The main challenges for the Club are lack of football teams and lack of finance to run the club and to pay off the debt that is owned.

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Doreen Armstrong
5 years ago
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1 2012 AGM Address We are behind schedule on our AGMs by holding in the middle of July. I would like to welcome everyone to the Club this evening, where we can provide an overview of the challenges and challenges that are facing us. This will be the first of two AGM this year. The majority of tonight meeting will cover the period of Nov 2010 to October It s sad to see such a poor turnout for such an important meeting. The main challenges for the Club are lack of football teams and lack of finance to run the club and to pay off the debt that is owned. Addressing the football side we have failed despite numerous efforts to kick start our juvenile sections, indeed in the past 18 months we have printed nearly 20,000 flyers and over 4,000 copies of the club newsletter. Sad to say that very few if any of these made it outside of these walls. There is a tendency within that everything will happen by the select few and that once we have teams in place the kids will join. This is not the case. In order to build our juvenile section we need to have committed mentors and managers in place in advance. Thus allowing the Club to promote the teams and appeal to the kids to join. People need to be able to work on their initiatives and come with ideas and plans to the Club. If we are to exceed over the coming years we need to be in place the backroom teams over the coming months before the start of the new season in January (2013) At adult level we invested in the set up with mixed results. Taking feedback from last year that the gap between seasons was too long, we put in place a detailed six week bootcamp in Nov / Dec. Only for the supplier of the Bootcamp to tell me it s neither worth his while nor the Club expense given the poor numbers. I would like to thank on behalf of the Club the work that PJ done during the 2011 season and for the work that Ryaner is currently doing this year (2012) the scarifies that are made to run a adult team

2 is significant and show true commitment from these members. And for the assistance that is provided to them by George, Barney, Melly, Tucker, John Joe and everyone that digs out. We employ a well qualified and educated trainer since Jan to help the management again numbers are low and the benefit to the Club is questionable as the team are not getting the maximum return from the training session. The cost of providing such resources need to met both all parties, the Club and the Team. Personally I provided a loan to the Club in 2011 to help with the day to day operations. (Refer to accounts section later). A number of players decided to leave for pastures new in 2012 as some had done in 2011 and we wish them the very best. Discipline continues to be a challenge within the team and this need to improve so the reputation of the Club allows for new players and indeed mentors to join. In addition the belief that the Club can pay for everything without a contribution from the players needs to change. It s not possible for the Club to pay for everything or cover every single physio bill that comes in. The Club are covering costs for the players that no other Club does and no doubt is against the rules of the Dublin County Board. Thus only in the case of a serious accident will the severity of the situation become clear to all. On the Clubhouse side of the business. We are really struggling to survive our outgoings far exceed the income we have. We have tried and failed to keep expenses down with the exception of the purchases and wages that run the bar. For example our heating bill after only six months is twice as much as the entire period of Our water rates continue to rise and electricity is in much the same. I would like to pay personal thanks to Adam Thomas for the commitment and effort he put into running the bar over the years and I wish him the very best on his new life down

3 under. We are also grateful that Adam Whorisky has accepted the role as bar manager and his attention to detail will benefit the Club over the coming years. In relation to our dealings with Bank of Scotland who provide our long term loan. A number of initiatives where proposed back in first half of 2011 however due to lack of volunteer s only one item was implemented last year and that was a scrap metal day. Even though we made money it goes no where near the amount we need. The monster draw idea didn t get off the ground last summer which was a shame as it s a draw of this level that we need, so we can go back to the Bank with a real take it or leave it offer. This year we ran with the idea of a fundraiser under the banner of who wants to be a thousand air but we had to change mid way through given the poor take up on the sponsors and advertising. We held a very successful race back in June and we where able to raise around 5k, of which a small amount is due in. I would like to thank the task force who worked hard on making the event a success. Our situation currently is that we are paying a minimal amount each month but we are not reducing the amount due, indeed it is going in the opposite direction. Our current finances do not allow for any change in this approach. And we need to sit down with various Club parties and propose a strategy that the Bank will accept before the end of October this year, in order to allow us to grow and plan our business. The current mindset of the Club staying within Swords for fundraising activities needs to broaden if we are to raise funds to provide something serious for the bank to consider. The input from the Trustees varies and often only when it relates to critical situations. We have three trustees that are remote from the day to day reality checks of the Club and this places additional workload when outlining how the day to day operations. In relation to the support we get from the Dublin County Board I would like to personal thank John Costello for his accommodating manner towards us, without his help and support the Club would not be in existence today. We need exceptional well with All

4 Ireland Final Tickets and I would like to point out its very challenging to arrange times and payments for these tickets during the working day. Everyone who got tickets for the Finals where those who supported the Club, only a very small percentage of people didn t get tickets but you can t provide what you don t have. You always have those that like to complain. Yet I am not sure they know where the Club is! Membership continues to be a struggle and without a small task force of volunteers to help us implement the payment it will continue to be. Membership should be payable between Jan and March each year. Thus a short window for any task force to accept. Our annual golf outing in memory of Liam was held last week and overall was a great success. Although I would appeal to teams who pull out to notify the Club earlier as costs are confirmed well in advance and we have to pay regardless. In addition the event is run by the Club and thus the charge on the poster is the charge that each team needs to pay. We have to cover cost of green fees, prizes, food and staff and it adds up. Regardless as to where we play we can t reduce the price because someone is a member or someone isn t coming back to the Club afterwards. There are always exceptional cases but last week we had three of which one was exceptional. Out Lotto scheme is a main source of income to help keep the Club afloat. Currently we are looking at ways of expanding the options open for purchasing of envelopes. At present we decided to have two draws thus allowing for greater chance for the lotto to be won. Thanks to Ivor, Nealor, Melly and everyone who supports the scheme. On a sadder note we where all sadden by the death of our President Mick Joyce back in December. A true gentleman who had the up most respect for the Club in which in presided over. The Club is a lesser place now with his loss. From a personal level the past 18 months since our last AGM have involved significant amount of hours working on the Club. The majority of which is often not visible. To such an extend that it becomes more and more difficult to enjoy the role. A feeling

5 within the Club that the Chairman does everything is the wrong approach to have. Given my family situation I feel the time is now right that a new Chairman and Committee are put in place, in order to drive the Club forward to the new level. However given the take up of interest prior the AGM, it isn t right to walk away without having the proper replacements in situ. Our AGMs should take place each November in line with our Club accounts and in order to move back in line with our Constitution requirements. I would propose that over the coming months a new Committee is form and is in place for the AGM in November. Ends..

3. Status of Rules These rules (the Club Rules ) form a binding agreement between each member of the Club.

3. Status of Rules These rules (the Club Rules ) form a binding agreement between each member of the Club. Club Rules and Constitution: 1. Name The club shall be named NORTHALLERTON JUNIORS F C. Incorporating Northallerton Mini Soccer Academy & Northallerton Town Academy. 2. Objects The objects of the Club