OOASC Full Committee meeting 5th February 2024 – Minutes

Minutes of the Full Committee Meeting held on Monday 5th February 2024 at 7.30 pm in the Les Williamson Room at Old Owen’s Sports Ground.

In attendance:  I.Breeze(IB), John Clark(JC), Richard Hattrell (RH), A.Hunter(AH), P.Kennedy(PK), M.Oakley(MO),
                        T.Lane(TL), K.Rowswell(KR), A.Ward(AW)

1. Apologies: E.Clark, Rob Hattrell, H.Nemko, V.Tanner, D.Webb
    

2. JLC update (John Clark)

• JC reported that takings in December were good but January takings were affected by football matches being called off due to the weather. Padel Tennis and another dartboard area installed have increased the number of personnel coming into the Club. He stated that regulars are attending on a Sunday and Wednesday for Padel Tennis.
• There are bookings in March for an Elvis night and a Quiz night and JC is aiming to book party functions once a month.

3. Matters arising from previous minutes 11th December 2023

• None

4. Finance (TL)
   

• Richard presented figures for Profit and Loss and the Balance Sheet. As at 5^th February 2024 there was £77.2k in the HSBC bank account, £11.1k in the Barclays account and £10.6 in the Owenians Alumni account. As at that date there was a surplus of £23.5k.

• Football pitch hire payments are to be checked and chased.
• Payments for Ground Valuation, Water Bill and Outdoor Cricket Net are to be made.

5. The Ground (AW/TL/IB)     

• AW reported that the Ground is in fairly good condition despite the issues with the drainage. AW advised that Pitch 3 could do with digging a hole to check the drainage. The other pitches need looking at as well. AW thinks the problems with the condition of the Ground are due to worm casts. AW will complete the report to obtain the next grant of £18k from the Football Foundation and will enquire if any other grants are obtainable for work on the Ground.
• AW stated that the Spring Renovations will start on 22^nd April and the work to be done (i.e. mowing, scarifying, aeration, topsoil, seeding etc.) will be ‘aggressively’ performed .
• AW will liaise with Jon Robinson from the Football Club to invite representatives from the Herts Senior County League to come and advise what requirements will be needed for Pitch 1 if Owens 1^st XI get promoted to the Premier Division.
• AW stated that all the goal posts will need replacing at some point. A set is currently being borrowed from the School.
• TL advised that the Valuation of the Ground has been completed.

• TL stated that the Borehole installation has helped to reduce the Water Bill.     

• IB received a quote of £1,050 (inc. VAT) for the work required for cutting the trees. Another quote will be obtained on Friday 9^th        

       5.1 Padel Tennis Project (TL)

• Padel Tennis is doing okay despite the weather. The first rent due of £2k from Padel Tennis UK is still outstanding due to awaiting Valuation of the Ground which has now been completed.
• JC to liaise with Padel Tennis UK with regard to Electricity charges.

6. OOASC Sports Clubs

        6.1    OOFC Football Section (PK/IB)

• PK reported that in the Herts Senior County League, Owens 1^st & 2^nd teams are top of their respective Division and the 3^rd team is 2^nd in their Division but have won all their games. The 4^th XI is 4^th in their Division in the SAL.

• IB & PK have used the Astro that was removed from  the Padel Tennis Courts to line the area surrounding the dug outs on Pitch 1.

• PK stated that Football at the Ground will end on Saturday 20^th April 2024 and the Football Dinner will be Saturday 27^th April 2024.

       6.2    OOCC Cricket Section (TL) 

• Winter Nets are in full swing for the Junior and Senior sections.

• The Tour to St. Lucia (as part of the Cricket Club 100^th anniversary in 2024) commences on the 17^th February for 8 days. There will be a party of 38 travelling and fixtures consist of 2 x 40 overs and 2 x T20 overs matches. 

• There will be a Cricket Week in July 2024 to celebrate the 100^th The fixtures organised are as follows:

  Reepham C.C. (Sunday 7^th July)
  Nomad C.C. (Tuesday 9^th July)
  The School (Wednesday 10^th July)
  MCC (Thursday 11^th July) 

• Fixtures in 2024 for the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd teams in the Saracens Herts League have been published. The season starts on the 11th May 2024. 

• The School charged us £1,200 (inc. VAT) for the purchase of their Outdoor Cricket Net.

      6.3    Affiliated Clubs (MO)

• MO reported that PBU is running smoothly. There are 24 teams over all the age groups including a girl’s team. They are trying to get a 2^nd girls team together.  

7. OOASC Membership (AH)     

     P.S. AH to liaise with Jon Robinson with regard to payment of the Football Club subscriptions.

8. Old Owens Website (AH)

• The website is running smoothly and updated as and when necessary. The statistics for the website as at 5/02/2024 are as follows:

  Last 7 days there were 353 visitors with 1.048 visits
  Last 30 days there were 1,470 visitors with 5,213 visits
  Last 90 days there were 4,259 visitors with 15,709 visits
  Last 365 days there were 19,213 visitors with 69,981 visits

9. ZOO Club (AH)

• The balance in the account as at 05/02/2024 is £1,029.35 (which includes £55 owing to the Harold Moore Luncheon Account).

            A double draw was made due to no draw being made at the meeting on 11/12/2023.

            The winners are:
            Richard Hattrell £50 (Ball 7)
            Valerie Cross £50 (Ball 20)

10. AOB 

       10.1 Congratulations to Hannah and the School for their ‘Outstanding Ofsted’
                 achievement. 

11. Date of next meeting

• Next meeting is scheduled for Monday 1^st April 2024, 7.30 pm at the Ground.

 Meeting ended at 21.15 pm.

  Latest News