Hundreds of enthusiastic youngsters aged from five to seventeen and no less enthusiastic coaches, officials and parents gathered around the iconic grandstand to listen to Director of Youth Rugby Mike Dale review the season against an impressive backdrop of trophies and medals.

Team highlights of the season include the Junior Colts winning the Raging Bull North West Colts League C, the under 11 and under 7 sides winning the Kukri Southport Sports Tours Festival, the under 11 and under 12 sides reaching the Lancashire Minis Cup Finals Day and the debut of the under 6 “Devils”. Stellar individual performances include Steve Green from the under 15 team who was selected to play for Lancashire, and under 14s Tom Critchley, Josh Gorman, Toby Gjertson and Sam Whitefield selected for Merseyside.

Likewise the winners of the individual wards for each age group: Erin Day (u6); Jamie Brown (u7); Amy Dale/Alfie Monaghan (u8); Alex Day (u9); Fraser Jones (u10); Massimo Poli (u11); George Scott (u12); John Brady (u13); Sam Whitfield (u14); James Laven (u15); Max Colville (u16); James Bailey/Sam Cross (u17 Junior Colts).

The ceremony was captured on camera by Blueski Photography and can be viewed at http://www.blueskiphotography.com

With the 2011/12 season now over the Minis and Juniors can now start to focus on next season during which they will realise that they are part of something very special which has been established in the town for 140 years.

There will no time to rest though as a series of commemorative events commence in a couple of weeks time with the “Blue White & Red Royal Hillside” party to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee.

It is sobering thought that next seasons youngest in-take in ten years time will be coming to the end of their time in the youth set-up just as the 150th anniversary beckons….