With preparations, behind the scenes, for the upcoming season well under way, the committee had the great pleasure of unanimously accepting each team captain’s nominations for their 2006/07 vice captains.

Andrew Donegan’s choice of James Gladding as his 1XV vice captain, was inspired and immediately and unanimously snapped up by the committee. Gladding, as most people will know, is one of the most committed players on and off the pitch for the club. Extremely reliable and dependable, Gladding, is perfectly suited as Donegan’s deputy. After expressing his initial surprise, following Donegan’s approach, Gladding, also expressed his delight and excitement towards playing his part in what could be one of the most exciting seasons in a long time for the club.

The vice captain’s role is to assist with many of the captains duties, which go well beyond selection and the obvious on-pitch duties. Captain’s can find their time absorbed with team management issues such as player availability and the organisation and delegation of pitch marking, kit cleaning and other pre-match tasks. Although these duties are not glamorous, they are absolutely imperative to the success of the team. Therefore, a strong and committed vice captain plays a key and leading role towards the team’s accomplishments. Gladding fits this bill perfectly.

The vice captain’s role goes well beyond that of the duties mentioned above. They will play a major role in helping newer and/or younger 1XV players settle into the team on match days and help them develop as players in general. And of course and most famously, have the honour of, leading the team in the captain’s absence.

2XV captain, Jason Dolman, carefully and deliberately considered the choice for his 2XV vice captain. With one of the key focuses for next season being the advancement and encouragement of current 2XV players towards the 1XV, the choice of 2XV vice needed to be carefully contemplated. The key attribute Dolman and the committee were looking for was, either, an experienced 1XV player moving down to the 2XV, or a young 2XV player with future 1XV ambitions.

Jason Wood fits the last category perfectly, as has future ambitions to seriously contend for a regular 1XV spot in season or two. Not many people will know that Wood, who joined the club half way through last season, lives and works in Swindon. But despite the distance, commute time and costs he has recently been one of the most committed trainers on Thursday evening. As an added incentive for Wood, Dolman has always made it known that this, 2006/07, will be his last as 2XV captain and, as such, this will be an important year for the club to groom his future replacement.