As many of you  already know, both the Senior & Junior Sections are getting bigger for the new Season and this growth will continue in future seasons too. Therefore, Gavin Lennard, Graham Clayton and Daniel Poulter are presently working on a new 5 Year ORAFC plan to help shape the club’s future.

To help us achieve this, Graham has kindly agreed to hold a duel interim role for the Seniors next season as Chairman/Treasurer, with Dan deputising as Senior Vice Chair. This is one of several key steps which will enable Dan to primarily focus more on the Juniors in his role as Youth Chairman, whilst Gavin & Graham will help to steer the overall good ship for the benefit of the Section.

If anyone in interested in becoming our Treasurer in the future, then please feel free to speak to any of the aforementioned as we aim to spread the workload.

The reformed Saturday 4th XI has been accepted into the KDFL for the new campaign, in what will be an exciting venture, featuring around 8 x 16 Year old’s in Boo-Boo’s squad.

Pre-Season training starts early this year, as we aim to refresh the  fortunes of ORAFC!

Club Coach Marc Skinner expects a high turnout of new players and trialists and the club expects all current players to make every effort to attend too.

** PRE-SEASON TRAINING FROM THIS COMING WEDNESDAY **

7.00pm SHARP, at Joseph Hood Rec, Martin Way. New Players welcome.

The ORAFC Committee is pleased to announce that the Club will once again field a 4th XI next Season, with one of our diligent Legends aka Graham ‘Boo Boo’ Larcombe managing the team which will be based very largely around 16 year old players with a couple of old experienced heads to help balance and nurture things along under Boo’s guidance.

However, on this basis we are now looking for a 2nd XI Manager.This could be an outright Manager (or duo) or perhaps even a Player Manager. Interested parties can speak to Dan or Gavin as we need to get this wrapped up within a week preferably.

It was a great Presentation Night yesterday with a strong turnout and plenty of awards given out. Pictures to follow in due course.

No rest behind the scenes though – as we look to plan ahead for 2016/17, with our AGM next Friday 20th May. 7.45pm in the Memorial Lounge at the Clubhouse.

Many thanks to Club Statto Graham ‘Bernie’ Winter  for confirming the following ORAFC Milestone awards.

These Awards will be presented on Friday 13th May 2016.  Special mention to  Steve Berry, Billy Finnis and Ollie Hicks for their ‘large doubles’ , with both Appearance & Goal awards

Appearances

A massive well done and huge congratulations to Erol Yilmaz’s 3rd XI for securing the SSEC Junior Division Four title last Saturday.

Just the 2 games for the Ruts this weekend, with the 2nd XI drawing 1 – 1 at Poplar Road on Saturday against Cheam VW FC. The OR’s fell behind following a defensive mix-up and levelled before the interval courtesy of a Steve Berry penalty which he converted via a follow up after the keeper initially parried.

The Vets suffered a 2 – 0 reverse on Sunday as the Visitors Wandgas secured a win on the road.

With regards to England – Take a bow Kane, Vardy and Dier, 3 real quality goals. Only a friendly, but lovely to get a fine win in Berlin.

Our End of Season Presentation Disco will be held at the Ruts on Friday the 13th May from 7.00pm. Friends, families and children all welcome to join us.

All players need to email their Player of the Year votes to gavinlennard@googlemail.com by Saturday 2nd April LATEST. First and second choice nominations are required.

The 1st XI secured a vital 2 – 1 home win over OPFC today, as a determined second half display saw them overturn a 1 – 0 half time deficit with two goals in the final 15 minutes. The Ruts goals came from Kieran O’Driscoll who equalised well and the winner was a worthy one from Callum Battershill as he deftly beat his marker and fired home the stunning winner in the closing minutes.

The 3rd XI secured promotion thanks to a 1 – 0 home win over Westside ‘A‘ FC courtesy of an Ollie Hicks goal, plus a penalty save from ‘all time record appearance man’ Craig Lyle, which keeps Erol Yilmaz’s team on target to secure the title ‘IF’ they manage to keep the momentum going! 

The 1st XI’s dismal campaign continued as they slumped to a 4 – 1 away defeat at St Andrews. The Ruts goal came via Kyle Moore.

Better news from the 2nd and 3rd XI’s as the 2’s progressed to the League Shield Semi Final after beating Trinity Res 4 – 2 at Poplar Road courtesy of a brace from Steve Berry and further goals from Ben Kennett & Phil Lines.

The 3rd XI beat Old Plymouthians ‘A’ who were short of players 6 – 3 thanks to hatricks from both Ollie Hicks & Paul Gough.

Best wishes to the Vets and U9’s tomorrow.

vets drew 2-2 v Raynes Park Vale  scorers R..Lines & A. Flanagan pen