Ormskirk RUFC

Fellow Members of Ormskirk RUFC,
 
On behalf of the Committee of Ormskirk Rugby Union Football Club, I cordially invite you to attend our 89th Annual General Meeting.

The meeting will take place at the Clubhouse on Wednesday 28th June, beginning at 7.30pm.

It is vital that we are quorate – with sufficient members attending, to vote upon and conclude our AGM – so please do take the time to join your fellow members and agree the direction for our club.

To review the minutes from last year, please click here.

Yours in rugby,

Derek Ward
Club Secretary | Ormskirk Rugby Union Football Club

ORMSKIRK RUGBY UNION FOOTBALL CLUB
 
Minutes of 89th Annual General Meeting

Friday 28th June 2023

A minute’s silence preceded the AGM, to remember Club members who had passed away in the past 12 months.

Present (in person or on zoom)
B. Stevenson, B. Porteous, N. Hall, D. Ward, Julie Lang, S. Rogers, A. Evans, A. O’Malley, J. Anderson, D. Gaughan, M. Lang, M. Slater, T. McDermott, J. Stimpson, D. McCready, C. Wilford, D. Firth, C. Clark, K. Clark, D. Pell, A.M. Winter, H. Charnley, J. Whitfield, P. Crosse, J. Lang, J. Croston, R. Whitney, A. Spencer, A. Povey, S. Botfield, D. Jones, K. Marrow, N. Hall, N. Habberfield, A. Malm, D. Webster, K. Mahood, P. Kearney, G. Jones.

Apologies
N. Jacobs, N. O’Donovan, B. Whitrow, N. Ainsworth, S. Staniforth, I. Grant, Alan Spencer, S. Hennessey.

Minutes of 88th AGM (2022): last year’s minutes passed as true and accurate record by D. Jones and J. Anderson. 

Financial Report

Financial report compiled by Lonsdale Marsh, independently of the Board.
This was report was available at the meeting. Presented by Jerry Stimpson, Club Treasurer.

After reviewing the ORUFC accounts for the year to 30th April 2023 the following points should be noted:

• For the year to April 2022 the club generated a loss of £44,840.
• As the club has transitioned to normal activity levels the operating income now shows a profit of £8265.
• Costs have increased significantly, and this is reflected in a reduction in Bar profit.
• Cash balance shows a slight increase.
• As we move into the current year the club should look to maximise income and monitor costs.

Chairman’s Report

• Several members of Board resigned last year and we welcomed Jerry Stimpson (treasurer), Barbara Whitrow (Safeguarding Officer), Anne Marie Winter (MJS registrations) and Andy Evans was co-opted to board to oversee Senior registrations.
• Community coach Amy Sunderland with Neil Habberfield working Edge Hill students as coaches.
• ADM merge with RFU with 4 NW divisions (levels 7-10).
• RFU 15 a side fixture declaration completed on GMS for International ticket allocation.
• Google Docs kit survey returned with confidence in Hardgear Canterbury, however we had a poor response to Google Docs skills survey, but thanks to those who responded.
• Sophie Rogers and Andy Evans assisting in the follow up to the kit survey.
• New Club Steward (Mike Wilson) commenced on 1/4/23.
• Pitch maintenance and vertidrain completed by Lancashire Turf.
• Cecil Van Oneslen appointed as Head Coach starting 1/6/23.
• Thanks to all the volunteers who tirelessly support the club and to the Club members for a great year’s work in a challenging year.

Chair of Rugby

• The DoR role, delivered by Paul Kearney, was described as a learning curve.
• He identified the club as having 5 sections; Senior Men - Senior Women – Mini – Junior – Community. All having differing requirements and objectives.
• Community rugby focused on using Edge Hill students to coach in the schools, this is an untapped resource we should expand, but it needs diligent administration.
• Senior Ladies achieved an amazing outcome winning the NW league – they could gain by having a coach in Edge Hill and get a foot in this door. Simon Staniforth and Dave Worthington will continue their great work coaching the Ladies in 2023/24. 
• Sophie Rogers will be retiring as Captain after 7 years.
• Mini Section goes from strength to Strength and is the envy of many Senior clubs.
• Junior Section is producing some excellent players. U16 team had a fantastic season and will now become our Colts team and will be brought into the Senior set-up.

Business Development

• We have no Board member to fill this role – as we get closer to 2026 this will be a vital position.
• Chairman tried to cover some aspects of this role and, with the assistance of our President, got all our shirt sponsors to continue for a further year.
• LiveWire also continue to support the club throughout the season.
• Advertising from Newlands and Designer Wear was also secured.
• CCC will be retained as our kit supplier and ordering kit will be more accessible.

