Attached to this email are the minutes from our AGM. Please read through these as they contain many important points regarding our aims for this season and there are issues raised affecting every member of our club.
We are currently searching for an Under 10s manager for the upcoming season so if you are interested, or are aware of anyone who may be, please get in touch with us regarding the position. It is vital that we are able to continue the good work done with our youth teams over the past few years and continue to strengthen the integration between the youth and senior teams.
Senior training commences Tuesday 16th February at Uxbridge Athletics Track, Gatting Way (off Park Lane), Uxbridge, UB8 1ES. 8pm start each Tuesday and Thursday.
Tony Murphy will continue to manage the senior team this year and we hope we can build further onto last year's success.
Saturday 27th February we hold a fundraiser / presentation night in Ye Olde Crowne. Thanks to Kefo Projects who are sponsoring our new kit and Ye Olde Crowne who will be sponsoring new bags.
Discussion, decisions, assignments
Prayer: lead by Denis McCarthy
Welcome and Apologies: Denis McCarthy
Chairman, Denis McCarthy welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for attending. Talked about the fantastic year that 2015 was. Thanks to all including parents and supporters for making it so. Commented on the fantastic integration this year and how great it was to see so many youngsters out in Ruislip supporting the senior team, like in the old days. Proud of the continuity the club has shown in Hayes and commented on the role which 'Ye Olde Crowne' has played in helping the integration between underage and senior teams by virtue of the many events we held there last year. Discussed how successful our inaugural family fun day was back in October and that this is something which the club will be intending to continue with on an annual basis in the coming years. Offered thanks to all sponsors and informed that Paddy Donaghy would discuss this in more detail later.
Apologies were offered for those absent - Aidan Bradshaw, Conor Bradshaw, Sheila Bradshaw, Matt Healy
Secretary's Report: Tadhg Lee
A pleasure to report on the most successful year in the clubs recent history with huge success at underage and with the senior team.
This year our total membership has increased, which included 11 Irish born players transferring into the club, two transferred out (John O'Dowd and Liam O'Keeffe), net 9.
Informed that the targets set at last years AGM (to win promotion in the league and to at least make a Junior championship final) were achieved, although ultimately losing the championship final was very disappointing. The senior team contested all 4 finals available to them, winning the McArdle Cup and League Division 3. Need to continue to attract new players. As ever, we are heavily reliable on our home grown talent. A London born player played in every line on the field in the Junior final and very proud to have 3 of these players on the London panel. Very few clubs represented on London Senior team this year so very privileged as a Junior club to have 3 on the extended panel.
Thanked players for fantastic commitment in 2015 and Tony Murphy for his dedication and professionalism as manager and felt that the manager's professionalism was instrumental in seeing a phenomenal effort from the players.
Thanked all officers, mentors and committee members who worked tirelessly to make 40th anniversary year so memorable.
Special mention to Paddy Donaghy for all the sponsorship accrued during the year, helping senior team to 'look the part' on arrival at matches.
Thanks to Matt Healy and Padraig Donegan for their work as PRO and Registrar. Thanked John Collins for his work with the website and echo and Claire Delaney for all her design work for the dinner dance and other advertisements throughout the year.
Dinner dance an outstanding success. For a small club to bring 230 guests to the crown was a huge achievement and proves what the club means to so many people. Special thanks to the social committee for organising such a memorable night.
Another successful golf day this year. Marie to discuss in more detail.
Added that new London Chairman John Lacey insistent that clubs hold AGM's prior to London Congress in December so will need to hold another AGM before the end of November again this year.
Treasurer's Report: Marie Hession
Treasurer, Marie Hession, distributed a copy of club finances detailing income and expenditure for 2015 to all members present.
Thanked Jacinta Buckley for all her logistical help throughout the year, especially at fundraising events.
Read through the Club accounts which she had prepared and with the various in's and out's the club is in a healthy position with a bank balance just under £11,000.
Informed that for the first time we had sold more than the 20 compulsory tickets we are required to purchase for the County Board draw. 23 sold for 2016. Gerry Lynott won top prize of £1000 in January.
This year's golf day was the most successful ever making a profit of £5,678. 2015 saw the most ever collected in club membership.
Went through the rest of the accounts in detail.
On behalf of himself and Karen, Pat Lynott thanked club for wedding gift received.
Sponsorship Report: Paddy Donaghy
Paddy informed that the senior team will have a new kit for this year sponsored by Kefo (Colin Keane).
New bags are being sponsored by Gillian at Ye Olde Crowne.
