Cheshire Veterans League

Meeting Minutes

Purpose: / Start of Season Meeting
Location: / The Legh Arms, Knutsford
Meeting Date: / 6th September 2010

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Management Committee

ChairmanApologies from Phil Ballance

League SecretaryHowell Davies

TreasurerSteve Power

Fixtures SecretaryGlyn McGovern

Member Clubs

BarnstoneworthApologies from Andy Price

BediansPaul Mooney

Bexton(Glyn McGovern)

BollingtonPaul Cooper

Cheadle Star O.B.Barry Thornton

Chelford

ClubAZApologies from Simon Carsberg

EgertonTom O’Donnell

F.C. Plumley CelticJohn Betts

FlintTownApologies from Daryl WIlliams

GrappenhallTok Hussein

Grappenhall SportsJames Dow

High LaneKev Lofthouse

Hursts???

MCYADavid Ng

Mobberley Rangers(Steve Power)

Mossley HillAlan Gallimore

Mossley Hil Athletic BIan Ruddock

Offerton Green

PoyntonTownJohn Toms

SaleTownApologies from Steve Gregory

Stepping HillPete Budden

TimperleyApologies from Russ Moores

Warrington GrangeGary Heath

West Didsbury and ChorltonPhil Bairstow

WillastonApologies from Paul Jeffs

WilmslowTownTim Royle

Observers

None

Attendance & Apologies

Apologies noted above.

The room that we had met in previously was now being used by the Poker players on a Monday evening so the meeting was held downstairs.

Apologies for the quality of the acoustics – they were rubbish!

1.Matters Arising (i.e. Actions that have still to be done)

Howell: to issue a reminder on fulfilling league fixtures

Howell: to issue a note regarding racist behaviour

Steve: to provide a set of accounts (to Howell) for auditing

Phil: to organise (with the Cheshire FA) the running of a Referees course

Phil: to confirm the Cup Final date with Egerton

2.Treasurer’s Report

Transferring responsibilities from Joe Wall to Steve Power has largely been completed.

There are some problems in identifying exactly who has paid their League Fees (mainly this is a problem with clubs who have paid by electronic transfer).

The following clubs have still to pay their league fees (some may have ppaid by electronic transfer):

  • Bollington
  • FlintTown
  • High Lane
  • Bexton
  • Mossley Hill
  • SaleTown
  • Chelford
  • FC Plumley Celtic
  • Timperley

Action: on all clubs named to send money to Steve Power

Following a request for clarity in the team names in use by the Cheshire Veterans League it was agreed that the named under which clubs were affiliated should be the ones used in all league correspondence/web sites etc.

Action: Howell Davies to review

3.League Secretary’s Report

Registration 2010/11

Much of the registration process went well but there will be a few things that will change next year to try and make things work better.

Following a discussion with Steve Power (at the end of the meeting) team name and contact details on the Web site will now be used as the master source for all data relating to clubs. On this basis, the information currently on the web site with be checked for accuracy and updated

Action: Howell to review

Burtonwood Albion

Burtonwood Albion dropped out of the league on Friday September 3rd (at 19.54).

The first indication that there was a problem came on 17th July when the Club Secretary (Dave Hamblett) indicated that there would be no team for this season. This was on the basis that no one from the team had been to the Club’s AGM nor the following committee meeting – and hence, without commitment, there was no team to enter.

The following day (18th July) Dave Hall indicated that the Vets team would carry on with himself taking full responsibility for team affairs.

The withdrawal came about as the result of having no access to either a pitch or the finances (but they did have the players). The team’s plan is to return to the league next year.

Howell’s Opinion

This is a very late withdrawal and something that is starting to become habitual.

The tell-tale signs of a team in trouble need to be taken up with more seriousness but not paying league fees is the best way of identifying that a problem is likely to emerge.

I am unconvinced that a new application will be welcomed. As I have said on many occasions the league exists to provide the means for people to play competitively into their twilight footballing years and this situation does not represent a good example of this.

Possible New Teams

Liaison with potential new clubs into the League for the 2011/12 season has already commenced.

The list at the moment is:

  • Monk Sports Club (Warrington) – may well be interested and currently a front runner should they wish to join as communication has been pretty regular and timely (contact with Mark Brennan)
  • West End JFC (from Denton/Ashton) – one email but nothing since despite 3 responses suggests that this will not be followed up (contact with Jason Craven)
  • Northenden-based team – new team contact via Lee Stanford
  • Liverpool based team – contact with Vicky Garland
  • South Manchester based team – contact with Steve Donnelly

It was agreed that a letter should be sent to the teams to see if any were interested in friendly matches during this season

Action: Howell Davies

From now on, the first thing that will be requested from a team wishing to join the Cheshire Veterans League will be a cheque for £100. This was felt to be a good move to deter time-wasters!

Action: Howell Davies

4.2010/11 Fixtures

In an attempt to ensure that fairness remains high on the agenda, fixtures will be tracked more closely (by Howell) to ensure that when problems do occur they can be dealt with quickly.

The season has got off to a pretty good start as, in theory, all 30 clubs were playing on the first Sunday in September.

Of the 15 fixtures scheduled:

  • 12 were played
  • 1 was rearranged by ClubAZ - due to problems getting a team out
  • 1 was rearranged by High Lane – who have had some problems getting things organised this season
  • 1 was cancelled due to Burtonwood dropping out of the league

Action: Howell to maintain a tracking sheet

Action: Howell to contact Kev Lofthouse to make sure all is OK with High Lane

Steve Power commented that they had played 2 pre-season friendlies with Barnstoneworth and Mossley Hill Athletic “B” and bot had been very enjoyable against sides that would be good additions tot he league.

Divisional Administrators

For the 2010/11 season the Divisional Administrators will be:

  • Premier Division: Phil Bairstow
  • Division 1: Tim Royle
  • Division 2: Tim Royle
  • Division 3: Pete Budden
  • Cup: Glyn McGovern

Thanks to Phil and Tim for taking over the vacant positions and to Pete for continuing in the role.

5.Dispute / Discipline / Rules

Team Sheets

Returning team sheets to the Divisional Administrators causes problems to all those running teams. The rules will be reviewed and a considered opinion passed in the October newsletter

Action: Howell Davies

Referees Fees

It was confirmed that the fee is £25. However, in his role as Referees Secretary, David (Ng) has been advising that the claiming of travel expenses was permitted. This seems pretty reasonable as long as the amounts aren’t excessive – but it would be good if the away team (paying the Referee’s fee) knew this before actually being asked for the money!

ManchesterUniversity Pitches

The match between Cheadle Star and High Lane was called off at pretty late notice (on the Thursday before the match). It was noted that cancellation fees are payable for the pitch if a booking is not cancelled by a Wednesday.

Teams playing at this location are warned that they may be liable for a charge if they are responsible for this happening (in this case, Barry Thornton managed to get the charges waived).

6.Other Business

2011 Cup

The draw for the 1st round of the Cup took place.

In true Vets spirit the draw was a shambles as one of the names was missed when writing down the draw. In this day and age, we should do better!

Action: Howell Davies

Details of the draw will be circulated to all teams by Glyn, which is scheduled for November 21st.

Action: Glyn McGovern

7.Date & Venue of Next Meeting

The next League meeting will be held on Monday, 10th January 2011 at Egerton Youth Club (Knutsford).

The next AGM will be held on Monday June 6th 2011.

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