GLOUCESTER RUGBY HERITAGE CIO
CHARITY NUMBER 1168980
REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
GLOUCESTER RUGBY HERITAGE CIO CHARITY NUMBER 1168980
ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
The Trustees present their report for the period from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025
Trustees
The Trustees during the year were as follows:
Malcolm James King Chairman Alfred John Theyers Treasurer Clive Lawrence Major Secretary Christopher Thomas Collier Richard Knight Williams Ronald Etheridge Philip Leslie James Pritchard Michael Anthony Curran
Structure, Governance and Management
The Charity was registered as a CIO on 31 August 2016. The CIO’s official address is Gloucestershire Heritage Hub, Alvin Street, Gloucester GL1 3DW.
The charity has a membership which is open to anyone who is interested in furthering its purposes. No annual subscription is charged.
The constitution provides for a minimum of six and a maximum of twelve trustees. The constitution sets out the powers of trustees, the manner of appointment, resignation and removal of trustees, and the procedures and controls which govern the administration of the charity. The Trustees have most recently been reappointed for the following terms of office:
| Malcolm James King | 1 September 2022 until 31 August 2025 |
|---|---|
| Alfred John Theyers | 1 September 2024 until 31 August 2025 |
| Richard Knight Williams | 1 September 2023 until 31 August 2026 |
| Clive Lawrence Major | 1 September 2024 until 31 August 2025 |
| Christopher Thomas Collier | 1 September 2024 until 31 August 2027 |
| Ronald Etheridge | 12 December 2022 until 31 August 2025 |
| Philip Leslie James Pritchard | 21 August 2023 until 31 August 2026 |
| Michael Anthony Curran | 11 March 2024 until 31 August 2027 |
Of the trustees whose terms of office were due to end on 31 August 2025, Alfred John Theyers and Clive Lawrence Major declared their intention to resign as trustees at that point, in anticipation of which Ronald Etheridge became Secretary and Michael Anthony Curran became Treasurer. Malcolm James King and Ronald Etheridge declared their willingness to continue as trustees from 1 September 2025 and were reappointed for further three-year terms.
Public benefit
The trustees of the Gloucester Rugby Heritage CIO have paid due regard to the Charity Commission's guidance on public benefit. The trustees believe that the requirements of the public benefit test are being met.
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GLOUCESTER RUGBY HERITAGE CIO CHARITY NUMBER 1168980
ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 – cont.
Risk management
The trustees periodically review the operational, financial, regulatory, legal and strategic risks affecting the charity. Appropriate measures to mitigate the effects of identified risks are in place and remain under review.
Objectives
The object of the charity is to advance the education of the public in the history of Gloucester Rugby Club and the part it has played in the life of the City of Gloucester and the County of Gloucestershire, by collecting, preserving and sharing its heritage.
Activities, Achievements and Performance
There have been no changes to the constitution of the CIO. During the eighth year of the CIO from September 2024 to August 2025 there were four formal meetings of the trustees. Work started on a second edition of the Gloucester Players book, improving the content and updating the records to the end of the 2024-25 season. Sales of our books were disrupted by changes in ownership of the Club shop between EPS, the Club and Macron, which involved closure of the Club shop in the Quays shopping mall, so that the shop at Kingsholm became our only direct outlet. Purchases by customers from bookshops who obtain copies direct from the printers partially filled the gap, but these sales produce no financial profit for GRH because we set the price of the books at a level at which we break even on costs, although they do meet the objective of our CIO.
We received further collections of memorabilia, which included the minutes of Club committee meetings 1894-1900 and of Club AGMs 1900-12, which were summarized for our website. We also received many more match programmes, but the law of diminishing returns applies because we already have such a large collection – however, originals were scanned and loaded onto our website and duplicates were given to the Gloucester Rugby Foundation for use in their community projects. All fresh material was deposited in the Gloucester Rugby archive at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub.
There was less web-related activity over the period, as the trustees were primarily involved in book publishing activities. Growth of the website slowed, which also reflects that there is a limit to available historical material, but nevertheless it now holds more than 10,600 items. The website now displays 3098 scanned match programmes (which the Club no longer produces), 71 interviews and 210 player profiles. Public interaction held up well, with approximately 13,300 visits, and as ever there were multiple visitor comments and queries to follow up.
The mutually beneficial relationship between GRH and the Gloucester Rugby Foundation has further expanded, and a GRF representative attends all the meetings of our trustees. The Foundation frequently uses GRH resources on social media (as do a couple of Club supporters) and in carrying out their community, welfare and school activities. We continue to support the Club’s interaction with former players.
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GLOUCESTER RUGBY HERITAGE CIO CHARITY NUMBER 1168980
ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025 – cont.
