Chairmans Forward
Welcome to the RIFLEMAN FC website, hopefully the next few paragraphs will give you an insight into how the club was formed.
In February 2008 our benefactor and main sponsor, Freddie French spoke to me and asked if it would be possible to set up a football team bearing the pubs name to play in a local league. At this point three people became involved with the research, recruitment of players and administration that was needed to establish the club. The three of us, Richard Rayfield, David Winslow and myself formed the management team as follows, Richard as Secretary, David as coach, with the added responsibility for the recruitment of players and myself as Chairman and Team Manager, Richards partner Jody came on board as club treasurer.
From this point on everything seemed to move at the speed of light, sponsors were found, three in fact- Freddie who I have already mentioned, The Port of London Authority were bought on board by Richard and the HML group, also bought on board by Richard.
Everything was sourced and ordered within a very short space of time, kit and equipment from Footballstuff.co.uk, club polo shirts from the same supplier and club ties from McDade neckwear.
The club applied to and were voted in to, the Medway Messenger Sunday Football League. A special mention goes out to John Wren who was a tremendous help to us at this time.
Training sessions began almost straight away, and although players came and went over the following couple of months, a hard-core stayed and formed the nucleus of our team.
As the squad started to take shape, Rob Harding was appointed as our first ever club captain, with Lee Bruckin as vice captain.
What the future holds for us as a team nobody really knows, but I’m sure that if we stick to the principles that were laid down at the outset we will go from strength to strength.
Thank you for taking the time to read this forward.
Steve Chaffe (Chairman)
Rifleman FC
