As we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of Mersea Youth on the eve of the new season (how quickly that time has flown!), Alex Lacey, Director of Rugby, has asked me to reflect on why we started this journey, who helped make it happen, and how we did it.

I’ve been involved with the club since its founding in 1989. As a young teenager, I regularly supported the senior team at the youth camp, and in those days, the post-match socials were held at The Dog and Pheasant. Many of today’s coaches and committee members were players back then.

In 1993, John Gradwell approached me through the island's youth club, saying he was trying to form a youth team. Would I be interested? At the time, I was a keen 12 or 13-year-old, mad about sport. I leapt at the opportunity, and that’s how the first youth team was born. Sadly, after a few seasons, the team folded. I inevitably joined Colchester, where I played and eventually captained the Colts.

Mersea has always been my club. I returned from university and went on tour to South Africa in 1998, which solidified my love for rugby. I played for the 1st XV for about 15 years, forming lifelong friendships and having some of the best experiences of my life. Although we had notable successes, we were always challenged by the relatively small squad size, considering the high level we played at.

By 2013, my playing days with the 1st XV were over due to a back injury. Despite this, my love for the club remained strong, and I felt a genuine desire to give something back. The island and the club were in desperate need of a youth section.

I approached the committee, who were highly supportive, as were the RFU, Eastern Counties, the Lions, Rotary, and others. Together, we started planning to establish a mini and youth section. I vividly remember pitching the idea at a club lunch, where Tom and Cal Brennan, Dave Bredin, John Gradwell, Pete Martin, and others immediately offered their help. At the heart of our mission was a commitment to the RFU’s core values, with a player-centred approach. But more than that, we wanted to create a club that was family-friendly, non-political, and welcoming to everyone. A youth committee was formed, and the work began.

In September 2015, we held our first session, and an incredible 70 children of all ages turned up. That moment gave us the confidence that we could really make this happen.

By 2023, the first group of youth players, coached by Tom and Cal, began playing senior rugby. This was a pivotal moment for the club, as we now had players coming through, strengthening our senior team. This season, for the first time, we will have players in every age bracket, from U6s to Colts. This creates a continuous pipeline of well-trained Mersea players moving into senior rugby. However, our goal has always been bigger than just producing players. We aim to foster “club” men and women—people willing to give their time and effort for the greater good of the club. Alex has driven the club forward in ways we couldn’t have imagined, and Windy has built a senior squad that is a true force to be reckoned with. We now have a thriving base of players, parents, and supporters.

On a personal note, this has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I’ve had the privilege of coaching my team from U7s to where they are today. Watching these boys grow into men has been a real journey. Seeing the club evolve and being part of that process fills me with immense pride. Rugby is about so much more than the game itself. Yes, we’ll win some and lose some, but the spirit of the club, the community within it, and the way we develop young people will hopefully continue for generations.

We’re well on our way to reviving a Vets team, so we’ll soon have “cradle to grave” rugby at Mersea.

The Club will be celebrating this 10 year anniversary on Sunday 21st September, with current England coaches Steve Borthwick and Richard Wigglesworth holding a training session for our Colts. Everyone is welcome, and its is shaping to be an outstanding day and showcasing what is good about rugby on the island.