Bective Christmas Message
'A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is reality.' John Lennon
Dear Fellow Members,
As we break for Christmas and New Year, reality dawns that we have reached the midpoint of the season. As your President, it gives me a chance to reflect on what has been a hectic few months in Bective and share a few thoughts on how things are going and what lies ahead for the rest of the season.
When I met the 1st squad in September, I told them that it would be a privilege for me as president to share their journey this year. But to be honest, it has been a privilege and a truly unique experience to share everyone’s journey in Bective. So how are we doing?
Well with our Strategic Plan we set out a roadmap of our aspirations as a club and where we wanted to be and we are now well on the road and I have been keeping notes.
Our Welcome
For me, our welcome started with Bective’s preseason tour to Toulouse. An eclectic mix of Alickadoos, management, players new and old, bonded effortlessly. We made new friends in Tournefeuille and were hosted by one of our own, Trevor Brennan.
Since then, I have honestly been ‘blown away’ by the level of genuine good feeling towards Bective and its members. At club dinners or pre match lunches, people have gone out of their way to say how much they love Bective and how delighted they were to see us back in the AIL. Players and their parents comment on how they love the atmosphere within the club and how they are made feel at home. Visitors remark on the positive vibe and you will see it yourself on match days and at our pre match lunches. I have seen the same friendly welcoming family atmosphere everywhere from the Minis on a Sunday morning to the Men’s Shed on Thursdays and even at our Autumn International Corporate Lunches.
It was there when Johnny Sexton shared a special night for his family and our family at our Back in the AIL Dinner. We heard it when Dan Sheehan requested his old Bective Minis jersey for Goal Jersey Day. We witnessed it over the last 18 months with Oly Foote, our out half, who at 22 years of age left his family, came half way around the world and found his tribe in Bective.
One Club
Another thing that has given me great heart over the last few months is not only to see our ‘one Club’ policy in action but to hear it referenced throughout the club. It is symbolised by our Mini mascots with our Club captain Mattie Gilsenan on home match days and how much it means to them and their parents. It is underlined by the coverage given to every aspect of the club on our social media platforms. It is heard at our Executive Meetings and referenced in our decision making.
Bective can seem chaotic and disjointed at times. Matches, meetings, training, functions, lunches, speeches, trips, and trophies. A lot happening and a lot of moving parts. Visitors and members, volunteers, and professional staff. But when you see it up close and personal, you realise we cannot all be joined at the hips, but we are all pulling in the same direction, we all share the same core values built on mutual recognition and respect.
Under 20’s
Having watched our Under 20’s and all involved, they epitomise to me what Bective is all about. Struggling for numbers they kept the lights on and the humour and positivity flowing. Now with a full squad and some great matches, along with Houdini escapes in Wicklow and Coolmine, they sit top of the table but more importantly they are enjoying their rugby, their pizza, their pints and Bective. Parents on the sideline remark on ‘a great set up’ with ‘a super mix of lads’ ‘loving it’ in ‘a country club in Dublin’. We could not ask for anymore!
AIL
What strikes you when you see the AIL up close and personal is the level of commitment from all involved. Coaches, management, kitmen and players, training, opposition analysis, post-match analysis, individual player analysis, paperwork, logistics, individual requirements, team requirements, training kit, match kit, bandaging. Nothing is left to chance and everything is professionally done. Away matches see the bus leave at 9.30am and back by 8pm. Pit stops for coffee on the way down and beer on the way back. There is singing, camaraderie and quiet. Supporters appear from nowhere and everywhere, with Granny Phil a constant. The Comms team share every moment and live every moment. We are doing ourselves proud at this level and holding our own for a top 4 playoff. Bective are not just about the 1st Team, but they are our flagship, our talking point, our rallying point and they are doing us proud.
The Future and Sustainability
The reaction from members and visitors alike to our clubhouse refurbishment has been very positive and is a credit to all involved. It has bred new life into our club, acts as a rallying call for our members and plays an important role as both our shop window and our home. Led by our Executive, I see a mountain of work going on behind the scenes to ensure Bective’s financial future is secure. While all proceeds from the sale of our grounds in Glenamuck will be ringfenced for investment and future capital projects our day-to-day expenditure is largely governed by our membership subscriptions, our Your Club Your Country Draw ticket sales, match day raffles, club and general sponsorship, and our Corporate Lunches. This is a never-ending treadmill but one that is borne by our generous members and the hard graft of our willing volunteers. We all know that there is no easy way out on this, as income has to match expenditure for Bective to continue to be successful.
But in true Bective fashion, we are not just about physical and financial resources, Bective is about family and player welfare, which are a key piece of the who we are. With this in mind, our latest working Group within the club is our ‘Player Welfare Group’ whose brief is to provide comprehensive support and development opportunities to players. This group is getting particularly good feedback within the club and it demonstrates the value and the love that Bective has for all of our players and members.
The last few months have shown me that Bective is in a good place. We are following our roadmap, our dream. This is a well thought out journey, the route may change but we will adapt and I am confident we will not stray off course. Bective is about people, Bective is about family. Our gate is always open and our fire is always lit. We are a rugby club who happens to be in Dublin 4, rather than a Dublin 4 rugby club. We love honest decent people and if they are a bit quirky all the better.
I wish all you all a peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year. I thank all our members, players, volunteers, and professional staff for all your efforts - we would not be here without you. And last but certainly not least, I send our love to our injured players and their families at this special time, your wellbeing is very important to all of us.
Our dream is a shared dream.
Roll on 2026!
Jimmy White
President Bective Rangers F.C.
