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I first joined Gainsborough RUFC back in 2011, beginning my journey as a player and quickly becoming part of the club’s community and culture. Rugby was a major part of my life during those early years, but after an injury and time spent starting a family, I stepped away from the game for a while.
In 2023, I made my return — this time with a desire to give back. I began by helping coach the current U12s, passing on experience from my own playing days. Before long, I found myself supporting other age groups too, bringing my lineout knowledge to the U16 Girls, Ladies, and U16 Boys squads wherever it could make a difference.
As my involvement grew, so did my responsibilities. The following season, I stepped into the role of Junior Fixtures Secretary, working hard to make sure our young players enjoyed a full, exciting calendar of games. Ensuring they had consistent opportunities to play, learn, and have fun became a huge part of my focus.
Last season, I took on a brand‑new role as the club’s first Junior Secretary, helping lead the newly formed Mini & Junior Committee — the first in Gainsborough RUFC’s history. Now moving into the secretary role. My goal is to move the club into a new era, one club united together, growing together. Winning together!
After many years, different roles, and plenty of memories, the club still means as much to me as it did the day I first pulled on a shirt in 2011. I’m proud to be part of the team helping build its future.

Since stepping into the role of Chairman in 2023, Leigh Street has become an unmistakable force in the continued growth and spirit of Gainsborough RUFC. We weren’t entirely convinced at first that a die‑hard Leeds United fan would settle into rugby life… but it turns out the club has become his second home. He’ll never admit he loves Gainsborough and rugby more than Leeds, but everyone knows the truth.

Leigh is a visible, hands‑on Chairman who shows up everywhere: training nights, match days, pitch‑side chats, committee meetings, and—naturally—the bar. His presence, energy, and genuine care for the people within the club have helped drive a culture of togetherness and ambition across every age group.

The Street family name runs deep through the club. His wife, Hailey, not only plays for the Ladies team but captains them with the same passion Leigh brings to his role. Their commitment to the club is woven into everything they do, making them a cornerstone of the Gainsborough RUFC community.

Leigh has now taken a new role as vice- chairman. We are glad to have him back

Martin Rice joined Gainsborough RUFC in 2017 as a player, quickly becoming part of the fabric of the club both on and off the pitch. These days he dips in and out of the team when life (and his love of CrossFit) allows, but his real impact is felt in the engine room of the club’s operations.

As Secretary, Martin is right in the thick of the admin that keeps everything running smoothly—fixtures, forms, meetings, communications, and the endless list of tasks that magically “just happen” because he’s quietly made sure they do. His organisation, reliability, and willingness to get stuck into the unglamorous jobs make him one of the club’s most essential cogs.

Away from rugby and spreadsheets, Martin has a surprising claim to fame: he used to be in a band. It’s a fact he doesn’t shout about, but it adds to the charm of a man who brings far more to the club than most people realise.

Dedicated, dependable, and always ready to help, Martin embodies the spirit of Gainsborough RUFC—steady hands, good humour, and a genuine love for the club community.

Martin also moves into a new role to the club in the form of Vice-Secretary yet another critical role as the club expands

Few names carry as much history, respect, and genuine club spirit as Vern Goude. One of the longest‑standing members of Gainsborough RUFC, Vern has worn the black shirt for more years than anyone dares try to count. His playing career alone is the stuff of club folklore, capped by an extraordinary nine seasons as Club Captain from the late 2000s through to 2016 — a run that speaks volumes about his leadership, loyalty, and the esteem he holds within the squad.

Vern is, quite simply, one of the beating hearts of this club. His roots run deep through every corner of Gainsborough RUFC. His wife, Zoe, and their girls have proudly represented the Ladies team, while his brother Mark has also pulled on the shirt. And then there’s his dad — the legendary Tony Goude — a man who has held almost every role imaginable, captained the Maoris in 1985, served as Club Captain in 1989, and spent years guiding the club as secretary. The Goude name is woven into the very fabric of our history.

Carrying that legacy forward, Vern continues to serve as Vice Chairman with the same passion he once brought to the pitch. He is steady, respected, ever‑present, and utterly committed to the club’s future. If you cut him open, he’d absolutely bleed all black — and Gainsborough RUFC is stronger for it.

Vern has now progressed into the hot seat at Chairman. Something befitting of his legacy!

Nathan Mitchell is another of Gainsborough RUFC’s long‑standing stalwarts — the kind of member who’s been around for so long that no one can quite remember a time before he was here. His playing career saw him lead from the front, becoming the first captain of the Maoris when the club re‑formed its second team in 2011 after the 2006 fold. That leadership later carried him into the role of Club President, where his steady hand and deep love for the club continued to shine.

Nath pours his energy into the future of Gainsborough RUFC. As Head of Age Grade Rugby and head coach of the Under‑16 Girls, he’s shaping the next generation with the same passion he once brought to the pitch. His commitment to youth rugby is nothing short of transformational.

Nath is one of the key reasons we even have a Minis and Juniors section. Alongside fellow long‑serving members like Martin Roberts, Brew Brewster, Graeme Chappellow, and Shane Ellis, he helped form the original section in the mid‑2010s. And when the time came to rebuild again, he dragged our Juniors Secretary back into the fray in 2024 — a move that sparked the thriving Minis setup we’re so proud of today.

A true club mate with the club’s best interests always at heart, Nath is woven into the fabric of Gainsborough RUFC. He’s another one that would bleed all black if we cut him — and the club is stronger, prouder, and more united because of him.

Moving into the 26/27 season nathan has moved into a new role. A role that is part of our new structure. With the club growing so much, its an essential role moving forward!

