28 August, 2009

PRESS RELEASE

Hemel Stags Rugby League Club and Hemel Aces Youth FC are pleased to announce a formal link up between the two clubs to further sporting opportunities for the youth of Hemel Hempstead.

The link up sees Aces, who were the first club in Hemel to achieve the prestigious FA CHARTER DEVELOPMENT CLUB status, changing their name to

Hemel Stags Aces FC and taking up a place on the Management Committee of the Pennine Way based Hemel Stags.

Last year the Stags received planning permission for a stadium at Pennine Way. Chairman of Hemel Stags Bob Brown commented that “ PennineWay is an important sporting venue in the town for both rugby league and football and we are delighted that the Hemel Stags brand now accommodates both sports”.

Chairman of Hemel Stags Aces FC Justin Stevens “welcomed the move as a terrific opportunity for our 20 youth teams to have a permanent home and to be part a progressive sporting organization such as Hemel Stags.”


For more information please contact:

Bob Brown 01442 219799

Justin Stevens 07764 177395

Any details on the proposed stadium? first i've heard about it but undoubtoubley good news, that may lead to promotion for hemel.

Certainly looks good news, What sort of crowds/Local level of interest do the Stags get?

The Stags are just a local amateur sports club with some ambition. Maybe a new stand and turning semi-pro would help. Doing good things no doubt but a long way off being a big part of the local sporting landscape or attracting what you could call crowds.

How important is rugby league in Hemel? Does it get much coverage in the local press?

Not particularly, football is still king. Its not an RL town just yet.

Very rare that rugby league is bigger than football. I wanted to know if it's just a group of enthusiasts or if their is a small but loyal following. Regular column in local paper etc.

For some reason I dont get a free local paper delivered, and I live outside the town, but ive been to a few games and its much like any other amateur rugby league club I guess. It doesnt have a fanbase all wearing their shirts about town if thats what you mean.

Wasn't expecting the local JJB to be wall to wall with shirts, but thought they might get a couple hundred down on matchday.

No far from it. Its a good amateur club nothing more just yet.

Nailed on for super league then!!

From little acorns as they say!

Far more going for it than a certain Cheshire club

They've been either a good standard amateur side or a borderline semi-pro side for about 20 years, they were a much higher standard in the 90s than they are now playing in the professional reserve grade (and winning the non-SL part of it in 1998 before it got scrapped) and competing in the premier division of the NCL for 3 years in between spells there. The ground has always held them back from joining the semi-pro ranks though