The first 100 days of any new role is when an individual is meant to make the maximum impact. I reckon I have about 67 to go and am lagging where I ideally would like to be.
I promised to communicate regularly. This is the second monthly update I have tried to write, so probably a “B” with regards to this aim.

Most of my first month has been trying to understand the Club’s position on the various agreements with the South West Essex Community Education Trust. I had not realised that this would turn out to be far more complicated than I had originally thought it would be. This is particularly relevant as we held the EGM on the, I will refer to them as the “demountable” buildings, in early August but have not been able to give the members an update on this since then. As agreed at the EGM we are looking into the terms of any Agreement with our legal people with regards to a lease of the land where these are located. We received a draft Agreement for consideration, but this was vastly different to what we expected so was rejected. We await an update from the Trust’s solicitors to review.
We are also looking into the terms of the original planning proposal for the building of the school and subsequent use and finally the classroom/store with the viewing gallery. The legal teams and architects have all been involved in reviewing where we are so my hope is that we can treat each on its merits and any agreements reached will be advantageous to the Club. The initial relationship with the Trust has benefitted the Club greatly, particularly with regards to funding some of our exceptional costs.

Support from the Trust has meant work has also started on the arrangement to provide floodlighting on the other pitch(es) to ease the pressure on our Pitch 1 on training nights.

Following the AGM at the end of August, Martin Healy, the Club’s Treasurer, stepped down from his role. Since he took over our finances both the Balance Sheets and our ability to support & fund the key objective of “promoting the participation in the playing of rugby”, (and other sports), has improved significantly. I would like to offer my personal thanks to Martin who has been a great help to me whilst managing the men’s rugby and continues to support the Committee & Trustees in the professional manner he has always displayed and is working with us to hand over the job to a new Treasurer.

In addition to finding a new Treasurer we are also seeking a volunteer to help run the allocation of international tickets. Alex Davies has managed this task very well in recent years but would like to pass the job onto someone new. Again, any member that is interested please drop an email to a member of the General Committee or just talk to one of us at the Club.

On a very positive note, the rugby has been going very well.
The Men’s first team have won all three of their league games and currently sit 2nd in their league. They also won their First-Round match in the Community Cup (this covers clubs at our level across the Country) against Campion. Their opposition, Romford & Gidea Park, in the Second Round have cried off so we are already in the Third Round which will be played in November. The second team sit top of the Merit Table having won 2 out of 2. The T-Birds have started well and are 3rd after their match on the 5th October, a win (7-67) against Sutton & Epsom. They have a difficult job this coming Sunday 12th October against the table topping Richmond FC so every supporter will provide the team a boost. The Men’s 3s and Youth teams have had mixed results so far.

The Commercial team, ran by Mike “2” Silk, has started to promote sponsorship of the Club more aggressively. The funds collected from this group get matched, as far as possible, by the Club. Sponsorship packs are available for both Men and Women’s teams, and Mike can send you copies if you have a potential sponsor you can approach. This is a key area to develop.

The mixed ability rugby group “Acers” recently held an evening at the Club in the lounge which was well received. Their next session is on the 18th October between 9.30-11.00a.m.

I am not sure I have got very far with my third “Comm”, the Community, apart from contact with the Council’s planning department – I am pretty sure that doesn’t count.

Thanks for reading.

Mike