SECRETARY’S REPORT 2005

This report is delivered in shortissimo mode.

Players - over 60 of them represented the club (or should it be that they were all over 60?). This must be good for match fee income and widening participation (amongst the elderly).

Members - Lyndon's list shows 42 subscriptions paid, 4 in default of subscription, 8 life members and 2 honorary members totalling 56. Subscriptions are not our largest source of income but the payment of a subscription reflects at least some consistency in availability.

For formality, this meeting needs to resolve to admit all such as club members for the 2005 season.

Out of the honorary members, Howard Hudd's continuing interest in the club continues to be appreciated and thanks as always are due to our President David Bird for the interest in and practical help to the club which he maintained throughout the year.

Full Committee meetings - they were happening fairly regularly until early June. Then I convened one but not enough people turned up and so there was no quorum. I lost heart (my pen) and did not convene any more until October. My fault I am afraid. Will aim to do better if given another go next year.

Management Committee - there were 2 meetings of such. The first approved a remuneration package to be offered to Monty but events overtook it as his visa was refused. The second formalised the 1st XI Vice Captain's appointment to the Captain's position on a permanent basis in place of Monty.

Website - there were 2 such. Steve Pursey did excellently with his. His 3rd XI and junior statistics were complete and so it worked for those teams. For the others, usefulness of the statistics reflected the consistency with which score cards for games were supplied to Steve by the other teams (difficult, admittedly).

The main club site had a mix of material. Very well done to Marvin Straightjacket for keeping this going and to Steve Pursey for ensuring that his team's reports were always posted up. Note that this site is (for example) listed on Google in response to the search request "cricket clubs Bristol" in number 1 position from the 469,000 sites containing those words thrown up by the search. As a result of this, a number of new enquiries from players and touring sides seeking fixtures were received.

That’s it.


Robert Humphreys
Hon. Secretary
31.10.2005





Treasurer's Report 2005 (L.Prendergast)

The first thing to report is this years accounts cover a thirteen-month period.
Although one extra insurance payment has been paid, the major difference from last year’s accounts is the end of season cost of repairs to the square for both 2004 and 2005 have been included.

The cost for a single year’s repair to the square is approximately £400 and this has made a substantial difference to the final expenditure figure.

Match fee income has gone up and this in part is due to less money being outstanding this year and arrears from 2004 season not being in the accrued income column.
Hire games income has risen but this area needs some refining between the fixture secretary and the club groundie.

Unfortunately we were unable to obtain a grant from the Lords Taverners this year and therefore we suffered a drop in this area.

Miscellaneous income came from three main sources, a generous donation from our club president, the Fantasy Cricket Competition and a substantial refund from the VAT man.

The increase in ground/clubhouse expenditure has been explained earlier.
Because we had a number of inaccurate estimated readings, there was a substantial one off electricity bill to pay. Things are back on track, although the large increase in the cost of utilities will have to be closely monitored.

One thing I would like to emphasize is the cost of playing cricket today.

Forgetting the enormous amount of time required preparing the wicket and outfield a number of obvious costs are now appearing. Umpires officiating at our league matches now cost us £20 per match, added to the £20 for match balls for home matches is taking a huge chunk out of match fee income.

The cost for each player at home matches is over £3:50 before any hidden costs are taking into account.

To run a village cricket club of our size has become a very expensive business nowadays so income must reflect this increasing cost.


Lyndon Prendergast
Hon. Treasurer

Chairman’s Report for 2005

After a couple of months of indoor nets we started the season hopefully with rumours of a new fitness and practice regime for the senior players, and 1st X1 captain elect Monty Desai leading by personal example.

Unfortunately, despite immense efforts on the part of our Hon Secretary, Monty was unable to gain a visa to allow him to come over for the whole season, so we started very much on the back foot. Ed Humphreys, who was looking forward to a year of learning as Monty’s deputy, was thrown into the deep end, and the team as a whole only fitfully played to its real potential. By the end of May when it was clear Monty wouldn’t be able to make it, the Management Committee decided to appoint Ed to the captaincy, and Paul Nice took over as vice captain primarily to give much needed off-field support. Although haunted by the spectre of relegation at one stage, the team pulled out the stops in the last couple of matches to show what could be achieved next year, with a bit more organisation off the field and determination on it. Well done Ed on surviving a baptism of fire!

