So close.
Saturday was an occasion we, and we’re sure you, will never forget as we stretched the fabric of the North all over rugby’s HQ. This was the day the North rose up and, despite the resultgoing against us, the sea of blue that greeted the lads at Twickenham was extraordinary.
But it wasn’t surprising. You’ve been there for Alex and the lads every step of this amazing season and we knew you’d step it up again when it came to the biggest game for our club in 17 years.
As we reflect on an incredible season that saw us reach a Premiership final, we want to say a massive thank you to every single one of our men’s, women’s and academy players, our rugby staff, our commercial team, the Sale Sharks Foundation and our volunteers, who have made all of this possible.
Of course, we also owe you – our loyal supporters – a huge thank you too. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support. This club is special and we’re determined keep building it and for it to become a Northern powerhouse and we need your continued support. This season, we’ve seen record crowds at the AJ Bell and the atmosphere you created at the semi-final against Leicester was the blueprint for what we want every week next season!
The transition the club has been through this last two years, both on and off the pitch, has been remarkable. There is so much hard work happening behind the scenes at Carrington to create a culture of togetherness.
On the pitch, the performances and cohesion you can see within the team are products of that togetherness. Alex’s coaching philosophy, the commitment of all the players and back-room staff to the club and to the vision has brought us to where we find ourselves today: so close to becoming Premiership champions.
We’d like to give a particular mention to our departing players – Ewan Ashman, Matt Postlethwaite, Kieran Wilkinson, Jason Woodward, Ryan Mills, Ben Carlile, Elliot Gourlay, Dom Barrow – all of whom we would have liked to have kept if we could, but with the limitations of the salary cap, it forced some tough decisions. So, thank you, lads!
And a special thank you to our retiring players – Jono Ross, Will Cliff andByron McGuigan – who hang up their boots after incredible service to the club.
Off the pitch, our commercial team has been focused on raising the club’s profile to build our fanbase and sponsorship portfolio across the men’s and women’s games, improving the matchday experience and impacting local schools and grassroots clubs. We’d also like to thank our sponsors, who not only help support our club, but also share our vision and values, and are a crucial part of what we’re trying to achieve here.
The commitment to our women’s game has really come to the forefront this season. Thank you to everyone who has supported our Northern Rugby Matters campaign; not only did that secure our place in the Premier 15s, but also raised the profile of the women’s game in our region and hopefully helped young girls see there is a pathway to being a rugby player here in the North West.
We love this club and we could not be prouder of the team. You have our commitment as owners that we will always be here to support Sale Sharks, and together with you, we will use this platform as a springboard to become a consistent force in the Premiership and Europe!
So, enjoy your summer, and then get ready to do it all over again next year.
Simon, Michelle & Ged.
