Minutes of the BSCFC Annual General Meeting (AGM)
held at Woodside Park 19th May 2016
Attendees
U8 – Tim HancockU12 Rovers - Graham Fisher / U16 EJA – Ivan Gill
Girls - Lee Dossitter / U16 Town – Caroline Rutherford
U13 United – Mark Lee
U14 Town - Dai Davies
U14 United – Mark Amos
U14 United – Andy Pulford / Grant Hegley
Girls/Ladies – Mark Hargrave / Nicola Moylette
U15 EJA - Morgan LaForce / Tim Moylette
U15 Utd – Paul Douglas / Steve King
U15 Utd – Richard Cahill / Mark Warwick
U16 Rovers - Simon McDermott / Ivan Gill
U17 Saints - Brian Nichol / Ray Greenwood
U15 Rovers – Nigel Pledger / Mark Warwick
U15 Rovers – Andrew Hardie
U18 Girls – Andrew Pawsie / Helena Wilkinson – Price Bailey
- Apologies for absence received
- The minutes of the AGM held on 14th May 2015 were proposed as a true record by Morgan LaForce and seconded by Tim Moylette.
- Following discussions, the resolution in relation to the transfer of the assetsand liabilities from BSCFC to BSCFC Limited was agreed following a vote of those present. This was unanimous save for one abstention.
- Chairman’s Report – Grant Hegley
It only seemed like yesterday that I was elected Chairman of BSCFC.
This time last year in my opening address, I stated my aim was to continue with developing the Club both on and off the field.
I commented then, that it appeared some of the challenges that face us as a Club that’s run by volunteers are huge and having been in the position as your Chairman for a year I was right the tests that we are encountering are just that – very difficult!
Having said that I think we have taken some huge strides and have achieved some notable successes both on and off the field.
On the field the Club is indebted to our Head Coach, Tim Moylette and his Lead Coaches for the Playing and Coaching philosophy they have introduced to the Club and developed over the last year or so.
During the season we have enjoyed 4 Coach Education sessions, one of these was led by Ross Embleton now the First Team Coach at League 1 Swindon Town. With the Club developing ever strengthening ties with the Herts FA another session was led by Jody Caudwell the Regional Coach Developer for the FA. We also have the invaluable support and Club Mentor advice from Martin Tritton of the FA.
It’s hugely satisfying to note that we have over 70 qualified managers and coaches with a FA Level 1 qualification and above, with 2 of those coaches Tim and Steve Castle both having an “A” license, you will appreciate not many, if any, Clubs at our level can boast that. I know at the FA Community Club Meeting I regularly attend, many of the Clubs that are there, are envious of our Coaching Team!
I'm sure this is one of the reasons the Club has over this season been invited to attend coaching sessions at Premier League sides Tottenham, West Ham and Watford as well as League 2 Stevenage. Moving forwards the Club will continue to explore links that will be beneficial to our Players, Managers and Coaches.
I would add this may be the explanation as to why we have many players wishing to join us at all levels for next season, including at Under 7 level, the lifeblood of the Club.
Turning to Match Days – firstly our Managers and Coaches now all look the part with their Manager’s kit. Could I suggest when we are on any coaching, first aid, welfare course etc where we are representing the Club - can we all wear the polo shirt provided - it does create a good impression.
Now to the Sections of the Club and the Teams –
Ladies first
This season there were 6 girls teams (u12,u13,u14,u15,u16 & u18) and the ladies team.
The ladies finished a very respectable 4th in the Beds &Herts Division 1 after being promoted the season before.
TheU18 had a fantastic season winning the league with a couple game to spare and finishing runners up in the cup.
TheU15 finished 2nd in the league and were also runners up in the cup.
TheU14 won the 9 a side league.
The other teams finished a veryrespectablemid table.
In respect of our Disabled Section as I understand it, they have all really enjoyed their involvement in football and they are a vital part of our Community projects co-funded with support from the Football Conference as a result of our association with BSFC. Thank you to Ray Greenwood and Alan Hazell for their efforts here
Our 2 Veteran sides, again as I understand, have had enjoyable seasons. Thankfully, all the Players are all in one piece including Chris Ball who suffered a heart attack during one fixture and due to the quick thinking of his team mates, the assistance of the Grange Paddocks Leisure Center staff, the use of a defibrillator and the skill of the paramedics/air ambulance personnel who attended the scene, he managed a swift recovery and even a return to playing by the end of the season! Our sincere thanks go to those people who saved Chris’s life.
