For some time, we, as a senior squad of players, alongside the Director of Rugby and the Executive Committee, have been trying to find a way to recognise the efforts that senior players, past and present, put in as they represent St Austell RFC.

What has stopped us from getting beyond just talking about this is funding. This year that has changed. Many of you will have heard of, or even attended the ‘Ginger Ball’ on the 5th October. This ball was organised by family, friends and players, many still at our club, who knew and played with Tony ‘Ginge’ Marshall who tragically died in a road accident 10 years ago. This fantastically entertaining and poignant event raised some serious funds that the family of Ginge have donated to the club. As a club we didn’t think it was right that these funds were swallowed up paying utility bills etc so we decided to do something special with some of it, to create a lasting legacy for Ginge and the senior players at the club. This scheme will use only a small part of the total donation.

This is what we have come up with; the 'Senior players Award Scheme'. It’s purpose is to recognise those senior players, past and present, who have reached milestones in terms of appearances or running out for a Senior side. It also gives the players currently in our Youth Section something to aim for as if they successfully graduate from Youth to Senior level they will receive an award to recognise that awesome event.

Awards
We are going to award a new design of tie and a honours cap. The picture shows the actual tie and a mock up of the cap although the players name will be on the peak as well for real. The current players have designed a senior players tie. Youth players will continue to wear the black tie. When they graduate to the senior level and play in their first fixture they will be presented with a senior tie.

Qualification
For past players you must have achieved appearances for the 1st XV, 2nd XV, 3rd XV or Veterans. For current players appearances for Saints or Sinners count.

Less than 50 appearances - Senior tie;
50-99 appearances – Senior tie with ‘50’ under the club crest;
100-149 appearances - Senior tie with ‘100’ under the club crest;
150 - 199 appearances - Senior tie with ‘150’ under the club crest;
200+ - A Honours Cap with the players name on the peak and ‘200’ under it and a senior tie with 200 under the club crest.

How to Claim
Statistics for the current Saints players are available so they do not have to claim. They will be awarded what they are entitled to. Past players and current Sinners must fill out a very simple application form. A link to the form is HERE. It simply asks for you name, contact details and the number of appearances you have made. If time has faded your memory and you are unsure what award to claim then do not worry! There is a box on the form where you can add as much as you remember including who you played with and we’ll do some investigation for you to ensure you get the right reward! The form will also be available from the club. Completed forms should be returned to the bar, any member of the Exec or Miles/Knighter for processing.

How Much Will This Cost?
We have made the decision to ask for minimum donations for a cap and tie after the original fund took quite a hammering! The money from the Ginger Ball will subsidise the ties and caps. We want as many people who qualify to be able to proudly wear the awarded item, preferably at the club. The minimum donation for a cap is £30 and a tie £6. The application form is a single page but we have stapled a second page to it which tells you how you can donate should you wish.

The Presentation Display Case
The walls in our club have often been described as a little bare. The Senior Players Award Scheme aims to fix that! We have commissioned a display case which now resides on the wall in the main bar. This case will receive awarded ties and caps when, as is inevitable in life, people pass on. The first cap will be posthumously awarded to Ginge. His cap is now placed in the case and a card under it stating his name and details. As others pass-on we will ask the estate to donate the ties and caps back and they will go in the case as well. We hope this will become a place in the club that will allow us to both remember and celebrate those players who played and made our club great for many decades to come…a real lasting legacy.

How do we receive our awards?
The first awards ceremony was on January 11th 2019, the next is planned for 25th September 2021. We’ll keep on accepting applications and caching them until we get a decent number to present.

Summary
The players and Exec Committee have been working hard to start something that we hope will excite and interest past and current players. We hope you embrace this and get involved. Any questions at this stage can be sent to exec@staustellrfc.co.uk and we will get back to you. Some of our ex-players are not that internet or social media savvy. We must all make sure these guys hear about this and apply so help out where you can by spreading the word to them?