FOLLOWING up their recognition as a Quilter Kids First Champion Club, Alton RFC, with the support of Alton Town Council, have now become one of a few select clubs to receive a NatWest RugbyForce award.

This will be used to improve Anstey Park for the whole community, but the club’s accolades this year do not end there. Now, five members have been nominated for the prestigious 2018 Mitsubishi Motors Volunteer of the Year Awards.

These awards – developed with England Rugby to help grassroots rugby – recognise and reward volunteers who make up an integral part of the game.

Alton RFC is lucky enough to have over 100 volunteer members and five of the most hard-working, the ‘fab five’ as they have been christened, have been invited to a ceremony to honour their contributions at Winchester next Friday (June 29).

The five are Charles Clark and Tom Mills – both former players and both a major driving force behind the club’s progress for nearly 50 years – brothers Steve and Dave Parratt – both ex-players and indispensable clubmen for even longer period of time (David says he was an Alton player in 1964) – and Kathleen Digby (a Level 2 coach) who last year stepped up to run touch-rugby for women and has since recruited more than 40 regulars at Alton.

Kathleen has been a superb ambassador for both Alton and rugby in general, taking part in Brian Moore’s Full Contact podcast and featuring with Danielle Waterman and Ugo Moneye in a Kid’s First video.

• Touch rugby training for girls takes place at Alton’s Anstey Park home every Tuesday (6-10 yrs 6-7pm, older players from 7pm). The club is also running Tuesday night mixed touch rugby for all aged over 13 from 6.30pm. Everyone is welcome at any of these sessions and no previous experience is needed.

To find out more about Alton RFC, view the website www.altonrfc.club