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As we look forward to another season of rugby at Coventry Welsh Rugby Football Club. can I take this opportunity to congratulate everyone at the club for a very satisfying end to last season? My thanks go to all the committee who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, the coaching staff for their work with the teams but especially the players who stayed together on and off the pitch to produce a promotion winning side. Every player, whether 1st or 2nd team, should be proud of the club's achievement last year and their part in it.

Some highlights of the year include winning the last league game of the season, to finish runners up, then finding out officially an hour or so later that we were promoted. The celebrations went on long into the night. The memorial match for Gerry Glackin where an invitation XV just edged out the Welsh in a fine open game of rugby played, as it should be, for the fun of it.

A special thank you to Jean Williams who stands down this year as secretary having done a tremendous job over the past few years. Jean will now take on the role of liasing with the referee's society. Another big debt of gratitude goes to Antony Yemm, last year's coach, who stands down due to work commitments. His encouragement and enthusiasm spread through the club and our final league position speaks volumes.

Under the guidance of new coach Dale Price the coming year sees us in a higher league playing teams of a better standard who will test us to the limits. I am sure that, having retained all of last seasons squad and with new players joining the club, we can and will acquit ourselves well. Our goals this year must be to improve the players' abilities on the pitch, to improve the members' facilities off the pitch and to consolidate our league position.

While it is always nice to win games the social side of rugby should never be forgotten. We shall extend a warm welcome to all visiting clubs and officials this coming year and hope they have an enjoyable day with us. As always the club needs the support of its members, financially, during the year, and vocally on match days. It is nice to see players who have been at the club from their teens now bringing their own families to the club to socialize. These young families are the future of the club and are always most welcome. The meeting of friends old and new after a match is one of the more pleasurable aspects of the chairman's role so please note "mines a pint of bitter please" and I look forward to seeing you all next season As ever we shall continue to promote a happy atmosphere at the club for players, members and visitors.