Burntwood on the right track
Three Staffordshire clubs who backed Burntwood Rugby Club's formation back in 1972 featured in a sponsored walk marking the club’s 50th anniversary.
Starting at Walsall RFC and heading for Tamworth RUFC, walkers recognised those clubs’ help in proposing and seconding Burntwood's affiliation to the RFU, with support from the Staffordshire CB. On they went to Lichfield RUFC, who hosted Burntwood’s first ever game. Just under 30 miles were covered in ten and a half hours, with fundraising in support of The Wooden Spoon children's rugby charity.
A week later the club's age grade players staged a relay race against a train. With the Burntwood club located within Chasewater Country Park, the challenge was to set off with two oversized rugby balls from Brownhills West Station on the far side of the lake. One went by train around the lake’s northern half, while the other was carried by relay runners around the southern half.
.jpg)
The Colts and U16s began the race, then passed the ball to younger squads until the U8s and U9s scored the try back at the club. A sweepstake on the time difference between the arrival of the two balls helped the fundraising efforts. The two events raised over £900 for the charity, which combined with contributions made during the season meant the club could present a four figure sum to The Wooden Spoon.
With a whole new meaning to training, a fine 50th season saw the club’s 1st team complete a cup and league double by winning the Staffordshire Intermediate Trophy, beating Stafford for the first time ever, and topping Counties 2 Midlands West (North). The 2nd team won Staffs League Division 2 East and have successfully applied to enter Counties 4 Midlands West (North) for the coming season.
With numbers of young players growing, Burntwood can look forward to steaming to their next 50 years.
