IT’S official – Ellesmere Port Rugby Club is the pride of the north!
The club is celebrating success in a poll run by NatWest RugbyForce, a nationwide programme operating in partnership with the Rugby Football Union.
Ellesmere Port went up against other teams from Cheshire, Lancashire, Cumbria, Northumberland, Durham and Yorkshire for the right to be crowned Pride of the North 2013.
They topped the online poll with 1,110 votes, narrowly beating off competition from second-placed Novocastrians (1,098).
Andy Pratt, of Ellesmere Port Rugby Club, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to all our members, their families, supporters and the community for really getting behind this campaign.
“Our teams have worked incredibly hard, rallying the troops to vote for the club.
“The support we received from various social networking groups was phenomenal, including the Pride of the Port Facebook group, the Whitby Sports & Social Facebook group and others retweeting our pleas on Twitter.”
The whole competition was designed to raise awareness of the 2013 NatWest RugbyForce weekend, which took place on Saturday and Sunday.
It was a weekend when volunteers were encouraged to help out at their local rugby club, working on improving facilities.
The Oilers were one of four regional winners, but missed out on winning the overall Pride of the Nation award.
NatWest Pride of the Nation ambassador and former England and British and Irish Lions prop Phil Vickery said: “Huge congratulations to Ellesmere Port RUFC.
“What they have done over the past couple of weeks embodies the true spirit of grassroots rugby.
“The support they have drummed up over NatWest RugbyForce weekend shows what the club means to them and the local community and seeing everyone come together to help out is what it is all about.”
Many local companies have donated materials to help the Oilers in their quest to improve changing facilities for female players and members at their Whitby Sports & Social Club home.
The club has grown steadily over the last 10 years. It runs senior male teams, a vets team, 10 junior teams covering ages five to 17 (mixed up to the age of 12), two girls teams at under 13 and U15 level, and is also developing a ladies touch rugby side.
The club will also be running touch rugby sessions for men and women through the summer. For further information visit the club website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/ellesmereport.
