MINUTES of the ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING held on Wednesday 13th July 2022 @ Wyeside
Opening – The President, Spencer Goodall opened the meeting with thanks for attendance and asked for a minutes silence for lost friends – Les Morris and Geoff Myers, who passed in the year. Geoff’s funeral is to be held at Hereford Crematorium tomorrow (14th July) @ 10:15.
Went on to discuss the current situation in macro terms of rising costs. Covid remains a challenge and we all need to look after each other in these trying times. 23 attended the AGM. Attendance register attached at end.
Apologies – Received from Jo Robinson & Andy Venables.
Minutes of last year’s AGM – The minutes of 2021 AGM were adopted.
Matters arising from minutes – None, other than items contained in agenda items.
President’s Report – Spencer Goodall thanked all sponsors, who go a long way to cover our running costs.
Thanks to committee and players, and to volunteers for all age groups, without whom, rugby would not be possible. 2021, club’s 150th anniversary was marred by water and covid. We were unable to celebrate much. The issues combined did, however, allow the club to be refurbished following the flood and, without covid, the club would be the same as was before.
Lewis Ludlow did open the club for us, which was a success for all age groups.
Senior presentation took place with most of the players enjoying an eventful evening.
Sportsman’s dinner was another success with Andy Powell, a real ‘performer’.
The ‘open evening’ for the volunteers and sponsors was well attended and a success.
Looking forward, fundraising will be key, electricity bills alone will top £2,000/m.
Level Peaks are no longer looking to be main sponsors and Tudors have stepped up.
Fundraising meeting sub-committee meeting on Monday 18th July – 18:00.
Moving forward, looking to maximise events of wakes, parties, company days and quizzes (very well supported to date) but not to the detriment of rugby.
Match day tables to be pushed this year after the success of the limited sales in 2022. Need to be more organised with both 1st XV and 1870 XV in leagues now.
Next major phase is to replace floodlights at a cost of £44,000 (both pitches) with LED, which will reduce electricity use by 50%.
Very pleasing to note 90% of current 1st team have come though junior ranks of the club.
Special mention made for the work Di Hickinbotham has contributed to the bar and house over many years. It is greatly appreciated.
Congratulations to Malcolm Harris, voted as Chair to NM RFU, having 1 year with Fiona Harris, who moves on at end of this current year from her role as secretary to NM RFU.Page 2 of 8
Chairman’s Report – Ivan Powell congratulated Malcolm and was pleased to note HRFC nominated him.
Confirmed the 16 months’ work on kitchen now complete. Containers moved from pitch-side to blocks on verge between Great Western Way and car park. Now need entrance steps to allow safe access! Noted stoned area adjacent to gate, which was prepared for a ‘mobile home’ for an office but this was not suitable on final inspection following flood damage and area now ready if a suitable option should present itself. There is a possibility of a new one for £3,000, which will be discussed at committee level. Security fencing has been installed between verge and Great Western Way to 2/3 way along from gate. Much bramble and two popular trees have been removed, which has allowed an extra mini pitch to be gained within the grounds.
Confirmed all snagging completed and now looking to have a regular maintenance schedule going forward to keep the fabric looking good to allow all the functions mentioned to prosper.
A formal ‘tidy up’ day required, which will include some painting of changing rooms.
We now employ a chef 40hrs/wk. and an operations manager 22.5hrs/wk. This will allow development of the premises to assist with the increased cost of operation as previously mentioned. This added fixed cost means funding and fund-raising becomes more important going forward.
Last year’s AGM reported that Nigel Jarvis, Wmffre Davies, Mark Jones and Martin Hurcombe had approached the club with a plan for 425 trees to be planted around the county, a donation from Wyevale as part of the 150th year celebration. These were offered to local schools who provided players to the mini & junior section over the years, ultimately these players moved into senior ranks. In addition, there was a Red Oak donated, representing both club colours and longevity, which will be planted at Wyeside on a spot to be decided.
Stronger Towns Fund: A brief update for the wider audience.
Central Government has set up a task force, Stronger Towns Fund as part of its levelling up of the regions. Hereford City Council applied for £25m and was awarded £22.5m. HRFC was invited as part of the Wyeside Regeneration Project in conjunction with Sea Cadets, Rowing Club and De Koffie Pot.
