Moira, the power behind Hartlepool Rovers
One of the RFU Honda Volunteer of the Year finalists, Moira Bowden steered Hartlepool Rovers back from the brink after the covid pandemic and has relentlessly been driving future success to benefit the area.
Just why do volunteers make such a difference to grassroots rugby communities? One woman’s story provides a real insight into the answer.
One of the RFU Honda Volunteer of the Year finalists, Moira Bowden steered Hartlepool Rovers back from the brink after the covid pandemic and has relentlessly been driving future success to benefit the area.
At the Durham Awards event in April, she was put in the limelight among local winners being announced towards the Honda Volunteer of the Year final taking place at Twickenham on the 30 August.
Second family & powers of persuasion
Having had the club as her second family since the age of two, and after being on the committee for some 20 years, Moira became chair before the pandemic. During covid, as clubs across the country were closed, the Hartlepool Rovers committee drifted away and when rugby restarted at the club it was without a secretary, treasurer, bar manager, and with other essential roles unfilled.
Moira, having recently retired as a bank manager, is adept as managing people and funds and was previously looking after sponsorship and events at Hartlepool Rovers. One of her superpowers is persuading people to do what’s needed.
“I know social media is great and relied on these days, but it’s much harder for people to say no when you see them face to face,” she laughs. “Meeting up with my old bank colleagues, they tell me if I don’t get the right answer, I’ll ask the question again!”
Having used her powers of persuasion to recreate the club’s committee and supported every new member as they learned their roles, thanks to her hard work the committee is now going from strength to strength. It reflects all members of the club, with players a vital part of the committee in making decisions.
Hartlepool Rovers’ motto is ‘More Than Just a Rugby Club’ and Moira passionately believes that.
“My dad was a doctor in Edinburgh, and we moved to Hartlepool when I was two,” she says. “Dad was the club and county team medic and, as he retired, he became club President for about ten years. I grew up at Hartlepool Rovers and know just how massive the club is for a local community facing lots of challenges. Rugby makes a difference, helping mental health and issues players might have. We see children coming down on their own, some of the children have additional needs and we do everything we can to support- this is a game and a club for everyone. We watch them grow, gain confidence, become part of a team and no longer feeling that they are on their own.”
A much-needed junior pitch
The club’s age grade coaches have supported local schools and there is now a Community Liaison Officer, the committee has also just completed a community survey of what members and the surrounding area require from the club, putting them at the heart of their community to secure the future of rugby in the and benefit the area. The list of Moira’s and the newborn committee’s achievements continues to grow.
The biggest challenge is creating a second pitch on land that they already own to have adequate playing space for younger teams, many of whom are currently forced to play off-site. An auction was held at a recent charity dinner featuring Scott Quinnell, and with matched funding from business partners, including Teesworks and NTH Solutions, they raised some £7,000. That amount has been committed to fencing the area off.
Says Moira: “There's so much more that we can achieve in really developing that space, be it lighting, improved inclusive pitch access pathways and on site-storage. To achieve its full potential, even with voluntary work we need about £15,000 more. “The land is just across the road and the clubhouse is the hub for senior rugby and the junior section, so we don’t want the young players having to play off site. This is their home,” says Moira.
Having approached Hartlepool Borough Council, they are now relying on their own fundraising and the help of local businesses to move the project forward.
The club is very grateful to all of their sponsors, including longstanding supporters Clearwater Utilities, Alexander Batteries, Lockdown Competitions, Stainton Lighting Design Services, Qualitech Environmental Services and Easyfoods.
“We have also been really fortunate that some fantastic local groups like Teesworks, NTH Solutions and KIS Scaffolding recognise and back our junior sections efforts directly, we can’t thank them enough,” Moira says. “Local business support is essential for us, and our sponsors believe in the work we are doing in the community.
Having now also joined The Independent Advisory Group within Cleveland Police Community Engagement Team ,with a view of seeing how the rugby club can help, Moira talks of a challenging time for all community rugby clubs. “Most had issues after the pandemic and needed to build their businesses again. The events and parties stopped because initially people were anxious about going out and then business sponsors also lacked money to offer support. It was as tough to get committee members back as it was to get players back on the pitch.”
Leadership & vision
But the tide has turned at Hartlepool Rovers. They have been developing the clubhouse, securing financial stability, increasing sponsorship, hosting county games and local community groups like Andy’s Man Club. They have provided mental health training to support members’ and players’ mental health and increased physio and personal training availability for players, with costs being absorbed by improved sponsorship.
Local boy John Dee began his rugby at Hartlepool Rovers, the centre going on to represent the Barbarians, England and the British and Irish Lions in the 1960s. Moira and her committee believe that there are currently many more local boys and girls who need the opportunity to develop their skills and that rugby’s values will help them throughout life.
James Turner, Director Of Junior Rugby at the club says:.”Due to Moira’s commitment, Hartlepool Rovers has a future as a rugby club; much work is still to be done, and Moira will be at the heart of driving it through. Moira’s value to Rovers cannot be overstated. Her leadership has revolutionised the club’s ethos and her vision for the future will be the bedrock of success for the next 25 years at Rovers, with success measured by inclusivity and access to rugby for all prioritised over results. She is an inspiration, particularly to the girls enjoying rugby at Rovers, and deserves to be nationally recognised.
Moira is also a member of the Women’s Leadership Collective which the RFU set up this season to bring together female chairs.
“We have boys and girls in our age grade teams and our U12 to U16 girls play in a cluster with other local clubs,” says Moira. “We want everyone to be able to play and enjoy rugby here and we are rebuilding our women’s team who are currently playing friendlies as they build towards league competition.”
