As part of Ulster Rugby's Volunteers' Week (01-12 June 2016) celebrations we will be showcasing some of our outstanding rugby volunteers and highlighting the great work that is carried out by rugby volunteers across Ulster.
One of these such individuals is the current Chairman of Portadown Panthers Disability Tag Rugby Group, Willie Gribben, who has been involved in volunteering for over 40 years.
Willie has a long and decorated rugby history dating back to 1958 when he was first introduced to the game at Ballymena Academy, where he played for the school at all age groups before heading off to Stranmillis College to begin teacher training in 1965. Upon leaving school, Willie joined Ballymena RFC with whom he played with from 1965-70, and was indeed selected to play for Ulster during his second season at the club.
In order to take up a teaching position in Edenderry PS, Willie moved to Portadown in September 1970 and joined Portadown RFC. Whilst teaching in Edenderry, Willie began attending rugby coaching courses, and it was during one of these sessions in 1972 that Willie and Ronnie Lamont were by approached by the IRFU Ulster Branch regarding the possibility of introducing rugby to primary school children, as was recommended by the Ulster Branch commissioned Bell Report. The two men went back to their respective primary schools and began drafting coaching notes before getting together for a number of trial games later that year. In 1973, they introduced more schools and held the first ever Mini Rugby tournaments in Portadown and Ravenhill. The games continued to develop and are still being played, culminating each year with tournaments at Kingspan Stadium and Queens University.
In 1974 Willie introduced Mini Rugby to Portadown RFC and it wasn’t long before many other clubs throughout Ulster and Ireland began to get involved. The initiative was a huge success and presently there are more than 40 clubs in Ulster with Mini Rugby sections, with many of them having more than 150 young players aged from 6-12 years out playing rugby each week.
In addition to coaching Mini Rugby, Willie has also coached Portadown 1st XV for three different spells, as well as North of Ireland/Belfast Harlequins and Ireland U18 Youths. Willie was also coach of the Ulster U20’s from 1988-92, where he oversaw the development of several high profile names including David Humphreys and Neil Doak.
In September 2013 Willie took another big step in founding the Portadown Panthers Disability Tag Rugby Group. The team now has 25 members, drawing on players from throughout the Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Council area, and it participates in a number of blitzes each year along with 8 other Disability Tag Rugby groups across the Province.
Like many of our fantastic volunteers, Willie currently carries out several duties on behalf of Portadown Panthers including, but not limited to, contact admin for players and parents; club promotion via newspapers, website and social media; school visits; planning meetings; arranging and attending club festivals; and arranging participation in the Wooden Spoon International Tag Rugby Festival.
While Willie has devoted so much of his own time to helping others, he appreciates that he also gets a lot in return from volunteering:
“My inspiration comes from seeing people enjoy themselves, achieving things that they felt that they could never achieve and watching them grow in self-confidence. As a teacher I always felt that every child was capable of achieving and had something of value to offer. My job was to find that something. As a volunteer in the rugby community, my role is no different but now I deal with adults as well as children so I still have to find that something that makes people feel valued.”
Willie has enjoyed many great experiences with Portadown Panthers, but one memory stands out from the rest:
“My proudest moment was watching our Portadown Panthers players running out in front of a crowd of 18,000 to play at half-time during the Ulster v Leinster game, which was the official opening of the new Kingspan Stadium.”
In recognition for his outstanding services to volunteering, Willie was recently awarded the inaugural SONI Community Rugby Champion Award, which was presented at the Ulster Rugby awards dinner on Thursday 12th May. Willie was chosen from a shortlist of four exceptional volunteers who dedicate so much of their time to support community rugby, and took home the coveted award along with a £1,000 bursary for his club.
If you would like to get involved in volunteering at your local club please contact Kerry Spence, Ulster Rugby Volunteer and Policy Development Officer on volunteer@ulsterrugby.com
One of these such individuals is the current Chairman of Portadown Panthers Disability Tag Rugby Group, Willie Gribben, who has been involved in volunteering for over 40 years.
Willie has a long and decorated rugby history dating back to 1958 when he was first introduced to the game at Ballymena Academy, where he played for the school at all age groups before heading off to Stranmillis College to begin teacher training in 1965. Upon leaving school, Willie joined Ballymena RFC with whom he played with from 1965-70, and was indeed selected to play for Ulster during his second season at the club.
In order to take up a teaching position in Edenderry PS, Willie moved to Portadown in September 1970 and joined Portadown RFC. Whilst teaching in Edenderry, Willie began attending rugby coaching courses, and it was during one of these sessions in 1972 that Willie and Ronnie Lamont were by approached by the IRFU Ulster Branch regarding the possibility of introducing rugby to primary school children, as was recommended by the Ulster Branch commissioned Bell Report. The two men went back to their respective primary schools and began drafting coaching notes before getting together for a number of trial games later that year. In 1973, they introduced more schools and held the first ever Mini Rugby tournaments in Portadown and Ravenhill. The games continued to develop and are still being played, culminating each year with tournaments at Kingspan Stadium and Queens University.
In 1974 Willie introduced Mini Rugby to Portadown RFC and it wasn’t long before many other clubs throughout Ulster and Ireland began to get involved. The initiative was a huge success and presently there are more than 40 clubs in Ulster with Mini Rugby sections, with many of them having more than 150 young players aged from 6-12 years out playing rugby each week.
In addition to coaching Mini Rugby, Willie has also coached Portadown 1st XV for three different spells, as well as North of Ireland/Belfast Harlequins and Ireland U18 Youths. Willie was also coach of the Ulster U20’s from 1988-92, where he oversaw the development of several high profile names including David Humphreys and Neil Doak.
In September 2013 Willie took another big step in founding the Portadown Panthers Disability Tag Rugby Group. The team now has 25 members, drawing on players from throughout the Armagh, Banbridge & Craigavon Council area, and it participates in a number of blitzes each year along with 8 other Disability Tag Rugby groups across the Province.
Like many of our fantastic volunteers, Willie currently carries out several duties on behalf of Portadown Panthers including, but not limited to, contact admin for players and parents; club promotion via newspapers, website and social media; school visits; planning meetings; arranging and attending club festivals; and arranging participation in the Wooden Spoon International Tag Rugby Festival.
While Willie has devoted so much of his own time to helping others, he appreciates that he also gets a lot in return from volunteering:
“My inspiration comes from seeing people enjoy themselves, achieving things that they felt that they could never achieve and watching them grow in self-confidence. As a teacher I always felt that every child was capable of achieving and had something of value to offer. My job was to find that something. As a volunteer in the rugby community, my role is no different but now I deal with adults as well as children so I still have to find that something that makes people feel valued.”
Willie has enjoyed many great experiences with Portadown Panthers, but one memory stands out from the rest:
“My proudest moment was watching our Portadown Panthers players running out in front of a crowd of 18,000 to play at half-time during the Ulster v Leinster game, which was the official opening of the new Kingspan Stadium.”
In recognition for his outstanding services to volunteering, Willie was recently awarded the inaugural SONI Community Rugby Champion Award, which was presented at the Ulster Rugby awards dinner on Thursday 12th May. Willie was chosen from a shortlist of four exceptional volunteers who dedicate so much of their time to support community rugby, and took home the coveted award along with a £1,000 bursary for his club.
If you would like to get involved in volunteering at your local club please contact Kerry Spence, Ulster Rugby Volunteer and Policy Development Officer on volunteer@ulsterrugby.com