## **DONACLONEY FOOTBALL CLUB** ## **Annual General Meeting Held 5[th] June 2023 at 8.00pm at Donaghcloney Royal British Legion** ## **Attendees: -** Barbara Soye, Ben Jackson, Collie Jamison, Craig Young, Damien Higgins, Gareth Silcock, Jack Soye, Johnny Lewis, Josh Johnstone, Keith Murnaghan, Kyle Savage, Matthew Holmes, and Ryan Pedlow. ## **- Absentees/Apologies received from:** Andy Frazer, Gary Knox, Louise Holmes, Mark Baxter, Mervyn McKinley, Spencer Young, Travis Young, Walter Ferris, and Zach Best. ## **- Minutes of Meeting:** ## **1. Overview** ## **- Welcome and summary of the last year** Matthew thanked everyone for attending, passed on apologies that had been received and provided an overview of the last year: - - Very busy year for the club. - Across the 4 teams, including friendlies and competitive games, we’ve played a total of 133 games, with 104 players involved. - Firsts and Reserves completed all scheduled games, despite other MUFL teams failing to field and folding throughout the season. - Firsts finished comfortably away from relegation and hopefully the finish to the season will be a platform to build on. - Reserves improving year on year, sitting 4[th] in the league, and got to a cup semi-final. - Swifts put in a great effort to prove the feasibility of the team as we enter the Lonsdale League next season. - Under 17s were the first ever youth team of the club and had an enjoyable season in the Lisburn League with some great runs at times during the year and bringing some super young players to the club. - Kids football started out with Under 5s and then developed into a second age group for Under 7s and now have around 30 at the school pitch most Saturdays. - Running group formed out of last summer’s Couch to 5K and have continued to meet almost every week since, with another Couch to 5K programme currently underway. - Ran our first Quiz Night since 2019, and our 5-a-side Tournament last summer was a great success. ## **2. Financial Report** - **Breakdown of FY2022/23 finances** - FY 2022/23 based on 1[st] April 2022 to 31[st] March 2023. - At the end of FY 2022/23 the club had a balance of £7,142.81. - During FY 2022/23 we brought in £19,688.48, with expenses of £18,916.56. - A breakdown of the income and expenses figures was provided. **Please direct all club correspondence to:-** **Club Secretary:** Matthew Holmes **Contact Number:** 07891 569544 **Email:** mwholmes888@gmail.com **Address:** 12 Birchdale Manor, Lurgan, Craigavon, BT66 7SY **DONACLONEY FOOTBALL CLUB** - Full financial report available upon request. ## **3. Facilities** ## - **The Holmes** Situation has not changed with the landowner. We have no long-term lease or ownership and are therefore unable to attain big money grants to invest in the pitch, and hesitant to spend too much club money on improving it, however we have continued use and are hopeful it will work out in our favour long term. We have completed some practical work on the ground in the last year: - - Away changing room broken window replaced, toilet door handle fitted, and shower head holder mounted. - Holes in walls in both changing rooms patched. - Bin in place. - Dugouts roofing completed. - Electric unit door replaced. Further practical work needed, particularly over the off season: - - Strim car parks and spray weedkiller. - New bin and traffic barriers to be put in place. - Re-sod goalmouths. - Fix corner flag/pole. - Patch home changing room floor. - **Donacloney Primary School** School pitch isn’t perfect but keeps the club in the village and without it we wouldn’t have been able to do a lot of what we have done in recent years. Pitch was used for 143.5 hours of club activity in 2022, and 63.25 hours so far in 2023, which would be substantial cost at any other venue. ## - **Other venues** We have used a few other local venues for club activities, again keeping the club in the village: - - Legion, for Committee meetings, AGM, Quiz Night and after matches. - Methodist Church Hall, for kids football sessions during less favourable weather. - St. Patrick’s Church Hall, for running group circuit sessions during winter. ## **4. Constitution** ## - **Review proposed changes to club constitution** Suggested changes to the constitution put forward by Matthew were proposed and seconded, and without objection, authorised for sign-off. ## **5. Committee for 2023/24** ## **- Appointment of Office Bearers (Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer)** At this stage Kyle Savage took the chair and declared all offices vacant and opened the floor for nominations to the four offices. It was proposed and seconded, without objection that the existing office bearers be re-elected en bloc: - Walter (Chairman), Johnny (ViceChairman), Matthew (Secretary) and Craig (Treasurer). Page | 2 ## **DONACLONEY FOOTBALL CLUB** ## **- Appointment of Committee Members** - Existing Committee Members present (Barbara, Ben, Damien, Gareth, Jack, and Josh) were happy to continue as such. - Louise, Mervyn, Spencer, and Travis wished to remain on Committee but were unable to make the meeting. - It was suggested that Gary Knox may wish to step down having not taken an active role in the club for a few years now. Matthew to follow-up with Gary. - It was proposed that Louise Keery and Zach Tolmie be approached to join the Committee. Both were seconded with no objections. Matthew to confirm with them. - Matthew shared a message from Andy Frazer expressing an interest in joining the Committee, while Zach Best was also proposed. After discussion it was felt that where possible Committee and Management should remain separate, with previous Committee/Management overlap (some of which remains in place) coming from a time when we didn’t have the same number of people involved in the club. ## **- Consideration of other roles** Given the growth of the club in recent years it was felt that additional roles were needed. It was proposed, seconded and without objection that existing Committee members Barbara Soye and Damien Higgins be appointed to the roles of Safeguarding Officer and Youth Development Officer respectively. ## **6. Any other business** ## - **Kids football overview** Damien shared the progress of the kids football which started out as a one off toddlers session in July 2021. Sessions for Under 5s started in September 2022, and is now Under 5s and Under 7s with around 30 kids on the school pitch on Saturday mornings, with teams involved in matches and tournaments recently. Damien thanked regular coaches, Chris, Gareth, Keith, Kyle and Louise, and others who have filled in on occasion, but stressed the key to growing kids football is more volunteers. ## - **End of Season Awards Night** End of Season Awards Night on Saturday 10[th] June at 6.00pm at Harry’s Bar, Banbridge. Reminder given to confirm attendance and menu choices to Matthew. ## - **MUFL AGM** MUFL AGM on Monday 12[th] June at 8.00pm at Banbridge Town. Matthew attending, with opportunity for one other club representative to attend if interested. ## - **Date of the next Committee Meeting** Next Committee Meeting on Monday 26[th] June at 8.00pm at the Legion. ## **Action Items:-** |**Action Items:-**|| |---|---| |**Action Required**|**Person Responsible**| |Co-ordinate work needed at ourpitch|Craig,Josh,and Matthew| |Sign-off on updated club constitution|Matthew and Walter| |Follow upwith GaryKnox,Louise Keeryand Zach Tolmie|Matthew| |Confirm numbers and menu choices for Awards Night|Matthew| |Attend MUFL AGM|Matthew and one other| Page | 3