When I was asked to become the next President of OBRFC my initial response was to thank Waitey and Ginga but to respectfully decline. After the success of the NS10 day in early May I was introduced to many of you for the very first time. What you all had, without exception, was a massive passion for our club and ambition for what we could achieve together if all the component parts of the club could run in harmony. Still the offers came and still the rejections followed as I honestly didn’t think I could give enough of my time up to make a difference.

I then got thinking. If I could rope my two ‘right hand men’ in from NS10 and add a few more club people to a new look committee it might just be worth the time. Gary Christopher and Mark Elliott, two fully committed and long term ‘club men’ agreed to join me and now we had a gang! The next few days, prior to being elected, was spent negotiating roles and trying to convince busy people that they too could commit the time they didn’t have to a rugby club.

In early July, on a barmy evening at the clubhouse, almost a 100 of you were in attendance to vote me and my 2022/23 Executive Committee in! I was now fully committed! In the ensuing 6 months we set out a hugely ambitious agenda, to change the face of OBRFC.

Many of you have shared with me that you think the ‘good times are back’ and I’m always thrilled when I hear this as this is your rugby club. What have we achieved thus far:

- A complete refurbishment of the 1st XV playing arena and infrastructure.
- The return of a successful 1st XV team who have fulfilled all fixtures and sit nicely in the top half of their division this year. Well done to Skipper Stu and ‘Captain Staines.’
- The return of a 2nd XV and a new pathway for our highly talented academy team to enter adult rugby and stay with OBRFC. Well done to Charlie Raymond for this.
- OBRFC membership is up over 200 percent vs 2021 and OB Club membership is up over 300 percent. OBRFC once again are top spenders at the club!
- All DBS and safeguarding checks are now complete for all coaches and club officials.
- Paid for sports therapists for Saturdays and Sundays and clinic for our injured players on Tuesdays.
- OBRFC fully integrated into the Society of Old Brentwoods and supports the proposed redevelopment of the clubhouse.
- Many of our youth players chosen for County and receiving representative honours.
- Mental health and well-being strategy and legacy projects being devised and rolled out.

This is just a small selection of achievements that we as a club have produced recently, which I hope you’ll agree, gives much optimism for the future of OBRFC. None of this would be possible without my wonderful Executive Committee who total 22 of our brothers and sisters in number. Thank you for giving up your time so generously. Thank you to our coaches as well who are all heroes and we really do appreciate all that you do to make our players and club even better. The final thanks to our parents and players. A club isn’t a club without a heartbeat, and I genuinely believe that with your continued support we can achieve almost anything.

Finally, I’d like to wish you and your families a safe and enjoyable Christmas break and a healthy and happy 2023. I hope to speak with as many of you as possible in the second half of the season and listen to how you think we can make OBRFC even better.

Regards,

Rob Jupp
President
OBRFC