U11

Old Pats Under 11

Welcome

We hope to build on the strong foundations of the previous season, which showed real progression, culminating in; taking 3 teams (the only club to do so) to the Gloucestershire County Festival, our first overnight Rugby Tour to Weston Super-Mare and playing a Tag Rugby Festival at Twickenham.

Luke Buckle heads the coaching team made up of 8 parents from this age group, leading the children through their rugby development with the focus being on fun, safety and teamwork.

We recognise the important role that friendships and having fun plays in sustaining children’s participation. For this reason, we do not focus solely on winning. Instead, we focus on developing skills and challenging players to be the best player they can be. Match teams are NOT selected on ability but on attitude, attendance and commitment.

Old Pats U11

This season

We intend to run 2 team squads of mixed ability for the forthcoming season, although players will be interchangeable, and we may make up a 3rd team if the opposition can handle our numbers.

We will once again take part in the Gloucestershire RFU County Festival in the spring, but we will also be entering a team into the Defender Premiership Rugby Cup Festival hosted at Cheltenham College in February.

The squads will train and play their home matches at The Park playing fields again this season. Training is generally between 09.45 and 11:15 every Sunday, unless we have matches when the times may vary.

All training and match day information is communicated to parents and carers via our Teamo Player Management App. Please ensure you are connected to this!

Please get in touch if you would like your son or daughter (Girls remain eligible to play in mixed teams at U11 level) to join the Old Pats U11’s. We are always on the lookout for new players.

Old Pats U11

Coaching team and officials

Luke Buckle

Head Coach

Michael Fletcher

Coach

Chris Brear

Team Manager and Assitant Head Coach

Rob Higginbotham

Coach

Mike Prentice

Coach

Matt Peplow

Coach

Andrew Gallagher

Coach

David Mason

Coach

Old Pats U11

Our ethos

Our Club Ethos, based around the RFU core values of Teamwork, Respect, Enjoyment, Discipline and Sportsmanship (TREDS), is at the very heart of everything we do.

We are committed to developing the confidence and self-belief of every player from the U9’s to the Seniors by providing them with the opportunities, encouragement and support they need to enjoy their rugby to the full and fulfil their potential as a player and a teammate.

To this end, the rugby environment we create for our young players, irrespective of ability or experience must be safe, fun, and inclusive.

Old Pats is committed to mixed ability sides offering equal opportunity for all as players develop skills at different ages. Investing in all our players, rather than a select few, results in players, parents, teams, and the club as a whole benefiting in the long term.

Old Pats U11

2024-25 fixtures

Month	Date	Opposition/Activity/Event	Venue	Additional Info
AUGUST	06/08/2024	SUMMER TRAINING	H	Tuesday Evening 6-7pm
	13/08/2024	SUMMER TRAINING	H	Tuesday Evening 6-7pm
	20/08/2024	SUMMER TRAINING	H	Tuesday Evening 6-7pm
	27/08/2024	SUMMER TRAINING	H	Tuesday Evening 6-7pm
SEPTEMBER	01/09/2024
	08/09/2024	First Training Session	H	First Contact session of the Season
	09/09/2024	Training	H
	10/09/2024	Training	H
	29/09/2024	Training	H
OCTOBER	06/10/2024	Cheltenham North	H
	13/10/2024	Training	H
	20/10/2024	Tewkesbury RFC	H
	27/10/2024	Training	H
NOVEMBER	03/11/2024	Cirencester RFC	H
	10/11/2024	Cheltenham Tigers	A
	17/11/2024	Training	H
	24/11/2024	Bredon RFC	H
DECEMBER	01/12/2024	Training	H
	08/12/2024	Cheltenham North	A
	15/12/2024	Clifton RFC	A
	22/12/2024	Training	H
	29/12/2024	XMAS Break
JANUARY	05/01/2025	Training	H
	12/01/2025	Bredon RFC	A
	19/01/2025	Training	H
	26/01/2025	Training	H
FEBRUARY	02/02/2025	Cheltenham Tigers	H
	09/02/2025	Training	H
	16/02/2025	Defender Premiership Cup	A	Festival @ Cheltenham College
	23/02/2025	Cirencester RFC	A
MARCH	02/03/2025	Training	H
	09/03/2025	Glos. RFU Festival	A	Festival @ Chosen Hill RFC
	16/03/2025	Dings Crusaders RFC	H
	23/03/2025	TOUR	TBC	Provisional Date 21-23rd
	30/03/2025	Training	H
APRIL	06/04/2025	Tewkesbury RFC	A
	13/04/2025	TOUR	TBC	Provisional Date 11-13th
	20/04/2025	EASTER SUNDAY
	27/04/2025	Chipping Norton Rugby Festival	A	Festival @ Chipping Norton RFC

Old Pats U11

Home turf

We train and play at:

University of Gloucestershire Park Campus

Park Campus, The Park, Cheltenham GL50 2RH

Training Times:

09:45-11:15

Additional directions:

The carpark is situated on the western side of the campus and access to the playing fields is near the entrance to the carpark and the Multi Use Games Area.

Facilities:

There are toilets in the main university building. Go to main reception and take an imediate left passing the referctory on the right, toilets are then on the left.