Belsize Park chairman targets promotion push

Belsize Park chairman Joseph Murphy is hoping the first team can match the steady improvements in the club’s infrastructure and push for promotion in Herts/Middlesex Division One.

BP have previously trained at Westway sports centre but they moved to Coram’s Fields on Guildford Street in Camden this week.

The club has expanded in recent years, now fielding a second string, a third team (‘the Bulls’) and a fourth XV (‘the Buffalos’) – and this season, for the first time, the Buffalos have a full fixture list rather than playing on an ad hoc basis.

Murphy was delighted to see the first, second and third teams all winning their respective pre-season friendlies against Old Alleynians recently, and he is hopeful of a strong campaign on all fronts.

“Like most teams at our level the aspiration is to push for promotion [with the first XV],” he said.

“We’ve brought good players in and, hopefully, with the new training facilities, we can continue to build on what we’ve done over the last few years, because four years ago we only had two teams.

“The Bulls won their merit league last season so hopefully that can inspire everyone else to add to the trophy cabinet.”

Jonny Jones has replaced Zach Webb as first-team captain, although the latter continues to have a high-profile role as the club’s director of rugby.