This coming Saturday will be my last match after six years at the club.
When my predecessor Scott Lawson called to sound me out to take over I initially turned it down (hopefully I don't get fined for that!) but a couple of days later I saw the error of my ways and accepted the role.

Following on from Scott was a tough act to follow with many players from the previous season moving on from the club. However the coaching group and playing group I inherited along with a few new additions were fantastic. Not winning a game until 5 games into the season really tested us but we overcame that and had a fantastic season. The support from everyone associated with the club during those early weeks never waivered and really helped us to build into the season.

Frustratingly, slow starts to the season have been something of recurring issue for us but the togetherness throughout the club has always enabled us to steady the ship and get stronger throughout each season. This unwavering isn't something that every club has and is vital for an amateur club like ours.

It's not possible to thank everyone individually for all the support received home and away during the last six years but I can assure you it's been valued and played a huge role in the side sustaining National League rugby. I wish the club and the players all the best next season and beyond. With the coaching group that's been assembled they will be in very capable hands and I look forward to seeing the group progress.

I would like to thank a few people individually for their assistance.

To Rob Macfarlane thanks for putting so much time into chasing all the players for their registrations and also for dealing with me on a match day. I'm not sure which is more testing!

Our pitch is one of the best playing surfaces around and the work Pete Simpson puts into ensuring that it is in such good condition each home game is phenomenal. Thanks also for the regular out of hours assistance getting the floodlights on too!

I've been fortunate to have worked with fantastic club Presidents and Chairmen these last six years. Even when things weren't going well your offers of support never waivered. This stability allowed the coaches and players to achieve their potential. Special mention though must go to John Eustace who remarked on the way to Huddersfield a few seasons ago that 'we never win away from home' and 'it's been a year since our last one'. It was nice to go on a 5 away game winning run after that!

For the few matches he's not around it's evident how important Chris Lynch is as our team manager. I'm not sure the players realise how lucky they are to have you around. Thankyou for keeping everything in order during the week and on a weekend.

I've been fortunate to work with a great group of coaches too. This season the efforts of Tom, Matt, Ben and Louis have been immense. The personal sacrifices you have all made to help improve the team and individuals shouldn't go unnoticed. I look forward to catching up over a beer in the future.

The playing group have always given everything each week. Even when games have gone against us the effort of the players has never waivered and they have always shown tremendous pride in wearing the blue and white hoops. As coaches we never underestimate the commitment you show on and off the field and appreciate you playing so hard for the club every week.

I would also like to thank my family for supporting me throughout my time here. I roped my father-in-law, Bodge, to do the match videos in year one and one mis-hap aside (where Ben Bell's try of the season contender against Fylde wasn't recorded) he's done an amazing job. Without the support of my wife and my two sons with a big 'come on Tyne' shout every Saturday morning and also in allowing me the best part of 30 odd Saturdays away from home each season I simply wouldn't have been able to do the role. Hopefully they'll allow me the odd Saturday in the future to watch home games and come to away games as an alickadoo.

At the end of this season and in future seasons we will be awarding the 'Rory Cramb clubman of the year award' to an individual who has gone above and beyond in their efforts for the club. It was truly tragic to lose Rory. He was a very popular young member of our playing squad and also a very talented player. Whilst our matches have continued he will always be sorely missed by everyone at the club who was fortunate enough to meet him. I saw first hand how diligently he worked to combine his studies and work commitments alongside his senior rugby. His commitment to the club and his fellow players was present in everything he did, whether it be travelling large distances from university to play or committing to training after long days at work, and is something everyone should aspire to and will be reflected in the future recipients of the award.