THORNES JUNIORS FOOTBALL CLUB
Trustees Report 2023-24
Once again, the club was pleased to report further increases in playing numbers compared to the 2022/23 season by approx. 70 or £11000 in cash terms. As reported in the return for 2022-23 the club increased its members subscription level to £160 per person. The club decided to maintain subscriptions at this level as we entered the 2023-24 season as we felt it unreasonable to increase charges any further as the cost of living continues to affect our members’ families.
In last year’s annual report, the club highlighted its efforts to develop girls’ teams, and this was recognised further during 2023-24 where we were able to report three new girls’ teams (45 new players in total). Our newly established under 14 girls’ team had a very successful first season finishing second in their league and so gaining promotion to a higher division for the 2023-24 season. Additionally, our Ability Counts Team continues to play an important part is our club, we had the honour of hosting an Ability Counts Gala in June 2024.
Unfortunately, as reported in almost every annual report the weather over the autumn / winter period was very poor and continued to have a significant negative impact on the fitness of our pitches and a high number of games were lost to the weather from as early as late October 2023. To address this major problem, our annual report last year highlighted our efforts to secure funding from the Football Foundation to enable us to instal an effective drainage system into almost half of our pitches.
We started this process during this last season by employing a Professional Agronomist who carried out a detailed investigation into the soil conditions and an initial assessment of the type of system we would need. This survey took place at the cost of £4422 as reported on the balance sheet funded by the club. The next stage is to identify the exact specification of system required, this will cost an additional £6000 which has to be funded by the club initially but hopefully be reclaimed from the Football Foundation pending a successful grant application.
From a fundraising perspective the club was once again able to hold our annual small-sided football tournament in June 2024. The event was very successful both on and off the pitch where a financial surplus of £4400 was reported as reported in our accounts. Additionally, our Christmas raffle supported club funds to the extent of £1400. On the negative side again through continued poor weather, we were only able to one car boot sale during the season where previously we were able to have four annually. Additionally, through the significant number of games postponed again through the weather our tuck shop income reduced by £1800 compared to 2022-23.
On the expenditure side we faced a number of significant cost pressures. One of these increases related to winter training where the club uses mainly local school facilities for training during the autumn winter period. Through a combination of an increase in the number of our teams, increases in facility costs (hourly rates) and poor weather in spring 2024 leading to us having to extend the period of the facility uses, the costs increased by just over £7000. Some of this increase was expected where such as the additional three new girls’ teams.
The enclosed balance sheet shows an in-year deficit of £5812 which can be attributed primarily to the “one off” cost of the drainage survey as described above (£4412), increases in costs (winter training) offset by additional income (subscriptions). The club continues, however, to have robust finances and our financial reserves more than cover the reported in year deficit. At the annual general meeting held in July 2024, the club voted to increase its membership subscriptions by a further £10 to £170 per year for the 2024-25 season. Whilst we regret having to raise our levels of subscriptions, we remain very competitive compared to other clubs in our area and an early assessment of membership levels going into the 2024/25 season shows they are increasing even further above 2023/24 levels.
THORNES JUNIORS FOOTBALL CLUB
ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD 1 JULY 2023 TO 30 JUNE 2024
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE FOR THE PERIOD - ALL ACCOUNTS
| 2022/23 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| INCOME | £ | £ | EXPENDITURE | £ | £ |
| Subscriptions | 35966.50 | 47200.00 | Insurances | 914.13 | 1045.19 |
| Raffles | 1609.00 | 542.00 | League Fees | 1298.00 | 2085.75 |
| Sponsorship | 5066.00 | 14377.46 | Referees | 2099.00 | 3183.00 |
| Miscellaneous | Miscellaneous | 667.26 | 1610.18 | ||
| Presentation Day | 846.66 | 668.47 | Presentation Day | 2380.07 | 3150.99 |
| Refreshments | 9392.75 | 7556.00 | Refreshments | 3852.76 | 3515.82 |
| Fundraising Events | Drainage Project | 683.00 | 4422.00 | ||
| Fine Refunds | 112.00 | 87.00 | Fines | 346.00 | 457.00 |
| Xmas Raffle | 1380.00 | 1655.00 | Xmas Raffle | 242.00 | 265.29 |
| Facility Hire | 3175.00 | 2650.00 | Winter Training | 12803.05 | 20527.20 |
| Merchandise | 400.00 | 1174.00 | Kit & Equipment | 13469.51 | 23751.90 |
| Gala 2023 | 6690.65 | Gala 2023 | 2365.32 | ||
| Gala 2024 | 7338.58 | Gala 2024 | 2885.22 | ||
| Bank Interest | 44.10 | 75.23 | Queens Drive / Clubhouse | 6397.86 | 4791.15 |
| Car Boot Sales | 3536.08 | 870.00 | Gala Entry Fees | 686.00 | |
| Football Foundation Grants (pitches and posts) | 6924.00 | Pitch Maintenance | 15900.00 | 21400.00 | |
| Kickers Kit Sales | 35.00 | 0.00 | Kickers Kit | ||
| Under 9s Kit Sales | 396.7 | Raffle Prizes | 100.00 | 80.00 | |
| Pitch Hire | 824.00 | ||||
| Training Courses | 1610.00 | 2250.00 | |||
| Barclays Grant U13 Girls | 500 | Barclays Grant U13 Girls | 390.67 | ||
| TOTAL INCOME | 69150.44 | **91117.74 ** | TOTAL EXPENDITURE | 65518.63 | 96930.69 |
| BALANCE BFWD 1 JULY 2023 | 32213.28 | 35845.09 | |||
| SUB TOTAL | 101363.72 | 126962.83 | |||
| LESS EXPENDITURE THIS PERIOD | 65518.63 | 96930.69 | |||
| BALANCE AS AT 30 JUNE 2024 | 35845.09 | **30032.14 ** | BALANCE MADE UP OF AS FOLLOWS: |
| BANK ACCOUNT - MAIN | 25811.95 | 23009.07 |
|---|---|---|
| BANK ACCOUNT - OTHERS | 34.94 | 49.94 |
| PETTY CASH FLOAT | 198.00 | 381.70 |
| RESERVE ACCOUNT | 12800.20 | 10741.43 |
| YEAR END ADJUSTMENTS | ||
| Sponsorship - Income In Advance | -3000 | -4150.00 |
| TOTAL BALANCES | 35845.09 | 30032.14 |
| SURPLUS / DEFICIT IN YEAR | 3631.81 | -5812.95 |