Promoted to the senior division, the 2ND X1 performed very well, finishing a more than respectable half way. No doubt Henry will have been disappointed not to have done even better, but if, as threatened, he stands down next term, he can be proud of what the team has achieved under his leadership over the last two years. Several of the younger members of the team would surely do well in future at Ist X1 level. As with the 1st X1, it is disappointing that more players don’t make themselves available really regularly – I’m not sure other team sports would be as accommodating.

Notwithstanding Steve Pursey’s indefatiguable leadership, and some good individual performances, the North Somerset X1 struggled rather, with the standard of opposition generally stronger than in previous years – several sides fielded a number of players of 2nd and in some cases 1st X1 strength, supported by much more youth and vigour in the field than we could muster. In the longer term, if not for next year, we will have to decide whether we can continue with a substantially “veteran” approach, or whether we need to restructure our North Somerset side.

In the absence of a regular captain, and with fixtures limited by the demands of the Village Cup as well as the North Somerset League, Sunday friendlies was again rather a mishmash. Some excellent games were played – for example against Taunton St Andrews – but at times we found it very difficult to get a side out. We really do need someone to take Sundays on – with enthusiasm and consistency it can be very rewarding, as well as an opportunity to bring on new and/or younger players.
Junior cricket continued to flourish at Under 13 and Under 11 level, thanks very much to the efforts of Mark Walker and Jane Billing. Unfortunately one or two controversial incidents involving other clubs rather clouded the season off the field, and I sincerely hope that this won’t jeopardise our prospects of taking junior cricket forward in 2006. We are a small club, without the coaching resources of (say) Weston or Nailsea, and we were unable to progress our bid for “Clubmark” status. However, for the long term success of the club, it’s very important that we are able to run junior cricket, and it would be particularly helpful to restart an Under 15 side next year, as that should provide a source of younger players for senior sides in the near future.
During 2005, the club hosted two junior county matches, Under 13 v Cornwall and Under 12 v Bucks. Both games were well attended by parents and supporters, and showed our facilities off in a very good light.

For the size of our ground and particularly the square, we play an enormous amount of cricket – every Saturday and most Sundays, midweek friendlies, 2 evening cup competitions, 3 junior teams and several hire games (essential to bring in revenue). That the square continues to play so well is thanks almost entirely to the efforts of Paul Bachelor, to whom everyone who plays here ought to be tremendously grateful.

As well as Paul, I’d like to thank Committee members and others who work hard behind the scene to keep the club in good order. There are many challenges for clubs of our size – one example is all the bureaucracy (and expense) of applying for a new bar licence under the government’s wonderful licensing laws. We are very fortunate that Bob is able to apply his legal talents to finding our way through such potential nightmares. I can’t mention everyone here, but I would once again like to thank Lyndon for keeping the books in good healthy order (as well as producing mountains of statistics and running the Fantasy league).
As ever, a relatively small core of people do most of the work, but ALL team members should at least do their bit at the weekend – captains have enough to worry about without having to run the bar/clean the changing rooms/collect the money themselves. Last year we said we were going to introduce proper rotas for the various match day tasks – I regret to say it didn’t happy, and that needs to be a priority for next year’s Committee.

So – it’s been a demanding year, with more than our fair share of problems and crises, but as ever we’ve survived. Here’s to the clocks going forward in 2006, and a new cricket season to look forward to !


Dick Whittington
Chairman

Treasurer's Report 2004
With the 2004 Annual General Meeting brought forward the accounts cover a period of eleven months.

When the committee set the date it left very little time for me to collate all the information I require for the various reports and statistics needed for the Annual General Meeting.
With so little time available to me I make no apologies for not having been able to sit down with our Auditor David Bird to finalise the accounts. I will endeavour to arrange a time with him to run through and have accounts correctly audited.

