It has certainly been a rollercoaster ride in this my first year in the chairman's seat.
On the playing front, there was all the pre-season enthusiasm and some encouraging signs in our early performances, followed by a crop of injuries and unavailabilites which then undermined our campaign up to Christmas.
As the injuries bit and the results, and performances, fell away, so too did the morale somewhat, and this transmitted throughout the club.
It is to the coaches and players' credit, and some healing injuries, though, that things were turned around in the second half of the season and led to some impressive performances and much-needed wins.
Some results and the fall of fixtures - relegation rivals Trowbridge and Sherborne facing basement side Blandford in the final two weeks - did not help our cause, but it was creditable that we arrived at our last game, away to champions Frome, still in with a chance of survival and needing a win to be saved.
Defeat, and two more injuries, followed, but at least we had the consolation of a Bath Combination Plate final at the Rec - the first in the club's 40-year history - to look forward to after picking ourselves up and edging through against Old Edwardians.
The final against Old Sulians, a proud performance to behold, did not ease the pain of relegation but it certainly gave the players a just reward for their efforts this season. It was a proud night for the club, we produced some impressive rugby, and it was good to see a squad of club players getting a run-out at the famous Recreation Ground. Spare a thought here for Liam Healy, who, after an impressive run of performances, and particularly so on the night, broke his leg in two places.
It was ironic, then, that our season, which started so badly with injury problems, should finish with another two casualties in Liam and Haydn. I wish them well in their recovery, and all you other players carrying knocks from a long, long season.
Still on the playing front, it was good to see some players coming through from the second string - Kiwi Rob, Donovan, Gary Ings, Chris James etc - and I hope this trend continues next season.
That will depend entirely on you players, however, and how far you want to push yourselves - for both your own and your club's development.
As a coach, I often bleated on about training attendance and I still believe it's crucial to the success of any club. Training is not just about developing your skills and maintaining your fitness levels, but it does build character and discipline, and a great amount of spirit with your fellow players.
I hope you can share the coaches' and captains' commitment and enthusiasm next season and look forward to seeing you all in the pre-season, at the AGM (June 1) and end-of-season presentation dinner/dance (June 3).
Off the pitch, meanwhile, the rollercoaster continued.
The floodlights project, an all-consuming one for members of the committee, has now been completed and the new lights are set to be installed this month (they should be up and running by the AGM so please pop along and have a look).
The showers were re-tiled but ventilation problems were encountered, and they have now been overhauled.
The storage shed has tripled in size and a concrete path laid down around the clubhouse, a smart additiona and one which will help future access.
We then encountered drainage and soakaway problems. The drains have now been cleared for the first time in something like 12/14 years and we now have a brand spanking new soakaway system.
To top it all, we have had to outlay a significant amount of money to redress the pitches after heavy usage this season, and again, these have not been treated properly for some 16 years.
The 40th anniversary night proved a great occasion, David Trick was a superb speaker, and it is our intention to continue with a winter stag dinner after a lapse of two years. Watch this space.
The next major project is the enlarging and resurfacing of the car park, together with some other minor undertakings to improve the facilities and environs of your club.
Please keep in touch, and please invite any friends down to the club - the more the merrier. Mor events are planned for next season, to raise the fun, social element of the club, but on the playing front, let's strive for more success on the pitch in 2006/07.
