At our Annual General Meeting held on 4 July 2024 the following persons were elected to represent the Club. Hopefully you agree, all are enthusiastic, hard-working do-ers with a track record of decision-making, achievement and getting things done.
Officers elected for the following year are: President, Mick Parkinson; Chairperson, Steve Hough; Secretary, Phil Atkinson; Treasurer, Carl Smith; Director of Rugby, James Grant; Chair of Junior Rugby, Simon Fletcher.
The following persons were elected to serve on a streamlined, tighter, more responsive and authoritative General Committee, together with their respective field of responsibility: Tony Dedicoat (Bar, house and kitchen); Alan Copley (Infrastructure); Andy Knox (Fixtures, Players’ Registrar); Richard Fletcher (Fundraising, sponsorship); Jim Cain (Junior Rugby); Emma Hollis (Sponsorship Support); Paul Smith (Equipment and kit); Dave Howdle (Without portfolio… yet).
Most of these are recognisable names. The one new face we would like to introduce to members is Emma Hollis. She is the owner/manager of Pyramid8, a local recruitment agency, headquartered in Glasshoughton, specialising in the recruitment of permanent and temporary employees from receptionist to managing director. Pyramid8 is a sponsor of the Club, as are a number of her clients. Her son, Dexter, plays for our Under 9’s and is entering his third season at the Club. Emma’s connection with the Club, however, goes back to the mid-1970’s when her father Barry Hollis also played for us. Barry played RL for Featherstone Rovers for most of his career alongside fellow-Ponte player Charlie Stone, which included a victorious appearance in front of a crowd of 72,000 at Wembley in the Challenge Cup Final of 1973 when, as a hard-running prop, he scored a try (which was subsequently disallowed). Dave Howdle brought Barry down to the Club at the end of his RL career in the mid-1970s when he played a few games at prop even though he admits he wasn’t sure of the laws of the game. Just goes to show, the principles of rugby and the requirements of a player are much the same, whether it be RL or Union: running with the ball, passing, tackling.
Anyway, as a group of newly-elected officers and committee members, let’s get started! Looking forward to a wonderful year.

Mick Parkinson