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| COMMUNITY COACHING |


ACORNS... C


FROMLITTLE


Thatto Heath is a community club that continues to set coaching standards and inspire the next generation to fulfill their potential.


ommunity clubs are the heart and soul of Rugby League. It is while under the protective branches of such places that children discover


a love of the game, have their talent nurtured, and the lucky few that really excel go on to forge a successful career in the game.


Rubbing shoulders with the mighty oak that is St Helens RLFC, Thatto Heath is living proof that little acorns can flourish if the growing conditions are right.


Indeed, Alex Murphy, one of the greatest half-backs in the history of the game and also a former St Helens player and coach of the 1980s and 90s, cut his teeth at a club renowned as a hotbed for nurturing young talent.


During the last 20 years, Heath has become one of the most successful outfits in amateur rugby league circles. They’ve won one National Cup Trophy, a record five County Cups, two Champions Challenge successes, a record seven NWC Premier Division titles, two NWC Challenge Cups, three NWC Premier Challenge Cups and eight St Helens Cups.


In recent times they have welcomed the previously ‘nomadic’ Warrington Ladies into their home – creating


for the first time an open age ladies team. Coach Nigel Johnson is delighted that the girls now have a home with a steady stream of youngsters coming up through the ranks to develop and strengthen his open age setup.


‘It’s fantastic for girls’ rugby in St Helens as we now have a pathway from juniors to open age,’ he says. ‘We were impressed with the training and playing facilities [at Thatto Heath]. The girls have already had a run out on first team main pitch which is going to suit our style of play.


With the new season approaching it is really exciting to be joining a top amateur club who have welcomed us with open arms. They have a great girls section run by Geoff Allford.’


Johnson is thrilled at the prospect of playing out of a club with such great facilities. The club themselves have recently taken advantage of an RFL facilities grant to improve pitch drainage which has made more of the space around the facility into playable areas.


Dad to Sam 22, Ashleigh, 15, Sarah, two, and five–month- old Tommy, Johnson has his hands full at home. However, his partner Kath was an original member of the


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