Rob Hallam is the personification of a true club man. Week in, week out, he pulls on the shirt and gets stuck in, currently serving as Co‑Captain of the 2nd team. But Rob’s impact goes far beyond match days. He’s the kind of bloke who turns up early, stays late, and somehow manages to be everywhere at once — helping out with anything and everything the club needs. If there’s a job to be done, you can rely on Rob to be right in the middle of it.

A gentleman on and off the field, Rob was the only man for the role of Junior Chairman. His devotion to the club is unquestionable, and the passion he brings to supporting our young players is something we’re incredibly proud of. He leads with kindness, graft, and a genuine love for the Gainsborough RUFC community.

There’s only one thing we don’t love about him… his choice of team to support. A Sarries fan. Honestly. Yuck.

But we forgive him — because Rob is, and always will be, one of the club’s finest.

Paul Hooton — better known to absolutely everyone as Hooty — is another piece of Gainsborough RUFC furniture. We tried asking him when he first joined the club, but he couldn’t find the stone tablet it was originally carved on, so we’ve accepted that he’s simply always been here.

Hooty served as Maoris (2nd team) Captain for three seasons from 2014, leading with the same enthusiasm and character he brings to every corner of the club. His vibrant personality has always shone through, whether he’s rallying the lads, cracking a joke, or pulling out the wooden spoons for the classic spoons game — a tradition he’s kept alive with pride.

On the pitch, he’s most at home in the back row, though he’s been known to graft in the engine room when needed. And despite “retiring” the boots more than once, he proved this season that no one ever truly hangs them up, stepping in for a full, solid 80 minutes like he’d never been away.

Beyond rugby, Hooty isn’t just a respected member of the club — he’s a respected member of the wider community. His work with St John sees him here, there, and everywhere, always ready to help, support, and serve. That same sense of care and responsibility is exactly what he brings to his role as Safeguarding Officer.

Dependable, approachable, and full of character, Hooty is a huge part of what makes Gainsborough RUFC feel like home.

Hannah Pearson is a dab hand with the cash — which is a good job, because the rest of us absolutely love spending it. Thankfully, she’s always there to keep us in check, balancing the books with a steady hand and a sharp eye. As Club Treasurer, Hannah brings organisation, clarity, and a calm confidence to a role that quietly keeps the whole place running.

Hannah has spent several years as part of the Ladies team, and her willingness to help wherever she’s needed makes her one of the club’s most dependable and appreciated members. Whether she’s on the pitch, behind the scenes, or sorting out the numbers, she brings the same commitment and positivity to everything she does.

The Pearson family are another brilliant example of how deeply rooted our community spirit runs. Her husband, Gary, co‑captains the 2nd team, and their kids have been playing for the club for years. They’re a family woven into the fabric of Gainsborough RUFC — living proof of what makes this club so special.

Hannah keeps us grounded, keeps us organised, and keeps us moving forward. We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Mark Ellis is a second‑generation, long‑standing member of Gainsborough RUFC — part of another family that forms one of the beating hearts of this club. The Ellis name is woven deep into our history, and Mark carries that legacy with pride, commitment, and a work ethic that never wavers.

As the son of Shane Ellis — an undisputed club legend and one of the people without whom this club might not even exist — Mark grew up surrounded by the values that keep Gainsborough RUFC alive. Shane’s ethos of “do what needs doing, whenever it needs doing” has clearly been passed down, because Mark is exactly that kind of bloke. If something needs sorting, fixing, organising, or lifting, he’s already halfway through doing it.

Mark is the perfect person for Data Officer. Clever, switched‑on, and always on point with everything GMS, he keeps the club’s systems running smoothly and makes sure the behind‑the‑scenes work is done right. He’s reliable, meticulous, and never without that trademark smile.

One of the best things about Mark is his loyalty. He’d turn up to a letter‑opening if it helped the club. He never misses a match, a social, or a chance to support the black shirt. He’s present, he’s committed, and he’s exactly the kind of person every community club needs.

Mark Ellis doesn’t just keep the data straight — he helps keep the whole club moving forward.

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Phil Hunter might sound like the kind of bloke you wouldn’t want to cross — stern, hard‑faced, harsh‑worded… but who are we kidding. He’s none of those things. Not even close. Phil is the exact opposite: friendly, approachable, and one of the easiest people in the club to get along with.

Despite the gentle exterior, Phil is another member with his hands in multiple pots around Gainsborough RUFC. Whether it’s supporting on match days, helping out with the Ladies training, or stepping in wherever he’s needed, he’s always there, always willing, and always dependable.

As Discipline Secretary, Phil brings fairness, calm, and common sense — the kind of steady presence every club needs in the role. He’s respected not because he’s strict, but because he genuinely cares about the people and the culture of the club.

Phil is one of those quiet heroes who make community rugby what it is. Helpful, kind, and always involved, he’s a valued part of the Gainsborough RUFC family.

Brian Walsh has been part of Gainsborough RUFC for more years than most of us can count, and his dedication has now led him into the honourable role of Club President. Anyone who’s spoken to Brian knows exactly why he’s so well‑loved — he’s genuine, honest, and one of the easiest people to chat to on the sidelines.

While planning the recent Past Players Lunch, Brian shared story after story — the kind that make you laugh, make you think, and remind you just how much this club has meant to him throughout his life. Those memories, told with pride and warmth, show the depth of his connection to Gainsborough RUFC and the role it continues to play in his world.

Brian is a familiar face on match days, often found on the touchline watching the senior teams, offering support, encouragement, and the occasional bit of wisdom. He’s always up for a conversation, always approachable, and always carrying that quiet pride that only comes from a lifetime of involvement.

As Club President, Brian represents everything good about Gainsborough RUFC — history, heart, and a deep love for the black shirt.