Regarding the golf day, Paddy advised that all members, especially players, a lot of whom work in construction, to make a huge effort to acquire hole sponsorship, citing St Gabriels hurling club that had made £27,000 on their golf day.
Also requested players to make known any dates known of when multiple players would be away. Ireland being in Euro 2016 likely to mean some players away attending matches but felt that this would be an issue for all clubs. Felt that this highlighted the need to attract more players.
Bill Callaghan informed that the new London Chairman will be strict on dates and fixtures.
Sean Killeen asked if a date had been set yet for the golf day to which Paddy and Denis replied that a date has yet to be confirmed.
Tadhg Lee suggested a profit of £10,000 from the day as a realistic target.
Election of New Committee
Chairman Denis McCarthy chaired the election. Prior to AGM, no nominations other than incumbents received by Secretary. In advance Colm and Theresa Lynott had notifed their stepping down as youth officer/delegate and Child Protection Officer respectively. Theresa had also informed of her intention to step down from being a member of the social committee.
The committee was elected as follows:
Chairman - Denis McCarthy
Vice Chairman - Paddy Donaghy
Secretary - Tadhg Lee
Assistant Secretary - Aidan Donaghy
Treasurer - Marie Hession
Assistant Treasurer - Jacinta Buckley
Registrar - Padraig Donegan
Child Protection Officer - Marie Hession
Youth Officer/delegate - Martin Hession/Tadhg Lee
County Board Delegate - Bill Callaghan
PRO - Matthew Healy
Colm Lynott thanked social committee for their efforts with the Dinner Dance describing it as one of the best events in the club's history.
Tadhg Lee asked Theresa Lynott to reconsider her decision to step down from the social committee and confirmed that social committee would be finalised in the coming weeks.
Fundraising and membership
Paddy Donaghy informed details of this year's membership which is £30 for adults and £25 for underage players and their families.
Senior players will receive their new bag upon payment of membership.
Denis reminded of the potential for members to buy seats in the new stand in Ruislip and might be a nice way for families to leave a legacy of their involvement with St Clarets and GAA.
Golf day discussed in detail earlier
3 key targets
Read out by Tadhg Lee.
1. Underage
In the coming years to have underage teams competing in every age group and to grow the girls team.
Advised that an under 10s manager is required for this year.
Anyone looking to be involved in underage teams needs to be DBS certified and have completed safeguarding qualifications. Contact Tadhg for forms. Foundation coaching course taking place in Greenford on Saturday 20th February. Martin, Marie and Denis have been doing trojan work at underage but they will not be enough to sustain the underage set up in the coming years. Imperative that new coaches and mentors come forward to ensure teams at all age groups.
2. Senior team
To work hard to attract new players from Ireland.
Secretary declared we offer an excellent product as a club and incumbent on all members to promote the club so as to grow our membership.
Posters designed by Claire Delaney and John Collins to this effect have been forwarded onto all players and have been put on all our social network areas.
3. Development
Securing our own 'home' with changing room facilities and our own pitch.
Secretary informed that a tenancy lease application has been submitted to Hillingdon Council and is due to go before a panel for approval in February or March. Tadhg thanked John Kelly for his hard work in initiating this process and for preparing drawings, documentation etc. John Kelly subsequently thanked Brendan Sherry for all his assistance with the process also. Tadhg thanked Marie Hession for supplying all financial details requested by the Council.
Informed that we are looking to lease a plot of land adjacent to the Rugby club building between it and the road, Kingshill Avenue. This space has been zoned for sports related activities so we are intending to build our own changing rooms on this plot. The drawings show a structure containing 4 changing rooms, a referee's room, a meeting room and kitchen space.
Until funds are gathered to make this a reality, temporary porta cabins can be used as changing rooms on the site which would be connected up to utilities. These cannot be installed until the council has approved the lease.
If application successful, the club will need to set up a distinct 'development fundraising committee' that will look at raising fund for the development only and will be completely separate to the fundraising events we conduct to help with the ordinary running of the club. Informed that John Kelly, with his level of expertise in this field, had been asked to sit on this committee to which he had agreed. Tadhg Lee proposed Paddy Donaghy to chair this committee and that assuming approval given, that he and John put a committee together. Tadhg advised this would be a project for which the club would welcome involvement from senior players given their expertise and experience within construction.
4 trustees for the development are: Denis McCarthy, Paddy Donaghy, Colin Keane and Tadhg Lee.
Concluded by stating that we are a great family based club with a great product and having a home of our own we see as the next step in growing the club over the next couple of years.