Future plans
We will continue our record keeping of every Gloucester Rugby men, and Gloucester-Hartpury women, matches and players, and to collect, catalogue and store archive material as it becomes available. We will continue to build our website, to answer questions and supply information and photographs to the public, the Club and the GRF, and to give talks as required. We are planning further interviews of former players, which have always been amongst the most popular items on our website.
We had planned both visual and audio displays to fill a room at The Folk Museum in Gloucester, but structural and health and safety issues with their listed building has prevented this coming to fruition. However, the possibility of a museum at Kingsholm is now being considered as part of redevelopment plans at the ground, which we are encouraging and to which we shall aim to make a substantial contribution.
Financial Review
The trustees aim to retain a minimum of £2,000 as a reserve.
The attached accounts show the current state of the finances which the Trustees consider to be sound. The independent examiner is Miss S.E. Brown, who is a Chartered Accountant.
On behalf of the Trustees
Malcolm King, Chairman 2 April 2026
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INDEPENDENT EXAMINER’S REPORT
TO THE TRUSTEES OF GLOUCESTER RUGBY HERITAGE CIO
I report on the accounts of the CIO for the year ended 31 August 2025.
Respective responsibilities of Trustees and Examiner
The CIO’s Trustees are responsible for the preparation of the accounts. The Trustees consider that an audit is not required for this year under section 144(2) of the Charities Act 2011 (the Charities Act) and that an independent examination is needed.
It is my responsibility to:
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examine the accounts under section 145 of the Charities Act,
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to follow the procedures laid down in the general Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 145(5)(b) of the Charities Act, and
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to state whether particular matters have come to my attention.
Basis of Independent Examiner’s report
My examination was carried out in accordance with the general Directions given by the Charity Commission. An examination includes a review of the accounting records kept by the CIO and a comparison of the accounts presented with those records. It also includes consideration of any unusual items or disclosures in the accounts, and seeking explanations from the Trustees concerning any such matters. The procedures undertaken do not provide all the evidence that would be required in an audit, and consequently no opinion is given as to whether the accounts present a ‘true and fair’ view and the report is limited to those matters set out in the statement below.
Independent Examiner’s statement
In connection with my examination, no matter has come to my attention:
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which gives me reasonable cause to believe that, in any material respect, the trustees have not met the requirements:
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to keep proper accounting records in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act; and
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to prepare accounts which accord with the accounting records and comply with the accounting requirement of the Charities Act; or
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to which, in my opinion, attention should be drawn in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached.
S.E. Brown FCA, CTA 2 Chancel Way Charlton Kings Cheltenham Gloucestershire GL53 7RR
20 April 2026
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GLOUCESTER RUGBY HERITAGE CIO CHARITY NUMBER 1168980
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 AUGUST 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | Total | |
| £ | £ | |
| Receipts | ||
| Sale of books and DVDs | 1,984 | 3,228 |
| Sponsorship | - | 2,160 |
| Donations | - | 50 |
| Chairman’s donation to Christmas Lunch | - | 272 |
| ---------- | ---------- | |
| Total receipts | 1,984 | 5,710 |
| ---------- | ---------- | |
| Payments | ||
| Website Hosting & Maintenance | 432 | 432 |
| Postage | - | 3 |
| Gloucester Rugby Christmas Lunch | - | 431 |
| Team photographs for “Club” book | - | 74 |
| Photographs for “Club” book | 35 | 250 |
| Printing and publication “Club” book | - | 2,440 |
| Reprinting “Kingsholm” book | - | 360 |
| ---------- | ---------- | |
| Total payments | 467 | 3,990 |
| ---------- | ---------- | |
| Net Receipts | 1,517 | 1,720 |
| Cash Funds last year end | 12,652 | 10,932 |
| ---------- | ---------- | |
| Cash Funds this year end | 14,169 | 12,652 |
| ========= | ========= |
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GLOUCESTER RUGBY HERITAGE CIO CHARITY NUMBER 1168980
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
31 AUGUST 2025
| 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total | Total | |
| £ | £ | |
| Cash Funds | ||
| Cash at bank | 14,169 | 12,652 |
| --------- | --------- | |
| Total Cash Funds | 14,169 | 12,652 |
| ======== | ======== | |
| Other Monetary Assets | ||
| Debtors | - | 776 |
| --------- | --------- | |
| - | 776 | |
| ======== | ======== | |
| Other Assets | ||
| Stock of Books | 1,808 | 2,456 |
| --------- | --------- | |
| 1,808 | 2,456 | |
| ======== | ======== | |
| Assets Retained for Charity’s own use | ||
| Cost | ||
| Laptop | 500 | 500 |
| --------- | --------- | |
| 500 | 500 | |
| ======== | ======== |
For and on behalf of Trustees
John Theyers Treasurer 2 April 2026
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