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MINUTES
OF ANNUAL GENERAL & FIXTURES’
MEETING.
Shepherd
Neame Kent Metropolitan Leagues.
Held at
Park House FC on Thursday,
June 18, 2009.
Current officers and committee
members: Chairman – Bernard Holley, Results’ Controller – Clive Putner, Hon
Treasurer – Terry Kirk,
Marketing & Promotions – Gary Morant, Greg
Bunnage, Andy Stanley, Robin
Taylor, Hon Secretary – John Arger.
1-0
Welcome & apologies:
1-1
The Chairman
extended a warm welcome to all those present.
1-1-1 The Acting Hon. Secretary reported apologies for
absence had been received from Linda Neal (Invicta Leagues), Gary Morant
(Metropolitan Police RFC), Geoff Teale
(Royal Bank of Scotland RFC) & Roger Simpson Bromley RFC).
1-1-2 There
were 35 attendees at the meeting representing 23 of the 28 clubs presently
in membership of the Kent Metropolitan Leagues.
2-0
Adoption of the of the Minutes of the previous
year’s AGM held at Beckenham RFC on June 12, 2008, and
matters arising:
2-1
The
Chairman explained the Minutes for the season 2007-08 had been examined and accepted by the
committee and if adopted by member clubs, copies would be made available
upon representation to the Hon Secretary.
The viability of posting future minutes on the Kent Metropolitan web
site is being actively considered.
2-1-1 With no matters arising the adoption of said
Minutes was proposed by L. Giblin (Royal Bank of Scotland RFC), seconded by
A. Stanley (Blackheath FC).
3-0 Chairman’s
Report:
3-1 The Chairman made reference to another very
entertaining and demanding season of five separate leagues and was pleased
to report there were not too many difficulties. Those that arose were attended to quickly
and efficiently by committee, and in his opinion, in the beat interests of
rugby football.
3-1-1 Heart felt thanks were also extended to all those
that made the Metropolitan leagues a viable entity , not only the players themselves,
but also the committee behind the scenes in organizing a competitive and
meaningful programme of rugby for the benefit of member clubs.
3-1-2 In
particular, special mention was again made of Clive Punter for his tireless
work in pouring over tables, schedules and calculations; together with Terry Kirk, ably assisted by Janice, in collecting subscriptions and with
keeping and preparing the annual accounts.
3-1-3 Singular
reference was also accorded to Robin Taylor, in his retiring year as county
president, for his continuing work throughout Kent and for again accepting the invitation to attend
this meeting and to present the True Spirit award.
4-0 Report
from Hon. Treasurer:
4-1 A resume was given as to income and expenditure
from the balance sheet.
4-1-1 The
account stood at £2,324-54 (two thousand, three hundred and twenty four
pounds, fifty four) in credit as at June 18, 2009.
4-1-2 Outgoings
in operating the leagues have been assessed at a minimum of £1,000-00 per
annum, escalating.
4-1-3 Ideas were sought from member clubs to assist the
committee in deciding how a portion of surplus income could be best applied
in promoting local rugby across the county.
4-1-4 Club representatives were reminded to remit
subscriptions as soon as possible, hopefully immediately after the meeting
closes, to qualify for the discounted level.
It was stressed that if subscriptions are not
received by November 30 in each season, the full rate at £15-00 per team
would be levied pursuant to Kent Metropolitan Leagues’ Regulation 8.
4-1-5 Adoption
of the accounts was proposed by R. Hackwood (Old Dunstonians RFC) and
seconded by D. Gearing (Brockleians RFC).
5-0 Report from Results’
Coordinator on past season & proposed local structure for the season
2009-10:
5-1 Overall, the past season progressed particularly
well. Thanks were extended to players and club administrators alike,
together with congratulations to both winners and runners-up in all five
leagues. There were the inevitable niggles
that, again, were attended to when they arose.
5-1-1 Special mention is to be accorded to Southwark Lancers who in their first season have proved themselves
and, no doubt, will progress further. They are a great group of lads and
have first class facilities. The club intends to introduce an additional
team to the leagues this coming season.
5-1-2 There is a downside to all this euphoria. Certain teams, for their own and respected
reasons, have elected to drop out of the leagues, pro tem. It is sincerely hoped that after a period
of regeneration such teams will return to the fold were they would be made
most welcome.
