BATH RUGBY SUPPORTERS’CLUB

MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Held at

The Clubhouse, Recreation Ground, Bath

on 18 August 2009 at 8 pm

Present:

Committee:

Penny Brunton

Georgina Barratt

Penny Dale

Mike Senior

Amoree Radford

Members:

P Dale L Radford P Cavallini C Thatcher A Thatcher M Sumbler T Parker R Jefferies S Jefferies L Moore A Moore P Hanks S Pearce K Pearce D Rawlings Ellward J Walker R Walker P Cripps K Newbrook J Newbrook R Titchen R Manaton R Hill

P Maggs C Maggs J Trump S Trump S Moore H King C Firkins J Firkins K York M York J Ferguson P Lewis T Lewis D Harrison V Henderson T Healey M Perry PDix S Dix K Brunton A Finch P Haywood J Cleeve P Collins J Love

P Murch T Downing J Lewis P Lewis J Cooper S Owen P Isaaac R Wright S Andrew D Smith J Kirkham N Parker M Chippendale F Clayton Z Adams J Spurrell G Edwards E Edwards T O’Leary D White D Fry M Gale A Kirkham M Hammett R Preston

D Gibbs S Davies S Eades D Shearn T Sutton M Picton P Gagg P Legge S Legge V Ody I MacIntyre P Downey R Slade M Robinson S Blanchard B Hill K Lawrence T Riley K Strudwick-Tettmar R Grundy B Goodwin D Batchelor D Shearn M Brooks

Welcome

Penny Brunton welcomed all those present and thanked them for attending. Penny then introduced Steve Meehan, Head Coach, and the Season’s new signings.

Speaker

Having introduced the new signings, Steve gave a brief look forward to the season ahead. During a short question and answer session, the AGM reflected on a disappointing away record and in particular discussed the Toulouse game which we really should have won. Other topics raised focused on the Club’s approach to improving on field performance and achieving consistently high standards of performance and also repairing the impact and reputational damage caused by off field events during and after the close of the season. New structures were in place within the team to help manage these issues and there were grounds for optimism as we approach the new season. Particular thanks were given to the five Senior Players who would fulfil a key role in developing the Team spirit and ethos. The issue of Rec development was raised; short term plans to increase capacity and provide some improvement to facilities were in hand but the long term development was still subject to resolution of complex planning and legal issues.

Penny thanked Steve and the players for attending and for their contribution to the discussions.

1. Notice Convening the Meeting. The notice convening the meting was read. It was confirmed that in accordance with Item 4(b) of the Constitution, the Notice had been published in the Press and on the BRSC website and that Members had also been notified by mailing.

2. Apologies. The following had presented their apologies:

Barry Cleeve, Jan and Mike Warrington, Peter and Betty Measday, Alan and Ian Warrington, The Crocker family, Brunton youth, The Donaldson family, Emma Sparks, Kate Dale, Susanne and Adrian Laws, Lyn and Chris Higgs, John and Elaine Dangerfield, Wendy and Hughie Armitage, Kieran Bird,Jon and Lisa O’Brien, Stephen Dalley Smith, Peter Hall.

3. Minutes of the 2008 Annual General Meeting. The minutes of the 2008 AGM had been published on the website with a limited number of copies available at the meeting. The minutes were approved for signature and there were no matters arising.

4. Chairman’s Report

Welcome to everyone and thank you for attending. I hope that everyone has signed in at the door; renewed their membership (if not previously done so), got their tickets for the Supper next week and that all the men have their BRSC ties.

Chairman’s Report – AGM 2008

As we look forward to the new season and not back to the disruption at the end of last, we have plenty of reasons to be optimistic. The new signings are in place - albeit one of them had to break his leg in order to miss the two away games against his old club – and Luke Watson will not arrive until November after South Africa’s Currie Cup domestic campaign. Planning permission has been sought for improved training facilities at Lambridge and we are marginally more upbeat about our future at the Rec. Congratulations to Michael Claassens for being named Club Captain for the season 2009/10.

