22 Jun 2010 | Rugby
On Saturday 19th June the first Under 12 Rugby Tournament took place at The Club. 33 players from 6 schools played in the event, which was the result of a Youth Programme carried out in the local schools. Congratulations go to the Freeport
Devils who ran out the winners. Congratulations to all those who took part for an outstanding tournament that everyone enjoyed. Thanks go to the more senior Youth Players who assisted in the organising of the event.
22 Jun 2010 | Football
The Soccer Summer Camp is underway. Much to our delight we have 150 kids registered. Many thanks to all those wonderful people who have helped by sponsoring a child. You need to be there to see the delight on the faces of those kids who have never experienced anything like it. To be given 2 free kits is just amazing!!
18 Jun 2010 | Rugby
Ruggers and friends,
Once again for the 7th or 8th time I have traveled to Freeport Bahamas with the ORBS(old renegade boys side) the Atlanta Renegade old boys. I met up with these guys by accident when in preparation for there first trip to Freeport dubbed the” Nautical tour” one of there members was looking for a dock space to moor his boat after the trip to Freeport. They went on line to the ft Lauderdale rfc website and asked did anyone on our club have dock space for a sail boat. My name was referred and since then the “Osprey” has been at my dock and made the annual trip to Freeport to enjoy memorial day festivities. At the time I was recovering from my shoulder dislocation suffered in a D11 game vs Krewe(Tampa) I had not played for at least 6 months and these guys were 2 players short and needed backs so I got talked into going to Freeport and have been touring with the Orbs since then including trips to Saranac lake canam games. All tours have been great and now for this most recent tour.
Several Lauderdale guys have toured with me to Freeport including Horovitz,tinerman,Reiland,graboski,Gavin,garvey and Sarah and now Rocco and Sylvia. Sharon and I usually take the Discovery Cruise line over and this year they offered a package which included 3 days hotel at the Lucaya reef Hotel and it was a super deal. The seas were great going over and coming back, the ship was packed. Part of our package included all the Busch beer you could drink while on board!! Rocco and Sylvia were lit up before we lost site of land. Usually reserved Sylvia was happy go lucky funny while on holiday and that’s what this entire trip was a great holiday. Unfortunately Rocco came as the ref not to play. Hopefully he comes next year to play.
The Orbs were traveling light this year(economy i guess) Korndog, who lives in lighthouse, usually comes with 4 or 5 boats full of party people did not make the trip at all. He was recovering from Achilles tendon surgery and he sold his 50′ Post yacht and his party crew was missed. We had to pick up a total stranger who never played and put him on a wing and a Freeport player now living in Hollywood also joined our ranks. we had 15 guys which meant i had to play all 60 minutes(three 20s).
We had the usual outstanding pack and won plenty of ball, the backs are usually the suspect item for the orbs and this year we had a wing who never played at all, another wing borrowed from Freeport, who when he played for Freeport was in my opinion the weakest link on a very strong side, and a center who at age 42 was playing his third game!!! We also had and excellent scrumhalf(Alex rocca) and an Englishman at flyhalf who talked a lot but knew exactly what needed to be done and was an excellent field general for us and helped keep our rookie players useful and involved in the game, we also had an inside center who was a monster, he was fast and strong with a menacing look about him(think roger tigner on steroids!!) As usual I was at fullback to try to keep freeports excellent kicking game from killing us.
Despite having 2 rookies in the backfield this may have been one of the best backfields we’ve ever had. Jeremy, the wing we borrowed from freeport played the best game i have ever seen him play, fielding most balls cleanly and taking it to his old mates and certainly held his ground on defense.
Our bone stock rookie (Dan) was nothing short of amazing and should consider taking up old boy rugby. He was very fast, strong and in great shape(Physical fitness trainer) he made some mistakes for sure but was a monster on defense and saved our ass many times with great effort on his part.
The monster inside center(Tiny) ran through the defense and was difficult to follow as he was all over the place at times. Tiny got nailed good one time and it cost him a rib which slowed him a bit, but for the most part freeport couldn’t stop him and he scored all 4 of our trys, that is the part which leaves me slightly hollow with our win because Tiny was a little under age at 32 yrs old. If he wasn’t such an impact it wouldn’t matter and in the past i know i have tackled some Freeport Conchs who were not 35 either so i do not want to dwell on Tinys age.
