So, this is my last newsletter as Chairman of your Club and a role I have enjoyed and endured since Feb 2020. As I previously mentioned the people who have worked with me have, I think transformed the Club for the better. I hope you agree.

I think it is ok to blow our own trumpet sometimes and therefore I list some of the achievements we have made,

New professional rugby standard floodlights to the 1st team pitch, new portable floodlights for the middle pitch, new LED floodlights for the top pitch, perimeter fencing around the ground, perimeter fencing around 1st team pitch, scrum shed refurbished, clubhouse kitchen completely refurbished, large investment of time and cash in refurbishment of all pitches, purchase of new grass cutter, new 109 seater stand, new Vixens and 1st XV changing room, outside bar, outside BBQ, new TV’s, new CCTV, new alarm system, new sound system internally and externally, solar panels to provide most if not all our electric, new electric entrance door shutters and other new electric shutters, new commercial floor cleaner, new storage sheds and new central heating/hot water boilers.

I hope you will agree that is some list of achievements. Items still on the ‘to do’ list include a new car park, outside toilets, storage areas, new marquee, new external perimeter fencing to name some of them.

One thing we could not achieve though was the 1st team remaining a National Two Club. If you watched the 1st team as I know lots of you did, you would have seen that every week the team gave it their all, but we came up short too many times and, in the end, it cost us.

We all know, including all the players, those games we really should have won, all those games we gave away 20 plus points before we started scoring and playing catch up. It was not helped by a massive injury list throughout the season. We got 13 4 try bonus points, so we can score tries, we just also concede quite a few. So, we are all very disappointed, but it is what it is. We will be looking to bounce straight back but we also know the league we will be in is not easy. As I am sure you all know we will be playing Westcliff again and another local(ish) derby against Colchester plus trips to Sudbury, Bedford, Tunbridge Wells to name a few.

The Vixens finished their first full season in the league and acquitted of themselves very well indeed and the team is growing with more players joining and the standard of rugby from these committed Vixens in encouraging to see.

Our Harts team (mens 2nd team) fell victim quite a bit to our horrendous injury list meaning they really struggled at times to get a team out plus they also had quite a few teams cry off so they did have the full season of fixtures that we hoped they would have. Hopefully next season will be better.

The Stags and Rams had mixed fortunes and the Rams struggled for players most of the season while the Stags, by their own standards did not win as many games as the expected to.

Our boy’s youth teams generally have had a good season with three of the four teams winning their respective Essex (Waterfall) Cups. Our girls’ teams, after folding earlier in the season, joined up with Westcliff and Southend and are now up and running again.

Our Mini’s go from strength to strength with more new players seemingly joining most weeks. We also started our own Little Rascals team on a Saturday for children aged 2 years to 5 years and the numbers here are also growing as are our also newly formed Rochford Roosters mixed ability team.

I must mention the solid support from a group of VPs who attend almost every home league pre match lunch as without their support we might not have been able to hold some lunches. I must also mention Trevor Ashton, who as a supporter has attended every away pre match lunch. Committee members are expected to attend and for the most part we have, but Trevor is “just” a supporter, but a very loyal one at that.

My last item returns to the AGM on Wednesday 24 May at 7.30. Nominations are now open for all the posts we elect at an AGM and nominations close at 8pm on May 10th. The Clubhouse is now open Thursday evenings and Sunday lunchtimes so you can come down during this time to write your nomination on the list. You will need obviously your name plus the name of the person proposing you and the person seconding you.

If for some reason you can’t make it to the Club between now and May 10 but want your name going forward for a position if you email me your name, position you want and your proposers and seconders names, I will put it up for you. Email me at CHAIRMAN@ROCHFORDRUGBY.COM.

The list of vacancies is as follows.
CHAIRMAN, VICE CHAIRMAN, HON TREASURUER, FINANCE MANAGER, HON SECRETARY, ASST HON SEC, DISCIPLINE MGR, SAFEGUARDING OFFICER, CLUB COACH CO-ORDINATOR, VOLUNTEER CO-ORDINATOR, RUGBY SAFE MANAGER, MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY, YOUTH CHAIRMAN, MINI CHAIRMAN, COMMERCIAL MGR, HEALTH & SAFETY OFFICER, EVENTS MANAGER, SENIOR FIXTURES SEC, YOUTH FIXTURES SEC, REFEREE CO-ORDINATOR, BAR CHAIRMAN, WOMENS RUGBY CO-ORDINATOR, STAGS CAPTAIN, RAMS CAPTAIN, VIXENS HEAD COACH, VIXENDS MGR, VIXENS CAPTAIN, CEO MAGNOLIA LTD.

I have job descriptions for almost all these vacancies so if you would like to look at the job description before applying just let me know and I will send one over if we have it.
Best wishes and thanks for your support, see you at the AGM and please support the new Chairman just as you have supported me.

Thanks
Ray