Tandridge Buzz

The Guards have hailed the support of the Caterham public for helping them get through a difficult job on the frontline, after the community helped raise over £3,000 for injured soldiers.

The Guards returned to Caterham — 15 years after they left the barracks on the hill — to play a charity rugby game against an Old Cats XV.

The twin aim of the day was to raise money for three charities — Help the Heroes, British Legion and the Guards Charity — and raise the profile of the Old Cats rugby club within the community.

Caterham has a long association with the Guards. The Barracks on the Hill — now known as The Village residential development — was home to Her Majesty’s Foot Guards from 1877 until the Ministry of Defence closed the site in 1995. It was previously the largest army depot of the Victorian age.

A raffle and a charity auction, which included a day out with the Guards to experience the changing of the guard first hand, helped to raise money as well as the Guards collecting in Caterham town centre earlier in the day.

The Guards lost the rugby 40-7 but Old Cats second XV captain Paul Tasker said it did not matter about who won. “It was a good day for the cause,” he said. “It was brilliant to see these guys coming back to see us and it was nice to have them back.

“It is good for the lads here to show their appreciation for the lads who are out there doing their day to day job on the front line.

“I think it shows that the public are on their side.”

Colour Sergeant Tim Heale, an Anglian serving with Nijmegan Company of the Grenadier Guards, said he was “made-up” by the support of the public. “It means a huge amount that the public are on our side.

“We know that it is a bit political but the public support is the main thing the guys look for and they are happy to do the jobs they do for their country.

“The day has been awesome and I think we have raised a huge amount of money.”

Old Cats chairman Steve Dalgleish added: “It has been a big day for Old Cats. It is a very positive thing — positive for rugby and positive for the community.”

The Guards are returning to Caterham — 15 years after they left the barracks on the hill.

A team of guards will return to play a special rugby match against the Old Caterhamians to raise money for injured soldiers.

The Old Cats are hosting the charity day on Saturday 4 September with the twin aim of raising money for three charities — Help the Heroes, British Legion and the Guards Charity — and raising the profile of the club within the community.

The day will kick-off at 11am and feature a laser rifle range, assault course, beauty treatments, bouncy castle and a pig roast. The day will be centred around a special rugby match between the Old Caterhamians and a Guards XV.

All sections of the club from under-5s to youth teams to the women and the senior club will be on the recruitment trail and the day will also allow local businesses to pitch a stall and showcase their services.

Caterham has a long association with the Guards. The Barracks on the Hill — now known as The Village residential development — was home to Her Majesty’s Foot Guards from 1877 until the Ministry of Defence closed the site in 1995. It was previously the largest army depot of the Victorian age.

Colour Sergeant Tim Heale, an Anglian serving with Nijmegan Company of the Grenadier Guards, has helped organise the day after joining the rugby club last season.

He has completed three tours of Afghanistan, one tour of Iraq and also served in Northern Ireland, Kosovo and Macedonia.

“It means a huge amount for guys that have come back from operations injured knowing that people are out there raising money for them basically to help them with their injuries, buying equipment and prosthetic limbs. It means a huge amount.

“And on the day I am hoping to have a lot of service guys coming down to cheer us along.”

A second Old Cats player — Dave Claxton — has also just completed a tour of Afghanistan with the Grenadier Guards.

Old Cats chairman Steve Dalgleish said he hoped to also use the day to spotlight the club to the community.

“Basically the day is to raise money for the charities, the club is going to get together with the local community and welcome the Guards back and raise as much money for them as we can on the day.

“The club will also benefit from opening up its doors to the community. We are a much kept secret in the area.”

If you are a local business who wants to take part in the day or someone interested in playing rugby email dalgleishsteven@hotmail.com.

Old Cats are looking for promotion back to Surrey One under the leadership of new head coach Matthew Yianni.

Yianni is confident he has the players at the club to achieve the goal after the club has endured a number of tough seasons, which have seen them plummet to the depths of Surrey Two and only avoid their third relegation in four years by way of a technicality involving a league re-shuffle.

“There is potential at the club which should bode well for the long term future of the club,” said Yianni, who previously coached Beckenham Ladies team.

“One of my main objectives is not only to create a successful team on the pitch but to help structure the club so that it shouldn’t find itself in this position again.

“I want to get Old Cats back up and firing again. I want to help build up the club and the squad together and get the enjoyment back.”

Yianni said the club has a good chance of gaining promotion with pre-season going well. Training has been taking place two a week — Tuesdays and Thursdays for the first time.

“You start every season ambitious,” he said. “Everyone starts on the same number of points and my job is to make sure at the end of the season we have more points than anyone else.”

Yianni has also started to forge stronger links with the youth section of the club. Every week a senior player will help coach one of the youth teams to foster stronger links between the two.

The head coach has also promised an entertaining style of rugby to help attract as many players and supporters as possible.

“I am not a big fan of stick it up your jumper rugby,” he said. “We will hopefully be playing some free flowing, attacking rugby and avoiding the contact as much as possible.”

Club captain for the year remains Alex Skinner and the club will rely heavily on experienced players such as last year’s player of the year Aron Turney, brother Wade Turney, the evergreen Dave Criscuolo and Andrew Mackie, who Yianni describes as a “great positive presence in the changing room”.

Training takes place on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 730pm at Old Cats rugby club on Park Avenue.