By Mally (10/06/03)
June 10 2003

Newcastle Falcons' contribution to the local communtity was recognised at the recent Premier Rugby Marketing Awards, with Newcastle Falcons winning the Best Community Scheme Award.

The Marketing Awards are voted for by Premier Rugby, RFU, Sky Sports, BBC, Zurich, Synergy Sports Marketing and Octagon.

Short-listed alongside Leicester Tigers and eventual runners-up London Wasps, Newcastle Falcons won the Best Community Scheme Award for the club's outstanding contribution to the local community. Falcons' representatives, Community Assistant Danny Brown and Mark Foster the Community Programme Manager, were invited down to the awards ceremony at Twickenham and presented with the award by Sarah O'Rafferty from Zurich. (Pictured above.)

Throughout the season Newcastle Falcons' community scheme endeavours to promote rugby throughout the North East. Players visit schools and other organisations, supporting grass roots rugby at fundraising or sporting events. In the 2002 - 2003 season alone the Newcastle Falcons Community Programme had contact with over 50,000 people, supported 35 charities donating over 100 signed items to fundraising raffles and auctions.

Commenting on the award Mark Foster, the Community Programme Manager, said:

"We are delighted to have won such a prestigious award. It is very rewarding to know that our activities within the local community have been recognised on a national level."

An integral part of the Community Programme are the visits of the Falcons team to local schools and rugby clubs. Last season the team made over 250 visits to local schools, over 75 visits to local rugby clubs, and a total of 402 visits into the local community. Mark Foster acknowledged the efforts of the team:

"This award goes to all of the Newcastle Falcons team who have so generously given up their free time to visit local schools and organisations and to all the youngsters in the region who are keeping the game of rugby alive for generations to come."

The Awards in Full:

Best Club Programme: Saracens (Winner) & Bristol Shoguns & Bath (Runners up)
Best Promotional Initiative: NEC Harlequins (Winner) & Leeds Tykes (Runner up)
Best Matchday Experience: Northampton Saints (Winner) & Leeds Tykes (Runner up)
Best Club Mascot: London Irish with Digger (Winner) & Sale Sharks with Sharky (Runner up)
Best Community Scheme: Newcastle Falcons (Winner) & London Wasps (Runner up)
Best Club Website: Saracens (Winner) & Gloucester (Runner up)
Best Club Sponsor: Bath with Blackthorn (Winner) & NEC Harlequins with CSF (Runner up)
Premier Rugby Club of the Year Award: Northampton Saints.

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Photograph courtesy of Newcastle Falcons

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