RUGBY UNION: Callam Sanderson
has returned to Dukes Park as head
coach of Bridlington RUFC.
Sanderson will be joined by new
youth development officer Ed
Armstrong and both will be in the
first-team squad for the forthcoming
Yorkshire Two season, which starts on
September 6 at home to Northallerton.
Both the roles have been sponsored
by Hudson Contract.
Second row Sanderson started his
career at Bridlington before moving
away to enjoy spells with Otley and
Ionians over the past six years.
He attended Hull University to
attain a degree in sport and exercise
nutrition and attained rugby coaching
qualifications, while increasing rugby
participation at the establishment.
Back row or centre Armstrong
moves to the East Coast after serving
for a year as housemaster and sports
teacher at Millfield School.
He will work full-time for the club, developing the coaching teams for minis and juniors while assisting with training on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
A club spokesman said: “It will be
part of Ed’s remit to work with four
local schools to develop interest in
our sport and encourage juniors, in
particular, to come and join our club.”
Armstrong has a degree in rugby coaching and performance
as well as RFU and WRU
coaching qualifications.
Head coach Sanderson will be
supported in coaching sessions by
Ali Sutton and Mark Floyd, bolstered
by ‘guest coaches’, who will bring
their experience and expertise to the
training field.
The club paid tribute to outgoing
youth development officer Katie
Merrills, thanking her for the
contribution made in organising,
communicating and encouraging
many minis, juniors and parents to
join the club and enjoy their time
playing rugby.
It is testimony to her
achievements that there was more
than 160 mini and junior participants
last season.
Prepare for the start of a very special time for the club, is the message from new Bridlington RUFC head coach Callam Sanderson.
The former Otley and Ionians
second row returns to Dukes
Park after seven years away and is
looking forward to re-establishing
the club as a regional force to be
reckoned with.
“I am incredibly excited to be
returning to my home club,” he said.
“I have been keeping my eye on how
Brid have been getting on since I left
and it’s been a real shame to see the
difficulty the team has faced over the
last couple of years.
“I’m excited about where we can
go. It’s time to regroup and rebuild
and get that winning feeling back.”
Sanderson already has a good
idea of how he wants the team to
play and they we will need to be fit
to achieve it, making pre-season
very important.
“With the mixture of young talent
we have coming through and some
more experienced heads, I think
we have every right to have a great
25/26 season to get the club back
where we should be,” he said.
“Every good season starts with a
good pre-season and I’m hoping
to see plenty of faces down during
the summer months so we can
hit the ground running when the
league starts.
“Hopefully the brand of rugby we
are striving for will be entertaining
for the supporters too. During this
challenging rebuild phase, having
support from the touch line is
imperative and I’m excited to see a
busy stand, and more importantly, a
busy bar after our home games.”
