Rare Pluck

Remembering Private 2395 Arthur Ossie Chambers.

Percy Park RFC

As Remembrance Day approaches my thoughts drifted to a relative of mine whose partial remains were recently found by the Ministry of Defence, within an area known as Polygon Wood on the Ypres Salient of the Western front. An area that formed part of the First Battle of Passchendaele in 1917 and a section of the line allocated to Battalions from The Northumberland Fusiliers. William was 19 when he died on the 12^th of October when a German artillery barrage took his life. In my research and conversations, I became aware of a former Percy Park RFC member who also lost his life whilst serving the same regiment as William. His name is on our memorial board on top of the stairs, just to the right, before you enter the doors that take you to the ‘long bar’ in the Clubhouse. Ask yourself; when was the last time you looked at that memorial and gave the names written thereon a thought?

I hope that this note of remembrance will encourage you to drift over to that memorial and consider the sacrifice of Private 2395 Arthur Ossie Chambers 1^st Battalion of Northumberland Fusiliers. A truly brave man who lost his life on the 7^th May 1916 at Kemmel Chateau near Ypres, in one of the most brutal battles of World War 1.

Ossie Chambers was a married Cullercoats man, born on Dockwray Square North Shields, and a well-known athletic rugby player who played for both Percy Park and Rockcliff. He was described as a ‘half back’, a ‘very useful player and prolific try scorer’, ‘though not blessed with height or weight as most rugger men, he possessed rare pluck and gave many fine performances’. From those very kind words, he was obviously well thought of and had some talent.

Summer past a group of intrepid historical buffs travelled from Tyneside across to the fields of Flanders. Their aim to find members of Rockcliff Rugby Club who had lost their lives in the conflict, with a view of creating a honour board/monument similar to what we have at Percy Park. My thanks go Ritchie Bloomfield et al for providing the photographs and ‘Sir’ Knott for providing the research.

When the First World War broke out in August 1914, the Northumberland Fusiliers were an infantry regiment of the British Army consisting of 7 battalions. As the conflict progressed their numbers expanded to 52 battalions, although not all existed at the same time. It was the second largest infantry regiment of the British Army during World War I.

The Northumberland Fusiliers earned 67 battle honours and was awarded five Victoria Crosses, but at the cost of over 16,000 soldiers killed in action, and many thousands wounded. The Northumberland Fusiliers mostly saw action in the main theatre of war, engaged in static trench warfare on the Western Front in Belgium and France. Ossie Chambers and William Atkinson were two. Losing their lives at an age younger than the majority of our First Team. A sobering thought

May we never forget.

And on that note, I will (with others if interested) will research the names that accompany Ossie on our memorial board and bring their story of sacrifice back to life. They are and always will be part of who we are.

Percy Park RFC in the community

A quick recap. In November 2019 Percy Park became involved with Coach Core and the Royal Foundation with the aim of developing the next generation of inspirational coaches, and chose Adam Hay as our Community Rugby Development Officer. Tom Robinson has recently joined Adam as an apprentice under the tutelage of our player coach Ash Smith.

Adam and Tom have been tasked to reach out to partners in our local community to give young people an opportunity to enjoy and play the game of Rugby Union in a safe environment.

The question we have been asked is: how are we doing?

The answer is an easy one. Very well. We have seven primary schools in the North Tyneside area ‘signed up’ to our development programme. Adam and Tom are representing Percy Park in lesson time and after school clubs.  Not only that, through their involvement, Percy Park has held three school festivals with 200 plus young people attending our club to play age appropriate rugby. Adam and Tom have proven to be popular role models.

When they gave the offer of free admission to watch a 1^st XV game against South Shields Westoe, Percy Park was inundated with young people wearing their Percy Park Community T shirts running around our club grounds throwing or kicking rugby balls to anyone would pass the ball back. Whilst engaged their parents enquired of club official’s information on how they could get their child involved whilst taking advantage of the match day environment.

Sunday mornings have always been the traditional game time for our younger members. Adam and Tom are around assisting with coaching and team games. Playing an active role in coach development. Their presence has helped as interested families take their first steps through the gates. A daunting step for any young person made easier by our Development teams presence.

