Lambley hangs up his boots
A five-year stint at Newark Rugby Club comes to an end this week for Mick Lambley, the club’s popular groundsman, who is retiring from his post at Kelham Road having reached the age of 65.
He joined the club after leaving High Marnham Power Station where he had worked for 30 years following his move from Dinnington Colliery.
Lambley, who comes from Tuxford, said: “I’ve enjoyed every minute at Kelham Road. I had worked at the power station for 30 years and was worried that I was leaving a lot of friends behind, but I have made a new group of friends at the rugby club and it has proved to be a very enjoyable five years.
“I must thank two former presidents in Barry Thompson and Graham Macfarlane for giving me the opportunity.”
He intends to remain a member of the club and will be helping out his replacement, John Fenton of Southwell.
To thank him for his service, club president Jacki Hunter has invited him and his wife Doris to be guests at the first home league game of the season against Scunthorpe on September 20.
Another celebration coming up next month will be the Lambley’s silver wedding.
Newark are continuing preparations for the new season by training every Tuesday and Thursday from 7.30pm. Players of all abilities are welcome to attend.
Southwell Rugby Club suffered a blow with the news that their Peruvian winger Hugo Villanueva has had to return home because of work commitments.
A club icon throughout his time at Park Lane and winner of the most improved player award last season, he racked up several impressive performances last year and was a popular member of the Southwell family.
The Redmen’s 1st XV have been drawn at home to Market Harborough in the first round of the EDF Energy Senior Vase on September 6.
Midlands draw:
Amber Valley v Deepings; Ashby v Daventry; Aylestone St James v Ashfield; Bakewell Mannerians v Old Newtonians; Bedworth v Burntwood; Bishops Castle & OV v Edwardians; Brackley v Nottingham Casuals; Bugbrooke v Kesteven; Dunlop v Newcastle (Staffordshire); Ledbury v Handsworth; Market Rasen & Louth v Long Buckby; Mellish v Northampton Men’s Own; Northampton Casuals v Belgrave; Old Leamingtonians v Selly Oak; Old Yardleians v Upton-on-Severn; Pershore v Bournville; Peterborough Lions v Ashbourne; Shipston-on-Stour v Veseyans; Shrewsbury v King’s Norton; Southam v Rugby St Andrews; Southwell v Market Harborough; Spartans (Midlands) v Tamworth; Vauxhall Motors v Boston; Willenhall v Old Coventrians; Woodrush v Leek; Worcester Wanderers v Cleobury Mortimer.
EDF Energy Junior Vase First Round, North draw: Adwick-le-Street v Sheffield Oaks; Halifax Vandals v Knaresborough; Harrogate Pythons v Burley; Hemsworth v Leeds Corinthians; Mosborough v Marist; Ossett v Leeds Met Uni; Pontefract Pythons v Old Rishworthians; Stanley Rodillians v Stocksbridge; Wetherby v Rotherham Phoenix; Wibsey v Sheffield Medicals. Teams from the Midlands enter the competition in rounds two and three.
