Local fixtures always bring that little bit extra, and we have a fantastic weekend of rugby ahead. Both our 1XV and 2XV are at home on Saturday, followed by our U16s and Women fixtures at home on Sunday – a full weekend at The Crofts, a busy clubhouse and, hopefully, plenty of support around the touchlines.

Our Hornets will also be in action again – this time off the field – supporting our Women’s game on Sunday. They’ll be helping with half-time food for supporters, so please come along, enjoy the game, support our Women and support the Hornets. It’s another great example of different sections of the Club working together and what One Club should be about.

But this weekend is about more than the rugby. It is also our opportunity to celebrate and say a huge thank you to our sponsors.

Our sponsors are absolutely central to what we do at OLs. Every contribution, large or small, helps us continue to provide rugby for our members and, importantly, helps us move the Club forward.

At the start of this season, we set out our priorities for OLs: improving the player experience, developing and supporting our volunteers, connecting and protecting our Club and community, improving our facilities and creating greater financial sustainability.

These aren't simply words or aspirations. They are the basis of the projects we are working on across the Club.

We want to create a better experience for every player and every member – from a child pulling on an OLs shirt for the first time, through our age-grade and senior teams, to our Hornets, Walking Rugby players, coaches, volunteers, supporters and social members.

That means investing in our facilities and playing environment, improving training opportunities, supporting our coaches and volunteers, strengthening the pathway from junior to senior rugby and continuing to make OLs a place where people want to play, volunteer, support and spend their time.

Sponsorship helps us turn those ambitions into reality.

It enables us to invest in projects that we simply couldn't deliver through membership and matchday income alone. From major projects such as improving our floodlighting and training facilities to the many smaller improvements that make a difference every week, sponsorship directly contributes to creating a better player and member experience.

But sponsorship should also be a two-way relationship.

We want the businesses and organisations that support OLs to benefit from being part of our Club. We promote our sponsors around the grounds, through our communications and on our website, where members can find out more about them and follow links directly to their businesses.

So I would ask everyone to take a few minutes to have a look at our sponsors. If you need a product or service that one of them provides, please consider supporting them – and, importantly, tell them you came through OLs.

With the collective support of our members, volunteers, partners and sponsors, we can continue improving the Club and delivering the objectives and projects we have set ourselves for this season and beyond.

So, while this weekend gives us plenty of rugby to enjoy, it is also an opportunity to recognise the businesses and organisations that help make so much of what we do possible.

To every one of our sponsors – large and small – thank you for supporting OLs and for being part of our journey.

And to our members: please support those who support your Club.

One Club. One Community. One Standard – creating the best environment for everyone to enjoy, play, volunteer and succeed.

Regards
Mark
Chair