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Chairman's Bulletin 31 January 2025
As we say goodbye to a wet and often windy January, I had hoped to be reporting better pitch side news, however, as is typical for the time of year, the ground conditions are making life difficult.
Please keep your eye out on your team chats for updates on potentially cancelled fixtures.
Purely from a spectator point of view, however, there is much still to offer as the Rugby Six Nations kicks off this weekend with France and Wales opening their accounts on Friday night.
The crunch match will, however, be between England and Ireland in Dublin on Saturday evening, in an Old Heads vs Young Guns encounter that should be an absolute firecracker.
Kick-off is at 4.45 pm and all the action will be on the big screens.
So come on down and enjoy the atmosphere. And yes, we have plenty of Guinness!
Rugby
First XV
The First XV’s strong run of form continued last weekend with a convincing 28-0 victory over Bec Old Boys.
This result is particularly satisfying as you may recall that this same fixture was a banana skin of a season opener back on 28 September, where we lost 34-28.
That result keeps us in the hunt for top spot in Counties Surrey 2, but league leaders Old Cats maintain their one-point lead having crushed Old Whitgiftian 43-7 last weekend.
It will be the First XV’s turn to show what they can do on a like for like basis because they play Old Whitgiftian away this weekend.
With Old Cats playing 8th placed Old Walcountians this Saturday, we can only expect another bonus point win from them, so we will have to match that result to keep the pressure up.
Rams
Sadly the Rams Surrey Conference League fixture against Lightwater has been cancelled as the opposition pulled out, which I have noted before is sadly all too common at that league level.
They are looking for a friendly which I hope they find.
Football
Saturday
Goals from Jordan Boughedda and Jon Murray along with a man of the match performance from Chib Umerah were only enough to earn the Saturday Firsts a point as they drew 2-2 with Old Blues 2nd last week.
That disappointing result leaves the OWs mid table in Junior Division 4 South but they do have sufficient games in hand to still mount a challenge for back to back promotions, starting with an away tie at Joseph Hood Rec against Merton 3rds this Saturday.
No game for the Reserves last week having booked their place in the SAL Intermediate Novets Cup Semi Finals with a 2-1 win over the Civil Service the week before.
It's been while but the OWs finally return to league action this weekend hosting Allen Old Boys 4th who have snuck into top spot while we have been engaged elsewhere in cup action.
A 7 goal winning margin may be too much to ask to retake the lead in Junior Division 5 South but any sort of win would be enough to draw level on points with 3 games in hand.
Sunday
Simon White, Ramone McCrae and Owen Medwin all netted for the Sunday Firsts last week but sadly this was not enough to see the OWs through to the Quarter Finals of the Surrey FA Sunday Junior County Cup as AFC Westend Sunday edged their fourth round tie 4-3.
No game for them this Sunday, they'll be back in League Cup action the week after.
After a run of poor results which left them languishing at the bottom of Division 6, the Sunday Reserves have kick started their season with a 4-2 win at Surrey United with Matt Clements, Luke Ferdinando, Joshua Rhode and manager Dave Redmond all registering on the score sheet for the OWs.
The win was driven by a MoM performance from Sam Shethran who motivated the team and carried the victory home despite difficult conditions. Manager Dave was singing his praises after the game:
"He's a talent we've had our eye on for some time. What I particularly liked was his ability to bring the best out of others around him".
This Sunday they kick off their Junior Charity Cup campaign with a first round home tie with Cobham Village.
The Sunday A Team have not played since the end of November but they should hopefully be back in action as they too play in the first round of the Junior Charity Cup away at Norbiton Knights.
On the over 35s front, no game for the Strollers this Sunday or last, they're back in league action on the 9th.
Hopefully a week off for the Amblers last week will mean they're fresh and up for it as they host West Fulham Vets in their delayed Surrey FA Veteran's County Cup second round tie.
Six Nations
This annual institution will run from tonight over the next six weeks.
A full breakdown of all the runners and riders will be posted by me weekly here.
Have a great week.
Michael-Jon Andrews
Chairman
David Barella RIP
It is with great sadness that we announce that David Barella passed away on the 26th December after a long illness. His devoted partner, Liz, and his daughter, Kate, were with him when he passed away peacefully at home.
Some words from Graham Turner, former Chairman and 1st XV Captain and a close friend to David:
David joined the OW’s in the early 60’s straight from school and played cricket and rugby for us over 3 decades. He was a solid player in both disciplines, but his great skill (and promotion to legendary status) was in his captaincy of the 3rd XI and the Extra A XV.
David certainly led by example but much more by sheer force of personality. Quite honestly, Dave was the funniest man around, both on and off the field. Everyone wanted to play in his teams and some were genuinely disappointed when promoted to higher teams.
For many years after he stopped playing, David regularly supported all year round and attended (with Liz) most of the social events of both sections. Covid and ongoing medical problems ultimately reduced this, but he never lost interest. He will be sorely missed.
May he rest in peace.
Eddie Bell – A tribute by OWCC President, Michael O’Brien
At rugby I remember him as a prop, but know that he had been a speedy winger in his younger days. He continued to support the rugby club and was team secretary for many years.
At cricket he was a wicket keeper and useful batsman. He was keen to expand the number of players and ran colts’ teams during the summer.
When he stepped down from playing, he continued to umpire and indeed organise a rota for umpiring, aspiring to have all league sides with an umpire every Saturday. Eddie was the OW Cricket Club President for more than a dozen years.
Eddie loved his OWs cricket and was regularly watching from the boundary including the 2024 season.
Earlier this year he told me how much he enjoyed umpiring and being part of the game. This was true throughout his sporting career as, win or lose, Eddie always found enjoyment, followed by a laugh over a pint or two afterwards.
I was fortunate to play both rugby and cricket in the same teams as Eddie. I remember going to a rugby AGM and receiving ‘the Eddie arm’, only to go home as 2nd XV captain.
The Old Wimbledonians Association may never see his like again. He did so much for the club over the years, much behind the scenes.
Wimbledon College Hospitalité Pilgrimage to Lourdes
22 to 26 August 2025
Wimbledon College Hospitalité are once again organising working and non-working trips to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes to run along side each other in August of 2025.
Please see the full article on the work they do and how you can get involved on the Hospitalité page.
OWA Big Prize Club
HAVE SOME FUN AND SUPPORT THE OWs, WARRIORS AND CRICKET COLTS
The OW Big Prize Club, a registered lottery, has six annual draws. The first prize in each draw is £1000 and there are three lesser prizes.
50% of BPC subscriptions is distributed as prizes and the remaining 50% supports the facilities for the OWs, the cricket colts and the rugby warriors.
Total prizes distributed in 2018 were c. £ 7600. Annual prize money increases with increased numbers of subscribers (the annual number of draws has recently been increased from 5 to 6 per year).
New subscribers are very welcome. Anyone can join and you can have as many "tickets" as you wish for yourself, your children or grandchildren. The BPC subscription is £10 pcm.
If you would like others to join the BPC please email owabigprize@gmail.com.
A big thank you to all that give their support via the BPC and good luck in future draws.
Best Regards.
Dave Doran
Big Prize Club AdminRemembrance Page Now Available
Check out the Remembrance Page which remembers those from the College who died in the First and Second World Wars.
We have also updated the Notable Alumni page