad was the groundsman in the 1960s (Harry Winnard) and I have fond memories of matches and helping him out at the ground in those days.
I feel I owe it to his memory to attend that day. Me and my 11 year old son (we have been to a few matches over the last few seasons) have decided to attend rather than go to watch Latics (probably a dirty word - sorry) at Liverpool that day but that is how sad I feel at the end of a great era.
Regards
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Post by strebor48 on Mar 21, 2007 15:08:23 GMT
John
whose team were you in and what year did you play did youever play in one of the teams I was involved in and Richard why should latics be a dirty word just watch your backs because if your crowds don't improve or you go down the same will hapen to you
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Post by strebor48 on Mar 21, 2007 15:21:43 GMT
From the mudhutters tears all round
It is almost time to say goodbye to my favourite sporting ground ever. You can line your Old Trafford, Lords, Springfield Park and everywhere else up against it and I will argue my case. For when the sun shone and I was stood in front of the clubhouse a pint of Guinness in hand looking out across the ground there was no more beautiful sight (or site) in sport.
I loved Edge Hall Road. It was my home. I am a born and bred Orreller. A right "Little 'Ommer" as we used to say and Orrell Rugby Union was the focal point of that wonderful village. "The club" that was formed in 1927. A club that became the North's premier Union club. A club that dragged it's way through the snobbery that existed in Rugby Union and pulled off some great shocks along the way. I am privileged to have been there the day that "the lay-by off the M6" beat the mighty Harlequins and I've been there many, many times since. I played on Edge Hall Road as a schoolboy • prior to that I even helped put bloody goldfish in the baths for the carnivals. It was undoubtedly here where I had my first beer (Lager and Lime • the shame) and I've had many more since. I've been all over the country watching them. It is part of the fabric of my life as an Orreller. When I moved away to London it was always close to my heart. And since I've come back I have made many friends through the club. But the last few years have been worrying frightening and genuinely upsetting. It will be heartbreaking to watch the last game at Edge Hall Road.
But it has to end. And while now is not the time to discuss what has gone wrong -now is the time to move forward and look to the future. We need a proper club. With a thriving clubhouse and a community feel. We need the buzz that we had not that long ago. We need people drinking and singing and keeping the Orrelf spirit alive. I want to enjoy watching my rugby again • at whatever level that may be. And I want to have some of the days that I used to have watching Orrell rugby. From when I was a teenager crammed into the shed against Quins and the (then) mighty Coventry. Watching our rise through the ranks. Watching mates of mine play for the club and in one case the British Lions. Watching rugby greats from other clubs. Being packed onto the terraces against the Bath's and Leicester's of this world. Listening to the abuse being dished out to the officials in that good no-nonsense way. At Orrell we have no airs and graces but we have class galore. Bloody loads of it Then just going back into the bar and yapping with players and fans alike.
Ah the clubhouse! The great, great clubhouse! Everybody smiling. Everything so simple and so bloody good! The marvellous kitchen with the famous "Orrell Stew" and the packed members bar. The packed Rose & Crown down the road. The Station Hotel overflowing and everybody going watching the great rugby that has been played there over the years.
All that said we have to leave Edge Hall Road. "To cut a long story short" it is no longer our home. We all know that and I for one am (strangely) looking forward to next season - whatever that might bring. That isn't to say I won't have a tear in my eye on 21st April.
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Post by Pricey on Mar 21, 2007 15:36:46 GMT
Just realise (takes a while for a scousers brain to start) as well as it being are last season on EHR were also 80 years old this year. Is their any plans to celebrate this??
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Post by Vaughanie on Mar 21, 2007 16:52:54 GMT
Vaughanie from Mudhutters here.
Cheers for putting the article I did on the messageboard and feel free to send to friends (and enemies).
And also to let you know: quite a few Latics fans are forsaking Liverpool for Edge Hall Road that day
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Post by Gloucester Nick on Mar 26, 2007 12:47:08 GMT
I have just heard this tragic news. I remember fondly the many matches that I attended at Edge Hall Road with Gloucester - whatever the result! There was always a good atmosphere and the visiting supporters were always welcome.
I remember in the 70s another great club ( who will remain nameless) putting a rope across their clubhouse and saying "thats your side". There has even in the last couple of years been an instance of another great club saying that there was no room in their clubhouse for visiting welsh supporters for a European game and even ejecting those who had got in early.
These events would never have happened at your club and that makes this news all the sadder.
I do not know the background to this - perhaps someone could fill us in. However I do wish you all the best wherever you are playing next year and hope that the once mighty Orrell will one day come back.
All the best Gloucester Nick
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Post by Joe on Mar 26, 2007 16:39:23 GMT
Thanks for the support Nick. While our food tent is 'considerably' smaller than the old clubhouse, we have nonetheless managed to continue the Orrell ethos of providing enjoyable hospitality this season, something we are all very proud of.
That's why I keep plugging away, doing what I can for the club - I find it incredible that with absolutely nothing but a name, we are still united and determined to continue. It has been an honour for a young lad like me to have worked alongside people such as Jon Buer, Martin Stanton, Paul Wilson, Tony Pegg and Jim Lloyd but to name a few and I can only hope I can be afforded that pleasure again next season.
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Post by Martin S on Mar 29, 2007 23:36:42 GMT
I have been browsing around the forums of some other Rugby Clubs. i noticed that Joe has already put posts on some of them (nice one).
This is a great way to raise the profile of the club, and its plight, and there will be many rugby supporters around the UK that might want to see EHR before the end.
So... help us out by getting on any rugby forums and telling the tale (any tale - just so long as they look at our web site).
Those that have been done (and seen by me so far) are:
Gloucester (Joe)
Bristol (Joe)
Worcester (me)
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Post by exglosterboy on Mar 31, 2007 15:51:37 GMT
Having been to EHR many times as a Goster Supporter i can honestly say that Orrell was the most freindly happy and welcoming club in the then leagues. i have a lasting memory of waching Dewi Morris playing against Gloster in his last season, scoring a try and the crowd baying for him to take the conversion which he missed.
A great club with RFU roots. long may you survive wherecer you play.
Best Wishes for the future.
ps now living in Worcesetr hence the EX Gloster Boy.
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Post by 5000milesfromhome on Apr 11, 2007 9:41:41 GMT
I've been living in the States for a few years now and I'm truly saddened to see the fall from grace of yet another great club. Richmond, London Scottish, Wakefield and now Orrell - I'm sure there are others.
As a Gloster boy Orrell was always a favorite place to visit - need I mention the old clubhouse? And of course the banter was first class, which we always appreciated.
My kids will be sad to hear this news, Orrell was one of their first fixtures and they still talk about it years later.
Just take heart from the number of true rugby fans around the country who will be cheering you on from afar, and the recovery that Richmond are making. It can be done and we all look forward to seeing Orrell climb back up the tables.
Orrell could have been supported by the RFU (although the RFU is real good at sticking the knife in - ask Richmond). Frankly its yet another example of the appalling mismanagement of the game by the RFU - when are we going to wake up and get rid of Baron and all that lot. Idiots.
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Post by Colin Grant on Apr 12, 2007 9:12:33 GMT
I have read all the messages about the past but it is the future we should be looking to and on that note Orrell under 15s will be kicking off the day on saturday 21st with a warm up match against Tarlton so if you would like to see what Orrell has to offer for the future look no further. Kick off is 11.30 these lads have heart and soul for Orrell and it should be a cracking game. So come early and support the future.
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