Season 1999/2000 was arguably the best in the club's 124 year history and we shall go into our first year in the national leagues in good heart and confident that we will perform well at that level.
The results from First XV level right down to Mini-Junior rugby, were outstanding and the club seems organisationally sound and well-managed in all its spheres of activity. It seems paradoxical therefore, in this end of season review to express my personal concern about three areas. I have worries about the club's fundraising efforts, secondly I think that communications within the club could be improved, and thirdly, I am concerned by the lack of volunteers needed to carry out the myriad of tasks required for the smooth day-to-day running of the club.
I cannot remember a Tynedale Treasurer who was complacent about the club's income-raising activities but as we enter the national leagues the need to generate income becomes paramount. There are a number of areas on which we can usefully concentrate. A Fund-Raising Committee was set up in March under the chairmanship of Neil Foster and you will see from the Sponsorship section of this report that this group has already come up with some excellent ideas. In his report, Mike Coulson, the Membership Secretary, highlights the substantial loss of income from unpaid players' subscriptions. Tynedale Park and its superb facilities has enormous income-generating potential and although the concept will not be approved by some traditionalists, there is great scope here for a range of non-rugby activities and events.
There is always room for improvement in communications in any organisation and Tynedale RFC is no exception. Although a number of members still have reservations about the current structure of the club, most members probably think that our management organisation suits the operational needs of Tynedale RFC; decision-making is faster and appears to be more efficient. One perceived disadvantage of the 'new' Management Committee, however, is that communications throughout the club may have deteriorated; there seems to be fewer committee members around with whom to express opinions and concerns or to obtain information about what is happening at Tynedale and there is also a view that the club has a number of hidden agendas. A number of innovations have been introduced, however, which should help to inform members. The widely-acclaimed newsletter, edited by Huw Mainwaring, should tell members what is going on and Tynedale RFC now have a superb website, created by Wallace Cousin, which has enormous potential for disseminating information to members or to organisations outside the club. The General Committee of the club meets three times each year and there is a proposal that all members of Tynedale are allowed to attend this forum.
I do not believe, in a club like Tynedale, that information is power and I am of the opinion that there is only a negligible amount of information in the club which should not be freely available to everyone; members of the Management Committee and of other sub-committees have a duty to keep the rest of the club informed of developments. The new Communications sub-committee, whose primary function will be to maintain and improve the dissemination of information, should facilitate in this process but communications are two-way and members who don't think that they know what is going on should be prepared to ask someone who does know.
Like many similar organisations, much of the work of the club is carried out by a relatively small number of hard pressed individuals who do not necessarily have the drive and vision to take the club forward. The majority of members, most of whom have talents and skills which could be used by the club, all have the well-being of Tynedale at heart but do little to assist in the smooth administration of the club. The success of the proposed management structure will be dependent upon the availability of competent and energetic committee members. Last season's playing performance laid the foundations for a very secure future at Tynedale - but we do need more helpers and volunteers to make it happen.
In his report last year, Douglas Hamilton suggested that some work had to be done to improve the efficiency of some committees within the club. A working group under the chairmanship of Tony Coates was set up in the New Year and they made recommendations, accepted by the Management Committee, that the club's activities should be categorised into seven main areas. These seven strands should be:-
At the first committee meeting after the AGM each member of the new Management Committee should be given lead responsibility for one of the strands. That individual will appoint a sub-committee, who should set out their terms of reference, aims, objectives and targets and the sub-committee chairmen would report each month to the main Management Committee.The implementation of these proposals will, I think, reduce inertia and will give more focus in a number of important fields.
Under the leadership of Nick Steenburg, the Mini-Junior section of the club, with up to 230 boys and girls playing each week, continues to thrive. Playing results are excellent and their organisation is very sound. The need to strengthen the links between the Mini-Junior section and the main club would appear to be self-evident; a coordinated approach to a range of issues is needed and within the ranks of the Mini-Junior coaches and parents there is much enthusiasm and expertisewhich the main club should be trying to harness. The presence of a member of the Mini-Junior section on the main Management committee is designed to achieve these aims.
Tynedale's inaugural School's Tournament was held in September and was a very successful event. Fourteen schools from England, Scotland and Wales took part in a competition which was very well organised and where the standard of rugby was very high. A second tournament is planned for September 2000. Our thanks go to Alex Kerr and his committee for organising this excellent event.
We are also very grateful to Roger Stockdale of Newcastle Computer Services who generously gav ethe club a computer, which will be used in a number of the club's activities.
Refurbishment, repair and improvement of the clubhouse and our ground facilities is an ongoing and costly exercise. We propose to upgrade the heating system in the close season and our next structural work will be to improve the lighting in the clubhouse. Temporary repairs to the car park took place in January and when finances permit, pemanent work on the parking area will be a major project.