Team matters
Tadhg informed that following the Irish Guards affiliation to London GAA, the club had made an application to play in the Intermediate football championship in 2016. This was rejected by the CCC despite widespread support from other clubs. We will play in Junior championship again this year. Likely to be 10 teams competing with Fr Murphy's looking to reinstate their football team after a decade's absence.
Proposal passed at January's county board meeting that if 9 teams compete in the Junior championship this year, both junior finalists will be promoted next year. Unclear what the situation will be if 10 teams compete.
Following promotion we will now play in division 2 in the league. We will be the only Junior club in this division, all others being intermediate with one senior. Senior club is Garryowen who we beat twice this year so nothing to fear. Great advantage to be playing in higher league division in preparation for the championship.
Tadhg informed that Tony Murphy had agreed to manage the team again for 2016 and wished him the best of luck. Applause from the floor. Tadhg stated that although it is for Tony and his management to set targets for the upcoming year, endeavouring to win the Junior championship and preserve our status in division 2 would certainly be priorities.
Informed that the County Board have made known that there will be a big crackdown on gum shields this year and so imperative that all players wear them for the duration of games. No gum shield, no insurance.
Loss of earnings injury scheme pay-out going from £200 a week to £300 a week after the first two weeks out of work.
Is coming in that all managers of adult teams will need to have completed a level 1 coaching course. Tadhg advised that this will be difficult to police but that as a club we should look to getting people qualified in this regard so that we don't come a cropper in future years.
The possibility of running a reserve team had been mentioned in the off period as a way of keeping fringe players involved who cannot commit to training each week due to work or college commitments. Tadhg reassured that no matter what happened, the senior team would always be the main priority.
Tadhg invited Tony Murphy to say a few words as senior manager.
Tony thanked the players and stated, with regard to a possible reserve team, that he had huge respect for all those who trained in large numbers this year, especially those who didn't receive much game time and remarked that it takes even greater commitment to do this knowing you might not be picked on the starting 15. Felt that pursuing the home grown team was more beneficial as opposed to a reserve team.
Pat Lynott made the point that it would be probably too much too soon and that it might be a bit hasty following on from one successful year for the senior team.
Tadhg then asked Martin Hession to give an update on underage teams and matters.
Martin informed that there were 30-40 kids training each Wednesday night last year with under 10s, 12s, 14s and the girl's team. The under 14s won their division in the league and their section of the ABC. Similarly, the 12s won their section of the ABC and a tournament hosted by Parnells.
Martin stated we have great kids with great parents. Stated that we require an under 10s manager and to contact him in the coming weeks if anyone would like to become involved. Informed that the future is bright with some superbly talented footballers who are hot on the heels of Shane and Alfie.
Girl's team are growing strongly and competing well.
Thanked the social committee for assistance with the fantastic day that was the youth day and that this will be going in the calendar again for this year.
Colm Lynott thanked Martin, Marie and Denis sincerely for their great work with the underage. Advised new people need to get involved, encouraging people to do so and mentioned the pride and enjoyment there is from seeing these budding footballers progress. Tadhg mentioned that Martin, Marie and Denis will be doing some indoor training prior to the clocks changing at either a sports centre in Hayes or at Douay Martyrs school. Lloyd Colfer (development officer) coming into Douay Martyrs each Monday afternoon until Easter to run coaching sessions for an hour. St Clarets players attending the school have been notified to attend.
Paddy Donaghy informed that senior training will be starting back on Tuesday 16tn February at Uxbridge Athletics track.
Pat Lynott has negotiated a discounted rate and has booked us up to the end of March to use 1/3 of the 3 pitch from 8-9pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Billy Callaghan enquired as to the possibility of acquiring a club physio.
Sean Killeen stated that students studying physiotherapy have to do a certain number of hours as part of their course and that this should be an avenue which we explore.
Paddy Donaghy told that Brunel have forbidden us from doing this in the past.
Pat Lynott stated that the contents of our medical bag had been poor and after quoting £80 as a price which Wes could put one together for, Tony Murphy informed that he can get the requisite contents for free.
Any other business
Aidan Donaghy requested that All-Ireland tickets are a perk and so should be made available to club members.
Pat Lynott requested that All-Ireland tickets do not go outside the club.
Paddy Donaghy informed that an error was made this year due to a breakdown in communication.
Tadhg Lee assured that mistakes made this year would not be repeated and that tickets will always remain in the club from now on.
Denis McCarthy closed the AGM with a prayer.
Tweet