Last Season

Last season our away record was not as successful as the previous season, losing by whiskers to Leicester and Toulouse and no bonus points against Sarries and Glaws, with the further ignominy of losing our first ever league game against Glos at home. The eagerly-awaited home game against Toulouse proved to be a damp squib, played in atrocious conditions in a mud soup. Although the players went wild celebrating a draw and finishing top of the Pool, the supporters were left with a massive “what if”. A penalty or drop goal could have seen us with a home Heineken Cup quarter-final draw and the outcome could have been oh so very different.

Leicester also, of course, banished any hopes of silverware with our further defeat in the Premiership play-offs.

We should like to put on record our gratitude to Mark Bakewell for doing such a great job with the forwards and wish him well for the future, although we are thrilled to see Haagy back.

Off the pitch, in January, we were rocked by Matt Stevens’ drug-taking revelations and the press lost no time in getting on the case. Since then, of course, we have been further stunned by the end of season shenanigans and we are all saddened and disappointed that the name of our great club has been dragged through the mire, featuring on the front pages and not in the sports pages of the press. Those involved have not only let themselves, the Club and the other players down but, most importantly, the supporters.

We are glad that the “Gang of Five” of Danny, Dave Barnes, Dave Flatman, Stuart Hooper and Joe Maddock have been put in place to ensure that nothing like this ever happens to the Club again but, may we remind them that amongst all their words about “restoring trust” in the community and “being good role models” to the youngsters, I do not believe I read anywhere that they mentioned the supporters! Come on, boys, we’re still here.

Functions: We do try to put on events that will be of interest to our supporters, although we appreciate that a week night is not the most convenient time for many. We should be interested to know just what types of function would interest you the most. We put in a lot of time and effort and it can be quite depressing if few people turn up.

Wednesday, 24^th September 2008 – Spreaders and the ELVS

Tony Spreadbury provided great entertainment to a packed Clubhouse and we were left either much clearer on the ELVS – or even more confused. Thankfully, most of the ELVs have now been ditched.

Remembrance Day – 11^th November 2008

This was the third year that the BRSC had been a part of the wreath-laying ceremony at the Rec. Mike Warrington deputised for me to lay the wreath on behalf of the supporters.

Bingo on 19^th November 2008

Our thanks to Belly for calling the numbers at a most successful bingo evening in November. Everyone enjoyed the experience, although we gathered that a number of participants knew as little about bingo as the majority of the Committee! The entrance fee included the cost of food and a donation to the Royal British Legion (who loaned us the equipment) but not the cost of the bingo cards. We subsequently apologised for not covering this in our advertising. In the event, the British Legion gave the proceeds of the evening to our injured players and £70 was therefore added to Tam’s Fund.

Blue, Black and Pink (Ladies’ Night) on 27^th November 2008

Despite a relatively low turnout, those who did attend spent a most pleasant evening, with Ben Williams and Andy Higgins available to apply the make up and Danny Grewcock and Alex Crockett on hand to sell the raffle tickets! The amount raised for the Tamara Johnson Fund was in excess of £150. Thank you to the players, the stallholders and to those ladies who came along. Thank you also to Penny Dale who put in all the hard work to organise this event.

Christmas Quiz on 11^th December 2008

A big thank you to Dave Stock for yet another highly entertaining quiz, which stretched the little grey cells. The atmosphere was tremendous and the supper excellent. We were joined by players Stuart Hooper, Scott Bemand, Scott Hobson and Jamie Currie.

Zak Presentation on 20 December 2008

Zak Feaunati returned to the Rec for the Sale game and this was the first opportunity the Supporters’ Club had to show their appreciation. A presentation was made on the pitch at half-time, when Zak was presented with a cut-glass decanter inscribed “Thanks for the Memories”.

Les Toulousains! – 23^rd January 2009

A handful of Bath supporters met up with some of Les Toulousains at the Pulteney Arms on the Friday before the Toulouse home game. This proved to be an exceedingly lively evening – Vive l’entente cordiale!

At somewhat short notice, we managed to organise a Coaches Evening/Tri Nations View of the 6 Nations on Wednesday, 11^th February 2009.

