First of all, I would like to thank you all for your continued support of Brighton Football Club (RFU). I welcome the Players, Coaches, and Management staff of all our teams back to training and preparing for the 156th season. I offer my personal and sincere thanks to you all for your hard work and effort. We have a good team spirit within the club, and we have stuck together and shown great patience and support. A fact that is sometimes forgotten and unappreciated is that to have successful teams, you must have the right infrastructure and strategies in place.

To my President, Dick Thoms; Head of Rugby, Steve Morris; DOR Rich Neal, Accounts and Admin Georgina Archer; Groundskeeping Jason Tams; M&Y Chair Daren Steer; and all committee members, I would like to thank them for their invaluable assistance. I appreciate the hard work and commitment they, along with the many staff and volunteers, continue to show Brighton and the support they afford me personally.

I would also like to thank all our sponsors, those who have shown faith in the club over the last few years, and those who have recently committed to the future.

Many of our younger players have progressed through Mini into the Youth team, and others have improved and developed their skills and growth, representing the senior sides. Last season, some truly wonderful rugby was played by individuals, teams, and a club in general. Many of you, perhaps, were individually honored for achieving and fulfilling your potential at the end-of-season awards, and long may this continue. I would, however, like to acknowledge every one of our players, irrespective of the team and the part they played, for the contribution and support you give this rugby club.

Success is a difficult measure and not a simple task. I was always told to do my best and work hard, and I would succeed. I want to see all the players and management adopt that trait. Success is never easy but always achievable.

Our progress will continue. A lot has been done, and there is much more to do. Brighton Football Club (RFU) will remain committed, focused, strong, and, most importantly, 'Together'. This season will see personal challenges for many of us alongside rugby. People need to realise that everyone involved has a life and a family; sometimes, there will be conflicts of priority, interest, and importance. They will always have my complete support, faith, and trust. I am honoured to be Chairman. Like many of you, I am confident in this great rugby club. We are not a boastful Club, but we have real strengths, great people, strong values, and a long, proud history. Since becoming Chairman three years ago, we have finished in 9th position twice and improved to our best league position of 7th in the current Regional 1 league. This represents our three highest league finishes in our history.

Pre-season training is already well underway, with many new talent joining from other clubs. Our development programs also contribute heavily to the 1XV selection. Games against Havant, Reeds, and Worthing have already been organised. Our first league game is on September 7th, 2024, at home vs. Hammersmith and Fulham.

Our Minis and Juniors have never looked so healthy in terms of numbers. The girls’ teams are also in a good position, with coaching and development going past the U12 age group, producing a clear pathway for the girls to aim for in playing senior rugby at this club.

A new plan for Brighton is emerging as we are undertaking the following: -
1. We will do this by offering the highest levels of coaching standards and having top-class facilities; we want to provide better infrastructure and playing pitches. This will see some development of the clubhouse and improvement in the pitches.

2. We are currently negotiating with the Council to secure the whole Waterhall Valley, including the pavilion. We aim to develop the entire site into a multi-sports complex for the community. We wish to reintroduce cricket here and further establish quality facilities for football. We are also looking at bringing in new sports, such as Gaelic Football, Cyclocross, and Padel Ball, to make Waterhall a fantastic sporting facility.

3. We are involved with the Women's World Cup next year, and our input into the events will be clearer after the season starts.

4. Further develop the women's game within the club

I hope that you will join us on September 7th, 2024, when we kick off our 156th season. There is a league lunch, and booking is available.