Review of Cobham Mini Season

How do you sum up a season like we’ve had in 2008/9?

As we say goodbye to another season it’s worth reflecting on some of what has been achieved in what can only be considered as an outstanding year for Cobham Rugby in general and the Minis in particular.

It’s almost impossible in a few short lines to flag everything that’s happened, but here are a few highlights

• We started the season by officially opening our brand new £1.2 million clubhouse, supported by a phenomenal fundraising campaign across all sections of our club.
• Indeed the fundraising campaign from every age group has been a great success all across Mini’s with sponsored walks and BBQ’s, Quiz nights, Curry nights and lunches, to list but a few, all raising much appreciated funds
• The U12’s won the Cobham A, B and C Festivals, in fact in the our A Festival, Cobham won 4 of the 6 age groups, U8, U9, U11 as well as U12
• It is worthy of specific note that the U9’s did a superb job managing the Cobham Festivals and raised a staggering £23,862 for the club
• Our U8’s got to the Semi-final of the Vectis Rugby Club Tour in the Isle of Wight against very tough competition
• Our U10 players have swept through the South of England winning Festival after Festival recently culminating in wins at the Surrey A,B & C festivals
• 18^th April saw the U12’s organising our inaugural Mini’s Presentation Day in glorious sunshine – recognising achievement, having a lot of fun and raising £1500 for the clubhouse fund
• At the excellent Esher Floodlit tournament, our U7’s won the tournament following many other great performances throughout their first season of festivals

• And to cap it all we went on Tour to Southport with over 200 tourists and won everything. Our U9’s, U10’s, U11’s and to U12’s all winning at the Southport tour against teams from all over the country – a phenomenal achievement and fine rugby playing end to a memorable year.

There are countless other achievements that could be added to demonstrate that our players across all age groups have done us proud both on and off the field and they deserve a huge amount of credit for that.

But they couldn’t have done it without the support of a fantastic team of coaches, managers, first aiders, festival organisers, coordinators and helpers. Every single one is a volunteer and gives freely and enthusiastically of their time and I would like to offer my thanks for what you have done to make Cobham Mini’s so successful this season.

On the recent tour to sunny Southport, one parent was heard to say that the reason they drive past two other clubs to get to Cobham was that “the people are all so friendly”. You only have to look out of the clubhouse at the great fun that the U5’s and U6’s enjoy as they start on their rugby playing career to make you realise that the truth of those words.

So, as I finish my tenure of Cobham Mini’s it has been a huge pleasure and privilege to work with you.

And as the reins are passed over to the new Chairman, Kieran Notter, I know that the Mini’s are in good hands and that the tremendous success you have achieved this season will continue long into the future.

To finish on a philosophical note, Henry Longfellow once wrote;

    Let us then be up and doing

       With a heart for any fate

          Still achieving, still pursuing

             Learn to labour and to wait

Maybe that should be our rallying call “Still Achieving, Still Pursuing”

Thank you for all your support