| CLUB CALL | KEYPERSONNEL Troy Perkins


Position:Head Coach Joined:2006


The biggest change for us in Championship 1 is commitment; we are asking amateur players to train three times a week. This will test the commitment of players. One guy that played in the Grand Final last year has told me he just can’t commit to the training, which is a shame, but we need the guys to be available.


We started training much earlier than any other club this year and considering we won the National Conference 3 in September, we only had a five week break, so the transition from amateur to semi-professional had to be quick. This isn’t a main source of income for the guys, so we have to understand when players


Bob Brown


Position:Chairman Joined:1981


I don’t think ‘exciting’ is the word to use about moving into championship 1... I would say ‘challenging’! We are looking forward to the season but between now and then there is an awful lot to do both off and on the field. The ground isn’t ready and we have less than three months until we start playing. I’m confident that we will get there. The paint may still be drying as the first spectators take their seats, but I’m sure everything will be alright on the day, as they say!


I was at Scholars when they were in Championship so I’ve come up through the ranks and I’ve got some experience in this league, but it is a new club I’m with now so it’s always something to look forward to.


Aaron Small


Position:Winger Joined:2013


It is a big step up to semi-pro. We have to train a lot harder, there’s a lot more to take in, but the fact that everyone is here shows the


are missing due to work commitments, but on the flip side you have to be strict.


I’ve set us the goal of making it to the play-offs. It’s a realistic goal but there’s going to have to be a lot of hard work and we might need a bit of luck. I’m asking the players to over achieve, but I think it’s better to set the bar high and remain competitive.


I don’t like to make training complicated. We don’t get a lot of time together, so we work hard on our core skills. However, sessions should be fun. After a long hard day at work players don’t want to do boring sessions. They have to look forward to training and that will mean great results for us at the end of the day.


There are an awful lot of T’s to be crossed and I’s to be dotted, but you have to have an idea of the broader picture of why we are doing this and for us it is that when we started in 1981 we made a commitment that this sport was going to stay in Hemel and this is a continuation of it. We have always seen the bigger picture, taken our time and put down deep roots.


We now have a commercially successful club and a bright future.


commitment. Everyone is happy, there is a lot of energy.


A good coach knows what they are doing. When you are out there training you need to accept what they are telling you to do. You know that you are going to get the best out of it, so when you play you are getting the best out of what you have been coached.


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