Introduction

OFFICERS:
Bruce Boucher – VP
bboucher@ carolina.rr.com
704 451-4517

Billy DeRosa - VP
billy_derosa@ hotmail.com
704 451 4517

George Miller- Trs.
rugby7s@aol.com
980 721 5287

Devin Arnett
Match Sec.
carnet@ cdaenviromental.com
704 661 7938

Chris Joyce
Club Manager
803 320 4369

David Hamilton
Coach
dhamilton@
alveolus.com
704 905 5782

Mike Bumgardner (71-84), roofing, carpentry and showers

1993 Bob Bogen ( Cape Fear RFC) at opening day festivities

Tony Hubbard (87-94) air conditioning, steps and floor.

Bill Jones (86-02)
Irrigation, tile and landscaping.

George Miller
(Belmont Abbey Coll.)
Painting, roofing and plumbing.

1993 Wade Otey, Dean Butchovitz and Marcus Rich at opening day festivities.

Jerry "Raley" Miller (77-85) selected to Eastern RU. 1st team twice and went on ERU Wales tour in 1983

Charlotte Clubhouse: If You Build It, They Will Come
by Andy Koepfler

Those of you accustomed to changing in parking lots, playing on converted football fields, going without showers and driving long distances to post-match celebrations, eat your heart out. The Charlotte Olde Originals have just opened a brand new 5,800 square foot clubhouse, complete with locker rooms and showers for home and visiting teams, a large bar room for social gatherings, a 900 square foot deck which overlooks their beautifully maintained, regulation size rugby pitch, and a three bedroom apartment rented to players.

	Tony Skillbeck The clubhouse and field are the brainchild of Charlotte club member Tony Skillbeck, an Australian native who purchased the property five years ago with the dream of building a rugby complex like those in his home country. In addition to buying the land, Skillbeck was instrumental in the construction of the clubhouse and recently donated the land (estimated value, $44,000) back to the Olde Originals. For his enormous contribution, the Olde Originals have named the entire facility the Skillbeck Athletic Grounds.
	Close Call A two-year project for the Olde Originals, The clubhouse was officially opened only one day before they were scheduled to host the Rugby-East Sevens Championship. “It was only supposed to take one year,” said club president Joe Nelis,… “but coordinating everybody into this type of effort extended things a bit. We’ve all been working around the clock to get this place ready to go.”
	Team Effort Instead of hiring professionals to do the job, the Olde Originals, a club with 80 active members, all pitched in and were responsible for building most of the clubhouse themselves. “We approximate that there were 10-12,000 donated hours donated to this project,” said Nelis of Charlotte’s tremendous effort. “We have electricians, plumbers, carpenters and air conditioning guys on this team and everybody worked really hard to get the job done. A lot of times, we would work on the clubhouse instead of practicing.
	Rave Reviews All the hard work seems to have paid off, as the clubhouse received rave reviews from players and spectators alike at this year’s Rugby-East Sevens Championship. With most of the work complete, the Olde Originals plan to continue showcasing their fine facilities by hosting as many future championships as possible. “We’d love to host the Rugby-East 7s every year if their willing to let us.” says Nelis. “We wouldn’t mind holding the National Club Championship here either. There aren’t many facilities like this in the country and we feel we’re capable of handling almost any event.”
	Grand Opening The Olde Originals will hold a grand opening on Saturday, October 22 when they host the Cape Fear RPC. The match will be followed by a barbecue and an old boys tournament on Sunday. Teams interested in traveling to Charlotte for a match in the spring of 1995 are encouraged to call Joe Nelis at 704-XXX-XXXX.

Olde Originals Clubhouse 1995

1993 Clubhouse Dedication:
Mayor Richard Vinroot with Olde Originals great Bob Cordle (1972 - 1980).

1993 Olde Originals in just opened
Skillbeck Park.

Jim Cochell (Duke Univ.) charges thru Myrtle Beach
ruggers in this 1991 match At M B. Keith Scoggins
( # 7 UNC-W) and Wally Judd (NCSU) are in support.
Originals B topped Beach 18-0 that day.

Flyhalf Jim Hinkle (US Marines) and wife Judy work to
finish painting mahogany bar in this 1991 photo. The bar
was shipped down from Roanoke VA And renovated by
the Hinkles with help from Phil Langdon, Dan Teirnan,
Barbara Pinner, Mike Lee, Mary Olive Johnson,
and Ken Ewing

Center Tom Dever (Spring Hill College AL – orange shirt)
and prop Ken Ewing(NCSU – green shirt celebrate opening
day 1993 at Skillbeck Park. Ken was also the treasurer for club during construction of Skillbeck Park (1988-93)

Hooker Barry Tidd (Washington RFC) charges thru Greenville Griffins SC defenders in this spring 1999 photo at Skillbeck Park. Prop Matt Krasinski (Penn State Univ. ) is in support. Bill Jones, Paul Maxwell, and Dan Delaportilla, all also played in
this match.

Eric Lindley (NCSU) is the referee in this 1996 match vs.
Camp Lejuene at Skillbeck Park. Robert Mack(Cape Fear RFC)
is the prop and Keith Davis (Davidson College) is the flanker.
The Originals blasted Lejuene 55-13 that day

2nd Row Wally Judd (NCSU) waits for line out ball at
NOVA in this 1990 photo at Graveley Point. Phil Langdon,
Kevin Robke, Frank McKinney, and Bill Jones also
played in this match- a 43-10 loss.

NOVA pursues Mike Pedrotti (Kansas U) in this 1990 match at Wash. Frank Mckinney and Eric Mangiardiarein support.

Phil Langdon (Sidcup RUFC England) gets past Cape Fear's J. D. Hall in this 2002 road trip.

The Olde Originals suffered their first loss of the Spring 2004 season, falling to Rugby Super League member Old Mission Beach Athletic Club

Key Builders:

1993 Dedication:
Olde Originals coaching legend Tony Skillbeck - bought the land and was an everyday worker in the construction of Skillbeck Park.

Robert McCloed, returning Vietnam War Veteran, Originals player (1974 - 1981), and vocal supporter of Olde Originals nickname.

1993 - Wade Otey was an ECU graduate who played 2nd row for the Originals in the 80s - Also a key builder of Skillbeck Park (built the fireplace).

Paul Kenney came to the Originals in 1986 from Roanoke RFC. Put in mohogany bar in clubhouse. Scrum half for club (1986 - 1994).

1993 - Olde Originals Clay Dowd with select side hooker Mike Lee - two key builders of Skillbeck Park.

John Yaniero (87-04) center, and Pat George (84-94) right, were key in clearing the land at Skillbeck Park

Orange County Chopper lookalike Dean Butchovitz (78-86) built the deck at Skillbeck Park; he also designed the "olde man's" emblem and banners.

1991 Center Dave Telford with Hannah Lee

1993 Marcus Rich Cape Fear RPC at opening day festivities.

1993 Dan Tiernan sands apt. walls
(Georgia Tech)

CLT vs. Fear 2002