Thanks to the computer age the role of Treasurer can be eased in that one can keep track of the many transactions over the year much more quickly. What it can also do is put you in the deep mire if a computer blows up. Unfortunately the server for my office p.c. went down and the one at home would not read my back up disk. Thankfully I always produce a hard copy for the committee and was therefore able to transfer all transactions onto my home computer.
I run three different tracking methods of accounting and thankfully all three have produced exactly the same figure at the end of the financial year.

A few points to note are as follows:

The income from the ground hire covers both the 2003 and 2004 seasons.
As you can see there were very, very few games, due in no small part to the dreadfully poor weather.

If members wish to keep the cost of their cricket down, then we must increase our income and one way to do this would be to double the number hire games, with all that entails, such as pitch preparation, availability of the ground and bar personnel.

The accrued income is for outstanding match fees and junior fees. Some of the outstanding amounts have already been received but too late for this year.

The miscellaneous income has come from three main sources
Vat Refunds - BBQ money - Clevedon Sixes Event

The accrued expenditure will come from Indoor Nets hire at the Downs School, Umpire Appointment Fees and the imminent purchase of a petrol driven hedge cutter. Not included is the cost of loam required for the square (invoice not received)

Lyndon Prendergast

Chairman’s Report for 2004

I believe this was a successful season on the field, and (subject to the final pronouncements of our diligent Treasurer) a satisfactory one in terms of balancing the books. As ever, though, there are some issues to reflect on, and some important questions for the future.

The 1st X1 did well to recover from a dodgy start to get up among the promotion contenders, although one or two disappointing defeats meant that their outstanding performance in the last game of the season against runaway champions Bedminster was only a moral triumph. My observation is that we have a strong young and well balanced squad, which should be good enough particularly in batting and fielding to challenge for promtion next year. The question perhaps is whether the desire is really there. John Bachelor has led the team by example, but he wants to step down next year, so this will be a critical appointment.

The new-look, youthful (mostly) 2nd X1 under Henry’s inspirational leadership were Failand’s team of the season, winning promotion back to the Senior division at the first attempt. George Humphreys’ outstanding all-round performance earned him a deserved “Player of the Season” accolade, but there were several others too who should be pushing current 1st X1 members hard for selection next year. I would expect the 2nd X1 to do well next year – provided we can do something about what has now become a traditional slow start with stretched availability until the end of June. Well done Henry, and good luck for 2005.

The North Somerset X1 also did well, finishing in the top half of the new-look “Sunday oriented” division 5a. As expected, Steve Pursey proved a popular and energetic skipper, conscientious and hard working off the field, and always entertaining on it. At the time of writing, we don’t know what changes lie in store for the North Somerset league, but I think it’s fair to say that the whole squad will be up for (yet) another season next year.

Sundays were a bit of a mixed bag this year, partly due to the prevelance of North Somerset games and limited availability. Our venture into the Woodspring League finally petered out, but some good friendlies were played in the latter half of the season, with Tony Bamber taking charge in astute fashion on several occasions. Subject to other commitments, we need to reinforce the fixture list next season, as Sunday games have an important role in giving new or younger players opportunities, and in developing club spirit. But we do need players in all teams to make themselves available clearly, promptly and consistently – particularly early in the season.

Junior cricket was again strong at the younger age levels, thanks to the efforts of Mark Walker with the U13s and Jane & Rod Billing with the U11’s. However, our reliance on boys from The Downs school tends to make it more difficult to keep junior players and form an U15 team, which is really important if we’re to develop the senior players of the future. We are reaching a stage where we need to decide whether and how we can develop youth cricket at Failand; the ECB’s emphasis on Focus Clubs gaining formal accreditation for youth coaching is a big ask for a club of our size, but without it we may find competion from the larger clubs too intense.