We’ve all done the First Aid course and hope we would never have to use what we learn…. but they did on that day…
We continue to support BS Futsal Club aka Kevan Miles in the Sports Hall at Birchwood.
Turning to the Boys Section there are so many teams and whilst we try to treat each team equally here are a few special mentions as it’s not unnatural to celebrate success on the field:-
Troy Mead’s U16 EJA side who won possibly the most difficult of Leagues – the London Section of the Eastern Junior Alliance, they were presented with their trophy at half time in front of the crowd for a recent BSFC match.
Morgan La Force’s U15 EJA side who won the Herts County Cup for the 2nd Year running.
Tom Gardner’s U12 Athletic side who won their League Cup..
Steve Castle’s U 11 Town side who won their League.
For the second season running Nigel Pledger’s U15 Rovers side brought back silverware and won their League Cup.
Ian Dean’s U17 Rangers side who won their League Cup.
Apologies if I have missed any side out from the role of honour…but the website is not always updated – more on that later.
Finally on the PLAYING SIDE many congratulations and thanks to all the Players, Managers, Coaches, Parents and Supporters who turn up to play and support the Club week in week out in all weather, without them the Club simply wouldn’t be here.
THANK YOU!
Now turning to off the field.
The Club and I are indebted to your Committee, without them we would simply NOT function as a Club.
They are:-
Nicola Moylette, the Club Secretary and administrator, Alan Hazell the Club Treasurer and many would say the Club Oracle, Morgan La Force the Vice Chairman, Colin Marshall who has the unenviable task of being the Fixtures Secretary, Richard Cahill, Lee Dossitter, Paul Douglas, Ray Greenwood, Steve King, Shaun Mercer, Tim Moylette, John Turner, Mark Warwick and recent additions Caroline Rutherford, Tim Hancock and Ivan Gill and of course the recently retired Derek Bayley. In addition thanks to Gavin Earle for his weekly Match reports to the Herts and Essex Observer, Mark Hargreave for his updates to the website and Tom Gardner for his tweets!
These unpaid volunteers willingly give up their free time to take this Club forward and I'm sure you will all appreciate their efforts.
However I’ve heard through the grapevine questions that get asked, “what is the Committee doing?”
Having been involved on the Committee for a while now I can assure you, we do the very best we can in the limited precious free time we have. Please remember we are NOT paid and we all volunteer for your benefit.
Committee I and am sure all the Club are grateful for your efforts.
THANK YOU!
The Committee’s achievements off the field this year in taking the Club forward.
The vote we have just taken to become a Limited Company has now put us on a professional footing, this will enable us to take the Club forward from a business perspective.
Have no doubt we are a business, we turn over approximately £170k pa.
As such the Club, as many of you will know, now has a small office at 38 Raynham Road BS, where the Secretary, Nicola, works. She reminds me to remind you office hours ONLY! Personally I think all in the Club should respect these wishes and allow her to have her own private and family time and we should only make contact with her, where possible, in office hours – She does of course have 80+ teams and 900 members to deal with..
I mentioned earlier the Website and whilst we had a few early teething problems it is now up and running. However what is extremely disappointing is the lack of input from some of the sides to their team pages. One of the “moans” the Committee hear is the lack of communication from us to you, well it’s a 2 way street, the website is there for you use it. At our regular committee meetings, we comment that it is incredibly disappointing to see some team pages completely untouched.
Moving onwards to next season we will be asking for each team to nominate a Parent (or Player) to update regularly their team page. We, the Committee, simply can’t be expected to know what’s going on with your team. In addition we have asked Caroline Rutherford to assist with our communication to you the Members. Taking the Club forward the more “hits” the Club gets on its website the greater the likelihood we can increase revenue through sponsorship and other avenues. It’s in your hands!
With regards to Sponsorship we are and always have been looking at this area and I'm delighted to say Tim Hancock has volunteered to assist the Club here. I know he has already worked some magic or was it twisted some arms and hopefully he can continue to make significant progress in this vital area.
If anyone has a business or works for a firm that wants to be part of the biggest Community Football Club in the Country please let Tim, myself or any of the Committee know. The Club has very good links with the local press and sponsorship could of course be mutually beneficial…
Finally, but probably the most important part of my report.
