6 Oct 2006 | Rugby
After a hiatus of a number of years , Bahama Mama Shooters are back, sponsored by the bar of the same name in Port Lucaya. In an attempt to help expand the womens GBFL division , a new group of feisty and sassy young ladies have joined the club and brought back an old team name with new faces. With a good mix of experience and some new players they , as a team, are excited and ready for the upcoming season.
Lauren Butler noted ‘We have had a great turn out and are stoked to have a full squad. We train on Mondays and Thursdays in preparation for many games to come and hope this will be an awesome season and wish good luck to all our other teams, both rugby and soccer.’
The team have some big boots to fill and if they are anything like the former shooters team , we can look forward to plenty of post match dancing in full kit ( inclusive of boots and shin pads) in Port Lucaya !
13 Sep 2006 | Rugby
A few words from our distinguished new Club President , Mr Roberto Speller:
As we are approach the 2006/7 season the Freeport Rugby and Football Club is pleased to announce the date for the season opening Presidents Cocktail. This annual event opens the 41st season of the club and the upcoming season could prove a pivotal year in the Clubs history with more teams, youth programs than ever before and a planned expansion of the facilities never seen in the clubs history thus far.
The Cocktail party will be Friday October 6th and drinks and finger food will be served from 6.30 pm onwards with a complimentary bar for the first hour. The Cocktail Party is aimed at welcoming back our loyal and trusting members to renew their subscriptions and enjoy a complimentary cocktail but also to provide a platform for new members to visit the club and hear about the exciting programs the club offers for all age groups and how their membership can help provide much needed financial support to enable the various sections of the club to grow in the future.
With recent donations from the English Premier League and the continuous fund raising efforts of the club this year should see the club expand from the current one rugby / soccer pitch to an additional full size soccer pitch and a 2/3 size training pitch plus additional changing and bathrooms facilities. The plans for the club will mean that all our youth programs can be expanded and will give the kids of our community access to some of the finest facilities in the Bahamas. As ever all these programs and expansions plans take time / effort and money, so we ask for all interested persons to come to the cocktail party and join the club.
Again we shall see the soccer section provide two teams to the GBFL league (youth side are current Grand Bahama Champions) and with our youth soccer program booming it shouldnt be long before these numbers grow further. The ladies soccer also will be adding a further team and the rugby side will be defending the Bahamas Cup which should prove exciting times for everyone involved at the club. Our Soccer and Rugby Youth programs will begin in early October and for a full schedule of all our teams and youth programs you can check the web site at www.rugbyfootballbahamas.com or call our new custodian Tomi Hirmasto at 352 2952.
On behalf of everyone on the committee of the Club we wish all the kids, players and members of the club a great season and we look forward to meeting all the existing members and all the new potential members on the evening of Friday October 6th at 6.30 pm at the Freeport Rugby & Football Club, East Settlers Way.
5 Sep 2006 | Rugby
The Grand Bahama Youth Soccer Development Programme is scheduled to restart on Wednesday September 6th at Freeport Rugby Football Club at 5pm for all boys aged 9 to 21 years of age . At present the following age levels will be coached on a weekly basis:
Under 10s,
Under 12s,
Under 14s,
Under 17s and
18 and over
The Boy Development Programme offers those young male players, looking to further develop their soccer, an additional means of improving their skills and experience in the game of soccer. Now entering its 5th year, The Programme provides a framework which complements the YMCA and School programmes by offering players further higher level and qualified coaching and additional organized (practice and competitive) games. To achieve the latter, the Programme aims to arrange matches against US and other Bahamian islands and local teams and plans to both arrange and participate in soccer tournaments.
