Shirt Sponsorship
Today shirt number 8 is proudly sponsored by the late Rob Maxey and his wife, Juliet.
Rob and Juliet have been unwavering supporters of ACRFC for many years, and their contributions have been invaluable to the growth and spirit of the club. Juliet continues to honour Rob’s legacy by supporting the club they both loved so deeply.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Juliet for her continued generosity and for keeping Rob’s memory alive through her incredible support.
Thank You
for supporting the lunch by hosting tables… Peter Kenyon, The Opposition, Dan Burke, Andy Saunders, James Stacpoole, Peter Osborne (donated to volunteers), Richard Bobbett, Jack Kenyon, and Richard Clifford.
Thanks also to Huw Thomas who donated a table.
Chairman’s Welcome
Good afternoon everyone, and a very warm welcome to Ash Grove for what really is our final home game of the season!
Having won against Colchester (which should have been our final game at home) we found ourselves in the playoffs. We travelled to Westcliff and after a roller coaster of a game we narrowly lost 31-30 with the last play of the game.
So, today we have this winner takes all match up as we welcome Old Colfeians RFC.
This will be Old Colfeians RFC first visit to A&C. We wish them a warm welcome. They have made a late surge with a run of form and away playoff performances that you dream of. To use a football phrase “Roy of the Rovers stuff”. No happy ending though if we get our way!!
We know we face a real challenge today, but as we all know, rugby has a way of producing special days, and with so much at stake for our survival in Level 5, I’ve no doubt our players will give everything for the badge, the club and all of you here supporting them.
So much has happened since taking over as Chairman in January. I expected to have my feet up on the beach and so did the players and club volunteers. It has been a long eventful season. We can look forward to the 2026-27 season with a sense of excitement. We have positive news about the development of our club, and we have a new coaching team coming into the senior team with strong credentials.
Today’s game will be the last for our 1st XV coaching team of Rich Hoskins and Tom Pierce. We have huge amounts to thank them for this season, and Rich has managed huge improvements in the playing side of the club. They both go on their way leaving the club in a better state than when they arrived. Not often that you part ways on that basis.
There will also be a few players that leave the club at the end of the season or retire after years of amazing service. Special mention must go out to our Army Captain, Dougie McGregor-Smith and club stalwart Jordan Scott. Thank you both for your efforts.
An enormous appreciation goes to every volunteer, sponsor, coach, team manager and supporter who has given time, energy, and commitment throughout the season. Clubs like ours simply don’t function without that selfless effort, whether behind the bar, marking pitches at dawn, or nurturing our minis and juniors on a Sunday morning. You are the beating heart of Amersham & Chiltern RFC. To our players, from 1st XV through to minis, thank you for representing our colours with pride.
And, especially to our sponsors and partners whose backing sustains us week in, week out - we’re incredibly grateful.
So, as we head into this decisive match, let’s make today one to remember - full of pride, passion and support from touchline to terrace. Enjoy the lunch, enjoy the rugby, and let’s get behind the boys one last time at home this season. Come on you Chilts!
Andy Saunders
President: Peter Kenyon; Chairman: Andy Saunders; Hon Sec: Ralph Hayward; Hon Treasurer: Chris Tavender; Membership Secretary: Sandra Hitchman; Director of Rugby: Pete Gibson; Mini Chairman: James Stacpoole; Junior Chairman: Rob Elms
Chairman – A&C RFC
MATCH DAY SPONSOR
We thank Peter Osborne for his continued generosity as one of today’s Match Days Sponsors and sponsoring Shirt number 5.
His support for the club over the years has been outstanding, setting up the 200 club over 25 years ago which has aided numerous maintenance and improvement projects.
Peter Osborne is a partner in the Osborne Samuel Gallery which is located on Cork Street London, specialising in Modern British Painting and Sculpture.
The Osborne Samuel Gallery is a principal sponsor of the club.
Thank you Peter for your unwavering support, we appreciate everything you have done and continue to do for our club.
‘THE CARNIVAL IS OVER’
Afitting end to another fine season. It may seem never-ending, but again it has given Amersham and Chiltern blood some youth whilst improving points total prior to experiencing some experimental play-offs, which has led to an opportunity to finish on a high, at home in front of our loyal fans as we look to confirm our place as Buckinghamshire’s highest placed side in Level 5.
As a reminder, following the 2023/2024 season, we were promoted as Champions from Regional 2 - Thames. Timely as it was, it was also our Centenary year, which added to the sense of achievement and spurred us on to remain in level 5 for as long as possible. For the 2024/2025 season, it took some time for us to settle in. We had to ‘learn to lose’ and for the first 9 games or so we did just that. But then, once
Song by the Seekers - 1965
‘Say goodbye my own true lover
As we sing a lovers song
How it breaks my heart to leave you
Now the carnival is gone’
we’d finished learning, we managed to get to grips with the challenge. Bedford Athletic (34pts) and Harpenden (35pts) didn’t survive, with A&C finishing 8 points clear of the drop, finishing 10th on (43 pts), with the comprehensive home defeat of high-flying Sudbury.