The conchs understand we are on tour in a very lean year and they knew we had to play who we brung. As I said before Tiny was a strong runner and fast ,who wasn’t afraid to take the ball into the largest Conch and take the hit. He wasn’t much at dishing off the ball to anyone mainly because he usually got through! I came very close to hooking up with him on some switches but he was a little too fast for me to stay close to on some runs plus i would get tired and he didnt! I had a reasonable game at fullback, I dropped one of Nigels kicks and he nailed me for it plus Rocco saw it and it cost us a scrum. Nigel tested me and the wings as often as he could and netted at least one of their scores when little Johnny(Conch scrumhalf) ran down Nigels kick(with support) our rookie wing Dan did the best he could to cover the excellent kick which caught me on the other side of the field covering what looked to be a strong side attack but Nigel did me dirty and went weak side with the kick, little johnny and speed winger Tony covered the kick perfectly and overcame Dan and I was no where to be found sucking wind on the other side of the field.
Little Johnny (freeports man of the match) almost sank us as he ran through the entire Orbs pack untouched after a penalty inside our 22 at the opening of the 2nd period. The penalty came after poor coverage of yet another Nigel kick for position(he kills us with his foot every year) I told the Orbs to be ready for an onslaught at the start of the second period and as usual the Conchs came out with both guns blazing as i knew they would and caught us flatfooted, as usual!! Then the dagger in my heart, later in that period about 10 yards from our try line the conchs are attacking again, both teams are clustered just right of the posts and the larger part of the field is guarded by myself and the outside center, we are not over loaded but a lot of field to cover.
Nigel sends the ball out to Rob Speller who takes it into the outside center, Nigel quickly fields the ball from the ruck, now i am looking at Nigel who could run himself or pass out to Burt, the outside center who burned me last year for a try. I had to wait a second for support from the inside to cover Nigel who sent the ball out to Burt who got a great jump on me and with only 10 yds to cover there wasn’t enough room to run him down. Last year i chased him for 60 yds and he opened up a yard on me, this year i have been working hard to prevent this and within on 10 yds i was able to catch up but it was already a try. At age 60 I feel no shame over it but I am still pissed. As usual our pack kept us in the game with strong running and ball control the lineouts were the only phase we couldn’t dominate and in general the conchs kicking game was superior along with better coverage by their backs, clearly they attack our backs for their best chance to score and unlike just few years ago i am no longer capable of stopping most of what gets through.
Man of the match for the Orbs was big Bill from Savannah(Also a ref) He played #8 for us and was very mobile for a big man and you could hear the Conchs talking always mindful where Bill was as they knew he would lead an attack at any moment, as i said earlier Little Johnny was freeports man of the match and is as dangerous now as he was when Lauderdale use to travel to Freeport in the old days to play the conchs.
The party scene was even better than usual, we had players up on stage in count Bassie square dancing with tourist as well as the usual take over of rum runners lounge. We usually have a big cookout at Korndogs boat Sunday evening, since korndog didn’t make it this year Rob Speller came up with great plan B, we walked up the beach to the Coral Beach Hotel where the Orbs paid for fish and chips dinner for everyone and free booze for 2 hours and happy hour prices the rest of the night, it was great and no cleanup!!! Many of the guys brought wives or girlfriends and my daughter Nina came along with her so african girlfriend Kelly, a great time was had by all. We met Rocco and Sylvia most mornings for breakfast and started every day off right, a relaxing fun 4 day weekend and rugby too, what could be better.
If you would like to see pics let me know i will email them to you, some are x rated, you wont get those!!
Beerfoot 7s is next! who wants to play? I may hook up with the shisty bastards, anyone up for an old boy side?
Aloha,
Littleman
24 Apr 2010 | Rugby
Freeport, Grand Bahama – The boss of one of the world’s fastest-growing sporting organisations has been honoured by Grand Bahama’s longest-established sports club.
Richard Scudamore, the chief executive of the UK’s English Premier League, was recognised for his contribution to the development of youth sport, particularly soccer, on the island.
He was made an honorary life member, one of only five, by the Freeport Rugby and Football Club which has hosted the island’s hugely-popular soccer camp for the past seven years.
For the first three of those years the Premier League was the major sponsor, providing former international players as coaches and general support, including authentic club uniforms for participants. Then when the sponsorship finished he arranged a donation of almost $100,000 to help build the extended sports pitches and training areas at the club’s Settlers Way site.
The latter has helped enormously in boys and girls soccer, particularly in the latter where almost 200 girls play every Saturday afternoon in season, and also in freeing up the original pitch for use in developing young people’s rugby, including the recent club high school initiative.
Scudamore, who was on Grand Bahama for the Easter holiday staying with friends, was given his award during a small ceremony at the clubhouse. Afterwards he revealed that Freeport had been a pioneer –what had been done here was so successful it has since been extended to 43 countries worldwide.