Mark Bakewell and Brad Davies answered questions on the season so far. They were joined by Shaun Berne, Daniel Browne and Pieter Dixon, to get their perspective on northern hemisphere competition. Although the numbers attending were somewhat disappointing, it was a most entertaining evening. Again, we received criticism on ERE for not advertising our events – despite having been in the Chron, E-zine, match programmes and on the website.

The Night before Bristol on Friday, 6^th March was a tremendous success and we thanked David Trick and Ollie Redman for giving their valuable time – free of charge! We were thrilled to be able to welcome Tamara Johnson, making her first “public” appearance since suffering her neck injury in February last year. The raffle of a rugby ball, signed by the Bath Rugby squad, raised £350 to be paid into Tam’s Fund.

Lee Mears’ Testimonial Year - Race Night on Friday, 24^th April 2009 was attended by almost 100 punters. Lee was allowed out by Steve Meehan for most of the evening. He was joined by Aaron Jarvis and Joe Maddock, who helped to swell the coffers and present the prizes to the winning owners. Thanks to the main organisers, Jan and Mike Warrington and Charles Reeves and to all those who helped with manning the door and the tote, to Steve the compère and, in particular, to Jan Gregory, who dealt with all the printing. The amount raised was £900, with all proceeds going to the Willow Foundation, Lee’s chosen charity.

The players do enjoy these events and it is a pity that we cannot encourage them to attend of their own volition, rather than having to request their appearances through the Club. One cannot help but feel that a harmless evening with the supporters would be a great deal more beneficial to them than being left to their own devices.

Absent friends

Steve Smith; Mollie Hall (wife of Peter); Carol Gagg (wife of Peter); Ralph Lilley (grandfather of Mark); L’Aquila Rugby’s young prop, Lorenzo Sebastiani and, of course, to all the other people of L’Aquila who lost their lives. (We are still trying to establish a reliable contact for sending the £2,000+ raised at the last home game of the season.)

We also send good wishes to BRSC members who are suffering with long term illnesses.

Notice re coaches from Jan and Mike

Another excellent season on the coach travel front.

Barring the Sale EDF game and Toulouse away, we managed to run coaches to all other away games, including five coaches to Leicester for both the quarter-final of the Heineken Cup and the semi-final of the Premiership play-offs.

The raffles have continued their success. Again, most of the prizes being donated by supporters, who then buy tickets to win them back! This gave us a fantastic sum o9f £1,770 and, with the consent of all the regular coach travellers, the Coach Account donated a further £230, raising the magnificent sum of £2,000 for Help for Heroes*.

A cheque for this amount will be presented at half-time at our first home game against Wasps.

Our coaches are friendly, noisy and very welcoming. Why not give us a try? If you are a BRSC member you will save £2 per trip, so get others to join.

Many thanks for a fabulous season of travel.

*The Help for Heroes charity match was held at Twickenham on the same day that Bath played London Irish away. Many of our away travellers said they would have gone to both games, had the Twickenham match been on the Sunday. There was therefore no contest when it came to deciding on which charity the coach travellers would support for the 2008-09 season.

Sponsored Player

Last season we sponsored Adrian Griffiths, who has been on loan to Newbury. We now understand that he is no longer involved with the Academy and may be going on to play 7s for the West Indies. This season, we are sponsoring another Academy player, Paul Roberts, fly-half/centre and we trust we have more success with keeping this sponsored player! Let us hope that he breaks into the first team during the coming season and we do not have to say goodbye to him at the end of the April 2010.

Committee and Thank yous:

It is fairly common knowledge that yours truly was taken ill whilst in Toulouse in October, resulting in an extended stay in Bath’s 5-star hotel – the RUH. This did not however curtail trying to maintain an element of control via mobile phone! Barry Cleeve and Em Sparks quickly stepped into the breach, with Barry standing in as Acting Chair. A thousand thanks to them both in awkward circumstances and I am only sorry that they have now decided to stand down from the Committee. Em resigned in February but she continues to organise a BRSC Facebook group, steward the away coaches and say a few bons mots on Radio Bristol.

Barry will continue to do home and away match reports for the Chron, until we find a replacement and he will also be our MC next week at the Awards Supper.

