Chairman's Reports

ANNUAL REPORT FOR 2008/09 SEASON

I start this report by saying the Annual Dinner Dance held in May 2008 was again a great success in spite of the problems posed by the staff at the Grandstand. Full credit must be given to Laura Morrison for dealing with these and allowing everyone to thoroughly enjoy the event.

During the summer months Bob Davies began a touch rugby club, which proved to be most successful and enjoyable to Club members, and he has agreed to continue this during the coming summer months.

This was followed just before the start of the season with Sam Tomkins putting those playing members available through a full fitness routine in preparation for their first games.

The season started with everyone hoping three teams would be available each week, unfortunately not so, but I will leave the Playing Manager to report on that.

The O.F. has a reputation of being one of the most social and friendly clubs on the Surrey circuit, with excellent after match refreshments being provided by Gummer PLC.

At the start of the season the Club varied the Annual Hog Roast, because of soaring prices, and instead enjoyed a BBQ provided by Aramark the School caters, at a fraction of the cost, in inclement weather.

The first social event of the season was a Ladies lunch, at which we begged for their indulgence, and the Club finished the season with a Ladies Lunch, thanking them for their patience.

The Badgers lunches were again a great success with the Club hosting several School Governors and officials from the visiting Clubs of the day.

All these events take considerable organisational skills and the Club is blessed with volunteers who readily make themselves available to help on numerous occasions. Special mention must be made again for Gummer PLC who led the volunteers so well, without them we would be lost.

The players organised several social events, which proved to be most successful, and were an encouragement to younger members to enjoy the social side of the Club.

The season will finish with the Annual Pilgrimage at Easter to Bournemouth followed by the Annual Dinner dance in May at which in excess of 150 tickets have already been sold.

Your committee have met on nine occasions during the year and have responded to the requests of the membership by installing a Playing Manager, James Tremaine, and employing a paid coach, Mr Paul Hart. It has made provisions for several of our members to attend coaching courses in preparation for the future.

I have no doubt the playing manager will report on the training aspect but I must say the response by the playing membership in their attendance has been most disappointing to the coaching staff. I say staff because during the season Simon Crane accepted the task of coaching the Mighty Two’s led by Jon Reece to another great season by gaining promotion for the second season in a row.

I would like to emphasis that the Club is run by volunteers who give of their time freely.

There are no paid officials, so when a player is asked to do a task on Saturday, please stop and think just how much tasks have already been under taken during the week before they arrive to play on Saturday.

Take your pick, Team selection, team published, previous match reported, physio confirmed, medical supplies checked, fixture confirmed, referee confirmed, catering arranged, School pitch confirmed, check with OFA regarding bar staff, to name just a few. These are without the need to arrange fixtures, print the fixture card, ensure there are corner posts, and provide playing and training equipment the list is endless. Therefore please, when asked, make yourself available to help the volunteers.

The season has been one of mixed results, with the 1st XV beating the League winners on two occasions and then losing several games by small margins.

However we are established well in Surrey 1 and what ever the ripple down effect could be, we will be playing there next season.

As I mentioned earlier the 2nd  XV have had another remarkable season and their success can only be good for the future of the Club.

The results for the season are: -

                                                        P            W          D           L            F            A

1st XV                                             22          11          1            10          391        327

2nd XV                                             22          17          0            5            605        370

3rd XV                                             5            1            1            3            63          145

The Club are indebted to the Association for their efforts in continuing to make the Memorial Clubhouse such a pleasure to use, which allows us to play rugby in one the best settings in Surrey.

Everyone should support their plans for an even better Clubhouse for Club members.

The summer is upon us, enjoy it, and relax, before thinking and preparing for next season.

I close with this one thought for the players, ‘If I make myself unavailable, 14 other players do not get a game’.

Thank you all for attending this evening.

ENDS

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