The league has developed into a truly worldwide organisation since Scudamore took it over in November 1999. Then it was UK-only. Now its matches are watched on TV by more than 700 million people in 211 countries and territories.
Its annual turnover is measured in the billions and, according to The Times newspaper of London, it is challenging the NBA to the title of the world’s first truly global sports league.
During his visit former UK and US newspaperman Scudamore inspected the new playing area which is currently being prepared for this year’s soccer camp which is being held there from June 21 to June 25.
It will be sure to be the best camp yet and already the finest group of coaches has been assembled to lead the local volunteers. The price is being held again this year to reflect the tough times many face on the island and that means it is about a third the cost of similar events in the US.
“We have had some great coaches in the past but there is no doubt that this year’s trio will be brilliant. They have an outstanding reputation for working with children, giving them a good time but also teaching them valuable lessons,” said organiser Richard Malcolm.
“The debt we owe Richard Scudamore is enormous. The fact that he chose to support children’s sport here on relatively tiny Grand Bahama is amazing when he had the whole world to go at. That has never really been fully acknowledged by the sporting fraternity here, including the print media and TV.
“This recognition by the rugby club may not seem much to some but it is a very rare award and a very timely one. The camp organizers would like to thank the committee for it. Richard certainly understood the import of it.”
Rugby Club president Rob Speller said: “There is no doubt what we owe Richard a lot for his vision and generosity. We thought hard about what we could do to thank him and we are glad we struck a chord with him by granting him this rare recognition.”
Registration forms for this year’s camp (price $175) can be obtained from Town and Country in Yellow Pine Street; Animale, Port Lucaya; from this website; or from derek.archer1@gmail.com
24 Apr 2010 | Rugby
Freeport, Bahamas – Barbados World Cup player Matthew Joseph completes the roster of top coaching talent which has been recruited to work with Grand Bahama youngsters at this year’s Sir Jack Hayward Soccer Camp.
The 37-year-old international defender is now a full-time senior pro coach having completed more than 400 English league games for Leyton Orient and Cambridge United. He started his career with famous London club Arsenal and was player of the year in three out of his four seasons at Orient.
He is now responsible for a team of coaches developing soccer skills in young people in an area of the UK – East London and the county of Essex – with a population of almost two million. That’s more than six times the number of people living in the Bahamas.
“In our job we get to work with kids of all ages and different abilities and it really broadens your horizons. We have a massive responsibility – to give children the best guidance and understanding we can possibly give them,” he said.
“In the game itself we aim to introduce to kids fundamental skills such as balance and co-ordination while getting them comfortable off and on the ball and developing their understanding of the game generally.
“We want them to really express themselves and enjoy playing soccer. That will be my mission in Grand Bahama. ”
The highlight of Matthew’s career was playing against the USA in the 2002 World Cup qualifiers. Barbados was defeated but the USA went on to the quarter finals in South Korea and Japan, only to be defeated by the eventual tournament runners up Germany. Matthew was born in the Bethnal Green area of London but his parents’ Barbadian background qualified him to become a member of the famous “Bajan Pride” – the island’s national team.
Prior to turning out for them, though, he had already won 16 youth caps playing for England.
Matthew, lead coach Jamie Godbold and fellow newcomer Sarah Green are giving up vacation time to fly in to Freeport to pass on their skills and soccer knowledge in improving the game among young people on the island.
“I am genuinely excited by the quality of the coaches we have coming this year. In our seven years we have always had top class people but the blend we are able to bring to Grand Bahama in 2010 has to be the best yet,” said camp organiser Richard Malcolm.
“What makes it particularly excellent is that they are specialists not just in soccer coaching but in bringing out the best in young people.
“They will make sure the kids have a fantastic, fun time as well as exposing them to the latest soccer ideas. The latter will also be a big bonus for our volunteer local coaches. We have more than 20 who give up their time for the camp and the visitors will be passing on their skill and knowledge to them, too.”
The camp takes place from Monday, June 21, to Friday, June 25, at the extended playing fields of Freeport Rugby Football Club, East Settlers Way. Campers get lunch each day as well as two full sets of uniform, the top level coaching and the chance of a cooling lunchtime swim in the club pool.
Registration is $175 and forms can be found on this website (attached below) or collected from Town & Country, Yellow Pine Street, and Animale, Port Lucaya. More information about the camp can be had from derek.archer1@gmail.com It is not too early to register because it is first come, first served and numbers are pegged at 180.
