I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year’s Eve; welcome back to Kingsey Road and to an amazing 2019 where there is nowhere else I would rather be than right here as part of the black and white family.

I felt it the very first time I walked in to Chinnor, almost 5 seasons ago and I still feel it today. I don't quite know how to explain the difference between what we have here at Chinnor, and the countless other clubs I have visited over my lifetime. The difference is not in the walls, the grass or the insanely glorious hydraulic scrum machine. The difference is in the people, from the off field staff and volunteers, the coaches to the ever hard working 'Friday' club.

Chinnor is a community, a family, and once you are part of the family you have a home where you are always welcome. Ask my players, we often talk about it but Chinnor is very special and gets under your skin, once here it's very difficult to leave!

Today we find ourselves sitting in the top six of the highest semi- professional league in rugby, a massive achievement for a club nicknamed the 'Villagers'. This is huge credit to many people, you know who you are, but for us to keep flourishing it's vital we now grow off the field too.

We are in desperate need of new thinkers, new voices. We need help in many areas from websites, social media, Friday club, mid-week and match day volunteers.....the list goes on. Commercially we need to push on and you can help us too; ideas, suggestions, even down to venue hire, make the beautiful marquee your first thought. Every little thing helps.
We have plans and ambitions. We need a covered stand, we have planning permission to create a two floor specialist strength and conditioning centre in the barn which will all help the revenue and progression; but it all costs money!

This is a calling to arms not just to members but the community. Something special is on your doorstep and we need Thame and surrounding areas to embrace it, after all we are only 6 places away from full time rugby and Chinnor on Sky Sports!!

This week we welcome former Chinnor player Richie Williams, now Head Coach of Cambridge and all his staff and players to Kingsey Road. Chinnor won a close battle earlier in the season and I'm sure they will be looking for revenge. Another high quality game is guaranteed.

So please spread the word and make noise about a little gem on the doorstep. See you all at 2pm tomorrow.

Until the final whistle....

Matt