We are indebted to Charles Reeves, who stepped into the role of Hon Sec. However, his position was compromised by the altered work patterns at Honda in Swindon and he was unable to attend meetings. The remainder of the Committee would say that I am far too pedantic when it comes to the written word and I’ve frightened them away!

Amorée Radford has done sterling work over the last three years as Hon Treas but would be the first to admit that her involvement with the closure of Cadburys in Keynsham has just caused an extra burden and she has decided not to continue into her fourth year. Thanks, Mo, for all your hard work and for organising the Bingo nights so successfully.

As for the marvellous Warringtons – what can one say? They have been running the away coaches for many a long year, as well as organising the Race Nights, the Mystery Walks, finding sponsors for our trophies and getting them engraved. They have both decided to stand down and just concentrate on the coaches. It also rids the Committee of any perceived nepotism!

Also, regrettably, Mike has become disillusioned in trying to convince both the Club and the players that coming to BRSC do’s is not a burden but might, in fact, be quite fun and that their names need not be on Pam Burke’s list for them to attend.

Craig Hodges, who initially took over from me as Hon Sec, then resigned, then came back, has now been forced by non-availability to resign once again. Thanks, Craig for your input.

Thank you to those who are prepared to fight on: George Barratt will continue as Mem Sec; Mike Senior, who having faltered earlier on, has taken to finding us a mass of new discounts with great gusto and I have convinced him he should stay. So, please check out the discounts and use them!

Finally, Penny Dale – what can I say about her?! Much like me, she is now part of the furniture. She looks after all the printing, the Junior birthday and other cards; posters; organises the Ladies’ Night; ticket sales, especially for the Supper and then does all the seating arrangements – so no complaints next week, please!

Those non-Committee members who deserve our thanks and who continue to work on our behalf are Kate Dale, assisting Penny; Jan Gregory, who does all the printing for race night and Kelvin Brunton, who runs the website. We mustn’t forget the evergreen Doug Gibbs and Dave White, who continue to run the Saturday shirt raffles, for the benefit of the Community Foundation.

I should also like to thank Peter Downey for donating the Ref!Link to our cause and, as Chairman of the Real Friends of the Rec, he is about to become an ex officio member of the committee.

Thank you to Vicky Ody for auditing our Accounts (– please come forward Vicky to accept a small gift).

Once again, our thanks to Dean Quintin and Jerry Quinn in the Clubhouse; to Jackie Povey in the shop, to Mark Wenban in the ticket office and to all those working at Argyle Street, especially Pam, Jimmy, Karen, Tim, Mark and, of course, Bob.

Thank you to you for listening. There is a chance that I may have to stand down during the coming season – I am about to become a granny and baby-sitting duties will surely take over!!

1. Membership Secretary’s Report

Membership last Season reached 1031. So far, 600 applications had been received of which 100 were from new Members. Funding was discussed; no new badges had been produced this year in an attempt to constrain costs to current levels. It was agreed that options for attracting new members would be a key issue for the new Committee, but the AGM was asked to note that current subscriptions may not be sufficient to meet costs and that an increase may be required to avoid an operating loss.

2. Treasurer’s Report

The BRSC closing balance for the season 2008 – 2009 was £3843.34, up on the previous season of £2623.08. At first glance, it may appear that we are not a non-profit making club, however, at a very well-attended and much-enjoyed, jovial Race Night for Lee Mears Testimonial, a massive £900 was raised for Lee’s chosen charity, The Willow Foundation and this amount has yet to be debited to the account and sent as a donation.

The merchandise previously purchased at the beginning of the season 2007 - 2008 has continued to sell well and the remaining 25 ties and 10 trumpets held in stock amounts to £247.50.  Please feel free to join the merry band of horn blowers, the more noise the better!

We had a new addition this season, a display trophy cabinet which cost £100, I think you will all agree it was much needed and is certainly to be admired, as are its contents!

Donations

Throughout the season the Saturday Shirt Raffles raised substantial amounts of money, £12,000 was raised for The Community Foundation, another wonderful year thanks to the generosity of the Supporters.

A donation to The Tamara Johnson Appeal Fund for £1,950 has been made.  This was made up of a Saturday Shirt Raffle and raffles at well-attended BRSC events.  Tam is such a wonderfully positive young lady and we hope the supporters will continue to help her.

