Dear Members,

It is a great honour for me to represent Old Belvedere RFC this season as its President. On behalf of everyone in the club, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all members and guests along with their families and friends to Ollie Campbell Park throughout the season. I would particularly like to welcome all visiting teams and match officials and I hope that you find OCP a welcoming environment.

I hope this year that we continue to build on the fantastic work that has been carried out by so many people over the last few years in making Old Belvedere such a warm and welcoming place to visit. This effort has been spearheaded by Philip Byrne and his colleagues. Many thanks also to all those who have contributed to this effort and I hope to see this continue to develop.

Under the guidance of our Director of Rugby, Quenton O’Neale, we are very proud to be fielding so many teams again this season – boys and girls minis, boys and girls youths, men’s under 20’s, senior men’s and women’s, junior men’s and women’s and a resurgent Veteran’s XV. I wish all of our teams success and unlimited enjoyment over the months ahead.

A special word of congratulations to the Men’s Shed which has grown in stature since its inception in 2019. The Shed members are valuable contributors to the club in so many ways and they complete the spectrum of participants in the club.

There are two other groups who merit a particular mention. Sincere thanks to all the volunteers in the club who contribute so much in so many different ways – the club would be lost without you. And finally, sincere thanks to all our sponsors for their kindness and support. Managing a club is becoming increasingly challenging and could not be done without the generous support we receive from all our sponsors.

I know that every season has its ups and downs. My personal wish for this season is there will be more ups than downs! Above all, irrespective of what happens, I hope I can retain my belief that the reason we are all here, and a part of this club, is to have fun!

Paul Dowling,

Club President