'Stoke coach disappointed but proud after defeat (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Dear Mr Croker



Having read the Basingstoke local press all last year and read how unlucky you were not to win the league ( i noted that you did not beat any of the top 3 sides either home or away which is really a bit of a problem if you want to win things). Can we please not have to read for 8 months this winter about how great you are, until you play a top side then how your so unlucky and lose.

I know you have already lost to the top two sides (one at home and one away) so please can you stop playing the hard done by card, it really is very boring. Let me tell you your future and see how close we are in a few months time. You will now go on a winning run beating sides that really are not very good Trojans, Beckenham, Old Colfes etc etc and then you will be quoted as to how great your side is and how you are going to win the league and the one above.You will then play a top 3 side, lose and it will be game over for another season.



Facts do not lie Mr Croker, since you have been in charge you have not beaten a top 3 side either home or away in London 1 that record now stretches to 8 games, Guernsey, Old Elthamians and Chichester last season,Grinstead and Chichester this season. You will for the second year running not finish in the top 3 and then claim all summer how unlucky you are.The fact is Mr Croker either you or the side or both are clearly not good enough to win London 1 you would not have lost 8 out of 8 against top sides if you were,FACT . So please just for once say the better team won, and stop putting sides that have finished above you and are above you down,you will earn so much more credit by doing that!

Whilst it is very flattering that people pay such attention to our results, I am at a loss to understand how you have read that we felt we were unlucky in any way after reading this article. We operate a no excuses environment and I am sure if you were to read the article properly you will see that we mentioned how we cannot afford to give a 14 point start to the better teams in this league and that we need to sustain our periods of dominance to beat good sides.

In actuality we only played well for 20 minutes this week but in this period we scored 19 unanswered points, took the lead and silenced a vociferous crowd. I believe that that is reason enough to be proud of our side.

Regarding your general point, of our lack of success. We have taken a relegated club with little to no morale and struggling to field 2 sides to a club with 4 regular teams and an occassional Vets in 15 months. We have been thrown against three sides in the last 2 seasons with big budgets and an ability to recruit fine players from oversees. (EG's O E's and Guernsey) In that time we have drawn with Elthamians (Actually meaning we havent lost 8 out of 8, FACT!) and dominated large periods of the game in all the other fixtures. Playing purely amateur players. Our fixtures against Chichester have followed apattern of hard fought games, and all three contests have been settled in the last couple of minutes.

This, I think, shows that we are not to be dismissed as a poor side. Moreover a very young side that are growing together and perhaps exceeding local expectations along the way. We believe when we play our brand of rugby to the best of our ability we can compete with and beat the best sides, we just need to continue to develop.

If this sounds like a club that bemoans their luck then, I apologise. I actually believe that it shows we are ambitious, grounded and desperate to improve. Fortunately your words will help galvanise our club into attempting to reverse this trend that you have so kindly pointed out to us (After all we had not noticed!!) And I can assure you we will not stop trying to be the best we can. Yours in Rugby William Croker forwards coach BRFC!

Dear Mr or Mrs Avg3
Success is measured in many ways and there were many successes on Saturday, which you would know if you had bothered to come along and that is where we will gain our strength to go on the threaten for the title.
Mr Crokers success will be measured not just by the results on the pitch, but by the successes he achieves at the club, which to date involves 4 senior sides playing every week ( first time in 8 years) 2 academy sides, 4 womens sides and a youth section which is the envy of most clubs in the south and that doesn't include the securing of London Irish's elite playing development group at Basingstoke RFC.
Shall I go on?

Credit where credits due I think.

If Mr or Mrs Avg3 would like to come down to the club and experience real success I am sure we would all welcome any further comments he or she may have.

Yours

Chairman of playing BRFC

We watched this pulsating game of rugby as Chichester supporters and saw little to justify criticism of Basingstoke's efforts. Chichester are a very good side and the team began this match with twenty minutes of excellent rugby. Towards the end of the first half Basingstoke had begun to fight back and the arrival on the pitch of substitute Davies sparked an excellent second half display by Basingstoke. With time running out the home supporters (and probably the players also) feared that that Chichester had lost the match. It it is to Chichesters credit and with no criticism of Basingstoke that a last gasp victory went to the home side. In recent seasons few teams have won at Chichester. This was amateur ugby at its best. Two good teams producing a well refereed match played with good spirit. Basingstoke will no doubt be looking forward to the return match on their home ground.

Dear All
Thank you for your comments. It was not a slight on the club at all and with the greatest respect all i was saying was i am fed up with reading Mr Crokers comments on each time you get beaten, even Croker junior the fwds coach has piped up with the old EG, Old E's and Guernsey beat us because they have bigger budgets, not that they were better sides.You are the only club playing London 1 rugby that charges an entrance fee as you do people should therefore be able to comment on what they think. Nobody else charges to get in do they?

And lastly i quote "In that time we have drawn with Elthamians (Actually meaning we haven't lost 8 out of 8,
FACT!) mate please read what was said nobody ever said you lost 8 out of 8 did they ..." i noted that you did not beat any of the top 3 sides either home or away which is really a bit of a problem if you want to win things". I stand by it, you still did not beat any of the top 3 last season home or away FACT.

Dear Mr Avg3

Thanks again for your comments.

The articles are designed to give an insight into how Mr Croker interpreted the game and are not designed to offend or encourage negativity, so I apologise if you are in any way put out by his interpretations.

For the record, Will Croker's comments regarding funding are just, as you may not be aware, there are now several clubs within our league who can afford to pay their players, unfortunately Basingstoke are not one of them. Having the available finances to pay players can potentially enable teams to progress through the leagues very quickly, as seen with Newbury in recent years, our aim however, is to be sustainable in what we do, we do not want to be another one of those yoyo clubs that cannot maintain their momentum,because of financial irregularities.
We do encourage constructive criticism and we accept that we are not perfect, therefore I would respectfully request that you try and redirect your enthusiasm into the positives of what we are trying to achieve, rather than the negatives,as I am sure you would not want to discourage one of the most talented team of coaches and players Basingstoke RFC has worked with for many years.

Thanking you in anticipation.

Yours

Chairman of Playing BRFC

AVG3 quote- ''The fact is Mr Croker either you or the side or both are clearly not good enough to win London 1 you would not have lost 8 out of 8 against top sides if you were,FACT'

I think the above quote clears up the grey area you dispute AVG3. As a point of interest, that you as an avid follower of Basingstoke rfc should perhaps know, I am The senior Croker. James retired from rugby at 27 due to injury and began on his coaching path. I set out on this course some 18 months ago. We are proud of our amateur club, we don't make excuses, just understand our place in the scheme of things.

We as a club do charge to enter, however we are proud of the fact we offer the best environment in which to play or watch rugby in the league and that is why we are now the centre for elite development for London Irish. If you don't wish to pay next time you visit please let me know and I will cover that burden for you. I hope this clears things up once and for all and you can carry on dealing with important things in life.