RICHMONDSHIRE has invited its former coach to become president for a two-year term of office.

The club has appointed estate agent Mike Charlton as president with a brief to raise its profile and to try to bring glory days back to the Theakston Lane ground.

Lifelong rugby enthusiast Mr Charlton, who coached Richmondshire for three seasons from 2001 to 2004, said he had no hesitation in taking up the challenge.

He said: “I was delighted to accept the offer from chairman Mark Layfield. I had three very happy seasons as coach at Theakston Lane, during which time the club won the Durham and Northumberland 2 league and gained the North Yorkshire Trophy.”

Mr Charlton, principal of Charltons Estate Agents, based in Richmond, played rugby at senior level for Sunderland, Nottingham and Darlington Mowden Park, and gained county honours for Notts, Lincs and Derbyshire. In recent years he has been a corporate supporter of Darlington Rugby Club, sponsoring the first XV team shirts.

Mr Charlton kicked off his term of office with a match on Sunday at the rugby club between an invited President’s XV and the current Richmondshire XV. The President’s XV included former players of Mowden Park, Darlington and Richmond rugby clubs A great game of rugby saw powerful runs and strong tackling from both teams. In the end, the difference between the teams was the experience of the Presidents XV in and around the ruck area, who took a 15-0 lead into half time.

Richmondshire chopped and changed in a bid to get something out of the game, and it did yield a try after Danny Campbell’s run and pass to Jim Rhodes saw the younger brother just get over the line.

As the game wore on Richmondshire began to air their frustrations by chatting back at the ref. This proved to be their undoing and they eventually lost the game 27-5.

Richmondshire will need to up the ante in the ruck area if they are to take anything from tomorrow’s game away to Middlesbrough III.

“I hope to reintroduce the club to the people of Richmondshire,”

Mr Charlton said.

“We have a playing membership of about 30 and I would like to see this increased so that we can field two teams and look to compete again for league and cup honours.”

Chairman Mark Layfield said: “We are very pleased to have Mike on board. He did a wonderful job as coach and will brings fresh ideas and momentum to the club. Our aim is to get back into league rugby and already five or six new players have joined the squad.”