For 2025/2026, the relegated sides were replaced with Medway and Westcliff. We looked forward to seeing Rochester Castle and another
A REFLECTION ON OUR SEASON
part of Southend surrounding the airport, just over the fence from our good friends at Southend. We started at home after an impressive couple of preseason friendlies. A trip along the M40 allowed us to look for ‘a lady upon a white horse with rings on her fingers and bells on her toes making music wherever she goes’ at Banbury, followed by more of a local warm-up in the forest around Bracknell. We acquitted ourselves well, using as much of our training squad as possible.
The Southend Saxons were the first to visit Ash Grove. In their traditional brown and white, they managed to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, 24-29. At the time, it felt like the loss could
be costly. We then visited the youngsters of Old Northamptonians and secured a deserved but tight win, 17-19. We were off the mark, although
SEASON CARNIVAL
some of the ON players felt they had scored in the corner. Alas for them, he was in touch, and the referee agreed with me when I raised my flag. We had our local derby at Tring on a hot day with lots of bees buzzing around. Tring were beaten (we thought), and more fool us, we capitulated to a 27-32 defeat. Off we then went to deepest Norfolk and beyond Norwich. The usual 500 people seemed to be lunching, and the pizzas were flying out of the oven. They were in the mood and dominated. This was one of the very few convincing losses (52-14) - OUCH! Letchworth Garden City then came to us. 2nd place last year to unbeaten Oundle. Gosh! We were good and gave them a run for their money, conceding a try in the last minute (20-29). We then visited Sudbury. We had clearly made them angry by beating them in the final game last year. I missed that one, so I cannot really comment on the (66-17) loss. Hertford then called and escaped certain defeat with some timely uncontested tries. All credit, though they did enough with a (31-40) defeat. Thank goodness, though, for Shelford. They came down from deepest Cambridgeshire and were soundly beaten (35-17). I saw Rochester Castle whilst it was blowing a gale. It didn’t move and is an impressive sight. Terrible day weather-wise, and a very vocal Medway bench did enough to secure a one-point win (29-
A REFLECTION ON OUR SEASON
28) after the rain joined the gale in the 2nd half. Wind advantage dictated the tries. Westcliff then endured the backlash bask at Ash Grove, scoring no tries and losing (17-6). We then travelled to take on top-of-the-table Colchester. I didn’t go,
but heard we were terrific but losing (39-12) to a well-drilled and confident Colchester side. With all the first set of matches played the bottom 3 were Hertford, Old Northamptonians and us. 6 points separating 6th to 12th. Home advantage key but really each match all being about how you played on the day.
Old Northamptonians visited us. Nobody mentioned the disallowed try and whatever they had put in the Northampton water worked and they secured a decent win (31-41) in what was a terrific match. Tring then welcomed us and this time they were in the mood. We were always chasing the game, and my goodness, we deserved a conversion to win. We missed it, though, and had to wear a single-point defeat (37-36). Home advantage counts, and North Walsham proved it. Having stuffed us at North Walsham, we duly won at Ash Grove (22-3). No tries for them, and few for us. Just the way we like it. Letchworth then proved their consistency and ability with a secure (31-12) win at Letchworth. My leggings were commented on whilst running the line. I emphasise that it was complimentary. No big repeat of last season’s win, and Sudbury had learned their lessons winning (19-27), although the score was flattering as we pushed for the win at 19-20. A last minute try saved their blushes. The trip to Hertford was interesting, as they seemed to have some new coaches and,
SEASON CARNIVAL
with that, a sprinkling of fresh talent. They also could have competed for the title of noisiest bench, although I think Medway just edged it. Having risen from the bottom, they had clearly improved and were convincing winners (4022). The double was then achieved away at Shelford. Again, we witnessed a huge farmer’s lunch, and the home crowd were confident. The boys, though, won a tense match (19-29). In the fight at the bottom of the Medway, Medway visited, but this time the weather behaved, and a win was achieved (29-22), which should have been by more, with some carelessness creeping in. Our away trip to Westcliff had now become a must-win. We didn’t win, though, and lost (28-17). The first 20 mins of the second half didn’t result in any scores despite us being camped on their line for long periods. Unbeaten Colchester then came with their big ladder for the lineout practice. Being the President’s Lunch, they were always under pressure and capitulated to a (29-17) defeat, allowing us a win to counter the loss at Westcliff. So, we then finished where we started, and I know rugby can be cruel, but my goodness, it can be cruel. (24-24) and in the last minute, a penalty was awarded on the halfway line, which
A REFLECTION ON OUR SEASON
was successfully kicked by Southend (27-24). A valuable point ensured Medway relegated joining Shelford in the drop.
1st play off all the way back to Westcliff with our many friends at Southend supporting. We had it won and then just like the start, lost it in the final play (31-30).
So today, I still don’t know how Old Colfeians RFC grace the Ash Grove pitch and play for the opportunity to be promoted to level 5. Whilst wishing them well, given the efforts we have put in over the last 2 seasons, what I do know is that achieving and maintaining level 5 is one hell of a challenge. In fact, it is a Carnival, and it’s not over yet!!!!!!
We salute you!!!
AMERSHAM & CHILTERN 1XV
2025 / 2026 SEASON
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