Adam and Tom are also involved with our junior teams helping out at mid week training providing that ‘extra’ to our volunteer coaches. We all know that numbers in different age groups can fluctuate. To assist Adam and Tom have been in discussions with middle and senior schools to see if we can support their curriculum. I am pleased to report that we have two middle and senior schools signed up with programmes starting in November 21.

None of the above would have been possible without the support and financial assistance of Wade Financial and the Northumbria Police Crime Commissioner (PCC). Kim McGuiness and her team are involved!!

Where else has our development team had an influence?

Along with assistance from Northumberland Rugby Union, Adam has been involved in supporting and preparing our embryonic Woman and Girls team to play the game of Rugby Union. Over 25 women participate in a female only training sessions. Adam and the volunteers involved with the team, have put in plenty of hard work and its paid off. Our Percy Park Panthers side playing competitively in the Women’s National League. There is still work to be done with an aim to start a team that young girls can participate in. Hopefully the days where our young people had to migrate to Morpeth, Tynedale or Whitley Bay Rockcliff will soon leave us.

Outside of our rugby club we have established a great relationship with Coach Core and RISE in Tyne and Wear. RISE is an organisation that aims to unlock the potential of young people through physical activity. Creating a better quality of life for our communities. Coach Core and RISE students are assisting Percy Park with school festivals and will aid our 150^th year of being celebrations.

If you have a moment take a look at www.wearerise.co.uk they provide a platform for many to create better life choices and we at Percy Park are a big part of that effort in North Tyneside.

Giving opportunity is a statement all at Percy Park RFC are invested in. We are, and always will be, a people focused rugby club that prides itself on being a focal point in our community. Adam Hay, Tom Robinson and Ash Smith are an integral and a talented part of that effort.

The author answered the question How are we doing? with a bold ‘very well’ we at Percy Park believe the evidence is there to be seen. Others have seen it too. We have been nominated in the Employer of the Year category for a National recognised Award to be held at the Kia Oval in London on 10^th December 2021. Maybe the bold answer of ‘very well’ isn’t all that bold!!

Tom Robinson signs on

as Percy Park’s new Apprentice Community Rugby Development Officer

Percy Park RFC, supported by Wade Financial, are delighted to announce that Tom Robinson has been appointed to assist our Club Development Officer Adam Hay as part of our Community Rugby Development Team.

Tom will be following Adam’s footsteps by studying and gaining qualifications through Coach Core and Lifestyle Training sponsored by the Royal Foundation (formerly the Princes Trust).

Our Community programme is in ‘full swing’ with Adam and Tom visible in many schools within North Tyneside. Their efforts are being rewarded with a number of young people joining our mini and junior age groups ensuring that Percy Park remain a viable and strong community rugby club well into the future.

Percy Park RFC have always been immensely proud of our mini and junior sections and of our volunteers within, who help and aid wherever they can, to ensure that Percy Park remain successful in allowing opportunity to participate in our chosen sport. Tom Robinson will play a big part in that team.

We wish Tom well in his endeavours.

Building the Future

Percy Park RFC are delighted to announce the appointment of Adam Hay as our Community Rugby Development Officer (CRDO)

In November 2019 Percy Park became involved with Coach Core and the Royal Foundation with the aim of developing the next generation of inspirational coaches, and chose Adam Hay as our apprentice. Despite COVID-19 Adam has done really well, receiving plaudits from the RFU, Newcastle Falcons, North Tyneside Council and the many schools that he has been able to visit. Adam has also been working with' hard to reach groups' in the Meadow Well and North Shields areas. He has done so well that we are offering him a role to continue his work as we recover from the destructive effects of a pandemic. A role that carries more responsibility than we ever envisaged. 

Adam is tasked to reach out to partners in our local community and rebuild our Rugby Club whilst giving young people an opportunity to enjoy and play the game of Rugby Union in a safe environment.

Adam will also play an active role in coach development. He will support local teachers and club coaches in increasing their knowledge, and confidence delivering the Percy Park coaching philosophy and values.

Through building relationships with local educational settings and with club members, we hope Adam will help to strengthen our player numbers and improve performance through the delivery high quality coaching and mentoring.

We wish him well.