Minutes from the 2007 AGM

Sedgefield Mags AGM held 21/5/2007


¨Members Present – John Davison (chair), Michael Colledge (Sec), Paul Armes, Keith Armes, Dennis Clark, Eddie Buist, Mark Colledge & Paul Davison

¨Apologies of Absence –Lee Armes, Jimmy Colledge & Martin Davison

¨Minutes of last ordinary Meeting – Michael informed the meeting that he had taken the step of officially declaring James Milner Sedgefield Mags player of the season, due to the lack of a May meeting and with Milner clearly leading the voting.

¨Matters Arising – No matters arising from previous meeting.

¨Monthly statement of Accounts – Report given to meeting, club continue to show a healthy balance.

¨ Chairman’s Annual Address – John issued his annual address to members at the meeting. His first comment was to thank god that the season was now at an end on the playing side at least. John commented on how he was worried at the start of the season how the club would fare with the significant increase in the cost of the coach hire, a worry that ultimately was unfounded. The club as a whole continue to tick over and make progress, John thanked Michael for his continued work in maintaining a good positive link with the club which allows the club to make presentations at St James’ Park and gives the members a chance to see behind the scenes on a match day. John highlighted the 2 presentations made to Shay Given this year (1 presentation and 1 re-run) and the continued improvement of the clubs website. On the finance aspect of the club John was very pleased to be able to say that the club had made on overall profit on the season despite the increase in the coach hire. John also commented on the negative aspects of the past season which mainly had been the loss of coach’s to the UEFA and League Cup games, but did make the observation that the 1 bus that did run to the FA Cup made a heavy loss and therefore it had been a prudent decision by the club at the start of the season to dispose of coach’s to cup games. John also stated that it had been a sad year for the club with the passing of Alec Short in January. Kind thanks were given to Julie and Neil for their continued support of the club by allowing us to use their room free of charge. John finally thanked all those that had helped the club in one capacity or another throughout the year and reiterated that without the few that continue to due the hard work then there would be no club.

¨ Minutes of last AGM – Read and passed as a true record.

¨ Matters arising from last AGM – No matters arising from previous AGM that would not be dealt with in the agenda for the meeting.

¨ Annual statement of accounts – The accounts for this season show a slight profit for the season and will hold us in good balance for the start of next season. The chairman expressed his thanks to Keith for his hard work this season as treasurer.

¨ Election of officers – All jobs upon the committee were up for re-election with the exception of the Chairmen who moves into his final year of office. Michael informed the meeting that there had been no correspondence from any members wishing to nominate themselves onto the committee. John took a review of all offices and after a short discussion it was felt that all offices should remain in situ for the forthcoming season. John gave all current committee members chance to relinquish their posts, but all members declined this offer and therefore all officers returned into their current offices. See appendix 1.

¨ Honoraria for Officers – It was felt from the floor that no further rise is needed at this time, vote taken 8/0 in favour of maintaining current honoraria levels. All payments to be made to the appropriate officer at the 1st meeting of the new season. See appendix 1.

¨ Membership – Membership of the club was up by 2 on the previous year, a total of 71 members were paid up this season. The increase was put down to a number of new members bringing with them new junior members.
Registration – Will be open from the 1st home game of the season. Membership will now close on Christmas Eve of the current season.
Subscriptions – Currently stand at £5 new member (£2 child) and £2 for a renewal. At the emergency meeting held last July it was talked that an increase in subscriptions would be a realistic possibility for next season, but after a lengthy discussion it was felt that all subscriptions should remain the same for the forthcoming season. Vote of 8/0 in favour of this

¨ Travel
Pick up Points – Currently the bus picks up at Sedgefield, Fishburn, Trimdon, Coxhoe and Bowburn – all pick up points are to remain the same for next season. The current deal that the club has with Joe Waters is to remain in place for the start of the season and be reviewed, as the club are uncertain of Adam’s situation for next season.
Departure Times – The bus currently departs Sedgefield at 12.55pm for a 3pm kick off and 5.55pm for a 7.45pm kick off – these times are to remain the same.
Cost of Hire – John informed the meeting that he had been in touch the coach provider and had negotiated a new price for next season. The secretary passed comment that he had been very impressed with the chairman’s efforts in sorting out coach hire prior to tonight’s meeting – a comment that is duly noted at the chairman’s expressed wish. There will be an increase in the cost of the coach hire next season of £10 per game to £170 for a 53-seated coach. John will seek a slight reduction in this but was given the go ahead from the meeting to organise the coaches for next year on the current option of £170 if no further reduction could be given.
Bus Fares – Due to the slight increase in the cost of coach hire for next year it was felt that no rise in the current cost of bus fare was needed for the forthcoming season, a vote of 8/0 in favour of this. Michael brought up a point of order of the current setting for a senior citizen, the current infrastructure looks at if a person is employed or not and what age they are, therefore Michael proposed that a more streamlined approach is taken for this. John proposed that upon reaching the age of 60, for the purposes of Sedgefield Mags that person will be classed as a senior citizen and be entitled to the benefits of a senior citizen. Vote 8/0 in favour of this.
Arrangements for Cup Games – As John had stated in his address it had been financially prudent this year to cease with coaches to cup games. This will remain for the forthcoming season however the chairman put it to the floor that there could be some flexibility upon this if demand required. Vote of 8/0 in favour of this option.

