Argentina Tour
Come to this page for regular news and updates on the SRFC Academy Tour to Argentina
Academy Tour News
Deposits for flights and accommodation have been paid and we have all 4 fixtures confirmed - we are definitely going! We leave on 25th July and fly back on 10th arriving early on 11th August. Deposits have been paid by 28 players so we have a full squad. There may still be a space for 1 or 2 more players (especially backs) so if you have been hesitating now is the time to commit.
We have secured a good part of the required sponsorship which will keep your costs down to about £750 per head. The actual cost of the tour is about £2500 per head (which shows what good value you are getting) but it means we still have to raise about £20,000 before we leave. This is a lot of money and it will require a considerable fundraising effort from the whole tour party. We are aiming to raise close to £10000 from our tour brochure and the balance will be raised through 4 main events plus the Edenbridge show. If you are in the tour party then you have to put some time and effort into the fundraising.
More details of the 4 main events will be published soon but we are anticipating a Golf Day, Club Barbie, Tour Dinner and a Knole Park Challenge. We will also aim to raise money from a draw at the club every weekend until the end of the season.
We are now concentrating on raising the whole profile of the tour and you will see more publicity in the Clubhouse and in the Chronicle. We need to draw in advertisers for the brochure and we need to get the whole club behind us. Being a successful team is all part of raising the profile so from now on you must increase the effort. You have to make training and playing a priority and we need to achieve our potential and dominate and win games in style. Your role in this effort is just as important as fundraising.
Aaron Newport is the player's representative for the tour. He will be putting your views to the committee so if you have any ideas or suggestions buy him a pint after training and express yourself. A big part of the fundraising comes from the brochure. Aaron will be looking for a couple of artistic lads to help with the design and production. This is an urgent job now as we need to get a draft to the printers before the end of January. If you have any talent in this area please let Aaron know (see also attached flyer).
NOTICE TO PARENTS
This tour is for the players. If any parents and families wish to come along as supporters they will be welcome but they will have a slightly separate itinerary which will coincide with the main tour for match days and some of the other events. We toured South Africa in 2004 and this scenario worked extremely well. No arrangements have yet been made for a supporter's tour as it will depend on your demand. You will appreciate that the ‘players' cost of about £750 (excluding spending) is not the actual cost. Players are subsidised through accumulated funds, sponsorship and future fundraising. We have been very diligent in setting these budgets and we are confident that they are realistic. However, you must consider that the individual cost for a parallel supporter's tour is close to £2500 per head in reality.
A supporter's tour coordinator will be nominated in due course but if you intend to join the tour then please contact Brigitte Hunter in the meantime ( via belgobrigitte@hotmail.com or 07810 091651). A supporter's tour will be self-organised and self-managed. Brigitte is also our parent rep on the tour committee so please contact her to express your views or to obtain information. We have programmed the tour to start after the end of school exams and to return before the announcement of results so this should not be a concern - but some players may miss the last couple of days of term.
We will arrange basic insurance for all players but you may wish to enhance this with additional cover. We will give details of all medical inoculations required in due course.
I appeal to you to do all you can to support our fundraising activities. Please also do all you can to contribute to advertising and article procurement for the brochure. Any good ideas for fundraising events will be gratefully received. You will appreciate that most of us on the tour committee are giving up our Wednesdays and Sundays to coach and manage the players so our time is already stretched. Each event that we undertake will need some ‘mature' supervision and management so please volunteer yourself to help achieve this magnificent experience!
As you know, I text players with training, match and other info. If you would like to be included in the multi-broadcast then please let me know through text our e-mail.
LARRY COLEMAN
ACADEMY MANAGER
MOBILE : 07774 250813
(I sometimes send Multi text send via computer SMS - 07786 436054 but pls do not reply to this number ) Email : laurencec@sequana.co.uk