Josh Beaumont helps Fylde RFC to do the business

Premiership star Josh Beaumont has explained how he aims to use his commercial expertise to help his first club Fylde RFC in these troubling times.
Josh Beaumont during his time as a Fylde player   Picture: Chris Farrow/Fylde RFCJosh Beaumont during his time as a Fylde player   Picture: Chris Farrow/Fylde RFC
Josh Beaumont during his time as a Fylde player Picture: Chris Farrow/Fylde RFC

With no matches before 2021 and the Woodlands clubhouse again closed, Sale Sharks and England packman Beaumont has volunteered his services to help the club make the most of commercial opportunities.

The 28-year-old son of Fylde’s most famous player, World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont, has spent two years on a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) course entitled ‘CEO in Sports Organisation’.

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Like his legendary father, the Fylde club is close to the heart of former Arnold School pupil Josh, who joined the club’s mini-juniors at under-6 level and played for three seasons in the senior team from 2010.

He alsoe has the fondest memories of an outstanding period in the club’s recent history.

Josh told Fylde’s media and communications officer Allan Foster: “I played a number of games in the 2010-11 season and this coincided with Jason Robinson, one of the greatest ever English players, joining the club, together with former England head coach Brian Ashton. We had a great 2010-11 season, playing open, flowing and winning rugby. What could have been a better introduction to senior rugby?”

Having made well over 100 senior appearances for the Sharks, Beaumont was forced to put his playing career on hold as he underwent knee reconstruction surgery.

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That enabled him to focus more on the business side of the game and Beaumont has clear ideas about how he can assist Fylde.

He explained: “I’d like to try to bring some new ideas to the club’s commercial approach, talk to sponsors and get a better understanding of their hopes and expectations in supporting the club.

“This will hopefully not only benefit the club but extend my experience in a crucial area of the sports industry.”

Having had much contact with the Sharks’ sponsors, Beaumont added: “It seems to me that the key is to thoroughly understand the expectations of Fylde’s sponsors and ensure that we meet these as best we can.

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“Sponsors at National League level will not get the national or international media coverage sought by many giant corporate backers.

“However, Fylde’s sponsors are incredibly loyal and are anxious not only that the first XV is successful but that the club delivers on its community responsibilities generally.

“Many companies take their Corporate Social Responsibilities very seriously indeed. Putting funds towards, for instance, developing participation in sport among young people in a local community is a very worthy objective.

“Other Fylde sponsors simply enjoy the matchday experience at the Woodlands, including excellent hospitality and the camaraderie which is unique to community rugby clubs.

“The team under head coach Warren Spragg remains true to the attacking, running rugby philosophy of previous Fylde generations and the spectacle is very attractive.”