2011 was an eventful year both for me and for Taunton Rugby Football Club, with which I am forging an association.

“It is difficult to say what is impossible, for the dream of yesterday is the hope of today and the reality of tomorrow.” – Robert H Goddard

The evening of 4th November impacted hugely on both the club and myself personally. The tragic enormity of the incident, its horrific consequence, and lingering fall out serve as a dark cloud to numb the senses, stall the thought process, and abruptly halt the development plans forming around Taunton Rugby Football Club.

The immensity of the incident remains, as do our thoughts and sympathies for those intimately affected, but with the dawn of a new year comes the reality of a new challenge and a new opportunity to pick up the pieces and move on.

For some time, together with my creative partner David Webber and others, I have been shaping the outline of an initiative which Webber and I tentatively named Dare To Dream.

Dare to Dream is an expression, a title that embodies a major two to five year initiative for Taunton 1st XV.

Dare to Dream embodies a challenge that is not easy to meet. It identifies a demanding and tough route to follow, but it is the level of said challenge, the difficulty and exigency that makes the initiative so appealing and attractive to an ambitious club and its equally ambitious sportsmen.

Taunton RFC do not need to take up the challenge, but if the pursuits of excellence for our club and our leading players are more attractive than mediocrity, then it is a challenge we need to meet face on.

Undoubtedly Taunton 1st XV has achieved big things in recent years, and moving to the fabulous Hyde Park ground was a benchmark achievement in the history of the club. A wonderful new facility, now encompassing multiple bars, meeting and conference facilities.

Top drawer changing rooms, three full pitches and floodlights together with an all seated main stand. It was the fulfilment of the dream of the club fathers who served as stewards in guiding the club from its old ground to the new.

An undefeated 1st XV in 2008-9 was followed by winning 24 of 26 games in 2009-10, completing back-to-back promotions for our senior team. Add to this thriving Youth and social sections and a rugby nirvana begins to appear as a reality for Taunton.

Yes, Taunton has indeed done well. However, the challenge of onwards and upwards; the spur that drives ‘serious’ sportsmen raises the following:

“If what you did yesterday still looks good today; then perhaps you have not done much today!”

The path to promotional glory is no longer as easy as it was. No longer the comforting genial affability of our local Somerset leagues, this is National League rugby. This is now ‘serious stuff’, where many strong teams with ardent advancement intentions of their own stand in our way. Players at this level train to play as opposed to play to train. There is an enormous difference!

This is the world of the semi-professional, a world populated by aging quality players slipping down the ranks from the higher echelon of National League rugby they used to frequent, and bright-eyed aspirants seeking to make the grade straining for the form and ‘X Factor’ that will promote them to stardom, fame and fortune in the big leagues that are the RFU Championship and Premiership.

So Taunton, which way now? Maintain the status quo, possibly consolidating in National 2 South as competitors without harbouring any serious intent to challenge for honours? Or, gird the loins, flare the nostrils, and square the shoulders to reach for the stars?!

Words are cheap when there is no intent to deliver. We can all talk big, but the reality of progressing to National One and upwards to the RFU Championship… Now there’s a challenge few have dared to pursue, and even less to achieve success.

Cecil Duckworth’s Worcester Warriors and Tony Rowes’ Exeter Chiefs are the jewels in the crown of those bold enough to take the challenge. Indeed, only last week Chiefs’ Chief Executive Rowe announced to the world that consolidating in the Premiership is no longer the aim. No, for the Exeter faithful Mr Rowe and his board of Directors have outlined their plans to double the capacity of Sandy Park, develop a new state of the art training facility and move on to build Exeter Chiefs as a legitimate power in European rugby.

Not the stuff of the far less demanding and affable Somerset league; no, the ladder to Premiership rugby has been pulled up to all but the current members and the super rich with driving ambitions and resolve of steel. However, news that Sky Television have extended rugby coverage to embrace the RFU Championship as a second tier of elite level rugby gives light to those with ambition but in the Premiership.

A five year tv deal to screen live Championship games and endow competing clubs with a share in a multi million TV funding pot is enough to stir the ardour and set the heart racing at the possibilities on offer.

Yes, in my opinion Taunton can Dare to Dream! Championship rugby is a lofty aim, but one this club can entertain.

It is neither an easy task nor a short one. It will demand the stamina for a marathon and not a two-season sprint. Furthermore it demands unity of spirit, intent and direction. No room here for dissidence, doubters or fair weather sailors.

Dare to Dream is just the start; it is the turf for the thoroughbred, the inventive and the resilient.

Dare to Dream can be the stuff of legend, the route for the tough, determined and ambitious.

My view remains firm, if the focus is right TRFC can take the challenge with the deep-rooted belief and conviction that we have what it takes to succeed.

I ask everyone reading this to Dare to Dream… Championship rugby is not beyond our reach. Together, as a united organisation and fan base we can turn this dream into reality.