Once again, all Failand teams were able to enjoy playing on some of the best wickets in the area, and everyone should be grateful to Paul for his hard work and expertise in getting so much out of what is a comparatively small square. There’s work to be done getting the hedges and fences in order for the new year, as we want to ensure that we continue to enjoy such superb playing facilities. Of course, we would like to be able to acquire a bit more land to make the boundaries slightly more bowler-friendly, and that’s something where we need to be able to invest some money if and when the opportunity arises.

As with most clubs, a relatively small number of people do most of the work off the field – which is not a criticism, more a fact of life apparently. Over the last couple of seasons there has been some muttering about people leaving straight after games (not surprising I’m afraid given so many late finishes – we are proposing earlier starts next year) and/or the club being left in a less than tidy condition. The Committee are determined that action will be taken, so a simple job-sheet will be introduced for all home matches to make sure that everyone does their bit to take some of the burden off the captains. I hope we will all do our best to make this work.

Finally, back to the playing side. The age profile and potential in our 1st and 2nd X1s suggest that we ought to be able to succeed at Senior levelin the B&D. Many of us think that we need now to step up our efforts, to work on our skills and instil a bit more discipline. The Committee have decided the Tuesdays must be reserved for nets next year, and that they should be treated as a serious practice session, with proper coaching and an equal emphasis on fielding. I hope that a bit more effort and organisation will actually increase everyone’s enjoyment as well as improving performance – in which case there ought to be an awful lot to look forward to in 2005.

My thanks to everyone who’s worked hard to make 2004 a good year for Failand. See you at Indoor Nets after Christmas!


Dick Whittington

September 2004

SECRETARY’S REPORT: 2002

1. Many thanks to all those who served on the management committee and on the full committee this year. Attending meetings and doing the jobs that need to be done each year does require a commitment of some time (though I must say not I believe an excessive amount) and the efforts of all are appreciated.

2. Thank you also to those who were not on the committee but still did important jobs – e.g. Matthew Meredith cutting the outfield, Jamie Fear organising the painting.

3. Some committee members serve because they are directly elected but many have their place on the committee ex officio (as a function of their office). That means that if they accept a position as captain or vice-captain, for example, that brings with it a responsibility to be a committee member.

4. What do captains have to do? This is a legitimate question which a person newly appointed ought to know the answer to before agreeing to take office. As a captain (with the support of your vice-captain) you need to do the following:

attend selection at 7pm on a Tuesday evening and (as a selector) participate in choosing all sides for the coming week; “choosing” can in some weeks really mean “drumming up players for”;

after the meeting, as early as possible, ring the people in your team who have said they are available to play and tell them if they are playing; if they don’t have this vital piece of information, they will not know that they have been selected;

help in drumming up extra players to fill out other captains’ teams in some weeks;

expect surprises, particularly on Friday nights and Saturday mornings with people notifying sudden injuries;

for home games, Friday night or Saturday morning check that the outfield has been mown and make arrangements for marking the creases and the boundary and putting out the boundary flags and circle markers;

check that somebody is on teas and make sure someone is available to start the bar off;

make sure you have keys for access to the pavilion;

after the game, fill in the result card and mail off before the deadline;

make sure the changing rooms and showers are left clean;

collect in match fees and subscriptions and arrange to pay these over to the Treasurer;

collect availabilities of players for next week;

arrange for somebody to lock the pavilion before leaving;

know the availabilities for next week of people under your “umbrella” who did not play last time;

arrive at selection meeting on Tuesday able to participate.

5. It’s a two man job. It involves organisation and thinking ahead but these qualities can reduce the time involved substantially. So can a good vice-captain.

6. Oh! by the way, I forgot: the captain gets to make the decisions on the field (and be criticised for them); that’s the good part.

7. This year 53 individuals played 3 or more games and therefore paid or will in due course pay a subscription which is more than double the number it was a few years ago. But the pavilion is an expensive facility to run. Players are needed and games are needed for players to pay match fees for. No match fees, no income, outgoings exceed incomings and bankruptcy follows.

