Youth Rugby
Introduction
All our coaches are volunteers, who do it for the love of the game, come rain or shine. They are all CRB checked as laid out in RFU child protection requirements.
Under 7s' Coach & Minis' Chairman
Alan Farmer
Alan joined OEs 1996 when he came along as an "interested" parent with his son Sam (now an England player at 16 group).Within a short space of time he was helping coach his sons age group and when they moved up Alan stayed to coach the new cohort of Under 7's - he has been there ever since ! A keen sportsman Alan soon added his RFU level 1 coaching badge to his level 1 FA badge. Alan has since taken on the role of Child Protection Officer and Chair of the Mini Rugby Section at OE's. Alan has stayed with the Under 7's because in his words "It is the group that shows the greatest level of improvement in the shortest period of time and therefore provides the greatest reward".
Email: farmeram@aol.com
Under 8s' Head Coach
Nick Marshall
I brought my son,Harry, to the U7s 2 years ago and he was instantly addicted to he game. My playing experience was all at school where I represented my prep school, then Sutton Valence from U11 up to the 1st XV (but mainly the 2nds, due to an extremely talented scrum half who kept me out). On leaving school I actually urned out for OEs on one occasion. Myself and the other coaches- Mark Prior, Kevin Day, John Fuller and Matt Lancaster will do our best to ensure thatthe U8s first and foremost have lot of fun. We will be kept in check by Vivienne Toomey who will be our administrator.
Email: wnm.home@btinternet.com
Mob: 07775 824538
Under 9s' Head Coach
Trevor Glasspole
Trevor has spent the last 2 seasons helping Alan with the under 7's, but is now taking the bold step into the position of head coach of the under 8's. We wish him all the luck and look forward to his liquid initiation at the open day!
Email: tgp1@sky.com
Under 10s' Coaches
Graeme Gadsby, Roger Smith, John Eversley, Mark Pryor, Mike Higginson and Nathan Adolpho
All the coaches were invlved in coaching the team last year and bring a range of playing experience and level 1 coaching qualifications to the mix. We are looking to build on a very successful first season of contact rugby last year, and ensure that the boys enjoy their rugby at OE's in a friendly, happy and safe environment'.
Email: markpryor@rbs.com
Under 11s' Head Coach
Graham Luxford
Graham is a product of the Charlton Park Rugby academy where he revelled in the nickname 'Orca'. A hard running full back in his time, Graham was regularly mistaken for a prop forward. He continues with the under 10s after winning the Kent plate with the boys last season. Graham enjoys his food!
Email: graham.luxford@bt.com
Under 12s' Head Coach
Andy Miller
Under 13s
Mark Garratt, Steve Emmerson and Andy Wilkins
Under 14s' Head Coach
Russell Taylor
Russell joined Old Elthamians in 1997 when two of his sons decided to play rugby at the club following their move to Bromley. After spending Sundays o the sideline, watching them play, he decided to become more involved by helping with the coaching. He started at the beginning by working with the under 7s with Alan Farmer. This encouraged him to carry on and he has moved up with the same team. He is a Level 1 coach and is looking forward to seeing his team progress to the senior level.
The 2007/8 season saw a number of new boys joining the squad and it is hoped that the U14s will be able to run 2 complete teams this season. The highlight of 2007/8 was reaching the Kent Cup final where the boys narrowly lost to Cranbrook.
Mob: 07766 776046
Email: russell2@sky.com
Under 15s' Head Coach
Paul Shakespeare
Under 15s' Team Manager
Ian Sutton
Under 16s' Head Coach
Peter Leaton
Peter found rugby late in life; he started playing at 36,after watching his son, Jonathan, playing for the under 7s. He plays for the 1st XV at the senior club and is easily the oldest player on the pitch. He began coaching when Jonathan moved up to the under 8s and has stayed with the same team as they have grown. Peter is currently working towards his Level 2 qualification. He is also thesection Fixtures secretary.
Email: peterleaton@hotmail.com
Chairman of Youth Rugby & Under 17s' Head Coach
Stuart White
Stuart has coached at Old Elthamians for at least ten years, with two different age-groups. He currently runs the under 17s, having taken over as head coach at the under 10 level. This team has grown from low numbers to one with almost a dozen county players, at Kent, Surrey, Middlesex and East Midlands along with 2 England representatives.
Currently the team is close to the being the best in Kent, losing and beating Blackheath in end-of-season encounters last season. Now Medway have nosed their way in, having beaten us in the final of the Kent tens earlier this season.
Stuart still turns out (albeit slowly) in the senior third team, where he gives the refereee the benefit of his experience!
Email: s_white_oe@yahoo.co.uk