Co-ordinator Mark Hardy noted that he was pleased that the Programme appears to be paying dividends in terms of the quality and quantity of soccer on the Island. The Bahamian youngsters coming through at age 12 and 13 really have some talent and we can see the improvement compared to the boys of the same age when we first started . It gives a good feeling to coach players at that age knowing they have progressed through our Programme . However, the greatest satisfaction undoubtedly comes from the oldest group of players in the Programme , who play under the guise of Brita Red Bull in the adult Grand Bahama Football League. Despite the vast majority of these players still being at school, the youngsters sucessfully won the mens senior title last season against players (in some instances ) twice their age or more !! Their coach Husseyin Dengizer was especially pleased with that achievement as it reflected on the hard work undertaken during the previous few years. Furthermore, all the Programmes coaches are confident that this performance can be repeated in future years noting that the previously mentioned group of Bahamian players aged 11, 12 and 13 have even greater potential and these should form the new look Brita Red Bulls in 2010 and 2011 !!
Indeed the coaches are determined not to rest on their laurels despite seeing the progress in the Programme and the players. The biggest initiative this season will see the introduction of a new Intermediate I League for the boys aged 14 to 17 which will be run by of new coach Tommi The Finn. This I League will act as a stepping stone for players who are too old for the YMCA League but not old enough for the adult league. The league will play at the same time as the other age groups practice (from 5 to 6.30 every Wednesday) and registration has already begun for this new initiative. It is anticipated there will be at least 4 teams participating in this new league.
This season, the programme has the following additional aims:
1) To continue the current age groups ( under 10s, under 12s ,under 14s , 17s and 18 and over).
2) For each age group to either hosts 1 team from the other Bahamian Islands or the USA or travels to play teams in Nassau, Abaco or the USA.
3) To develop a framework and pathway by which young soccer players can obtain soccer scholarships in US Schools and Colleges
4) In addition, the Programme aims to assist in fund raising for the new practice pitches and new playing field being developed at the Freeport Rugby Football Club. Work on these new pitches is currently ongoing.
Long time Programme coach Brad Bethel added that they are hopeful that the programme continues to grow but with expansion comes the problem of the need for additional resources. Primarily we need additional coaches and assistants so that we can provide the individual attention and coaching that is needed. In addition, as the Programme does not charge its participants, they are also asking the business community to support the Programme and the parents to offer a donation to the Programme. Any persons interested in helping in coaching or assisting financially, or participating can contact Mark Hardy at 357 5403 or come to Freeport Rugby and Football Club from 5pm every Wednesday
If you want to be part of the action or simply want to see what is going on then come to Freeport Rugby and Football Club every Wednesday starting September 6th at 5pm or contact Mark Hardy at 357 5403.
24 Aug 2006 | Rugby
It will soon be that time again. Boots will be retrieved from a musty sports bag chucked in the spare bedroom, tiger balm and a new nike ‘perma dry’ shirt will be purchased from the states and a steady stream of players will head onto to the hallowed turf that is Freeport Rugby and Football Club, skipping around like a newly born lamb in springtime.
Yep the old lady opens her doors again officially on September 1st with the Annual General Meeting at which a new slate of officers will be press ganged into service. With a new innkeeper freshly installed and all the hair products and glamour magazines, left over from Cabin Boy’s reign of apathy, confined to the rubbish bin there is indeed a whiff of excitement in the air – or is that just the chicken farm ?
Training for all sections will commence in september as the club looks to continue on from last year’s success: Bahamas Cup Rugby Champions, Club’s youth team winning GBFL adult soccer league with the senior side finishing runners up ( figure that one ) and Ladies’ soccer team also finishing runers up in the GBFL women’s league . In addition the Club will also continue the work on the new practice and soccer pitches destined for the Club as it consolidates our position as the leading amateur club facility in the Caribbean. If we’re lucky we might even be able to turn the swimming pool water a different shade of green !
Practice nights are as follows:
Men’s rugby starts september 4th from 6.30 and is on both monday and thursdays, with games expected to begin in October and a tour to Atlanta scheduled for late October.
Youth rugby (for ages 10 and above) will begin in late september from 10am to midday every saturday.
Men’s soccer also starts on september 4th from 6.30 and will be on mondays and wednesdays. The GBFL league is scheduled to start the first week of november , with the senior guys travelling to Atlanta in October and the younger guys ( Brita Red Bull) travelling to Abaco for pre season ‘friendlies’ .
Youth soccer (ages 8 to 19) starts on wednesday September 6th at 5pm and this year includes a new Intermediate league for boys aged 14 to 17 .
