1. Introduction to our Centenary Season (2024-25)

The Official Launch of our Centenary Season (2024-25) is now less than 200 days away! This is going to be one of the most exciting seasons we have ever had with so much planned, many special events, and the start of some very big Centenary Legacy projects.

We open proceedings with a match against Old Bloxhamists on Sunday 25th August, re-enacting our very first competitive match as Banbury RUFC 100 years ago! This will be a very special occasion as it will mark the start of our centenary celebrations. We are planning an exciting day, designed to offer something for everyone, and fully embracing our ethos of #OneClub. We are planning ‘curtain-raiser’ matches prior to the main event and there will also be fairground rides, inflatables, food stalls, live music, and other activities designed to make for a proper family day. As it is a Bank Holiday weekend, we hope to be bathed in sunshine entry will be free to Members.

The match between the Banbury President’s XV and the Old Bloxhamists will be the main focus of the afternoon and we will be launching our new all-white 2024-25 centenary season shirt, replicating that worn for our inaugural match in 1925.

You have hopefully all seen, heard, or read that the “Centenary Wall” is now mounted in the Clubhouse and available to display all of your messages. We already have a fair selection of tributes, good wishes, and celebratory messages, with several more on order. If you wish to be included, please don’t delay as there are obviously a limited number of ‘bricks’.

Very soon we will be launching our Centenary Merchandise range, and, along with all the regular items that the shop sells we will be adding an online shop to the website where you will be able to buy all of the merchandise for collection at the club or for home delivery.

One of the major projects of the Centenary Season will be a fully illustrated 150+ page coffee table hardback book charting the history of the Club from its inception, right up to and including many of the anticipated Centenary Season moments. To enable the inclusion of centenary events before going to print, the book will be launched at the end of the 2024-25 season at the Centenary Ball, scheduled to take place at the Club on 14th June 2025. We will be taking pre-orders very soon as the book will have a limited print run and will sell out very quickly.

With regards to the book, we are still looking for historical facts, artefacts and anything that you think may be of historical value to the Club and the book. We want to collate as much information about the Club as possible to help preserve our heritage and to have all of this special memorabilia available for future generations. If you think you have items or anecdotes that may be of interest, please contact us. We will be holding open days for viewing soon, so again, keep your eyes peeled on the Club website for information.

The Centenary Season will be a once in a lifetime event, so we plan to put together a “Members Pack” reflecting this and to include some special additions neatly packaged in a presentation box. More information will follow so keep re-visiting the Centenary Season page on the website for the latest details on events, merchandise and general happenings.

The Club is built on its members and volunteers and the intention is to fully embrace our ethos of “One Club” throughout the Centenary Season. We want all of you to be involved as much or as little you like in everything that we are planning. The formal commencement of activities will be at the AGM in July 2024 with the inauguration of our Centenary President, Phil ‘Monty’ Montanaro. We will then have the Opening Match (see above) on Sunday 25th August before the ‘season proper’ starts in September. Plans so far include Family Days, Quiz Nights, a Golf Day, Halloween Party, Christmas Singalong and Party(s), NYE Family Party, Presidents Nights, Tour(s), the Centenary Ball and Centenary Dinner, etc. all culminating in our 100th birthday party on 10th September 2025.

We are very excited for the Centenary Season and all that it will bring, we hope you will be too.