Welcome to Dinnington Rugby Club from George Tierney - Club President...

The completion of the 2006/2007 season graphically illustrated the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or do the vicissitudes of the Leagues make the game more interesting than the earlier days of Club matches only.

Barnsley and York R.I. illustrated the rise and fall in our Division and with the help of the Gods and our forwards we remain in Division 2. In the 2005/2006 season we missed promotion by a shade and the successive season avoided relegation by the same margin.

I would like at this point to publicly recognise the contribution of our forwards to our survival. A series of injuries, transfers, disaffection and disinterest robbed of our usual fund of backs and every match must have had loser written on the result before the kick off and yet despite the regularity of defeat the forwards maintained their spirit and commitment and kept us in Yorkshire 2.

I am reminded that in 1823 William Webb Ellis first picked up the ball in his arms and ran with it, and for the next 184 years forwards have been trying to work out why.

We look forward to Yarnbury and Skipton rejoining us, and from a less successful season Old Brodleians and Wheatley Hills.

Our Mini's and Juniors continued to deliver the message of good rugby with occasional success and I am aware that we have been invited to participate in a prestigious fixture in France, an invitation we could not accept due to time constraints. It is not too many years ago that some teams e.g. Sheffield would not even give us a fixture and illustrates how far we have travelled along the path of good Club rugby.

Success apart I am delighted at the commitment of the squads despite some players only having occasional match time. The support of these guys is integral to the camaraderie of the teams.

April 2007 saw the resignation of Mick Venimore after 20 years as Club Manager and

I say without reservation that no Club has had a more loyal and conscientious member and he will be sadly missed particularly by the away teams who always seem to identify Dinnington with that "big fella with a beard".

We are fortunate that we have such an able successor in Alan Peasgood and I am certain that the doggedness and determination he displayed as scrum half will ensure the continuing development of the Club.

Particularly gratifying to me this year is the outreach of our Club into the Primary schools. This year our coaches introduced rugby to 1 5 schools and this culminated in a tag tournament with 320 participating boys and girls.

I am aware that several of our former Colts have moved to seek higher rugby. As always we wish them well and promise them a welcome if they do decide to return to their alma mater.

Inevitably higher education will take its toll on our playing strength but it would mitigate our losses if we could find a substitute for sex and alcohol.

This coming year is our 40 Anniversary and as our 20 Anniversary was a tremendous success hopefully we can emulate that standard next year.

I am endeavouring to attract one of the Club members as co-ordinator of the events but I know he will decline the role if there is insufficient support as he is not accustomed to organising failures.

Would you please help me to ensure that this 40^th is as successful as in 1988 and contribute ideas and most of all time.

The bar beckons welcome before and after a game particularly if you are a visitor, supporter or new guest and, if the latter, please make yourself known to me or one of the other officers of the Club.

Elsewhere in this programme you will read of the gratitude of the Club for the support and sponsorship and I wish to be identified with that but as a further development I would ask you as a Club member or visitor to support our advertisers in their businesses (Butch’s accepted) and encourage others so to do. Sponsors give money for the love of the Club or the game and supporting them is the most tangible way we can acknowledge their generosity.

Thank you very much.