Phil (Smudge) Smith
I have to announce that Phil Smith will be concluding his role at Hendon RFC at the end of this Season 2022/23.
Phil was appointed Head Coach and thereafter DoR of Hendon Rugby Club in 2019 on a three-season contract then extended till the present. Following the Club's promotion to Herts/Middlesex 1 Hendon required new Coaching skills to maintain the Club at this level which Phil, as a level 3 coach, was truly able to fulfil and without doubt, succeed.
In Phil’s 1st season, the Club won the Middlesex Federation Vase with victory over a strong London Scottish Lions XV in April 2019 after concluding the Herts/Middlesex League 1 season in winning form finishing in 3rd place after a difficult start. Into League season 2019/20 our winning format continued by finishing the season unbeaten in the League and declared Champions with promotion to London 3 North West. To crown 2020 Hendon, having also won all their National Cup games, competed in the final of the London and South East Division Cup at Saracens Allianz Park achieving victory over Cranbrook RFC from Kent. However, Hendon could not then be rewarded with a National Cup appearance at Twickenham that year due to Covid closing down all sport only 3 days after our Regional Cup win.
After Covid, Phil guided Hendon back to form in the higher league in 2021/22 achieving the top spot several times until the final game against Finchley RFC who came out as Champions in a closely contested match. This season the aftereffects of Covid have kicked in for many Clubs, including Hendon, coupled with an unsustainable League format that has left many players injured and unavailable which Phil has mastered as best as possible, finishing in mid-table.
Phil had been carefully chosen for his qualification and enthusiastic ambition not only to maintain Hendon’s new position but considered promotion could once again be achieved.
Phil, throughout his five-year tenure, was a loyal member of the Hendon team and maintained his regular coaching spot every Wednesday evening on the grade 1 pitch at Saracens Allianz Park/Stone X Stadium where he coached players from Hendon’s two teams. On every playing Saturday of the season, Phil attended to continue his coaching role prior to the 1st team match and then directed play from the touchline to help the Club play its best Rugby.
On the completion of his contract, Phil’s leadership and coaching services will be recognised at the Club's 90th Season Anniversary Dinner for his excellent services to Hendon RFC.
Congratulating Phil on his successes with Hendon Rugby, we take this opportunity to wish him well for the future, both in Rugby and his career path, and to continue to assist those around him in realising their ambitions.
David Gershlick
President
Hendon RFC