8. This year I am proposing 5 rule changes:

to Rule 4 (selection) to provide for any one of the 6 selectors to be Chairman of this sub-committee and for this person to be directly elected at AGM (i.e. now for next year); also to record what in fact happens if the captain or vice-captain is not available for selection viz the captain must arrange for a senior player to attend; to clarify a point which arose during the season viz that it is the job of all the selectors to attend each meeting and to participate in the selection of each team;

to update the composition of the management committee to provide for a “ground officer” to exist and to be elected at AGM; to provide for the ground officer, 3rd XI captain and chairman of the selection sub-committee to be management committee members;

to provide for the club motto to be VIS PAVONIS (meaning power of the peacock);

to update the composition of the full committee to add in the 3rd XI vice-captain, the bar officer and the youth organiser as ex officio members;

to specifically provide for “gender” not to be a ground of membership-refusal (as required by many funding authorities).

R A Humphreys
28th October 2002

RULES OF FAILAND & PORTBURY CRICKET CLUB (Founded 1894)

1. The Club shall be called the FAILAND & PORTBURY CRICKET CLUB, the colours shall be maroon, green and white and the emblem shall be a PEACOCK. The Club motto shall be VIS PAVONIS.

2. The Management Committee shall consist of the Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, First XI Captain, Second XI Captain, Third XI Captain, Chairman of the Selection Sub-Committee, Ground Officer and two other members elected at AGM (henceforth to be termed the Officers of the Club) to result in a Committee of not more than nine and not less than six).

(a) The government of the Club shall be entrusted without reservation or limitation to the Management Committee.

(b) The Management Committee shall have full power to inflict penalties such as suspension or expulsion from the Club and the period of suspension shall be at the absolute discretion of the Committee whose decision shall be final provided that the member(s) concerned have been notified in writing of the complaint and possible circumstances and that he (they) will be invited to attend the meeting to consider the complaint, in order to listen and question evidence, call evidence and address the Committee on all points raised.

3. (a) The Full Committee shall consist of the Management Committee, the Sunday XI Captain, the Vice-Captains of the First, Second and Third XIs, the Chairman of the Social Committee, the Bar Officer, the Fixture Secretary, the Youth Organiser and two others. It will be responsible for the normal day to day running of the Club. There should be a quorum of not less than 75% at any Full Committee meeting.

(b) The Full Committee will be empowered to co-opt members to the Social Sub-Committee, Bar Sub-Committee or other such sub-committees at its discretion.

4. The selection sub-committee shall consist of the four captains and two other senior playing members to be elected by the playing membership at the AGM. One of these 6 shall be elected by the members of the Club at AGM as the Chairman of this sub-committee. In the event of a Captain being unavailable, he shall without fail arrange for the Vice-Captain or if unavailable a senior playing member of the XI concerned to attend in his stead. It shall be the job of all the members of the Selection Sub-Committee to attend selection meetings and to participate in the selection of each team. Whilst having regard to whether or not a player’s subscription has been paid and to the observance by a player of rule 21, the Selection Sub-Committee shall select the League First XI on merit but shall select all other teams so as to ensure the regular participation of all playing members and prospective new members.


5. Annual subscriptions for members and their families and match fees will be determined at the AGM prior to each season.

6. Subscriptions shall be paid by 1st June after which date teams will be selected only from paid up members and this rule shall be strictly adhered to by the selection Sub-Committee. Any non-member after that date will be allowed 3 games after which a subscription shall be paid.

7. Members shall during practice and in matches, be under the control of a Captain and/or Vice-Captain. No practice shall be allowed on the cricket square except under the personal supervision of one or more Captains and/or Vice-Captains.

8. Every candidate for membership must be proposed by a current member and his name submitted to the Management Committee at least three days before his election as a member. Until the candidate is elected as a member he shall not be entitled to any privileges.

9. (a) Umpires, visiting cricket teams and their officials shall automatically be given the facilities of the club for the day of their visit, and a list of their names shall be available in the Pavilion on the day of their visit.

