Possibilities for 2 teams to be promoted

Higher... higher...

Good oh.

I wonder how many boardroom aneurysms there'd be if you suggested that sort of percentage churn in the Prem?

They were indeed at the Rams v Lions match and were happy enough to pose for a picture. We tend to let our celebrities shine on the pitch, rather than the sidelines 

As far as I am aware, Rosslyn Park didn’t apply to be considered for the new level 2 so wouldn’t have gone up had they finished top. At least that is my understanding.

Played 8 times and scored two tries, his mum and dad turned up to watch him play for the Lions at Rams and someone on here noted they didn't get many celebrities at their Reading ground lol.

As a Chinnor supporter there have been plusses and minuses to this season.

The obvious minus was the exclusion from the Premiership Cup, which together with the league fixture schedule meant no games for two months from the end of January to the end of March and six weeks from late October to the end of November ( apart from the Not The Prem Cup games against Cambridge ). There was also only three home games until the beginning of December. At least in National One there are games most weeks !

On the pitch the side have performed well above my expectations ( and so far haven't been thrashed by anyone ), but frustratingly a number of matches have been lost by narrow margins. With a bit more luck, or experience, or better game management some of these might have been converted into wins. Maybe next year.......

However, home wins over Doncaster, Bedford and Nottingham, and the draw at Hartpury must go down as great achievements. ( No offence to Caldy and Cambridge, as we had beaten them in National League One ! )

The main plus has been the off-field experience. Lessons had been learnt from some large crowds at the end of last season, so that there have been multiple street-food vendors and 7 bars around the crowd, so you no longer had to wait 30 minutes to get to get a pint !

Chinnor were fortunate that most games have been played in good weather so the lack of a covered stands hasn't been too much of a problem ( the small Meccano covered stand was replaced by an uncovered stand in order to meet the minimum seats requirement ). 

However, Doncaster had the misfortune to play during Storm Darragh, which was the most unpleasant conditions I have ever watched any sporting event, and everyone got drenched. Credit to both teams for the high quality play in abysmal conditions. Bedford were also unlucky in that the pitch hadn't recovered after two weeks of virtually continuous rain, and had to play in a mud-bath ( which favoured our pack and negated their backs - who are no doubt looking for revenge this week in firm conditions ! ), and a torrential shower just before kick-off sent everyone scurrying for cover !

With a combination of a better match-day experience, more active marketing, and more attractive opposition with more traveling support, Chinnor have become the third best supported team in the division, with an average of 1,777, which compares to 1,062 last season and 479 for 2022/23. Nearly a 400% increase over two season !

Talking to some of the crowd, people are coming from a number of the neighbouring towns eg Aylesbury, Wycombe, Oxford, Buckingham, Banbury etc to watch the rugby rather than just from Thame and the surrounding villages. And they are coming back !

As a grumpy old git, one other gripe is the the match-day programme now being online rather than paper, apart from the Not The Prem Match against Cambridge !

I have enjoyed out tilt against some famous names this season, Hopefully it will last for a few more years before we return to National League One ( which is the best league ! ) or lower, but if the expansion to 14 teams leads to a more sensible fixture schedule then perhaps Tier 2 won't be so bad !

FHLH, it is true what you say about Nat 1 and the beauty of a league where anyone can beat anyone every week, cliche as that may be . Interesting that you would rather be back in National 1. I wonder if Chinnor and Caldy supporters would also prefer it. Hope the new look Champ makes it a more enjoyable experience for you next season.

I have always found it equal parts bemusing and impressive how a fully pro side can lose to a part time side and likewise I am in admiration of how any part time side can beat the professional teams, good on them. A strange mix and match of club setups.

I should say well done to Chinnor on their first season up there, they were very impressive during their title-winning season in Nat 1 and I thought they would manage the step up well.