A Message from our President, Jonathan Straker
It gives me great pleasure to write a few words, as your President, at the end of my second season in office.
We come to the end of yet another successful year for our splendid Club, which gives so much pleasure to so many people.
In rugby terms, Warlingham have done particularly well this year. We played ourselves into London 3 last season (now London 2). The experience has not been without its ups and downs but to finish 5th in our first time appearance in this league is no mean achievement and the team has to be congratulated. They were supported by the Extra 1st, who won their league and the under 18s and under 16s who also both won their leagues. So all in all it has been a thoroughly successful season. The 1st XV also won the Surrey Excellence Award for Best Team, so we really have had a tremendous year and in particular it is so pleasing to see our Junior sides triumph as they are the bedrock on which this Club is built.
In the 7s this year, we have done particularly well, winning the Plate final in the Canterbury Spitfire 7s; the next week, almost retaining the East Kent 7s title in Dover, only being beaten in the final by Dover, and then by winning our division in the Bournemouth 7s as a grand finale. The sides were made up of a combination of experience and youth and our triumphant under 18s players played a crucial role.
Our supporters, many of whom have signed up to be Friends of Warlingham, continue to outnumber the opposition at our away fixtures and I am constantly told that this is very much appreciated.
On Sundays, we see sometimes more than 200 children being introduced to rugby, coached by a willing band of volunteers.
At our Awards Evening for the Mini section this year, more than 200 children and their parents turned up for, what is now, an event not to be missed.
We have at least 130 volunteers involved in all these activities and I take the opportunity to thank them all for their willing support.
In a difficult financial climate, our main sponsors continue with their support and we are so grateful.
The coming year will be full of challenges for players and non-players alike and I am sure we will meet them head on, as we always have done in the past. It’s a real pleasure for me to make a small contribution, when I can. I’m having a great deal of fun as your President and I do hope everyone else is enjoying WRFC to the full.
Jonathan Straker
President