Facilities.
A huge bug bear and at times an embarrassment to all when we play at “home”.
Again I have heard comments that state nothing is being done here.
Let me assure you, the New Facilities Committee of Richard Cahill, Alan Hazell, Nicola Moylette, Tom Gardner, Ivan Gill and myself have made huge strides in this area. We have all spent many many hours in meetings and discussions over the last year with various parties – be it landowners, schools, politicians, other Clubs, the FA to name but a few.
Progress is being made and we hope to meet with the FA again in the next month or so to submit a detailed report as to our needs and detailed proposals; hopefully we can then move this on to the next step which is the political level.
In addition and following a recent meeting with the FA they indicated funding may be available to improve our current facility at Friedberg. Nic and I had a meeting there today with a Project Manager who will be making a number of proposals to us and the FA to take this forward and hopefully we may see some improvements before we kick off in September…
As I said at the conclusion of my address last year, the football wheel takes a long while to turn but hopefully you are all beginning to see the Club is moving forward both ON and OFF the field. We are continuing to work on the improvement to the quality of coaching delivered to the players, to improve the facilities we have both in the short and long term and to enhance the structure of the Club to a sound business footing.
Thank you once again to the Committee and ALL Managers for giving up their valuable time to allow the Children of this town and surrounding areas to play the sport they love.
I appreciate your continued support.
- Treasurers Report
In theTreasurers absence, Grant Hegley read out a short report and advised that our reserve accounts remain in credit.
As a post meeting note to the AGM minutes, Treasurer, Alan had proposed and it was agreed at the Committee meeting 16.05.16 that fees for yearly subscriptions remain at £160 for 2016/17.
- Secretaries Report
Fines
A lot of administration fines being incurred by Managers. Repayment of fines to the Club remains a problem.
As from next season, players parents will be contacted directly and failure to pay fines may result in ID cards being removed rendering the player unable to play until the fine is paid.
Registrations
All registrationsneed to be returned to me by 17th June.
Royston Crow forms are available for collection from me tonight.
Mid Herts – we will be able to register electronically from next week, new form will be sent out to all Manager with clear instructions on how to complete. Richard Cahill will be Mid Herts Registration Coordinator. The League will only accept registrations from Richard. Any registrations which are not completed correctly will be returned to the Manager.
Presentations
U7-U14 & Girls Presentations are being held this weekend and the U15 – U18 age groups are being held on Friday 24th June.
Tournament
This year’s tournament is being held on the 2nd/3rd July.
All offers of help for any of these events will be appreciated.
- Confirmation of Officer Appointments & Election of Committee Members for Season 2016/2017
Life Presidents:Mr Derek Bayley/Mr Alan Hazell/Mr Trevor Lloyd/ Mr Sean Murphy/Mr Mark Hargrave/Tim Moylette
Chair:Grant Hegley*
Vice Chair(s):Morgan Laforce*
Honorary Club Secretary:Nicola Moylette*
Honorary Treasurer:Alan Hazell*
Royston Crow & Mid HertsNicola Moylette
League Representative:
EJA League Representative:Morgan Laforce
Greene King League Representative:Tony Gavin
Girls Section Representative:Lee Dossetter
Fixtures Secretary:Colin Marshall
Royston Crow Registration Coordinator:Nicola Moylette
Mid Herts Registration Coordinator: Richard Cahill
Child Welfare Officers:Alan Hazell (11-a-side)
Tim Moylette (Minisoccer)
(Girls)
Coaching Sub-Committee:Tim Moylette / Morgan LaForce / Richard Cahill / Paul Douglas / Colin Harding
New Facilities Committee:Richard Cahill / Nicola Moylette / Grant Hegley / Alan Hazell / Ivan Gill
Fundraising Committee:Nicola Moylette / Tim Hancock / Caroline Rutherford
Parents Representatives:
Managers Representative:
Schools Liaison Officer:Tim Moylette
Charter Standard Representative:Alan Hazell
Facilities Manager:Steve King
Kit / Equipment Manager:Ray Greenwood
* As these positions are elected, the incumbents were appointed as Directors of Bishops Stortford Community Football Club Limited
- AOB
Nothing raised
- The meeting closed at 8:50pm
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