As Geraldine Brown steps down after ten years as Chair of Hove Rugby Club, we’d like to extend our thanks for the time, energy, and commitment she has given to the club over the past decade.

Geraldine took on the role in 2015 and was involved in a number of key developments. Early in her tenure, she helped secure planning permission for the expansion of the clubhouse — a long-term goal for the club that was unfortunately put on hold due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but are now soon to be revisited.

During the challenging years of the pandemic, Geraldine played a central role in helping the club navigate uncertain times. Through a combination of government and RFU support, she secured £85,000 in grant funding. This was put to good use, refurbishing parts of the clubhouse, replacing deteriorating doors and windows, and installing floodlights on the back pitch. A successful crowdfunder, supported by matched funding from Sport England, helped complete the final phase of that project.

Under her leadership, Hove RFC became a familiar and reliable voice in wider RFU conversations, and the club was frequently chosen to contribute to national media, training events, and development initiatives, a reflection of the club’s strong volunteer culture and community ethos.

Throughout her time as Chair, Geraldine maintained a firm stance on keeping Hove a community rugby club, focused on accessibility, reinvesting in facilities, and staying true to the principle of amateur rugby.

We thank Geraldine for her contribution to the club and for the many hours she dedicated during her time in the role. We wish her all the best for the future and look forward to building on the foundations laid during her time as Chair.

From all of us — thank you, Geraldine.

A Goodbye from Geraldine.
I never imagined back when I was a 5-year-old running round my brother’s rugby club what a major part of my life rugby would be.

Years later when I had my 18th Birthday party at the club my Dad had started coaching at after he fell in love with the sport from watching my brother play, I still didn’t have a clue that 35 years later I would have played the game for over 30 years and been Chair for 10.
Women’s rugby was in its infancy when I started playing and as I step down as Chair I see the game about to explode as the World Cup looms large.

I am proud to have been able to give back to the game that has given me so much fun and so many friendships. Proud that I could make a space for women in leadership roles in clubs and eventually no longer being repeatedly asked how a woman ended up Chair of a club!
The past 10 years had their challenges especially over COVID when we could not open the club but together, we made it through – and even managed to get some new windows and doors out of it and I finally got rid of the orange pillars in the bar!

When I am out representing Hove I am proud of the reputation Hove has as a friendly welcoming club where opposition supporters know they will have a warm welcome, be fed well and face a challenge on the pitch. But after the game a beer or two will be shared.

I look forward for many more years down at the club without the responsibility of keeping the bar open, the lights on and the members happy. But be warned I’ve taken over membership administration from Fiona so if you haven’t paid your membership I’ll be after you…….