We are indebted to our fanbase, but Sandy Park remains closed for now

Tony Rowe OBE (Image: supplied)

Little did we know that when Bath Rugby visited on March 7, 2020 that would be the last time we would see Sandy Park packed to the rafters.

In the year that has followed, all of us have been affected in some shape of form by the global Covid-19 pandemic. None of us could ever have imagined the extent the outbreak would have had, not just to our day-to-day lives, but the strain on families, businesses, finances, as well as our overall well-being.

Recently, though, we saw the start of the latest roadmap out of the current lockdown with schools reopening for pupils and life, seemingly, going back to some kind of normality.

Of course, we will await the outcome of this first phase, before seeing how we move further forward.

Here at Sandy Park, our doors remain closed both to you as supporters and also to our business at large. The financial toll the past 12 months has had will be felt for years to come. However, we remain hopeful that with the roll out of the vaccination, coupled with ever-decreasing infection rates, it will not be long before we see you all again.

The two fixtures in December, albeit with crowds of just 2,000, remain a key highlight of the past year for me – and I’m hopeful that before the end of the season we will once again be able to welcome supporters back through the turnstiles.

As you will have seen, we have already taken the decision to transfer all of our existing Season Ticket Holders through to next season, whilst at the same time opening up our selling arrangements for any new supporters wishing to become a Season Ticket Holder.

As I have said previously, the club are indebted to those many supporters who have stuck with us through these incredibly challenging times. The donations we received – this season and last – have been instrumental in helping us address some of the financial outlay we have had to pay out despite having no real and significant income coming through the business.

We remain confident that as time goes by things will continue to improve as we look to remain a force both on and off the field.

Talking of on-field matters, I have to speak of my delight in the way in which our teams are performing currently. With the men’s side, we left it late at the weekend to overcome visiting Harlequins, whilst Susie Appleby’s women’s team continue to impress having notched up a seventh successive league win away to Wasps Ladies.

With both sides pushing hard at the top end of their respective leagues, plus the return to European action in the Heineken Champions Cup next month with the visit of Lyon, it really is an exciting period of the season for all us here at the Chiefs.

The games will come thick and fast over the coming weeks – so it’s important both our teams make the most of home advantage when they can. As Rob Baxter rightly pointed out only last week, home advantage at any time is a key factor, the only disappointment is that you won’t be here to join us.