Please see a message below from our new Club Chair, Sophie Warren. On behalf of everyone at the club, we would like to formally welcome her into her new leadership role. Sophie has been with the Club for some time as our lead Physio. Her commitment to players across all club sections is without doubt and we are delighted she has been elected to the Club Chair position. Welcome Sophie!! (Club Executive committee)

Hello everyone!!

First, I need to say a special mention to my predecessor Chair, Peter Timon – unashamedly Dartford!! The loudest, possibly the most loveable and irritating man I have ever met! Pete was the first player that I ever run onto the pitch to treat as club physio – SHOCK! He was the first player to buy me a drink, the first player to check that I was ok on my first day, has been there for me when I’ve needed to rant and probably most importantly, brought the banter like no one ever has! Pete, the sacrifices you and your wife Sophie have made for this club will be your legacy. You helped lead this club as we built our home. The impact this will have for generations to come, for some, will be life changing. You and your family are at the heart of this club. I know you have promised me you will be around if I ever need any advice and thankfully you are still going to be a big part of both the Special Projects Team and the Youth Academy coaching team; which is a relief; because this Club would not be the same without you or your family.

When I started to consider the position as Chair, the week that followed involved me, in my physio capacity attend a Senior men’s match – we played a team a league above us, and we won. We played with a fire and we played with a team ethos that I hadn’t seen in the last few years. I then stood on the side-line of an U15’s match on a Friday night – I instantly became the big sister of about 30 x 14-year-olds. They played under the lights, in front of a roaring crowd whilst senior players sang at them, chanted, and clapped them into a changing room. I saw coaches and volunteers come alive with a passion that those outside of Sport just won’t understand. I then stood with our Ladies Roses as they won their first match since I have been at this club. These ladies are special, they have a magic spark about them – and then it all became clear.
This Club isn’t just about the Rugby. It’s about the people. Across this Club, our one club ethos, there is a warm feeling, it’s a Club that at its heart is about family. Visitors to the club regularly note the ‘Valley’ welcome – it’s a genuine warm welcome to anyone that wants to be part of our family. Every player and every volunteer is here because of a love and respect of each other and a shared passion for Rugby & Community. This Club is built on family and friendships and they are the two things that mean more to me than anything.

I started here 2.5 years ago – I came as an Insurance Broker, who had been through the ringer personally and was desperate to do something different. I qualified as a Sports Therapist whilst training at the club. Today, I stand as your Club physio and today I also become the first female Chair in this Club’s history and the youngest Chair of a traditional club structure in the country, regardless of gender. These things do not phase me. I am here to show the young roses, the young valley boys and every senior player that it doesn’t matter how old you are, what gender you are, where you come from or what you have done in your life – you can do anything if you do it with love, passion and you have the right people behind you.

I will ensure that this Club, whilst I am in this position, has the love, passion, and the family ethos we have built this Club’s success on. Pete under his chairmanship helped build our home, my job and my commitment to you is that we build the club structure to ensure that our family grows and grows well. Together with my fantastic ExCom team & amazing group of Club Volunteers, we are ready to continue to show those who doubted us, as we stood without a home, out of a shipping container behind the Leigh Academy, that DVRFC has truly arrived and is here to stay.

As the first woman & youngest chair, I am looking forward to club meetings both within & outside the club, wearing our Club crest showing those people, quite simply, we are Dartford Valley and we do what we do!

I look forward to keeping you regularly updated on club progress and encourage all with a passion for this amazing club to reach out to me with thoughts, ideas and feedback so that we ensure we go from strength to strength.

Onwards & upwards!!

Sophie Warren
Dartford Rugby Chair