Geoff Sluman reflects on 150th anniversary playing season
With the season now over Geoff Sluman, the Head of Sport and Vice Chair at Bridgwater & Albion RFC has reflected on the 2025-26 campaign.
Geoff said: “The season just ended has been a special one as Bridgwater & Albion RFC are celebrating 150 years since it’s foundation. Before even starting a game there is a lot to be proud of for our club and the town.
“I think it is good manners to start with our Women’s team. It also makes a lot of sense because the Women’s team absolutely display all of the good characteristic of rugby. They are a great bunch and committed to their cause.Their development is huge and they have come on such a long way but better than that, is the team spirit and camaraderie there is within the group.
“For those that have not played and maybe thinking about it I would whole heartedly say meet up with the group and give it a go. The things you are concerned about are probably the things the current players were concerned about, but they solve all of those things and make everything a really enjoyable experience.”
Geoff went on: “Turning to the Men’s senior first team it has been a mixed season. Some of our performances have been outstanding, I know league points are league points but without the performance improving you are not going to get better. We have drawn one game and lost another eight games by within one score. Eight more games won rather than lost would have put us up with the top couple in the table. We have gained more bonus points than any other team in the league. If we achieved just 5 more points, then we would have jumped another three places in the league. It is all if, but and maybe which we know counts for nothing, but we are very close.
“The Second team has had a very strong season, they have finished fourth but just nine league points to the promotion winning side and we feel we have left more than nine points out there and some games where we wanted to do better. Again, the performances put in by the second team were very strong and those players are starting to put genuine competition for places with some in the first team with the both the first team and second team being fairly interchangeable now.
He continued: “Our third team have done exceptionally well, they still have a game to play and are eighth in their league. Other clubs around us have not managed to sustain a third team and some not managed a second team so it is an achievement that our third team have done as well as they have. It is no coincidence that the third team help to support the performances of our second team so our seconds are doing well because of the thirds.
“Overall, I think we can be both satisfied and a little frustrated that things didn’t turn out a little better. But, that is sport and the really promising thing is that things could have been even better. The group we have, that now includes a lot of former youth players coming through really does give us cause for optimism for the future.”
“It would be amiss of me to finish by not thanking all of those associated with the club. It is too many people to mention – which is another positive – but to all players, coaches, medical team, supporters, catering, photographers, fixtures secretary, referees, match reporters, committee, staff and of course our sponsors who we could simply not operate without their support a sincere thank you,”
Geoff added: Where you can please do use the services of our sponsors because their support means so much to us. We are all looking forward to our 151st season.”
Pic by Martyn Edwards
Category: Club News
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