Ultimately, the task is to make the Wye more accessible to both locals and tourists to generate income for the city. Originally sought £2.4m but awarded £1.2m. The underlying requirement is that no individual club can benefit directly from the grant funding. Local politics involved with the removal of the trees adjacent to the ‘tow path’ the part of project HRFC involved with to include a new fence all along with two gates for ‘pop-up’ stalls with electricity hook-ups being opposed by the ruling Green Alliance. Removal of trees would also satisfy the ‘safer streets’ campaign by West Mercia Police.
The green agenda within Council now states that the trees cannot be taken out, although the grant funding is not within the political remit to decide on what can or cannot be done, merely to manage the distribution of funds! The trees in question are not heritage species and are self-seeded. Further improvements proposed are to widen the path to 5 or 6 metres and improve lighting to make the path safer. To allow this, the hedge will need to be removed!
Ivan and Emyr will be concentrating on this as it is now in a critical stage of discussion with the political agenda clouding many issues. The Safer Streets agenda by the police needs lighting and CCTV but both these are severely compromised by the trees.Page 3 of 8
Treasurer’s Report – Andy Tanner began by thanking Rob Davies for assistance with completing the accounts for 2019/2020 & 2020/2021. YE 31st May 2022 will be available to committee in the near future. Needs to marry up the balance sheet, which will be the first year of performance with improved facilities. The increase made to staffing will not be fully reflected in the income as ‘operations manager’ was only started May 2022 and chef role has been growing since July 2021.
Andy gave an overview of his role as treasurer, which he took on 2 years ago; 3 parts, i) to account for every penny in/out for a business with a turnover of £250,000 and high volume of transactions, which is an onerous task. Quick Books package has been taken on to make this task easier and allow AT to devote time to part iii. Part ii is to be payroll provider to two employees and the numerous ‘zero hours’ contract staff that is needed to run the club. He sees challenging all expenses as important, not be negative but ensure value is received from every penny spent as it is hard earned funding in the first place and needs to be spent wisely. Part iii is to facilitate growth within the club so we can provide a financially viable base for rugby in Hereford for many years to come.
Cash position 13/7/22 – £115,000, although £20,000 is to be spent on sewage connection in next 4 weeks.
Cash as at 1/6/2021 – £134,400.
Initial adjusted operating position for May 2022 shows -£7,340. This based on income £240,000, costs
£271,000 and adding back non-recurring expenses £22,800.
Budgets for 2022/2023 presented with club overhead expected to be £92,000, playing budget £35,000.
Match day income and subscriptions are expected to leave a income generation requirement of £112,000. The sponsorship is key to the continued financial stability of the club with non-rugby income generation also a key avenue to be addressed this coming year.
‘Old changing rooms’ replacement was mentioned here by IP, where a two-story building with access from Great Western Way for flood days is best target and AV is looking at initial design concept. Costs now will be in region £350,000.
Fiona Harris mentioned that the financial issues above are not specific to HRFC, but many clubs in NMRFU are facing the same.
Director of Rugby Report – Scot Sturdy updated his requirement/vision for last season:
Every game played – no walkovers; 3 games walkover, 1 for 1st1XV and 2 for 2XV.
Top 4 finish both teams – 1XV 9th and 2XV 7th.
At least 10 colts to transition to senior teams – 12 colts transitioned to both senior teams in year.
90% win rate home – 1XV 77% (10 of 13).
Have social 6 times – not achieved.
Actual numbers:
1XV (called HRFC next Season):
Played 26 league games, W 10; D 2; L14. Points – F 463, A 600.
Points 47 (-5 for walkover v Kenilworth). P9.
2XV (called Hereford 1870’s next season):
Played 15 league games, W6; D1; L8 Points – F171, A 213. P7.Page 4 of 8
Summary:
Overall, a mixed season across the section. There were some outstanding home performances from both senior teams. Our Two highlights of the season are getting 12 colts transitioned into the senior squad and getting the 2XV into the official RFU leagues for next season. We are fully aware away form and performances have not been at an acceptable level and need to improve the standards for 2022/2023.
There are some extenuating circumstances that have contributed to this, mainly 28 players out injured during September and October, with some not returning for the rest of the season.
For coming season:
- Every league game to be played with no walkovers.
- Top half finish for both sides.
- At least 10 colts transitioned through the season.
- 90% home win rate for both teams.
- 50 away win rate for both teams.
We have been fortunate in securing the following team to support the seniors next season:
Senior coaches: Scott Sturdy; Alun Richards; Bob Stewart & Nigel Hinton.
Managers: Rob Davies & Nigel Hinton.
Physio: Elliot Payne.
