Lymm RFC v Hull Ionians RFC – Saturday 26th April 2025

As ever, it gives me enormous pleasure to welcome you to Beechwood for our 26^th (and final) league fixture of the season. I would also like to extend an exceedingly warm welcome to our visitors today, Hull Ionians RUFC.

Many of you will have read about the sad passing of the Pope Francis, who died following a stroke aged 88 on Easter Monday. Some of you may also have seen that the Pope’s death was (it is said) foreseen by Michel de Nostredame a French astrologer, apothecary and physician who is best known for his book Les Prophéties a collection of 942 poetic quatrains allegedly predicting future events, including the rise of Adolf Hitler, the shooting of President John F Kennedy and the start of the Covid pandemic. The Quatrain being referred to in the context of Pope Francis’ death reads:

“Through the death of a very old Pontiff / A Roman of good age will be elected / Of him it will be said that he weakens his seat / But long will he sit and in mordant activity”

Eerie stuff indeed but it made me dig out an old book from the garage called The Prophecies of Nostradamus to see what else I could find that appeared (vaguely) true and I came across the following quatrains which may ring bells with the Lymm faithful:

Century XXI, Quatrain XXIV – Eleven moons without the taste of blight,
The warriors in green, black and white arrayed,
Struck foes with rhythm, fury, and light,
A run of triumphs in legend now laid.

Quatrain XXV – Behold the streak! A golden thread through fate,
From autumn’s gold to winter’s cold breath.
Ten and one they carved through heaven’s gate,
Leaving giants scattered, their faces bereft.

Quatrain XXVI – A third they stand on the ladder of war,
The crest of glory just two rungs above.
Their banner flew where never it had flown before,
Their hearts beat loud with brotherhood and love.

Quatrain XXVII – Along the verdant fields they strode,
Technique refined, the passion pure,
In unity, their spirits glowed
Through grit and will, their path was sure.

Quatrain XXVIII – But not all battles were they to claim,

Seven times the winds turned,
Losses came, but there was no shame,
After every fall, their strength returned.

Quatrain XXIX – Not kings, but knights of proud renown,
Their quest not done, nor yet begun.
The prophecy whispers in distant town—
Lymm shall rise again ‘fore the setting sun.

It has been a remarkable season for the Club – the achievements of the 1^st team have been well publicised but the 2^nd and 3^{rd XVs} XVs have also had brilliant campaigns.  The Junior Colts got to the semi-finals of the Cheshire Cup (which will motivate them to go 1 step further next season) and the Senior Colts are in the Final of the Cheshire Cup tomorrow, for which we wish them all the best. The M&J teams have also flourished this season. The future of the Club looks bright indeed.

Like Lymm, Ionians have won 2 of their last 5 games and will be looking to end their season in style. The honours have been shared in our last 4 meetings with 2 wins a piece and the average points per game across those fixtures is 22-23 – today’s game promises to be a cracking encounter!

This is my last game as President.  It has been an honour to represent Lymm over the last 2 seasons. Next year, the excellent John Cartwright will be our President and if he has half as much fun as I have had, he’s in for wonderful time!

All that leaves me to say (as usual) is that I wish all the teams, their coaches and support staff, who represent Lymm at every level, from Minis & Juniors up to Senior Rugby the best of luck this weekend.