¨ Telegraph Fantasy League – Paul unable to give a report to the meeting. Club will again enter this format next season but with Lee Armes as manager and not Paul.

¨ Mystic Mag – Results given to the meeting from Paul, the winner with 131 points was Jimmy Colledge 11 points ahead of 2nd place. This is Jimmy second successive win of the Mystic Mag.
Next Season – Paul has agreed to run the Mystic Mag next season and the format will remain the same.
Prize Money – Money to be decided at the November meeting when a final entry number is known.

¨ Premier League Sweep – John thanked Dennis for his hard work in the running of the sweep this season, all winners are now in the process of being paid out.
Next Season – Dennis has agreed to continue the premier sweep for next season, current format of £30 at Christmas and £30 end of season to remain. Dennis informed the meeting that the club had made £170 over the season from this venture. Dennis also mentioned the possibility of not receiving enough interest for next season and should the club impose a 1st come 1st served 20 team sweep. The meeting explored other options and it was felt that the current system was working well and it would be foolish to turn money away, therefore dependant on the number of participants next year will determine which leagues the sweep will be conducted from.

¨ Player of the Season – As had previously been brought up, the winner of the 2006 / 2007 Sedgefield Mags Player of the Year was James Milner with 93 points 65 ahead of 2nd place Scott Parker and 70 ahead of 3rd place Oba Martins.
Award – As with current proceedings a vote was held to see if Sedgefield Mags should make an award to the winning player. Vote Yes 8 No 0. Michael has already been in contact with club who will be happy to have us back at the start of next season. Michael to arrange.
Next Season – The current system of voting at the monthly meetings will again decide the player of the season next year.

¨Sedgefield Mags Fantasy League – Thanks given to Keith and Paul for their continued hard work running the fantasy league. Keith informed the meeting that the club had taken £130 in entry costs for the season.
Manager of the month - Report given to meeting Manager of the month for April was Paul Armes with 225 points and manager of the month for May was Lewis Nicholson with 73 points.
League Champion - Final league tables were presented to the meeting Jimmy Colledge was this seasons winner with 1544 (This was Jimmy’s 4th success in the past 10 seasons), 2nd was Paul Armes with 1524. Finishing last for the 2nd season running was Kathryn and Eddie who scored 1011 points
Cup Winner – This season’s final was played between Keith Armes and Lee Armes, with Lee looking to become the 1st person to retain the cup. Unfortunately this was not to be as Keith won by 61 points to 44.
Next Season – Keith has agreed to run the fantasy league next season, but Michael put a proposal to slightly change the current format. Instead of having 1 big league split them into 2 leagues with the top 2 teams at the end of April facing off in a Championship decider in May. Michael felt that this might keep peoples interest going right throughout the season. Meeting thought this was a good idea but will wait and see the number of entries next season before implementation.
New Cup Rules – Paul brought to the meeting the need to implement some new cup rules for next season. If there is an odd number in a group, this season the group stage would have been decided on points scored next season, Paul put forward for the groups to be decided on points difference. Again meeting thought was a good idea but will wait and see the number of entries next season before implementation.

Prize Money – Prize money to be looked at in the November meeting, as the number of entries will determine the prize funds.

¨ Marketing Strategy – It was felt that this season there was a drop in the number of entries to the clubs activities, this was put down to a couple of things namely the bus fare increase and the selling of the Golden Draw Tickets at the start of the season as well as pushing the established events, as John put it “we went to the well to many times”. Therefore it was decided the next season, we will, again run the Golden Ticket Draw but not until around November December time, so that members don’t feel that they are being asked for too much money at the start of the season.

¨ Date of Next Meeting – There will be no August meeting, next meeting will be September 3rd 2007, 8pm, Nags Head, Sedgefield.

A.O.B.

None

End of Meeting.