Annual General Meeting
Newhill Football Club
2023/2024
6[th] September at Innovation Factory at 7pm
COMMITTEE IN ATTENDANCE – Patrick McStravick (Chair), Sean Irvine (secretary), Sean McChesney (treasurer), Taylor Dalton, Conor McMullan, Ray Gorman, Carl Toner and Darren Donnelly.
CHAIRPERSON REPORT AND OPENING REMARKS
Chairperson Patrick McStravick welcomed everyone for their attendance and thanked everyone in the room and indeed the wider club volunteers for their efforts in the 2023/2024 season.
This year was a momentous occasion for the club with the club celebrating their 50[th] anniversary at a gala dinner at Belfast City Hall in September. The hall at City Hall was packed with club members, guests and people from other clubs and it shows the high esteem the club is held by others in the local community and further afield. They also held a number of events including the Patrick McStravick Cup which saw Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs in attendance, and he refereed the final and handed out the winners and runners-up medals.
Patrick said it was fantastic to see the continued growth on and off the field of play and he said that boys and girls from 4 years old right the way through to adult football have opportunities to participate in the beautiful game representing our club.
Patrick further thanked the officials at the SBYL, IFA and NIYFA for their support and guidance throughout the year.
The annual trip to Foyle Cup trip for our 2011s went very well and we were very well accommodated by all at the Fir Trees in Strabane!
Patrick said it was an emotional year given the anniversary celebrations and as he approaches his 51[st] year involved with the club he hopes that the club can find a permanent home in the West Belfast area and he knows that other office bearers are working tirelessly in the background to try and achieve this.
SECRETARY REPORT
Club secretary Sean Irvine thanked Paddy for his kind words and he said that without Patrick’s drive and hunger to better the lives of young and old through football in our community, we would simply not have a club.
Sean gave a brief overview on some of the main successes across the various leagues and competitions, boys and girls and he said it was fantastic to see such healthy numbers in our girls’ section and the adult ladies’ team now has over 30 members registered and they now look forward to entering the NIWFA league pyramid.
He said the club’s progress on and off the field of play is paramount to the volunteers at the club and their hard work and dedication and that without them we simply would not exist.
Sean also paid thanks to some of our main funders including the Education Authority NI, Halifax Foundation and Belfast City Council who continue to invest in our club, and they often provide us with funding that can change a life, particularly around our Foyle Cup visit. Without their support, many of our members would not be able to afford to attend or go to our residential, particularly given the high number of members who live in socially deprived and/or one parent homes.
Sean echoed Paddy’s thoughts in the club’s quest to find sites in the area that they can develop a pitch. He said that discussions are ongoing with local councillors and politicians to try and see if a site can be identified. Sean added that many other clubs locally have pushed on and continue to make strides as they have been able to find a permanent home. Sean said the support of BCC, as they provide quality facilities at Falls Park and the Whiterock 3G, is very much welcomed and he thanked the staff for their work in providing us with the facilities.
TREASURER REPORT
Sean McChesney issued copies of our independently examined accounts and asked the room if any financial issues needed explained further.
Our primary sources of income were through grants received from the likes of Belfast City Council, DFA and the Halifax Foundation
The income was confirmed as £76,832, with the main income source club membership fees. The new system and app has streamlined this process and taken the pressure of our volunteers.
Expenditure was confirmed at £74,708 and our main areas of spending were pitch costs, equipment and our Foyle Cup trip from the summer of 2023. The 2024 trip will be reflected in the 2024/2025 accounts.
ELECTION – All office bearers were proposed, seconded and re-elected for the forthcoming season.
Patrick McStravick (Chair), Sean Ervine (secretary), Sean McChesney (treasurer),
Signed and adopted – 10/09/2024
Chairperson