(b) A member may introduce visitors to the privilege and use of the Club but shall be responsible for the behaviour of those visitors. The same visitor shall not be introduced more than three times in any one season without payment of a social members subscription.

10. The Management Committee shall have the power to decide all disputes not provided for in these rules, a copy of which shall be furnished to each member.

11. The permitted hours for the sale of excisable liquors shall be on Monday-Friday 7.00pm until 11.00pm. Saturdays 1.30pm until 2.30pm and 6.00pm until 11.00pm. Sundays 1.30pm until 2.30pm and 7.00pm until 10.30pm. Persons under the age of 18 years shall not be supplied with intoxicating liquor.

12. Membership of the Club shall not be refused on the grounds of religion, politics, gender or race and shall be open to all interested in the game of cricket.

13. The Management Committee shall have power at any time, and from time to time, to fill not more than two casual vacancies in any one year among the officers and members of the Full Committee. A member of the Committee so appointed shall hold office only until the next following AGM but shall then be eligible for re-election.

14. No person shall at any time be entitled to receive, at the expense of the Club, any commission, percentage or similar payment on or with reference to purchases of intoxicating liquor by the Club. Nor shall any person directly or indirectly derive any pecuniary benefit from the supply of intoxicating liquor by or on behalf of the Club to members or guests, apart from any benefit accruing to the Club as a whole, and apart, also from any benefit which a person derives indirectly by reason of the supply giving rise to or contributing to a general gain from the carrying on of the Club.

15. No money or property of the Club nor any gain arising from the carrying on of the Club shall be applied otherwise than for the benefit of the Club as a whole or for some charitable or benevolent purpose.

16. An AGM shall be held in the month of October or November (see rule 18) for the election or re-election of positions indicated below whose term of office shall end immediately following publication and acceptance of accounts at the following AGM. Fifteen months shall not elapse without a General Meeting. At the AGM the following business shall be conducted:

(a) The presentation and passing of the accounts for the previous financial year ended on 30th September prior to the meeting, which accounts shall first have been audited by the Club's auditors.

(b) (i) Election of Chairman.

(ii) Election of Captains and Vice-Captains - to be elected by playing members only.

(iii) Election of Management Committee.

(iv) Election of remaining members of Management and Full Committee.

(v) Election of other positions e.g. Fixture Secretary, Kit officer etc.

(vi) Election of two auditors.

The procedure for the above elections will be that each nomination will require a proposer and seconder and that election shall be carried by a majority vote.

(c) The voting of Player of the Year award - this award only being voted for by playing members of the Club.

(d) The voting for Clubman of the Year award - all playing members and members of full Management Committee vote for this award.

(e) Such other business as shall have been communicated to the Secretary and included in the notice of the meeting sent by him (her) to the members.

17. An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened at any time and shall be convened within 21 days on the requisition of one-fifth of the membership of the club for the time being or 30 members whichever is the less. Such requisition must state the purpose for which such meeting is required. Such meeting may be summoned by the Full Committee or Management Committee on giving reasonable notice.

18. The Secretary shall at least 14 days prior to any AGM send to each member at his address as recorded in the Club's books a notice of the meeting, stating the time and the place where it will be held and the business to be conducted.

19. The business at a General Meeting shall be limited to that provided by these rules and those further matters set out in the notice convening the meeting. The quorum at any General Meeting shall be 10.


20. Any playing member or Vice-President is:

(a) entitled to attend but not participate in a business meeting of the Full Committee;

(b) has the right of access to the agenda of the Management and Full Committee meetings via the Club Secretary.

21. As members of a "family" club in which both ladies and children participate actively, and as members of a cricket club with a very long tradition it is expected that behaviour off the field shall be courteous, supportive and moderate, and that behaviour and turn out on the field shall be:

(a) subject to the Captain's leadership;

(b) in the best interests of cricket as a sporting game.

22. Players are expected to attend afternoon matches at least 30 minutes prior to start of play.






As amended by resolution of the members at the Annual General Meeting on 28th October 2002