Sport club scraps 'ageist' name

Oct 31 2006 By Jon Griffin

NEARLY 75 years of tradition is being overturned at one of the Midlands' best known sports clubs - as the Old Silhillians dump their "ageist" tag.

The Old Silhillians' Association, a prominent feature of Midland sporting life since 1932, is to be renamed the Silhillians Sports and Conference Centre, it was revealed today.

Officials of the Solihull club decided to scrap the old and bring in the new to enhance the appeal to users of the clubhouse facilities close to Junction Five of the M42.

The Old Silhillians, formed by former pupils of Solihull School in 1932, boast hundreds of members with a wide range of sports on offer, including rugby, football, hockey, squash, archery and croquet.

Mike Waters, Old Silhillians' Association management committee chairman, said: "We need to present a different image in this day and age, and, at the same time, retain our traditions as a top amateur sports club.

"Rebranding is part of that and we are also looking at a multi-phased project of refurbishment and development."

Scott Douglas, the club's general manager, added: "My remit when I came here 18 months ago was to improve the facilities, develop the business and, in doing so, support the sports sections by keeping the cost of playing sport as low as possible.

"The proposals approved by the management committee will do just that and I am looking forward to accomplishing the challenges that I have been set."

A club insider added: "Basically, the club needs to drag itself into the real world. The word old gives the wrong sort of perception and gives the idea that only old boys of Solihull School can be members."