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 26th August, re-
enacting our very first competitive match as Banbury RUFC 100 years ago! This will be a very
special occasion, not only as it will start the centenary celebrations, but we will be launching
our new all-white 2024-25 centenary season shirt, replicating that worn for our inaugural
match in 1925.

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.

***BANBURY RUGBY CLUB – ONE CLUB – ONE HUNDRED YEARS***

In rugger,

Monty

P H P Montanaro
President-elect
BRUFC