We could not have asked for a better season than the last for our centenary year. Achieving National League status for the first time in our history and in our Centenary season too, was more than we could have dreamt for. However, it is something we planned for, and dreams become a reality when you have the commitment and buy-in of a whole club and a whole community.

We knew last year was going to be a tough year and it proved to be so, but our final match of the season against Rotherham, will go down in history as one of the best games of all time for Billingham RUFC. Okay, some might say we survived by the skin of our teeth, but I would argue we survived out of pure grit and determination and we showed our true colours during the last few weeks of the season and we showed why ‘Our Spirit is our Strength’ is just not just a saying, it’s a belief! But this is not just a player or a club mentality, it is becoming a community belief too. We had over 1,000 people attend the Rotherham game to see a truly spirited performance from our team, and the celebration at the end went on into the night.

As we close out our Centenary year and start our 101st season as a Rugby Club, we start with the same excitement, the same belief and with the same ethos. Our goal is to be the leading Professional Amateur club in the country and if you look around you, we can walk the walk with many professional clubs despite being 100% amateur. I truly believe that this is the bedrock of our success over the last 25 years. Whilst many clubs have dallied with paying players and been seduced by the riches that professional rugby has to offer, we have stayed true to our values, and we have built an open and welcoming club that is also a fortress. I don’t mean Greenwood Road, I mean Billingham Rugby Club and I mean OSIOS.

It is this steadfast belief that we can achieve the impossible if we stand together as one club united in the believe that rugby, at every level and every age group will be the winner without paying players that has helped us to build a strong playing membership and attracted young, talented local players who want to perform at a higher level.

It was great to see the Chris Hyndman and Craig Willis at our Centenary dinner, former and current professionals alongside Amelia Hyndman, our newest professional player. If we can provide a club that plays at the highest level we can, currently National League, and also creates a platform for local boys and girls to go on to play at an even higher level, then we can be proud and rugby and Billingham RUFC will be the winner, and for the long term.

We currently boast 14 age grade teams including 3 girls teams as well as 4 senior teams and have approx. 400 registered playing members. Our weekends are busy, but our mid-week training sessions equally so and this is why we exist and this is what makes us who we are. We are committed to improve everything about our club that is rugby related. I am committed to ensure this club has the best facilities, provides the best experience, on and off the field and working with Peter and Danny, ensure that our rugby is entertaining and underpins that experience across the club.

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Harrogate RUFC back to Greenwood Road. It has been a few years since we last played each other. The matches are always competitive and there has always been a mutual respect between our two clubs. The first time we played Harrogate in the league, we had just come up into the league below and Harrogate down and the difference between our clubs was visible, albeit I would argue 2 yellow cards at the same time didn’t help our cause that day. Over the years we have competed on more of an even footing and it will be interesting today to see how we have developed over the last few years since we last played each other.

I am sure that rugby will be the winner and I also look forward to celebrating a W in the clubhouse afterwards.

#OSIOS