October 2007 Newsletter

Dear all,

We hope you are enjoying the new season. All teams are now receiving and playing regular fixtures. The U8’s – U12’s have all received a whole new set of fixtures – already! This does often happen at the season start. Hopefully though we can still get on with enjoying the game. Please ensure subs are paid each week and support us if you are asked to do the raffle for home games by donating a prize and selling the tickets to spectators on the touch line. Thank you.

WE HAVE NOW RECEIVED OUR NEW KITS – WE HOPE YOU ALL LIKE THEM AS MUCH AS WE DO!!! THANK YOU TO EVERYONE INVOLVED IN OUR RECEIVING THEM!

We will be sending team photos in to the press, players please try to be around for your teams’ photo. These photos will also be pasted on our website. We will now be selling on the kits purchased last season for those of you that want to buy them. For a few pounds the players will be keeping a quality wear kit for their own use. It also helps the Club with a small fundraiser!

There appears to be a little confusion over our access to the Irish Centre and the membership fees. Please be aware you are all welcome to come back to the Centre following matches, home and away. We do want you to do so. We are obliged to attend the hospitality offered when we are playing away fixtures. It would also be great to see more of you coming back for ours. It gives the players’ time together, off the pitch, which can help with the team bonding just as much. We as a committee will arrange the memberships for the Irish Centre. However, we haven’t yet received all of the slips with your details on and the Club registration forms please ensure your child’s’ coach has your details. There are quite a few newcomers to the Club. If by chance you haven’t received a form please contact Vicky MacDonald, tel 833923, and a form will be given to you.

The 1^st team, some of you are aware of this, have taken over the top position of the Premier League after beating Clayton! And have remained in the top spot after beating St Josephs last week! Congratulations guys. A fantastic achievement for you!

A few junior teams now have sponsors for tracksuit tops which are on order. Should your team not have a sponsor yet please could you try to gain some interest? The jackets do look good and will obviously get us noticed around town! There is no specific uniform for after match wear – as long as items are in Club colours and have the Club crest on them then you can choose a style within the teams.

We have now contacted local schools for midweek training during the darker months. As previously, we will be asking for a contribution towards these additional costs from the teams that are using them. There currently isn’t a lot of availability so we’ll have to work around what there is. The coaches will advise of any bookings we have made for the teams.

Nigel Billington has very kindly offered to take over the running of the website. Thank you Nigel!

There are a few teams that aren’t sending regular match reports in for the site and to the Courier. Could you take on this small role if your child plays for one of these teams? All free press needs to be taken and the players do like to see their names in print!

The sponsors draw we were going to hold on 12^th October has been postponed to the Stars In Your Eyes Evening. This was a decision that had to be made due to circumstances and events beyond our control. This does however give us several weeks to sell more tickets! The draw is a fundraiser whereby we are selling £10.00 tickets to anybody! The tickets are to be entered into a draw. The ticket pulled out of the draw on the evening will get their company name branded on goods purchased from the funds raised. This is a joint fundraiser by both the Junior and Open Age. If you can sell any tickets please let a member of the committee know. The more we sell…

PERSONAL INSURANCE – We have been advised of a player from Ovenden who suffered a very serious injury recently. Details of a Personal Insurance Scheme we have been made aware of are detailed on our notice board. If a player signs up before the age of 16 the premiums remain at half price for the life of the policy. Please be aware that as a Club we are not able to recommend any particular policy, details are being advised only of a policy we are aware of. It is your responsibility to ensure the policy fits your needs.

SPRATS HEAD SHAVE – Sprat (or Stephen if it’s a Sunday!) took the dramatic step of having his long locks shaved for charity – the Children of Chernobyl. The event was held on Sunday 14^th October at the Irish Centre. Many of you were around earlier in the day. Bands were around and it was a thoroughly good afternoon. Lots of children got the opportunity to shave off some of his hair – it looked… interesting. Thank you to everyone who made a donation to this worthy cause on the day. For those of us who don’t know Sprat – he is one of our open age committee members. Sprat is due to send a cheque close to the value of £800 to the Children of Chernobyl with whom he has built a close link. The “after” photos will be on the website soon!!!

SATURDAY 3^RD NOVEMBER – BONFIRE PARTY – Andrew Smith, U11 coach, is organising a bonfire party. Details have been mailed out to those of you with email. For those without, a poster is on the notice board. This should be a great evening knowing how Andrew organises nights out! Tickets are being sold now!!! £4 adult, £2 child with a burger included! Please ensure you see Andrew, Adam, or any U11 parent to get yours soon. There is to be a bonfire, BBQ, fireworks and a bar! The evening is being held to help raise funds for the U11’s to get kitted out in new tracksuits / warm tops etc. Great idea guys! All are welcome to come along.

STARS IN YOUR EYES – November 24^th, £5 ticket – adults only! Tickets will be on sale soon.

CHRISTMAS PARTIES – the dates of 2^nd and 9^th December have been booked. Further details will be advised closer to these dates, as a committee we are in the planning stages.

CHRISTMAS PANTO – the theme of which is currently being kept secret!! Could you be a budding actor? Again further details to follow.

We are again setting up a boot box. Do you have any old boots that are still in good condition? Please pass them on to a committee member (in a clean state please). We can then recycle them. This also goes for old shoulder pads/shin pads etc. We can help other players through this scheme. It has worked successfully for us previously.

We do now have a notice board in the Irish Centre – keep an eye for updates. OR if you have e-mail, please ensure Vicky MacDonald has your address – updates are sent out quite regularly. Newsletters will now be sent out to those with e-mail and displayed on the board.

RECRUITMENT HAS STARTED FOR THE 2013-2014 SEASON! Only joking… but congratulations on the arrivals of 2 newcomers last month – Finbar John and Alfie, and to Kai this month!! And to their mums and dads too!