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| CLUB CALL |


CLUB CALL


emel Hempstead was introduced to the game of Rugby League on 3 April 1981 when Bob Brown arrived from Australia with a desire to set up a Rugby League club in the south of England.


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After growing up playing in Australia and Papua New Guinea, he wanted to continue in the game when he emigrated to England and the only option was to start his own club, despite many challenges and general expectations that the club would fail and pack up in a very short time.


The club began as a pub team, playing in car parks or anywhere with sufficient light. They wore borrowed shirts, some of which are framed and can be seen in the entrance of the club-house as a reminder of the burgeoning club’s humble beginnings.


“I’m asking the players to over achieve, but I think it’s better to set the bar high and remain competitive.”


Troy Perkins


Bob has always maintained that Rugby League is there to stay in Hemel and, after rallying the community in the club’s fourth season, a social clubhouse was built. This venue now serves the town with a friendly place to call in for a beer or two, and with no less than seven darts teams, the place has a real community feel.


Coaching Matters visits clubs up and down the country to see what ‘s happening...up first is new Championship 1 side Hemel Stags


The club itself is part-owned by its supporters trust, giving the fans ownership of their team.


Hemel Stags is partly responsible for the fact that over 90% of the town’s school children have had experience of Rugby League – even if that is just having held a ball thanks to their commitment to community involvment.


The club has never stopped growing and developing and, after two previous attempts, has now taken the step into the semi-professional Championship 1.


Hemel Stags has come a long way in the last 32 years and now has teams in the mini age group, the London Junior League, an Under 20s academy team and, of course, now the move to Championship 1.


Coach Troy Perkins acknowledges the competition will be difficult.


‘The guys need to be at their best and work hard, otherwise they are going to be on the wrong end of some big scorelines.


‘It does help that we are not the only new team in Championship 1. Having those other newly promoted clubs along with us means we can measure up against them.’


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