Matchday at Aldwinians RUFC is about more than what happens between the first and final whistle. It is about arriving early, catching up with friends, bringing the family along, enjoying some good food and making the most of your time at the club. This season, we are putting even more into the matchday experience with pre-match meals at Aldwinians, giving players, members, supporters and visitors the chance to sit down together before the rugby gets underway.

Pre-Match Meals

On selected matchdays, our clubhouse will be serving a pre-match meal ahead of the afternoon's fixtures. Whether you're coming to support the team, watching a family member play or simply looking for somewhere to spend your Saturday afternoon, the pre-match meal is a great way to start your visit to Aldwinians. The menus will vary throughout the season, with details announced ahead of each matchday. From traditional matchday favourites to something a little different, there will be plenty to look forward to. The aim is to make it easy to arrive early, grab a seat, enjoy some food and then head outside to support the rugby. Pre-match meals will be available on selected dates and, where required, advance booking will be essential so that our kitchen team can prepare accordingly.

Making Matchday a Club Experience

The introduction of pre-match meals is part of our wider ambition to make Aldwinians a place where people want to spend more time. Rugby remains at the heart of everything we do, but the clubhouse plays an important role too. For some, matchday will start with breakfast or lunch before watching the rugby. For others, it might be meeting friends for a drink, bringing the children along or staying around after the final whistle. The important thing is that there is something for everyone. We want to create more occasions where our members and wider community can come together, enjoy the club and make memories away from the pitch as well as on it. And this season, there will be another reason to arrive early.

An Audience With...

As part of our matchday programme, we will also be introducing “An Audience With...”. This feature will change regularly, with a different guest invited to Aldwinians to share their experiences, memories and stories from rugby and beyond. Each guest will bring something different to the table. Former players, coaches, rugby personalities and people with a special connection to the game will all have the opportunity to take part. The format is simple: good food, good conversation and an opportunity for the audience to ask questions.

An Audience With Mike Harrison — Saturday 29 October

Aldwinians RUFC is delighted to welcome Mike Harrison for the next instalment of “An Audience With...” — an opportunity to hear from one of England rugby's most memorable characters of the 1980s.

Mike enjoyed an outstanding career on the wing, earning 15 England caps between 1985 and 1988 and scoring eight international tries.

He made his England debut during the 1985 tour of New Zealand, scoring in both Tests against the All Blacks — performances that earned him the nickname “Burglar Bill.”

Mike went on to play a starring role in the 1987 Rugby World Cup, representing England against Australia, Japan, USA and Wales. He scored against Australia in the opening match before producing a memorable hat-trick against Japan.

He also had the honour of captaining England during the 1987 World Cup, going on to captain his country on several occasions.

Away from international rugby, Mike made more than 300 appearances for Wakefield RFC and represented Yorkshire 53 times. He also represented the North of England against both Fiji and Australia.

From international rugby and World Cup memories to his long career in the domestic game, Mike has plenty of stories to tell.

Whether you're coming for the rugby, the food, the company or the chance to hear some great rugby stories, we'd love to see you at Aldwinians. Pre-match meals and “An Audience With...” will run on selected matchdays, with full details announced for each event.

Book via the link below to secure your place.

Come early. Eat well. Watch the rugby. Stay a while.

Aldwinians RUFC — more than a rugby club.