Minutes of Committee Meeting - 14 March 2023
Minutes of The Halbro North West Leagues Committee 14th March 2023
Attendees :- Peter Rhodes Fred Swarbrick, John Powell, Ian Cosens, Greg King, Paul Riordan,
Craig Hine, Craig Ross, Tommy Hughes, Andy Thompson, Dr, Sara Shackleton.
Apologies :- Peter Harrison
Matters Arising :- The injured Fleetwood player offered his thanks for the support provided by our Benevolent Fund. All costs incurred supported.
Leagues :- The completion of the League programme was in sight with a number of Leagues and sides therein having completed their season. 50+ fixtures to be played this coming Saturday the 18th to complete the season.
John Powell produced fixture fulfilment figures and all the Leagues had shown fulfilment figures better than last season. Some well into the 80+ of fulfilments.
It was decided that a group would be involved in fixture making as and when the time might be appropriate.
Fred Swarbrick to contact Aaron Howarth regards a meeting to discuss discrepencies between our fulfilment figures compared to the RFUs which could have a marked effect on the support received on the completion of the season.
Cup Competitions :- The commencement of our Cup Competitions was imminent, in fact commencing Saturday 25th March to be played over the weeks to the end of April. The Finals actually being played on Saturday 29th April. 4 Finals at The Anselmians Club and Three at the Leigh Club.
The Finals would carry the name in memory of Mr. Barry Allen.
John P. had notified the Referees Societies. Liverpool Society to cover the Finals to be played at Anselmians with our Referee Association Referees covering the Plate Final.
MadRef will cover all the three Finals at The Leigh Club.
Ian C. was liaising with both Clubs offering assistance and his knowledge in producing programmes for the day.
All Trophies were now in the possession of Fred Swarbrick and these would be updated on the completion of the Semi Finals Saturday 22nd April.
Dinner Arrangements :- Ian Cosens, John Powell and Fred Swarbrick had met with the Hoppers Management – the Dinner will be held at Preston Grasshoppers this season – to discuss arrangements. Again Ian C. would keep in close contact with the Hoppers management as we close in on the Presentation Night.
A price of £20.00 per person was decided for the night with £5.00 of that to go towards the Benevolent Fund. As item in “Matters Arising” – The Fund is used to support costs incurred by any player seriously injured playing in a League game administered by the Leagues Management. In some instances advice is sought from our Doctor Sara Shackleton.
Early payment (20th April) would be appreciated once the Champions and Promoted sides were established.
Mark Ashley and Dr. Shackleton indicated they couldn’t attend the Dinner this year with an important engagement on the horizon. Mark who has compered the Dinner for the past years will be sorely missed.
Finance :- Greg King our Leagues Treasurer indicated our finances were healthy and he was in touch with Lancashire to receive a payment of support from the RFU of £100 per League. This to be paid in the next few days.
Sponsors :- The Cups will not carry a Sponsors name this season but will carry the name of Mr. Barry Allen a great supporter and worker for the Leagues since their inception some 20 years ago. All the Leagues’ Trophies will carry the names of the relevant Sponsors.
Trophies and Preparation :- All the Trophies had now been collected and work could commence on these with updating once the appropriate sides had been established. (Hopefully this weekend) The Cup preparations were proving tight with only one week between the Semi Finals and the Finals both in respect of Trophy Preparation ad programme needs.
Urgent results would be needed on the Saturday and Team News required certainly by the Sunday. Again Ian Cosens with his considerable experience would be “on the ball” with these needs.
Any other Business ;
Thoughts were turning to next season and a group would work with John Powell to set up the necessary structures for season 2023-2024 in line with the production of the RFU Leagues.
Our Cup Competitions will revert to “ in season” competitions as decided at the Meeting of 31st January.
A number of sides having left us during the season had indicated they would like to return and in line with our normal responses all will be accepted and introduced into an appropriate League.
Any other sides wishing to join the Halbro North West Leagues would be equally welcomed and would need to discuss their options initially with our dedicated Fixture Secretary John Powell.
A discussion took place regards our rule regarding concedes and the numbers allowed. This has always been discussed at our AGM over the years and the decision to date has been to uphold the status quo. It was agreed we should hold in-house discussions regards this issue as we move into the close season..
The Meeting closed on the mystery of the “HAM SANDWICH” !!!!!!
Fred Swarbrick
Leagues’ Chairman in the absence of our Leagues’ Secretary Peter Harrison.