Club Dinner 2003 |
15th April 2003 |
This was an event heavily charged with significance; it was the last ever OR club dinner, or at least the last dinner that the club will have under it's current name - next season we'll be called something else. It was also the last club dinner that Terry Harvey will preside over - Terry used the occasion to announce that, after many, many years at the helm, he is stepping down as Chairman. It was further announced that Dave Billing is stepping down from the role of Vice-Chairman.
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The hotel is now a Holiday Inn and the refurbishments made are all jolly nice indeed. Andy Foot once again was solely responsible for planning and booking the event - massive thanks to Scud from everyone in the Club.
The first arrivals were there at 6pm after making the short journey from the Six Bells - these were Messrs Harding, Ransom, Panton, Rogers and Eagleton, the latter being resplendent in full pirate outfit. Tim Banks was next and the beer started to flow. There was, however, a slightly subdued atmosphere to start off with, until the beer kicked in.
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Dinner was called at 7:30-ish and we all settled down to Tomato & Basil soup, followed by steak in a pepper sauce and a chocolate thing with a flake on for desert (unless Eddie had been let loose in the kitchen). All very tasty. Dinner came supplied with a short break which Tony Davies filled in by telling the gathered throng about the 5-a-side tournament that has been planned for 3lst August in which we will be celebrating the Club's 80th birthday.
Speeches came next and this where we also took the opportunity to remember friends of the club who have sadly passed away in the last year.
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The first award was then made. this was the HH Golden Headband award. The six finalists were read out (Mansbridge, Harding, Ransom, Beech, White and Gregory), four discounted a la ''I'm a celebrity, Get me out of here", leaving the top two of Ian White and Greg Beech to be voted upon by all present by way of a cheerathon. Ian was the runaway winner.
Next up was the club captain, Mr Mansbridge, but he had not even spoken a word when there was a throaty cry of "A-harrr!" and thirty-something people were suddenly wearing pirate eye patches. Glorious! [It made the night for me.] After a brief, shocked pause, Hamish launched himself into a resume of the season, touching on the high and low points. (a transcript of the speech can be viewed here - apologies for any typos, but it was bloomin' long!) Hamish then put himself in the record books for the longest speech from a club Captain, exceeding 47 minutes! Well done to Steve Fine who won the sweep - hmmm, it was won on the top table last year as well!
Awards came next and went as follows:
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Badger Sales Jug Avoidance
A.Harding/P.Kennedy (5)
Billing Shield (Top Goalscorer of the Season)
A.Harding/P.Kennedy (22)
Setters Cup (Most Improved Player):
Duncan Preston
Farrar Cup (Most accomplished young player)
Adrian Martin
Fine Shield (Most successful Captain of the Season)
Steve Coffey
Cox Cup (Most Consistent Player)
Steve Craddock
Harvey Cup (Distinguished Service)
Tim Carr
Baker Cup (Person done the most for the Club on and off the pitch)
Hamish Mansbridge
Well done and congratulations to all of these.
And that was it. A jolly good time was had by all. People then got down to serious drinking and/or went off to M'aires. Special mention must go here to Steve Williams who managed to get Banned for life from M'aires and get the first entry for the 2003-2004 HH Award. Ian White was hot on his trail with the second.
Eagles
Oh, then it all got a bit messy, Shagga fell of his stool, p!ssed, and Harding put the boot in whilst Steve Fine laughed...
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