Captains: Connor Sullivan (HRFC) & Rich Daw (Hereford 1870’s).
Vice Captains: Ewan Duncan (HRFC) & Tom Denny (Hereford 1870’s).
Pre-season games:
5th August (Friday) -v- Newent Home KO 19:00;
13th August (Saturday) -v- Newent Away;
20th August (Saturday) -v- Old Pats Away.
Gibraltar tour May 2023 – 50 interested (38 players and 12 supporters) to date. More information from
Colts Report – Di Hickinbotham pulled from league prior to Xmas as players lost to Cathedral. Returned after
Xmas and re-joined league. P 10; W8; L2.
Div 1 for next season.
Junior Section Report – Andy Venables provided a summary as he has covid and sent apologies:
- First and foremost, the Junior bank account is the healthiest it’s ever been.
- First season back to normal. Very successful and numbers are growing. U15s won the plate at Monmouth 7s, U14s got through to the North Mids Cup final. U12s won Bromsgrove festival and Longlevens festival.
- New kit design approved and order placed today with Scimitar. Online shop will be up and running soon. We are bulk buying to keep the costs down. Cotwold BMW are picking up the bill and paying the VAT. We will pay the residual amount.
- Sponsorship deals with BMW Cotswold £10k and SNC mission control £5 over 2 years.
- New fee structure yet to be confirmed but will be a registration fee with kit say £40 with a £120 annual fee. Being offered £15 per month over 10months. Payment through GMS also need to be able to know if standing order have been stopped.
- Did discuss combining club membership with subs for an extra £5 per month. Lots of little!
- First aiders in place but need new supplies.
- Safeguard audit has action points. Ivan knows about this. Mainly comms and website being light on info. No pics etc. DBS tracking is hard work.
- 11th September will be a HRFC Fun day after training. We will tie in player registration and issuing the kit on that day. Barbecue and inflatables.
- We need steps to the container with pads. It’s a health and safety nightmare.
- Sunday parking will be an issue again. Once its wet it’s a nightmare.
- Training Wednesday, does this become an off-site session due to the cost of running floodlights?
- Scott has his camp in August and is doing CPD in September.
- Been working with Bishops re free coaches and using their facilities. New PE head has quit. Bishops is run by dinosaurs therefore everything takes forever. Garry Preece wants to do flood-lit games but needs to be viable. i.e, get bar open, provide food.
- Owen from U7 and Fairfield PE head wants to run tournaments at the club during the week. Year seven and year eight. Again loads of opportunity for bar and food, plus I can poach players.
- RFU courses are back and volunteers are registering for them.
- All positions filled on committee and everyone happy.
- Big work on in September will be to re-engage parents as covid ruined any progress.
- Transparency on running costs and how the club is run. Needs a sales pitch and we all know someone good for that!!
Clubhouse Work:
As I’m living the dream with architectural services… the new sewage pump and associated drainage will start on 25th July and will finish within 3 weeks.
We need to sort the new changing room design, so I can do some visuals to invoke some interest. Plus, we can look at build costs. Set a Goal.
Election of Officers – There was no competition for existing positions so a mass, block nomination was
suggested: Proposed by Garteth Griffiths, seconded by Di Higginbotham and agreed by all.
President:
Spencer Goodall
Chairman:
Ivan Powell
Treasurer:
Andy Tanner
Secretary:
Emyr Saer
Disciplinary Chairman:
Robin Davies
Fixture Sec:
Rory Edwards
Colts Manager:
Di Hickinbotham
Club Captain:
Connor Sullivan
Mini/Junior Chairman:
Andrew Venables
Bar Manager:
Di Hickinbotham
1870 Captain:
Rich Daw
Grants Officer:
Scott Shearer
Membership & Registration Officer:
Lynne Duncan
Volunteer Co-ordinator
John Johnson
Welfare Officer
Chris Morgan
Sponsorship, Press & PR Officer
Jo Robinson
Coaching Co-ordinator
Dave Thomas
Combined Counties Rep
no nominations
Referee Coordinator
Graham Neal
Election of VP`s and Life Members – None Proposed
Special Resolution – None proposed
Any Other Business
- Sub-committees required: i) finance & ii) Fund raising (1st meeting arranged for 18th July
– 18:00).
- Martin Hurcomb needs a team of Saturday volunteers (15) for league games.
iii. 29th July – live band @ Wyeside.
The meeting was formally closed by Ivan Powell at 8.36 p.m.
