First woman president of an Ulster club

Outgoing City of Derry Rugby Club President Les Allen congratulates Susan Spence on her appointment as Prwesident for the 2014/15 season. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com.

The members of City of Derry Rugby Club made history at their annual general meeting at Judges Road on Thursday night when they appointed a woman president.

Not only did the club members elect their first lady president, but in doing so they elected the first female president of a rugby club in Ulster.

Susan Spence, the current senior vice president of the club, will serve for one year for the incoming rugby season 2014-2015.

City of Derry Rugby Club President Susan Spence pictured with Marshall Kilgore, Junior Vice-president and James Fleming, Senior Vice-president at the club's AGM. Picture Martin McKeown. Inpresspics.com.

She will represent the club and city throughout the country as City of Derry rugby club 1st XV compete in the

All Ireland League.

Up to now Susan, who works as a physiotherapist, served as junior vice-president and last year as senior vice-president.

So far she said she had been able to avoid making speeches, but was not daunted by her up-coming role: “It is wonderful. I am really looking forward to getting stuck into the job. The matches don’t start until August, so there is nothing major to do until then, but I know Moss Dineen will keep me right.

“There are a few things in the diary in the coming weeks, including the Nathan Carter concert, which I will attend,” she said.

Asked how she felt at the appointment, she said: “I am very honoured. I think the club is to be congratulated for moving forward. I have been doing a lot with the club over the years and I think you get it for the work you have done, but it is great. It is great recognition by the club for the work I have done,” she said.

Describing the role of president as an ambassadorial one, she said her role would include a lot of visits to other clubs in Ulster as well as in the South, and hosting visitors to the city.

“I see my role as very much increasing the profile of the club and the city,” she said.

Susan, joined the City of Derry RFC in 1994 as a physiotherapist, said she was “absolutely delighted” at her appointment.

She added she was taking the post at a time when the ladies had just moved up to AIL2 and when the youth teams were flourishing.

“It is all very positive. I am really excited about it,”

she said.