During the season Andy Deacon rationalised the Club clothing; old stock which was difficult to move, was sold and an attractive new range of clothing was introduced.
A number of social events took place during the year with varying degrees of success. The Tynedale Ball was held in October but was poorly supported and made a loss. The Promotion Party held after the Macclesfield game was a most enjoyable event and the Dinner Dance held jointly with the Northumberland Agricultural Society on the County Show week-end was successful and will probably be held again next year. The annual player's dinner was held in May and was a great evening. It would have been easy to have been too triumphalist on the night but everyone took a quiet pride in the club's achievements and the tone of the event was just right.
The leasing of a football pitch to Corbridge United Under 12's Football team has worked well and has strengthened the club's links with the community as well as being a source of income.
At the end of my first year in office it is appropriate to offer my personal thanks to a number of unpaid volunteers who keep the club running smoothly.
I would like to thank Richard Halford for his hard work and generosity during his two years as Tynedale President. In the last year of his term of office Richard had to cope with a number of personal problems but throughout this difficult period his support was constant and it must have given him great satisfaction to see the club promoted during his presidency.
Great credit this year must go to John Shotton and his Senior Rugby Management Team and to coaches Alan Gledson, Matt Carter and Kirk Barclay. The senior rugby results this season speak volumes for their enthusiasm, commitment and competence. Our thanks also go to Craig Johnston as Fixture Secretary and Martin Hastie our Team Secretary.
The Management Committee, with Neil Foster and Andrew Cuthbertson to the fore as Secretary and Trasurer, receive my thanks for their work in a demanding year. Douglas Hamilton is standing down at the end of the season from his vital role as Chairman of House and Bar and as a member of the Management committee and Tony Coates will no longer assume an administrative role in the club. In recent years Dougie and TC have been involved in most of Tynedale's activities and the club owes them an immense debt of gratitude. Although Douglas and Tony's balance and wise counsel will be missed in some forums, they will still be involved in a number of important areas.
Jimmy Bell's capacity for hard work is amazing. Jim opens the clubhouse three or four times each week, and with John Lee he keeps Tynedale Park in immaculate condition, and yet he still finds time to run the line for all the Colts' home and away matches and to do all of their laundry.
Colts rugby at Tynedale continues to thrive under the very enthusiastic leadership of John Clark. John regards Colts' rugby as a character-building sporting activitybut also recognises that for young men starting to make their way in the worls, it has great social and educational benefits. For many years the Colts have provided the lifeblood of the senior club and once more we are indebited to John and his team for their commitment to Tynedale RFC and to the young players in the community.
Another group of unsung heroes are the Tynedale Gatemen, who collect entrance fees in all weather and usually don't manage to see all of the game. In recent years this intrpid band have been led by John Cousin and then Tom Stainthorpe but they have both stood down recently. We are very grateful for their efforts and to John Drew and the rest of his team for this low-profile but essential work.
Mike Coulson deserves a great debt of gratitude for the multifarious work he does for the club. Mike has been First XV touch-judge since the inception of the leagues and he combines this commitment with the onerous job of collecting subscriptions. Mike is another great club servant who is prepared to volunteer for any task, from collecting glasses when the bar staff are hard pressed, to getting up early on a cold winter's morning to referee a junior game after a tiring away trip and late night with the first XV.
The very serious illness in January of our Catering Manageress, Liz Millar, caused great disruption and it was gratifying to see so many members rallying round at this very difficult time. It is inviduous to pick out any individuals but our special thanks go to Martin and Yvonne Hastie who unfailingly provided high quality meals for the players on training nights and to Sue Dinning and family who catered at short notice for a number of functions.
Our paid staff have all worked effectively and professionally. Keith Millar continues to improve bar profitabilty and runs a very efficient bar. Keith has taken over many of the duties of Jef Vipond, the clubhouse manager, and although he has personally had a very difficult year, his efforts in the clubhouse have been unstinting. Keith, and all of his bar staff, deserve our gratitude for their commitment during the season.
John Lee, with Jimmy Bell, has worked very well all season and they provide a playing and spectating environment of which we can all be proud. The devastation caused by the torrential rain at the recent County Agricultural Show must have been demoralising for them but I am confident that the ground, as ever, will be in superb condition at the start of the season.
Kay Dowle, who took over as our cleaner at very short notice, deserves our grateful thanks; the standard of cleaning throughout the clubhouse is much improved and kay is always to help out in other ways.
Season 1999-2000 was memorable for Tynedale Rugby Football Club. The coming season in many ways will be more demanding and challenging but I have every confidence that we will establish ourselves in the national leagues. We have a bright future to look forward to.