I was as disappointed and angry as anyone last night when the email came through from the SRU declaring the 2019-2020 season null and void. At a stroke we were denied the chance to clinch promotion and possibly the Championship. Hence the reason why I have waited a few hours so that I can gain some perspective rather than let loose. So first some perspective. There are families up and down the country grieving today at the loss of loved ones to COVID 19 and other illnesses. We are living through what I hope will be a once in a generation pandemic. My priorities have always been my family, my business and then Berwick RFC.

This autumn will mark 30 years since I first walked through the doors at Berwick Rugby Club when I pitched up to pre-season training for the first time. There were about a half dozen of us and Ronnie Tait was leading the coaching side of things. As someone new to the town it allowed me to get to know some great people, many of whom I still know to this day. Everything was run by a band of volunteers and the facilities were, well let’s just say, basic. Look how far we have come.

The thing about the past is that there is nothing you can do about it. It’s in the past. It doesn’t define us though because we can control our future – what we do or say next. The 2019-2020 season is now in the past. The SRU’ s decision was only going to have one outcome when they asked the Club’s for feedback. The decision was loaded from the start because turkeys don’t vote for Christmas. But they have pleased the majority of Club’s. I am bitterly disappointed for all of the Player’s, coaches & volunteers who have put so much into this season and they will not get the recognition they deserve from the wider rugby community. However, that effort has been going on for years and at times we have not had the recognition that we deserved then either. My sincere thanks to everyone involved with the Club through this season in every aspect. Our supporters and spectators have enjoyed the season because the rugby at every level has been good to watch, played in the right spirit and we have enjoyed it. I certainly will have fond memories of the laughter and excitement of the season just past; it is not a Null & Void season for me.

So, if we can do nothing about the past what are we going to do about the future? And that is the exciting thing – we, or should I say you – can decide what happens next. What you decide will go along way to show what a fantastic club Berwick RFC is and the standards we set in how we go about rugby and life in general. For my part I intend to open a bottle of something fizzy on Saturday night and give a toast to the season just finished and give thanks I got to make some happy memories. I will drink to all your good health and wish you future success. In the months ahead I will step down as President but remain involved in the Club. I have ambitions to see the changing rooms expanded, the gym revamped; pitches improved, the return of the Badgers, Ladies Team rising and thriving again, some of our players rising to international rugby again, promotion for all our teams but most of all I want to have some more fun along the way. Happy memories last a lifetime and friends, true friends, always remain friends. Rugby has given me some of the happiest memories in my life and also some bad ones. But they are in the past now. What I do next will define me. I intend to go again next season to build the Club and to make sure that the current players and future players get to make happy memories and have fun along the way.

What are you going to do next?

Thank you all for the support over the last season and I hope to see you all at Scremerston next season. In the meantime, stay safe and go and wash your hands!

Colin Frame
President Berwick RFC