Last season brought with it the terrible news of the earthquake in Italy, which totally destroyed the L’Aquila Rugby Club and ground; they also suffered the heartbreaking loss of one of their young forwards.  One of the Saturday Shirt Raffles was dedicated to the L’Aquila Rugby Appeal Fund and was very well supported by kind and generous Supporters, raising £2,186.20.

I have been Honorary Treasurer for 3 seasons and to be a part of a group of people putting on events for the BRSC supporters and helping to raise money for such deserving causes has given me great pleasure.  I will not try to pretend that it has all been easy but sometimes the extra mile you go is more than worth any negatives that can confront you.

I would like to take this opportunity to say a special Thank You to Jan Warrington, and all who have given me support and guidance.  I would also like to include the inhabitants of Keynsham as, without their fingers and toes, the books may not have balanced!

Lastly, a big Thank You to Vicky Ody for preparing the BRSC accounts for the season 2008 – 2009.

3. BRSC PLAYERS’ AWARDS – RESULTS SEASON 2008/09

Before I advise you of the results, I should point out that a large number of votes were cast before the end of the season and you will therefore appreciate that subsequent events, despite the on-pitch heroics, have soured the outcome. We make no apologies, therefore, for disqualifying certain players from eligibility. Some people have subsequently asked if they could change their votes and these are now reflected in the following announcements:

Player of the Season – Winner of the Vince Dyer Memorial Cup:

In reverse order

In the third place – Butch James

In second place – Michael Claassens

But miles out in front – Joe Maddock

Young Player of the Season – sponsored by Wilts Electrical:

In third place – Ryan Davis

In second place – Matt Banahan who pushed the winner very hard for top spot –

But the winner is once again Nick Abendanon, who just squeaks in below the under 23 age restriction for “Young”. Happy birthday, Nick!

Try of the Season – sponsored by Hamptons:

In third place, with his length of the pitch run to score the try against Worcester at home – Duncan Bell

In second place, any one of Joe Maddock’s tries, including the one that was missed off the original voting list versus Leicester away

But, in first place, that last second try that sent the Rec into orbit – Butch James versus Leicester at home.

Personality of the Season – sponsored by Wincanton

In third place – David Flatman

In second place – Jonny Fa'amatuainu

But the winner is our old warhorse, Duncan Bell

Season’s Unsung Hero – sponsored by Helphire:

In third place - David Flatman

In second place – Duncan Bell

First place goes to the player who has put his all into his new club – Stuart Hooper

We should like to congratulate all the winners and look forward to their company at the Awards Supper next week on Tuesday, 25^th August 2009.

4. Committee Nominations

Chairman: Penny Brunton

Honorary Treasurer: Vacancy

Honorary Secretary: Vacancy

Membership Secretary: Georgina Barratt*

Members: Penny Dale *

Mike Senior *

*Re-elected:

Georgina Barratt: Proposed Paul Isaac

Seconded John Arnold

Penny Dale: Proposed Michael Senior

Seconded Amorée Radford

Mike Senior: Proposed Penny Dale

Seconded John Love

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New Nominees:

Diane Shearn: Proposed Mike Warrington

Seconded Jan Warrington

Andy Thatcher: Proposed Penny Brunton

Seconded Penny Dale

Kevin Lawrence: Proposed Pat Lawrence

Seconded Chris Baker

Glyn Edwards: Proposed Erica Edwards

Seconded Kelvin Brunton

Steve Eades: Proposed Dave White

Seconded Rob Hill

Peter Downey: ex officio member – Real Friends of the Rec

Bob Calleja ex officio member – Bath Rugby

We have also been approached by Tom Sutton and Tom Riley who would be prepared to help out or to be co-opted, as necessary.

The new nominees introduced themselves to the Meeting. Since the number of nominees did not exceed the number of vacancies, the AGM’s approval to the election of the nominees was taken without formal vote. Tom Riley subsequently joined the committee as Treasurer.

5. Any Other Business. No new topics not already covered by the Agenda were raised.

6. Close. The AGM closed at 9pm; Members were thanked for their attendance and participation.