Head of Rugby/Team Dr: 'Lou' Lupoli, Head Coach: Clive Chapman, Assistant Coach: Terry Dight, Team Manager/Sports Masseuse: Rona Higgins, Team Manager/Match Day Manager: Michael Jinks, Video Analyst: Scott Trombley & Colts Coach: Ian Edwards.

The Bees debut match in the GBMT was against Spartans (Midlands) 3rd XV on Saturday, 14 September under the captaincy of Cam Watson (also Club Captain). For a squad that had never played before, the result was impressive, Bees winning 36 – 6. Thereafter, the Bees went on to win 14 out of 16 games before Covid restrictions brought all rugby to an end, with the Bees being at the top of the table at the time on 57 points.

During the season, in February, Club President, Mike Norman sadly died. Mike:

started his long association with club back in 1966, when as a young metallurgy student at Birmingham University, he joined Birmingham RFC.
after he hung up his boots, continued his involvement in making sure that the club ran smoothly & played an active part in the merger with Solihull RFC and became the first Chairman of the newly formed Birmingham & Solihull RFC.
when he stepped down, he was the driving force in the formation of the Dirt-Trackers, a group of merry men and women who turn up come rain or shine on a Tuesday to patch up Portway.

The Club's AGM took place on 16 June 2020 by videoconference facility where:

it was announced Sarah Gaffney had been appointed as Treasurer by the Main Committee, in accordance with its powers, to replace Richard Smith.
the replacement of Richard Smith by Tim Bennett as Director and Mike Norman by Chris Loughran as President was approved.

2020/21 COVID19 RESTRICTIONS

As a result of Government Covid19 restrictions little rugby was played, other than a few friendlies late in the season.

The Club's AGM took place on 23 July 2021 at Portway. The resolution that 'the room currently named ‘The President’s Lounge’ is renamed ‘The Mike Norman Lounge’ in recognition of, and as a lasting memorial to, his outstanding contribution to the Club & its predecessors over many years ...' was passed unanimously.

2021/22 SEASON MIDLANDS 5 WEST (SOUTH)

The senior squad’s coaching & support team consisted of: ‘Lou’ Lupoli, Head of Rugby; Clive Chapman, Head Coach; Michael Jinx, Match Day Manager/Kit Man; Rona Higgins, Team Manager/Sports Masseuse; Terry Dight, Assistant Coach; Ollie Taylor, Skills Coach; Duncan Davis, S&C; Keith Scott, Kicking Coach; Millie Shanley, Physio; & Scott Trombley, Match Day Cameraman.

While the Bees were marking their return to the RFU 'pyramid' in Midlands 5 West (South) (level 10), the Bees' opening match was away in the first round of the North Midlands Vase, where they took on Old Yardleians who played in Midlands 4 West (South) and won 18 - 40. For our Head Coach this match was significant as it ‘proved we could complete very well against higher league opponents both in the scrum & in open play’ & also as it was the senior debut for a number of Colts who established themselves firmly in the starting XV throughout the season.

Another match worthy of note in Clive’s opinion was the ‘must win’ game away at Cannock on 19 February. Cannock lay in second place on 64 points, just 5 points behind the Bees. Clive considers ‘it was a good performance under extreme pressure & it showed we could hang in there during a dog fight of a game’.

Overall, the Bees had an excellent league season winning all their games, where they were not the subject of a ‘walkover’ of which there were four, except the away game against Greyhound RFC in Hereford. The Bees finished top on 103 points out of a possible 110 having scored 923 points & conceded 180.

The ‘icing on the cake’ came with the North Midlands Vase final which took place at Worcester RFC on Sunday, 8 May. The Bees were conceded walkovers in rounds two and three and thus with no further effort were drawn in the final against Aston Old Edwardians RFC, who had finished the season 7th in Midlands 4 West (North). The Bees emerged convincing winners 33 – 18.

After the match Clive announced to the players he would be retiring.

The Club's AGM took place on 14 September 2022. At the meeting it was announced that:

Club President Chris Loughran had taken over the Treasurer role on an interim basis.
The roof on the changing rooms would be replaced, as it was very leaky & seemed to have got worse during the summer’s hot weather.
The Club had been offered, & would take up, a ‘refurbishments to social spaces’ loan by the RFU under a Covid recovery scheme & that the loan would be spent on improving the clubhouse.

2022/23 Counties 3 Midlands West (South)

(Following a RFU review, a new league structure with new designations for the divisions was introduced for the community game.)

The senior squad's coaching & support team consisted of: 'Lou' Lupoli, Head of Rugby; James Panter, Head Coach; Tom Fleming (Forwards Coach); Michael Jinx, Match Day Manager/Kit Man; Rona Higgins, Team Manager/Sports Masseuse; S&C; Keith Scott, Kicking Coach; Millie Shanley, Physio; & Scott Trombley, Match Day Cameraman & Analyst.

In the off-season, Bees managed to recruit 13 new players to their squad with many featuring in the first XV throughout the season.

Following promotion to level 9, Bees started life in Counties 3 Midlands (West) South with an away trip to Stoke Old Boys, a team who had been established at this level, and above, for many years. Bees managed to secure their first win of the season with a 19-27 victory. In James’ words ‘This game was a physical encounter and proved that Bees' young guns could compete with the physicality of this level’.

Overall Bees had a successful season, with the team winning 20 of their 22 matches. The two losses were against Coventrians away &, after securing the league title, Harbury away. In both instances the Bees secured a losing bonus point.

One aspect of the season that was displeasing was seven matches were conceded to the Bees, ‘walkovers’, causing disappointment to fans & players &, in the case of home matches, loss of income to the Club.

The Bees ultimately won the league by 19 points and reaching the quarter finals of the Papa John's Community Cup, losing to the eventual winners Bristol North 17 - 10. Further to this, we saw the resurgence of the Hornets side playing in 5 fixtures through the season.

The most pleasing thing from James’ perspective the season was ‘seeing the players enjoy themselves, grow and become a team on and off the pitch’.

During the season the works announced at the Club's AGM, changing room roof replacement & clubhouse improvements, were completed.

Updated by Jeremy Smith 30 June 2023