FROM herding cows off the pitch just to play a game to watching Rams finish as National One runners-up, Chairman Andy Lynch has seen a lot in more than 40 years at Old Bath Road.

Having played more that 400 games in the No. 2 shirt – including as a first-team regular from 1980-1992 – his first games for Gensians came in 1976, when his Colts team won the Plate at a Reading Abbey tournament (there is a photo of the team on the wall at the club).

Andy continued to play several games a season after 1992 and was even putting in the odd performance up until 2005, but he admitted one of his stand-out memories came very early on.

He joked: “We had to move the cows off the pitch at Chinnor before a Colts game in 1977, and the current Chinnor Chairman was also playing that day.

“Other memories include driving to away games in my Mini Cooper (old shape) with five players and kit on board, winning the Plate in the Veterans 10-a-side competition in Dubai playing with guys I had known for years and opening the clubhouse after the extension was completed in 2014.”

He continued: “In terms of matches, the Berkshire cup final which we lost to Maidenhead and playing in the First team with my son Greg stand out.

“I also think of our first game at level 5 away to Cleve. I was on the bench and it really felt as though we had arrived in the big time.”

During his time on the field Andy played with hundreds of teammates, but he has a particular fondness for the early part of his career.

He revealed: “In the early 80’s we had the best front row I can recall. Julian Eames at loosehead, me at hooker and Graham Smith at tighthead.

“We were also the County front row in the days when playing county rugby was the only way to measure your ability on a bigger stage.”

Reflecting on how the club has changed since he began, Andy concluded while almost everything has progressed, there are some things which stay the same.

He said: “We are a much more professionally run outfit now, with the minis, juniors and ladies making up a much bigger club, but the values I earned as a young man still apply.

“The club was always dependant upon willing volunteers and that is still the case now.”

And looking to the future, he hopes to keep marching forwards, finishing: “We are installing floodlights and a new stand which will transform the spectator experience at OBR.

“I expect the Rams Academy to expand into further local schools and I would love to see us regularly getting gates of 1,000 plus as we engage with the local community as the premier club in the Thames Valley. Next stop – the Championship!”

Rest of the calendar

(1) - Jez Flynn