CHAIR REPORT – 2023
Normally, at this time of year I scratch out a few bullet points and then a page of looking back knowing that you won’t then have to listen to me drone on at the AGM. Tradition has it that we try to get our end of year administration and presentations before everybody disappears on their jollies. However, with inclement weather and other reasons for cancellations, we’ve got fixtures to play and there would be little point in me waiting these results and then putting my Report up the day before the AGM. So I’ll start by reciting some past results of which we can justly proud.
On first of August we started the year with Rob Field becoming the new steward at the Club and it’s fair to say he has transformed the Clubhouse with new furnishings, lighting and methods designed to attract many audiences in the village. Simply put, if he is successful, then there will be a benefit for the sporting groups of which we number one but are strongly represented on WSSC. Of course, we only use the premises fleetingly during the week but we do try to make sure that the post match get togethers are as good as we can get. Rob very kindly provided the catering for our annual Roy Hillman Christmas lunch which was excellent and well attended. He will also contribute towards the Presentation Evening and we will see where we go from there next season. My thanks go to Pat and Isabel for their match day offerings and preparation of the buffet at our forthcoming Presentation Evening. We wish Rob, his wife and staff much success forthwith.
The Gala Evening at Cadbury last October was a fantastic success and our most financially beneficial to date. Particular thanks go to Nicks, Taplin and Finch for the planning and hard work to make the event so memorable. I also wish to pay tribute to all those who helped to prepare and execute this unique occasion.
You will probably have grown tired of me explaining about the lack of compliance with the FA’s rules on what we have to do for officials these days. It just about falls short of scrubbing their backs in the shower! Of course, we pride ourselves on giving the best hospitality and this includes officials, however they’ve performed on the pitch (!). We decided an extension was the only solution and so, this year, we obtained planning permission for this, approved by the Parish and WSSC, with particular thanks to Nick Taplin and his planner Luke Ford. We’ve had initial discussions about grants and are close to agreeing the internal layout of the buildings. Again thanks to Nick Taplin for his and Jason Eaton’s input and introduction of designer Rebecca Wakeford, whose suggestions have been invaluable. This is a major financial undertaking for the Club but we hope the new facilities will be well received by our players, opponents and officials alike. We also hope the facilities will help the use of the premises by the wider community. Again, well done to all concerned.
What a season it’s been for our players and coaches. Our young guns finished runners up in their league and cup before starting senior football. The vets have enjoyed mixed success but this is a newish venture for us and seems to be gathering momentum. The Reserves have had a lot of bad luck with cancellations and not been able to field a steady side until Rob Davis joined us. Somewhat fortuitously, we are in a cup final and should hold our place in Division 2 of the local district league. We hope to attract some of our juniors to play for us next season but are keenly aware that other clubs would like their talents. Hopefully the attraction of the black and green stripes will be a factor in our favour. Pride and place must of course go to our first team who have battled all year to pull off wins in some epic battles and brought us to the brink of promotion back to Somerset’s Premier Division. Leigh, Sam, Mark and Charlie can be justly proud of their achievements this year whatever happens and well done to all our players.
|Lastly, a few cheers for some behind the scenes personnel without whom the Club simply could not function. I sometimes feel our admin team of John and Simon are joined at the hip these days as
they battle with officialdom on registrations and games often arranged on the hoof to complete our fixtures and get the best deals for hires on match days and training nights. My thanks also go to Sam for his work and advice on pitch maintenance and line marking, his and Simon’s liaison with our other ground staff member, Russell Loud and, in decision making on whether pitches are playable. Yes, we’d love to have a playing surface we can use every week, regardless of the weather but very few clubs are blessed in this way.
My thanks go to Jordan Lovatt for fulfilling the Welfare Officer’s role these past few years we’ve been playing junior football and for Pat qualifying and taking over this last season. All clubs (even if they choose not to play juniors in their senior sides) must have such a person, emphasising the importance of the role within our club. I’m also grateful to Isabel taking over the Treasurer’s role after Alan sadly passed away at the end of last year – how proud he would have been to see his grandsons wearing the black and green. Alan set up our banking system which has helped us to run the club more efficiently and be able to pay our way without constant trips to the Bank. However, the continued smooth running of our accounts is down to regular reconciliations of our bank accounts and, with Simon’s forward planning through spread sheets and records for collections of donations, this makes my job of lodging returns and statements with Companies House and the Charities Commission, very straight forward.
The Club is very grateful to Malcolm Brean and Dave Banwell for securing the lean to cover for holding the tractor implements etc and anchoring the dugouts in and out of season. Thanks also go to Julian Naylor for his sterling work with the donations box. On a good day this covers the referee’s expenses and food costs for a first team home game and therefore very useful. And special thanks go to Keiron White for his fantastic work as an official – we are very fortunate to have a young man who is so very fair minded and conscientious and who receives much praise from referees. Now I’m not sure who is currently responsible for maintaining the web site but, in liaison with John, all I can say is we continue to receive great news and photographs, match reports and player profiles with the backdrop of our new sponsors board. Also, I’m not exactly sure how our editorial team of John and Alan manage to remember so much detail and then get it out so quickly on the web site and in the local rag. In addition, Alan also advises us sagely on all matters insurance and more generally with his vast experience in football.
So what do we have to look forward to? A new changing room, better pitch, new kits, big events, more youth football, filmed matches, a book on the history of the club, a revised menu, after match entertainment( including free beer of course) and even socks without feet! I wish for all of these and when we put our minds to it, the Club can do almost anything– but in the meantime I think we can look back on this past season with a great deal of pride and until August, I wish you all a very happy summer break.
Steve
7th May 2023