I started playing rugby for Hove when I was 6 years old my dad having brought me down to the club, where he had played since the 70s. Both my brother and sister also played for Hove, so it’s definitely been a family affair. I started playing for the men’s 1st XV in 1998 and my first of 5 seasons as captain of the 1st XV began in 2004. I continue playing senior rugby (with the odd short break) until now. For the last couple of seasons I was player-manager of the Beefeater XV (3rds). I have been part of the Executive Committee at the club for the last 3 years and took over as Playing Manager, overseeing all playing at the club last season.

You're stepping into role as Chair after a long-standing leadership what's your vision for the next chapter of the club?

Firstly, it’s important to take the opportunity to again say thank you to Geraldine for her amazing service to the club. I would like to bring in a new era of growth. It’s a cliché but times have changed, we must diversify in the same way our membership has. There are so many activities to do, clubs to be involved in, especially in this fantastic city we live in, so we must ensure that what we are offering appeals to all and is something that is far more than a sports club.

Generally, I think we can drive better relationships with the other teams that use our facilities and engage more with our neighbours and the wider community

What are your top priorities for the club in your first season as Chair?

On the playing side we have new and exciting coaching set-ups in both the women’s and men’s sections so I am keen to ensure they have all they need to be able to thrive. We have targets that the women’s and men’s 1st XVs have top 3 finishes next year and the men’s 2nd and 3rd XVs gain promotion. We want to build on our excellent minis and youth sections, further growing ours teams and creating a clear pathway to senior rugby.

We also want to build a stronger connection between all sections and get senior and youth teams playing in the same way. On the operations side, we really want to get the most value possible from our assets. We want to expand the club’s income through improved bar offerings, more club, private and corporate events and build on the fantastic set of sponsors we’ve had in recent seasons.

What does long-term success look like for Hove Rugby Club for you?

We’ve always said we want to be the premier rugby club in Sussex and in some areas that’s previously been the case, particularly in the women’s 1st XV and our minis and youth sections, but what does ‘the premier rugby club in Sussex’ actually mean? We want a thriving and inclusive club that not only is successfully on the pitch, across all sections but also is seen as a club that really serves and engages the community.

As we do not own the ground that the club sits on we are limited in some ways, but there are still improvements we can make. A working party to look at changes to our facilities is already underway. We implore anyone who feels they can assist in some way, whether it be raising funds or ideas on expansion, to get in touch.

How would you describe your leadership style?

I have managed business teams for over 20 years and I think all of them would describe me as a collaborator and a communicator. We have a great Executive Committee, supported by many other volunteers, so I’m keen that we are all communicating. We want the Exec members and I to be visible so our membership knows who to go to for different help and experience. We want to harness the expertise of our volunteers and leverage all the skills that they possess, from outside rugby. This can only be achieved through communication and collaboration.

Is there something you've seen another club do that you admire and would like to try here?

I was up at Henley Rugby Club for the first Lions’ test; it was raining pretty heavily but they still had their sprinklers on. It’s not great for the environment, but I’d love for the club to be able to afford to do that!!

In all seriousness, I don’t think we need to look too far for some inspiration. Horsham have made huge strides over the last 15 years, really maximising what they’ve got with a long-term plan which has seen new pitches, changing rooms and bar renovations. This is a club that had nowhere near our potential with regard to location, transport links or membership numbers but they planned for the future and transformed their offerings and are achieving great success in many areas.