Forgive me any indulgences but I felt it was important to get an article on the website to fully explain the situation at the club. As I have been a Captain, a Coach, a Chairman, a Committee Member but most of all a player, this club means a hell of a lot to me and I want to take the opportunity to set the record straight here, so here goes.

Back in September, Phantoms RFC made the very difficult decision to withdraw from Essex Division II. This decision was made following a very difficult Summer where player numbers dwindled and recruitment failed to produce adequate replacements. With this in mind, and with the season only weeks away the Committee took the decision to stand the team down for the season with the agreement that a number of friendlies would be played throughout the season to keep the squad together with the opportunity to review the direction the club should go in at the end of the season.

With this in mind, the remaining squad members signed up, almost to a man, for Wanstead RFC so that the Phantoms players could train and wherever possible play together week in, week out. I'd like to thank Wanstead for their support of the Phantoms during this time and also for the way they have opened the doors of their club to us....I think I speak for all of the lads when I say we have been made to feel very welcome...especially the initiation ceremoney of a pint each of cider, Guinness and then lager one after the other in quick session....Vito....you remain a legend in my eyes for winning that race....but thank God the bin was there when it reappeared haha.

The commitment at the club remains to wanting be a fully functioning club, playing fixtures, week in week out and all avenues in terms of ensuring this happens will be explored throughout the 2013-14 season. However, I can confirm that if this does happen, it will be in form of Merit Table rugby, rather than the full RFU structure. We are looking to play three or four games as the Phantoms this season and are welcoming some of the "old school" back to the club and asking them to play their part this season because we really don't know what the future holds.....

I think every person that pulled on a jersey for the club since it's formation in 2000 deserves a round of applause. Be they long term stalwarts of the club or the friends of friends who togged out just so the team could fufil a fixture because without every single one of them making that effort, we may not have got as far as we did. This team wasn't expected to last past an opening fixture or three yet in thirteen seasons of rugby, we played three seasons of friendlies, five of Merit Table rugby with two division championships and a further promotion and five years of dogged survival in the full RFU structure in Essex III and Essex II culiminating in our best ever season in that structure in 2012-13. It has been an amazing achievement to keep the club running this long and at the level we eventually finished at in Essex Division II.

The club remains alive, be under no illusions about that. It and it's players and supporters are taking some time off if you like, to recharge the batteries. We thank the rugby community for it's kind words when the announcement was made about withdrawing, I myself have found myself telling the Phantoms "story" to many a ref or opposition player on my travels with Wanstead this season, all of who have a story or two to tell about the club and I think that says more to me about what we achieved here than any trophy cabinet or league table. In short......

We created a club, we progressed, we grew and without doubt we belonged. We earned our spurs in the toughest of environments and we will do so again one day.