Angels on the side of Washington RFC
Washington rugby club has played under the wings of Gateshead’s Angel of the North leading a nomadic existence, moving from council pitches to school pitches and using social clubs and pubs for a social life since its establishment.
The pandemic then added more challenges as fewer players returned and volunteers worked to rebuild, with recruitment being the main focus. They took part in the Back in the Game initiative and things began to improve, but then after the summer break numbers at training dropped again.
Other clubs were recovering but Washington, despite their best efforts, were teetering on the brink of closure. Determined to keep their club alive, there were many meetings, new volunteers brought in, including previous members who had moved on to play at other clubs but were now looking for more social rugby closer to home.
With returnees on the club’s committee alongside existing volunteers, training resumed and games were played again. The aim was to play one fixture a month, allowing players to drop in and out when it suits them. They have found an appetite from other social teams to play fixtures against them.
Back to basics
They seem to have returned to their roots, having been formed in 2005 by a small group of players from the disbanded Durham Constabulary RFC and initially playing only friendly games. They moved on to the Durham Junior League, finished runners up twice and even fielded a second team.
For the 2009-2010 season, the club took their place in Durham and Northumberland Div 3 but finished bottom. They continued to be part of Durham and Northumberland Div 3, and even made the Durham County Cup final, losing to Newton Aycliffe.
And then life took a turn for the worse before they recently found a home at an FA football hub, with the benefit of floodlights and an artificial pitch but lacking social space. This new site allows for Friday night games, which they alternate with Saturday afternoon matches. For post-match socialising they formed a relationship with the local social club which has a bar and bargain prices.
Numbers growing again
Washington have a plan - they want to serve the modern player, people with varying work patterns and family responsibilities at the weekends. They are taking part in County Durham’s Rugby Nights project to link with other clubs happy to play evenings rather than Saturday afternoons.
It has been a testing time but the angels seem to be on their side as they determine to give local players a rugby experience that suits their lifestyles. There has been lots of positive feedback, numbers are growing both at training and games, former players are reappearing and new players are arriving.
A recent game saw 25 players available and they were able to lend players to the opposition. Now building a reputation as a club with a good social rugby offer which lets players commit to as little or as much rugby as they want, they like the Angel of the North are spreading their wings and after all that has become one of the most talked about and recognisable pieces of public art ever produced.