Clubhouse

• Several cost saving efficiencies were commissioned by the Board and fitted by LiveWire.
• Grant of £5k for Ladies toilet refurbishment was secured and this will be progressed.
• Clubhouse still rented by Ukelele group.
• Social committee of NH, MS, JC, SR, AE promoted several events. JC working on social media.
• Presentation night at The Aviary was a fabulous event and a great success.
• 7’s Tournament & Beer Festival, arranged at short notice, was another success – with Ormskirk
• U16 winning the Junior Tournament.
• Touring team from St Louis were welcomed vis support from Mark Slater

MJS

• 11 active age groups. Registrations up. Coaches up
• Very strong season in almost every group:
• U6 – great season with numbers increasing
• U7 – numbers up 40%, 14 games played
• U8 – doubled player numbers and undefeated at PGH Festival
• U9 – outscored all opponents at PGH Festival – two or three teams fielded every fixture
• U10 – EoS Tour to Llandudno. Guard of honour at Sale Sharks vs Leicester
• U11 – Two teams fielded most weeks and played at Sale Sharks
• U12 – Strong season with numbers up
• U13 – Great season, great team spirit and ethic, third in Waterfall Cup
• U14 – Hugely successful season – 5 players at Sale Sharks DPP festival
• U15 – Sadly disbanded due to numbers
• U16 – Great season again… winners of ORUFC Sevens Tournament
• Membership is thriving.

Safeguarding & Rugby Safe update

• Club Safeguarding Annual Self Audit completed 09/22.
• RFU ‘In Touch’ course attended by both Club Safeguarding Officer and Club Chair in 11/22.
• RFU ‘Play it Safe’ course held at Club on 15/12/22.
• Safeguarding Policy updated 12/22 to realign with RFU policy template.
• In-Depth Audit completed on 14/01/2023, which resulted in the following recommendations:
  
  1. Recruitment for a Safeguarding Assistant to support Club Safeguarding Officer and a (separate) Club RugbySafe Lead for 2023-24 season. Daniella (Dani) to fill this role.
  2. Adoption of Safer Recruitment process ahead of mandatory RFU deadline, which includes completion of RFU Volunteer Application form and provision of satisfactory references before DBS is requested as well as provision of pack to new volunteers comprising of:

Club Safeguarding Policy.
RFU’s Safeguarding Policy.
Club Code of Conduct.
Role Description confirming expectations and responsibilities.
Club Privacy Policy.

Membership & Registrations

• Anne-Marie Winter took over responsibility as Mini and Junior Registrations Sec from 10/11/22.
• Senior and MJS are now managed separately.
• What’s gone well;
  
  1. Respective team coaches are proactive and supportive, ensuring players are affiliated to the RFU
     and are paying subscriptions.
  2. GMS and Heja are helpful tools to monitor and check player affiliations and subscriptions.
  3. The overall total number of players affiliated to the club has increased.
• What can be improved;
  
  1. Tracking and monitoring of subscriptions needs improvement and training is required to enable the Registrations Secretaries to fully understand the subscriptions process.
  2. Total income from 2022/23 subscriptions is currently being processed.
  3. MJS and Senior subscription data and information need to be combined to enable accurate
     reporting on total numbers.
  4. Communication protocol between coaches and Registrations Sec could be more formalised.

Captains 2023/24

The senior team captains were unanimously accepted:

1st Team – Joe Whitfield
2nd Team – at coaches’ discretion
Ladies Team - Sophia Hennessy
Club Captain – Paul Kearney (non-board role to support rugby direction and provide mentoring for the players)

Board Positions and Club Roles

All positions were open for members applications. Proposes and Seconders recorded prior to meeting. Voting resulted in the following appointments:

Club Chairman: Brian Stevenson
MJS Chairman: Jon Anderson
Club Secretary: Derek Ward
Treasurer: Jerry Stimpson
Chair of Rugby: Neal Habberfield
MJS Coaching Coordinator: Colin Clark (Non Board – reports to DoR)
Safeguarding Officer: Barbara Whitrow
Business Development: VACANT
Communications & Events: Mark Slater
MJS Membership & Registration: Anne Marie Winter
Senior Membership & Registration: Andy Evans

Life Member

Former President Dave Firth introduced this overdue award for many years of unrewarded support to Chris Wilford. 

Club Chairman presented a further Life Member award for 20 years of coaching in all sections of the club to Dave Gaughan.

Both members were warmly greeted by all present.

CIO Incorporation

The 2022 AGM made the first steps towards ORUFC becoming a CIO. 

The new Constitution required for this change was presented to the members by B.Porteous, along with the nomination of five trustees: B. Porteous (Ex-Officio), D. Pell, D. Highet, J. Lang, P. Kearney, T. McDermott (Board Members cannot stand as trustees).

• A new limited trading company will be set-up to administer the day to day running of the club.
• An application will now be submitted to the charity commission with the names of the trustees for their approval to form a CIO.
• The meeting voted unanimously in support of this process.
• Once we have approval from the Charity commission, the club will arrange an EGM to dissolve the current constitution and create the CIO.
• The EGM will require a minimum of 15% of the membership, and a 2/3 majority will be required to confirm this resolution.

AOB

Dave Jones informed meeting the Referee Society have awarded, for 2nd year running, ORUFC best hospitality club. Thanks to all involved.

Tackle height rule changes – JA & CC to share information with MJS coaches.

Andy Spencer thanked Board & President for their work through the year and for CIO progress.

Norman Hall requires information, from either DOR or Captains, when pitches are required.

Coach Travel for 2nds in Division 3 North.

Jay Croston is keen to include MJS on social media – safeguarding issues to be discussed with BW.

200 Club was drawn by A.M. Winter – Richard Gregg was drawn out – again!

Bruce Porteous closed the meeting and thanked everyone for their attendance.

Next AGM:
Date to be confirmed.