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5th July 2002

Presidential Address

Dear Members,

Following our recent AGM I thought it would be a good time not only to look back, but also to look forward. Last season was a mixed one on the field. It was obviously disappointing to see the 1st XI relegated and I hope that this coming season will see a quick return back to the top flight. There were mixed fortunes with the lower sides with the 3s and under 16s winning their respective divisions. The under 16s were unfortunate to miss out in their AFA Cup Final, as were the 1s and 2s. The 8s also lost their SAL Cup Final, but the 6s did triumph in theirs – Congratulations to all these teams.

I’m sure some of the other sides could have done better if some of our players had been available to play for any of our elevens rather than picking and choosing who they were going to play for. This is something that we will be addressing this coming season.

Hospitality is a key to the success of both our Club and the SAL, and I think some of our older members can take the credit for us being voted for the second season running by the AFA Referees Association as the most hospitable club in the AFA. I hope that some of our less sociable members will make more of an effort in this coming season to improve in this area.

It was unfortunate that we were unable to demonstrate our social skills in France this year, due to a poor response from the Club membership. I am pleased that a small delegation did make the trip to Montreuil-Bellay to fly the flag for the Club and this proved to be very successful. As a result of this trip we intend to kick start our trips next year when it is hoped that they will come and visit us at Easter and we will visit them at Whitsun. A sub committee will be set up and chaired by Dave Rowles, purely to look after affairs regarding CFC and Montreuil-Bellay. A fund has now been set up to help subsidise next year’s trip and the visit of Montreuil-Bellay.

I would like to thank everybody who helped running the Club last season - the General Committee, skippers, managers and of course the tea ladies. Where would we be without them and our dedicated bar staff, Barbara and Emma, Graham and Tracey Polley (who were deservedly awarded the Carshalton Mug for their services last season) and Val Sinclair for her work around the clubhouse. We are indebted to them all for their time and efforts.

As you will see there are some new skippers and new Committee members this season and I would like to wish them every success. I would also ask that every support is given to Tracey Polley as Club Secretary, Tom Stoker as Assistant Treasurer and Trevor Boughton as Team Secretary. These are all very difficult jobs, so your assistance is very important and will be appreciated.

Thanks to Charlie Sinclair for all of his hard work over the years as Bar Manager. I very much appreciate the acceptance of both Rod Woolvin and Dennis Phillpott who have agreed to take over this role for next season (yes, Dennis is back!!). I am also delighted to see Buzz elected to the role of Vice Chairman. I’m sure all of the Club’s new Officers, Managers, Captains and new rules will be displayed on the web site, so I will not go through them again here.

Now all I would ask is that you read them once they are published (before the start of the season) and if you can’t agree to them then this is not the club for you. It will be far easier for us to run 6 sides of paid and committed members than 8 sides carrying and subsidising 20 plus individuals who cause us nothing but problems with unavailability, unpaid membership fees and unpaid fines, all of which you, the paid members, end up subsidising. This can no longer be tolerated and all applications for membership will need to be approved by The Committee.

This is likely to be my penultimate report as Club President, as I now go into my 20th season as a member of the Committee. It’s been both fun and hard work, but it is time for new officers for the Club to come to the fore.

Enjoy your season. If we all pull together, we can continue to make our Club the premier amateur club in the area.

 John Thoroughgood
Club President