5-1-3 Cry-offs were contained at a realistic level
until mid-season and then began to escalate. Bona fide injuries were deemed a
contributory factor in certain cases, particularly with the smaller clubs,
and it was gratifying to find a proportion of theses games rescheduled by
mutual agreement.
5-2 Invicta Leagues 2009-10:
5-2-1 In the absence of Linda Neal, Invicta Leagues
Coordinator, a précis of the Invicta situation was given as it was
understood to be.
5-2-2 Following the recent success of the Invicta
concept, and other factors, both Canterbury 2 and Old Colfeians 2 have rejoined Invicta 1.
5-2-3 There will be two main Invicta leagues for season
2009-10, with two regional feeders, Metropolitan Premier and a largely Mid-
Kent Invicta 3 operated by Howard Pearl; both on a promotion and relegation
basis in conjunction with the respective local leagues.
5-3 Metropolitan Leagues 2009-10:
5-3-1 Due
to the Invicta reorganization, certain Premier teams will transfer to
Invicta 2. Such is the principal
reason for the number of Metropolitan leagues unfortunately reducing in
number from five to four.
5-3-2 As
stated, the Premier league will feed Invicta 2, but will not be subject
to Invicta rules. Metropolitan
playing regulations would continue to apply.
6-0 The President of the Kent County Rugby
Football Union and presentation of the True
Spirit award:
6-1 Robin Taylor expressed his delight at being
invited to the meeting and to again present the True Spirit award.
Robin gave a resume of his last three years as
President of the county, and apologised if he did not attend any particular
club during his period of office.
Such was not intentional, but clearly down to a busy and tight
schedule. His will do his utmost to
remedy the situation once he leaves office at the county AGM on July 8, 2009 to be held at Westcombe Park RFC.
The president elect of KCRFU is David Corry of
Tunbridge Wells RFC.
Robin finished by asking the floor, and was
granted, a show of appreciation for the committee’s hard work over the past
season.
6-2 The True Spirit award was handed by Robin Taylor
to Southwark Lancers as said, a young and enthusiastic club in its
first league season that is eager to play rugby football.
6-3 Awards were also handed to two teams that could
not attend the Canterbury Awards’ Dinner in May, Royal Bank of Scotland 1 – runner-up Master Brew league; and KCH –
winners of Late Red league.
6-4 The Chairman requested the meeting to show its
gratitude to Robin in the time honoured fashion. A hearty round of applause ensued.
7-0 Election
of officers and committee members:
7-1 The Chairman stated all present officers and
committee members were prepared to stand for another season, with the
exception of one.
7-1-1 Geoff Teale (Royal Bank of Scotland RFC) is to stand down
due to business commitments and as he had also relocated his family home to
France. The
Chairman paid tribute to Geoff and his work in committee particularly in
updating the web site and systems.
7-1-2 One
name had been put forward to join the committee, Andy Stanley, who recently relinquished his position as a
fixture secretary at Blackheath FC.
7-1-3 The
motion was put to the floor to re-elect the remaining committee members,
and there being no other nominations, Andy Stanley for the season 2009-10.
7-1-4 Such
motion was proposed by J. Day (Westcombe Park RFC) and seconded by P.
Johnson (Beckenham RFC). Motion
carried with the committee duly re-elected for a further season to include Andy Stanley.
8-0 Any
other business:
8-1 A robust discussion ensued on a variety of
subjects including the viability and benefit of the much discussed county
east/west split, possibility of a meaningful Veterans’ competition and
“social” games. The floor wished to
record its appreciation for the frank responses given by committee
particularly C. Punter and the research carried out hitherto by G. Morant.
8-1-1 Two further matters arose for
discussion. D. Kelly (Metropolitan
Police [Hayes] RFC) requested consideration be given to the relaxation of
the present replacement player provision; whilst A Stanley (Blackheath FC)
enquired as to the possibility of modifying the existing bonus point
system.
8-1-2 The
committee agreed both matters were worthy of further discussion and would
deliberate and reach a decision prior to commencement of the new season.
There being no further business
the formal meeting closed at 2150 hrs.
B. C. Holley,
June 11, 2010.
Chairman.
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