When I reflect on joining Old Leamingtonians, why I selected this as the club I wanted to join, I had no idea as to the hidden value it would bring my life. The sense of belonging was equal to knowing you are a valued member of a group or a community, and this was enforced by the camaraderie between teammates during or after a game or at the social events run by the club. It is a concept that is probably unconsciously reflected by everyone I talk to either at patrons lunches or after watching a game, patrons, supporters, players alike.

Visiting other clubs and knowing many friends who are members at other clubs there is a general feeling that the players at the traditional grassroots level know they are part of something that means something, especially when you measure it against the superficial rubbish we see on social media or in society that so many of the younger generation aspire to be like (very aware I sound old) .
Our club, a community club is also in contrast to more senior clubs many of whom pay players, who indirectly play for a club as a job, as an employee and not part of a rugby family and have the additional pressure that so much is at stake with regards to results and club status, and that it takes away the fun and the spirit of the game and the club as a community as players come and go following the next pay day.

I reflect on my playing years as a "comfort blanket" to go to when feeling down or out of sorts, It acted as a distraction from work, or a welcome escape from personal stress. It also acted as a vehicle to fulfil my competitive streak, to compete with friends in an environment where hopefully our skills and teamwork delivered success.

However, it is belonging to a club that recognises we are a community of payers, patrons and friends is the overriding feature that make Old Leamingtonians special, and given the opportunity to join a new club when moving to a different area again i hope I would make the same choice again. With the benefit of hindsight I know I would!

A few years on, and now part of the older generation supporting running the club we know it doesn’t always go right and we sometimes get things wrong (like any family) but the ethos, desire and the passion of the people to try make everything right is why we hope that others who are looking at joining either their first club or need a change or moving to the area choose OLs

Happy Easter , Gold & Blue