Ladies soccer will commence in late september and is every tuesday and thursday from 5.30 to 7pm.
All new players, supporters, well wishers are welcome to attend the practice sessions . Any further information can be obtained via myself at 357 5403 or via the contact e-mail list on this website.
23 Aug 2006 | Rugby
Freeport Rugby and Football Club are pleased to announce the new club management team of Tomi, Kim and Ella Gration who take up residency this week .
Our new sheriff has a wealth of expereince in all things finnish and we all look forward to the club continuing to move forward in leaps and bounds.
As is tradition, all potential nicknames for our erstwhile manager should be forwarded to the usual suspects at which point a suitably derogatory name will no doubt be chosen. Bear in mind we have a rich history of particularly humorous names such as ‘cabin boy’ and the classically named ‘Chuckles’ ( thanks phil for that one)
7 Jul 2006 | Rugby
Because soccer is a growing sport, particularly among the youngsters of Grand Bahama, having more space and more fields on which the kids can learn and play the game was quickly becoming more of a demand than anything else.
Well, that demand has been met by the Grand Bahama Port Authority.
On Wednesday the Port announced that it has donated three acres of land to the Freeport Rugby and Football Club for a new soccer field. Good news for officials of the Grand Bahama Football Association.
“Over the years, the Principals of the Grand Bahama Port Authority, Sir Jack Hayward, the late Edward St. George and Lady Henrietta St. George, are well known for their commitment to the youth of Freeport and Grand Bahama,” said Geneva Rutherford, who represented the Port Authority, during a press conference on Wednesday morning.
“The Grand Bahama Port Authority see tremendous opportunities in the athletic development of our youth and in this regard is very pleased to be a partner in this venture with the Rugby and Football Club.”
Rutherford is confident that the land donated by the Port will be put to good use by the Grand Bahama Association.
The announcement came as soccer kids participate in a soccer summer camp, being conducted by the English Premier Soccer League at the Freeport Rugby Football Club.
The announcement is also timely, because not only has land been made to the development of soccer, but the English Premier Soccer League has stepped up to the plate and made a substantial monetary donation, along with their expertise, to be used in conjunction with the land donated.
“The English Premier Soccer League has been actively involved in the development of youth soccer in Freeport for the past three years,” Mikala Moss of the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.
“While summer 2006 concludes their direct involvement, they intend to play a vital role in the future development of soccer in Grand Bahama.”
Philip French, of the Premier Soccer League, noted that since getting involved in the summer soccer camp, he has seen the number of eager, excited youngsters grow by leaps and bounds.
“We hope that we will leave an impact on the kids here in Grand Bahama, which will go a long way in the development of the sport, particularly among the teenagers who we hope will be in a position to obtain scholarships through the sport of soccer,” said French.
“It’s great for us to have been a part of this and we’re even more pleased to be able to leave a legacy behind.”
French said that their donation will come in a variety of ways – from the Premier League, via their charity, otherwise known as the Football Foundation.
“That charity, which is set up with the Government in the UK, will partnership with the local soccer league to try develop youth development as well as provide infrastructure for kids of all ages and abilities,” said French.
“The combination of all of that will provide us with a total of somewhere around $100,000 towards the development of the artificial pitch. We’re gonna see multiple coaching programmes and we will build on what we already have going on here with the summer camp.”
“From our point of view, we see a fantastic development of the kids. And what has soccer brought them? It’s brought them skills, leadership and the ability to work as a team.
“It’s been amazing the impact soccer has had on them. And we’re proud to be a part of that.”
Having to use the Rugby Football Club Playing field for soccer will soon become something of the past.
As more and more kids become involved in the sport of soccer, more and more opportunities are expected to be opened to them.
Soccer officials and coaches are hoping that the kids will take advantage of those opportunities.
DEVELOPING SOCCER – Philip French of the English Premier Soccer League (left) and Geneva Rutherford of the Grand Bahama Port Authority (right) revealed plans for the development of local soccer with the donation of land and funds from both the Premier Soccer League and the GB Port Authority
