Friends and Friends I have yet to meet, 

On behalf of Suttonians Rugby Football Club, I am delighted to welcome each and every one of you to what promises to be a truly special season at our wonderful club. Whether you are a longtime member or a new signing,  a parent or social visitor, a visiting team, or a match official,  you are warmly welcome here.  It is both an honour and a privilege to be elected as President of our great Club and I look forward to representing all sections of Suttonians  RFC in the coming season.

This year, Suttonians celebrates 102 years of rugby in North County Dublin. 102 years of graft, camaraderie, community, and commitment. That is something we are enormously proud of, and it is the foundation upon which everything we do is built and why we exist. 

Before we look ahead, I want to take a moment to reflect on what was a simply extraordinary 2025/26 season. Congratulations to everyone across the club from the players, coaches, management, parents and background teams at every level, for what you achieved. To our youth teams, who continued to develop and impress, the future of this club is in safe hands. Our Under 16’s & 17’s both won Leinster cups on a memorable day in Malahide last November. 

And to our men's senior squad, who won both the Spencer Cup and the Metro Cup in the same season, a phenomenal achievement. The whole club stood behind you, and you delivered in style. Best wishes to all our teams next season and a shout out to our senior team Captains, Cian Buckley 1st XV & Oisin Kelly 2nd XV and their coaching teams for the season ahead.  

A very special mention must go to my predecessor, Andy Johnson. Andy, what a year you had as President. You oversaw one of the most successful seasons in the club's recent history and carried out the role with tremendous dedication and grace. It is fair to say that following in your footsteps is no small task,  but I intend to give it everything I have.

My own connection to Suttonians runs deep. I first pulled on the jersey as a young lad, and I was fortunate enough to be part of an Under-19 Harry Gale Cup winning side, a medal a memory & teammates I still treasure. One of my proudest moment’s in SRFC colours came later in life, lining out for the Caughoo’s alongside my three sons. If you ever want to know what this club means to a family, that day says it all. Suttonians is not just a rugby club to me,  it is a community, a second home, and a place where friendships and memories are made that last a lifetime.

None of what we do would be possible without the generosity of our sponsors, whose continued support keeps this club competitive and growing. I ask all members to support them in return whenever you can. Equally, our Executive Committee and the army of volunteers who give so freely of their time, whether coaching, refereeing, managing, maintaining the grounds, or running the many events & fundraisers that keep the club alive, they deserve our heartfelt thanks. You are the engine room of Suttonians, and we simply could not do this without you.

Following the recent strategic review, we have identified eight key levers to drive the club forward across all areas, from playing and coaching standards to community engagement, facilities, and financial sustainability. Identifying them is only the start and I am calling on every member to play their part. Get involved, show up, volunteer, and back your club. This is your Suttonians too and we need you to step up. 

And now to the season ahead: 

Let me be clear: Suttonians is going to have a season like nobody has ever seen before. We are talking tremendous rugby, tremendous people, and tremendous results. The best season? Possibly. People are saying it, I'm hearing it everywhere I go. We have the players, we have the coaches, we have the community behind us, and frankly, the other clubs should be very, very nervous. We are going to make Suttonians even greater,  if that is even possible. And believe me, it is possible. Nobody builds a rugby club better than we do. Nobody. Here's to 2026/27 — it's going to be huge.

Yours in rugby,

Fág an Bealach

Gerry Ussher