Caldy – That Friday Feeling 12th Dec ’25

Some two plus decades ago the last printed history of Caldy RFC was published by the venerable Roger Flashman. It was a brilliant read, with nearly 100 pages of anecdotes, photos and all the history of how this little village rugby club came into being. Building the wooden clubhouse in the 1920’s, digging out the first team pitch by hand in the 1960’s, many thousands attending John Butler’s fantastical dance events to fund the club’s development and of course the memorable rivals, games and players.

Roger Flashman – image from The Rugby Journal issue 18

However, even ‘Flash’ couldn’t have foreseen the subsequent rise of Caldy RFC into the second tier of English rugby, playing some of the most heralded and august clubs in the land. In amongst the great clubs like Rosslyn Park, Blackheath, Moseley, Richmond and Bedford that Caldy has played in league competition during the last decade one name probably resonates more than any other for Caldy supporters of a certain vintage. In the 1970’s tomorrow’s visitors Coventry RFC rivalled London Welsh RFC for the title of the most glamorous club in world rugby. Their star player was one of England’s greatest ever backs, so good he could have been Welsh. David Duckham epitomized the dash and verve of tomorrow’s visitors Coventry RFC.
Click on YouTube link here : David Duckham Introduction

Coventry’s illustrious history and pedigree come to Paton Field in round ten of the Champ with an 8/1 win/loss record against the Ravers. A Matt Gallagher hat trick in February 2024 gave the Ravers their solitary win and they need to repeat the feat tomorrow if they are to climb above 8th placed Coventry in the Champ table.

It is the Ravers’ last home game before Christmas. The squad had their Christmas meal after last night’s training session. They will be pushing to provide their supporters and the Wirral public with some early Christmas cheer in tomorrow’s big Champ game at Paton Field. The match kick’s off at 2.00pm with gates open from 11.00am.

Match Tickets for tomorrow’s Champ Rugby game at Paton Field are available to buy here : https://caldyrugbyclub.com/buy-tickets-membership/

The Ravers have a lot to do if they are to cement a safe position in mid table, a second win against Coventry will be a great way to move into the festive period and perhaps will encourage Flash to start on volume 2 of the Caldy story. A request has already been made for Johnnie Butler to book the Royal Iris for an end of season dance across the Mersey.

Image by Lewis Barker

Matt Cairns has selected the following squad for tomorrow’s Champ fixture at Paton Field against Coventry. The match kicks off at 2.00pm
1.   Nathan Rushton
2.   Ollie Hearn
3.   Ryan Higginson
4.   Max Loboda
5.   Sam Olyott
6.   Reuben Logan
7.   Callum Ridgway
8.   JJ Dickinson (c)
9.   Nye Thomas
10. Kieran Wilkinson
11. Obi Ene
12. Michael Barlow
13. Connor Wilkinson
14. Will Robinson
15. Charlie Hyde
Replacements
Matt Gallagher, Monty Weatherby, Joe Sproston, Martin Gerrard,
Jordan Jones, Ollie Wynn, Jacob Mitchell, Rhys Tudor  

Entry on gate tomorrow – Adults £20, Juniors 17s-18s £5, Children u16s free
Gates open at 11.00 am & Match Tickets are available to buy via our club website
go to : https://caldyrugbyclub.com/buy-tickets-membership/

Caldy Clubhouse Bar, ‘President’s Bar’ & Marquee inside bars all open from 11.00am
Trailer Bar, Poretti Stand & Scoreboard outside bars all open from 1.00pm
Ginger Cat Coffee, Burrito Shack, Smokehouse Supplies outside catering all open from 1.00pm

Let’s pack JJ’s bank & the Ravers party stand and make it one to remember.
We need every voice, every cheer, every bit of Raver spirit behind the lads.
Let’s hear that Paton Field ROAR !

Plus after the game live music in the marquee from 4.00pm – 6.00pm – “Connor Farrell”

Image by Lewis Barker

Thanks also to our u8s players, parents & coaches for organising mascots, raffle & 200 club for tomorrow, plus volunteering to help with car parking. Please support our u8s on the day to win fabulous prizes ! 

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Caldy 3rd xv game cancelled
Unfortunately Crosby St Mary’s are unable to fulfill this fixture so Caldy Rav3rs home game tomorrow against them has been cancelled.

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Kit donation – Saturday 13th December
Tomorrow at Caldy Rugby Club, we’re collecting kit donations to support Clare Mount Specialist Sports College on their incredible journey to Kenya with African Adventures.
Your old boots, shirts or sports gear could help give children at The Walk Centre access to sport, confidence and community.
Every donation makes a real, lasting difference.
Join us, donate if you can, and help us change lives – both here at home and in Kenya.

Image thanks to Clare Mount Specialist Sports College 

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Community Rugby – Sunday 14th December 
For our last set of full fixtures for 2025, we have a block booking with Parkonians, with odds at home and evens away; with a couple of extra fixtures added for good measure against Northwich, Lymm and Ruthin.
For the Colts, its back to League action after a rest week. The Juniors are at home to Sandbach looking to register their second win against Sandbach this season, whilst the Senior Colts make the long trip to Newport (Shropshire, not South Wales) for their League A encounter.
Minis
u6s, u10s training at home
u7s, u9s, u11s at home v Parkonians
u8s, u12s away v Parkonians 
Juniors
u13s at home v Northwich
u14s away v Parkonians
u15s at home v Lymm
u16s away v Parkonians and Ruthin 
Girls  
u12s, u14s, u16s, u18s training at home 
Junior Colts
Halbro NW Junior Colts Conference League A
u17s home v Sandbach kick off 12.30pm at Paton Field
Senior Colts
Halbro NW Senior Colts Conference League A
u18s away v Newport Salop kick off 2.00pm at Old Chapel Queens Road, Telford TF2 8DB

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Good luck to everyone & enjoy your rugby this weekend !

But please remember “No referees, No games” – disrespect or verbal abuse of rugby match officials is totally unacceptable & has no place in rugby.

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Rugby coming up

Saturday 20th December – Champ Rugby round 11
Hartpury v Caldy kick off 2.30pm
at Alpas Arena, Hartpury, Gloucester GL19 3BE 

Saturday 20th December – NOWIRUL Premier League
Stockport 2nd xv v Caldy 2nd xv kick off 2.00pm
at Headlands Road, Stockport SK7 3AN

Saturday 20th December – NOWIRUL Div 3 West
Newton-le-Willows v Caldy 3rd xv kick off 2.00pm
at Crow Lane East, Newton-le-Willows WA12 9XE

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Sunday 21st December – Halbro NW Senior Colts Conference League A
Caldy u18s v Stockport u18s kick off 2.00pm at Paton Field

Sunday 21st December – Halbro NW Junior Colts Conference League A
Stockport u17s v Caldy u17s kick off 12.30pm
at Headlands Road, Stockport SK7 3AN

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