A personal plea from Bester!

Andre Bester
By Tony
November 30 2006

Andre Bester is just over a third way through his second season at the helm as Rotherham Earth Titans Head Coach. And few would argue that there has been a dramatic improvement in terms of performances and results since the South African set up camp in Rotherham.

At the start of his first season only four players had been retained from the previous one, in which Rotherham had finished nearer the bottom than the top of National league one.

In fact some say had it not been for such a promising start to that season, Rotherham may had endured the indignity of relegation into the 3^rd tier of English rugby.

Yet incredibly, despite recruiting a squad that most supporters had never even heard of, Bester’s charges finished a very creditable 4^th.

This second season promises to deliver even more and how many are even daring to fantasise about visits to Welford Road and Franklin Gardens next season?

So is the ever passionate South African deliriously happy with how things are going right now? I’m afraid not!

A subdued Bester explained, “For this club to progress in the way that I want it to, we need to get more people coming through the gates at Clifton Lane.

“If I’m being honest, I’ve been very disappointed with our support this season, particularly in the big games. They’ve been low in numbers and unusually quiet.

“When we talk to new players to try and attract them to the club, we emphasise how passionate the supporters are and how Clifton Lane is so intimidating for opposition teams. Quite simply – it’s special. Unfortunately that has not been the case this season for whatever reason.

“This group of players is bleeding for each other, the shirt, the club and the town. The players have put their heart and soul into Rotherham and are giving everything they have.

Bester goes on to explain one way that supporters of the club can help and makes the following plea, “What I would like is for every single one of our supporters to bring just one person to the next home game. Once they’ve seen the product we’re putting on for them, they’ll just want to return for more.

“We have the lowest admission prices in the division; it’s puzzling as to why the people of Rotherham are reluctant to get behind their local team. If we are to achieve at Rotherham what I want for Rotherham, them quite simply we need greater numbers to help us!”

There you are folks, a personal plea from the man himself. Why don’t we all seriously think of who we may invite along for an exiting afternoon’s entertainment?