An Eccles couple who run the children’s section of a rugby club have won a national volunteering award on behalf of their team of more than 70 people.
Dan and Rachel Nicholls, as well as their team, won England Rugby’s Honda Volunteer of the Year Award 2023 last week for their dedicated work running the Mini and Junior team at Eccles Rugby and Football club, Gorton Street.
The assistant headteacher and sister in Children’s Intensive Care at Manchester Children’s Hospital support more than 300 young players, from ages five to 16 through the club, including their two children.
After being anonymously nominated, Rachel could not believe they had won the award, which celebrates their hard work of rugby volunteers across the country. She said: “It was a bit of a shock but we’re super happy and so proud of the club.
“We didn’t even tell anyone we had been nominated. But it wasn’t just us that was nominated, our team of 70 volunteers wrap us up in this little community bubble and we all help each other.”
Dan, the Chair of the Mini and Junior team, began playing at the club aged six, after his father, Dave Nicholls, and grandfather, Ted Nicholls, worked as a both a coach, and groundsman, respectively.
After meeting Dan and his rugby friends on a night out fifteen years ago, Rachel observed how the team acted as a ‘welcoming family’, and became involved in the club. This year marks their ten year wedding anniversary.
The pair took over the children’s section back in 2020, after only coaching one team together. Rachel continued: “Dan decided to go for the chair position.
“We’re both very passionate about each of our jobs and specialities and that’s what attracted me to him. We both just want to help children.
“Our job makes it so that us two are the glue which holds everyone together and we try to make it as effortless as possible for the volunteers.
“It’s hard every week for the volunteers to give up their time and help out children in the community, it just shows the level of commitment they have. We want to make it effortless, easy and enjoyable.”
Joined by their team of kitchen staff, Duke of Edinburgh support, safeguarding, and parents, Dan and Rachel’s goal is to make rugby ‘open to everyone”. She continued: “Rugby Union can be perceived as a ‘posh sport’ but we are trying to change that perception and giving kids from a different background the same level of coaching and experience.
“We always try to help parents who are struggling financially by providing kits or membership, it’s important no child is affected by their circumstances.
“That’s what we want to teach our boys, to be passionate, selfless, and to grow us as part of this wonderful rugby family.”
Dan said: “Thank you to the executive committee for their support, and also every coach that has been a part of my life growing up – it’s you who inspired me to continue in your legacy.”
Recent Comments