On Wednesday evening, Tim Brindle was presented with the 2023/24 ‘Volunteer of the Year – Playing Management’ award. Tim wasn’t able to attend the end of season dinner in May, and so we were delighted that Nik Dinning could give him this award at the Bandit’s recent training session.
Andy Lock explains why Tim deserves the recognition, below.
For those involved in community and social rugby at the Club, this award will come as no surprise. Tim has been an integral figure at Blackheath for over a decade, and manager of the Bandits for several of those years. The section’s recent upward trajectory owes much to Tim’s effort, organisation and character.
It is something of a cliché at volunteer awards to say “this man is always the first to arrive, last to leave, and always puts the club first”. All of this is true in Tim’s case, but has been increasingly impressive as work demands have increased on him in the last two years. Under Tim’s management the Bandits have enjoyed highs and endured lows, but the way the section has rebounded from the setback of having to drop out of its league in 2022 is nothing short of remarkable. This is largely down to Tim’s efforts.
There is more than one aspect to the Bandits’ revival, with standards at training and on matchday remaining high, and extremely successful recruitment both being noteworthy. Tim is the common denominator in both cases, managing not just the match admin, but also a strong social media presence. This has presented a fun and successful team to the wider community, attracted some excellent new players, and contributed to an extremely positive atmosphere in the squad. Running the Bandits is no simple task, with a mix of abilities to juggle and personalities with which to contend. Tim walks the tightrope between the Club officials and the players in such a way that the team itself is never (or rarely, anyway) left with any other impression than perfect harmony.
Tim is exemplary in the amount of time and attention he gives to the team, not just off the pitch where his work is most apparent with the nuts and bolts of the team, but also ON the pitch, where his dedication to the team is never in question. Although his main means of contributing to the scoreline in matches is indirect, in the form of his son Nathan, the fact he continues to pull his boots on whenever the team needs him sets the standard to other, younger, players in the squad. Testament to the level of regard with which Tim is held is the number of the team who visit him at work, although this may also be due to the venue being a unique and very cool bar in Soho…
We are now close to the point where two sides from the social section is a very real possibility, and a Brigands side combining elements of the Club XV and Bandits seems imminent. We look forward to the possibility of having five men’s teams playing regularly at the Club again, and although the thought might set steam pouring out of Tim’s ears, we know he will be the beating heart of the social section as it continues to grow.
Please buy him a pint of his favourite Brewdog beer when you next see him.
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