September 2016

Dear Parent/Guardian/Player

If your son/daughter has been a member previously we are delighted to welcome you all back.

To all new members we are delighted to welcome you & your son/daughter to the Portadown Panthers’ Tag Rugby Club.The Portadown Panthers is for anyone (Male or Female) who has a Learning Disability and is aged 6 or older.

This is our fourth season and we plan to build upon the many successes of the last two seasons particularly our successful end of season tours to Shropshire in June 2015 & Limerick 2016 when we played in the Wooden Spoon International Tag Rugby Festivals. We have a busy 2016-17 programme (updateswill be on our club website & the Panthers’ Facebook page) and it is likely that this year’s “tour” will be to Witney (near Oxford) in early June to play in the annual Wooden Spoon International Tag Rugby Festival for people with Learning Disabilities. All of the coaches and volunteers are looking forward to what should prove to be yet another enjoyable and interesting season.

If you are aware of any other children/adults-male or female- who might be interested in joining us please give their names to myself or one of the coaches/volunteers. We are also keen to attract more coaches/volunteers so once again please let us know of anyone whom you think may be interested,

We value the input of all of our members-players, parents/guardians,coaches & volunteers.

If you require any further information please don’t hesitate to contact one of the coaches or a committee member.

All returning players/members

  • Must complete a 2016 -17 Membership application form and return it ASAP along with appropriate membership payment.
  • Update their registration,if appropriate i.e. if any changes to previously provided information e.g. if you have been in hospital in the past yearor have changed medication

New Players/Members

  • Must complete a 2016-17 Membership application form and return it ASAP along with appropriate membership payment.
  • Complete our official Registration Form, which includes a section that MUST be signed of by your Doctor.

ALL FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM OUR CLUB SECRETARY.

Enjoy the season ahead

Willie Gribben

Portadown Panthers Chairman

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS AND PLAYERS

TRAINING TIMESSaturdays 09:30 – 10:30. Meet in Car Park opposite the Goal Line Youth Centre at 09.15. We will be using the main pitch at PRFC.

WHAT TO WEAR

  • Training: Tracksuit/shorts/rugby jersey or sweatshirt, royal blue sports socks and boots- it is not necessary to wear the Panthers’ kit for training! Dress for the weather conditions. Too much is better than too little! If wearing tracksuit bottoms please tuck these into rugby socks for safety.
  • Festivals: Wear Panthers’ kit.
  • On wet days we may practice indoors so please bring trainers/shoes to change into.
  • If your child wears glasses please note that they need sports gogglesfor safety reasons. The best value that we are aware of are McRory’s Opticians 57 Irish St Dungannon 02887750199.

COMMUNICATION/CONTACT

NAMEPOSITIONCONTACT NUMBER

Willie GribbenChairman077 390 440 84

Ian FlackHead Coach077 079 616 95

Maxine Chambers Coach 078 35044515

Karen FlackChild Welfare Officer 077 163 987 15

Eilidh GilmourPanthers’ Secretary07872331366

Anthony Mc Grath Treasurer 07540374508

  • Please make sure that we have your E mail address as this will enable us to keep you fully updated especially with late changes/Festival Information/meetings.
  • Keep up to date with the Portadown Panthers on the Club website on our Portadown Panthers’ Facebook page.

If you have any concerns please don’t hesitate to contact the Club Chairman, Head Coach, Club Secretary or Child Welfare Officer.

CLUB FACILITIES

The Goal Line Youth Centre is at our disposal, along with the Mini Rugby members, each

Saturday, until 11:30 so why not join us upstairs for socialising, refreshments anda chat?The Rugby Club has a bar and the excellent SCRUMEE RESTAURANT(open Thursday –Sunday)which parents and friends are invited to use.

PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT

We encourage all parents, guardians, carers and family members to get involved. We would

welcome any assistance you can give whether this is coaching, volunteering, fund raising or

making and serving coffee to parents and family on Saturday mornings. Any parent attending training on Saturday mornings is invited to go into the Goal Line Youth Centre for coffee/tea whilst training is taking place; this will provide an opportunity for parents/guardians to “socialise.”

FEES & REGISTRATION

Fees are paid yearly as detailed on the Membership Application.

  • All fees must be paidASAPas no one can play for the club if they are not paid up members.
  • Membership of the Goal Line Youth Club is also included in fee payments. However membership of the Youth Reach project is by application only (Full details available fromGoal Line Management.)
  • Why not avail of the special Family Membershipand make use of the excellent facilities of the club, especially Scrumee? (Membership £100 includes player fee of £50). If interested please ask Willie or Eilidh.

Portadown PANTHERS, PRFC, ChambersPark, Portadown, BT63 5AR

Tel: 02838 335269 Web:

Email: