At the risk of repeating myself, the 2016/17 season has been another challenging year for the club both on and off the field.
Again we faced the challenges of Yorkshire 1, imposed on us by what appears to be an ever increasingly remote North Competitions Committee.
At least this year they have initiated changes that appear to bring a little more fairness to the rules but only time will tell.
I predict that next season’s fixtures for D&N 1 will not be sorted in a hurry!
The fact that we have been again demoted to D&N 2 will be interesting as there will be 15 teams competing. The fact that the NCC would not allow us to play in a 15 team D&N1 last season demonstrates the iniquity of it all.
On the rugby front, coaches Johan and Rob have continued their sterling work with the club and all teams have performed well, although we are all disappointed that we did not avoid our target of avoiding relegation.
The Character and spirit shown by the team in the face of what were in a lot of cases semi-professional teams was to be admired and I know will stand us in great stead for the future.

The Talbots and Hustlers have again done the club proud and made every effort to turn out sides when other clubs let us down on several occasions.
The Talbots winning the Candy league cup is testament to the quality of players throughout the club.
It is worth mentioning that we have managed to have 'a fourth team' out in a number of guises even Vets - which we hope to expand on this coming season.
In total we have had 200 competitive rugby matches between Junior and senior rugby, male and female.

I hope this year we can support our coaches by turning out in numbers on Tuesday and Thursdays nights.

Danny, Tim, Andy, Elsy and Ralphy and all the players have all worked hard for their respective teams.
Mike McCloughlin continues to do a magnificent job in running the Tees Valley Social League and I know all the clubs involved appreciate the hard work he puts in.
Thanks also to Pippa and Kate and all the University boys and girls for all their efforts in keeping our players fit.
As we are all well aware the ladies and girls section continue to flourish and continue to contribute to the clubs future success.
Like the first team, the ladies have had a torrid time on the field and it is a testament to their strength of character that they keep on going.

The juniors also continue to flourish and, thanks to Len Taylor and all the coaches and referees, the number of youngsters coming through gives the club a continuous stream of players who will eventually represent the club at senior level.
All the youngsters are vital to the long term future of the club but there is no doubt that the Under 16’s and 17’s next season are critical and we need to support Mike and Neal and their respective support teams.
Len and his junior coaches continue to be a major factor in the club’s fortunes, in particular the now well established midi/mini section under the watchful eye of Phil Hilton.
Thanks also to our Young Rugby Ambassadors who continue to do sterling work for the club.

On the club management side, thanks to Mark, Isla and their ever enthusiastic staff, we have continued to improve the whole atmosphere and spirit within the club.
( Sometimes too much spirit !! )
Mark has done an exceptional job again and long may he continue in his present role and it is still vital that we, as members and equal partners in the club, all pay our dues.
It is always disappointing to report that, in spite of many reminders and the efforts of the committee and team captains, some players still do not pay their yearly subs and their weekly match fees.
Our treasurer Andy Dunn has again worked hard this year and the club is, as always, thankful for his efforts.

A special thanks is due to Phil Taylor, Mark and others for their magnificent efforts in transforming the club with the additional changing rooms, balcony, enhanced lounge, kitchen and club room.
The improvement in the club is outstanding and the club is eternally grateful to the people who made it possible.
I know Phil has had great help and support from Paul Appleton, Steve Clark, Isla and others.
I would hope that now we have had such great success with the development of the facility the whole club can concentrate on actively encouraging our Rugby Development, recruitment of quality players, referees, coaches and volunteers, rather than just playing.

We must all continue to work hard for the club and make sure we all pay our dues if we are to succeed in the future and progress with improvements on and off the field.

An area that we continue to improve is our appeal to sponsors.
Many thanks to Motif8 who are our sole supplier of kit, but we thank all our sponsors as their support is a vital factor in the clubs continuing improvement and success.
Special thanks to Gary Sullivan for all his help in securing our first class coaching set up and his support in other areas such as providing kit and equipment.

I would like to thank our President Jim Ward for all his support.

It would be remiss of me not to thank all the members of the club committee without whose influence we would not have such a wonderful club and it is worth noting that Phil Taylor, Karl Sheldon, Alex Faint and Xanda Collins have all been recognised by Yorkshire RUFC as outstanding volunteers.

Last but not least, I would like to thank our great manageress Islas, the bar staff of Vicki and Katy, all the lady volunteers, Dave Walker for his wonderful quizzes and his work involved with club welfare and Ian McMullan for his organising of the international tickets and I cannot close without mentioning and praising the hard work, good humour of the best caretaker the club has ever had, Dennis Bulmer.

Ray Kelly
Chairman

Officers for 2017/18

Committee appointed President Mr Steven Elsworth - many thanks to out going president James Ward for his years of service

Officers elected

Chairman Ray Kelly
Secretary Paula Atkin
Treasurer Ian Lang - many thanks to the long service and hard work to the out going treasurer Andrew Dunn

Those joining general committee Laura Ticehurst & Emma Johnston

Avengers Captain Samantha Lil Vice Christine O'Brien
Hustlers Captain George Weston Vice Kris Ralph
Talbots Captain Liam Cochran
1st XV Captain Benjamin Pearson Vice Andrew Dalton