Chairs Report early September 2023

The season is now well under way. There has been a great response from all playing sections an in spite of the high temperatures there has been a good turnout to weekday training sessions and Sunday mornings. The warriors are going from strength, and touch is still popular. England after dreadful pre World Cup matches did well in the opener against Argentina, hold your breath.

The floodlights were switched on last week and have improved our facility to both train and have matches under great light conditions. The playing subcommittees will need to make sure that for our week by week training we rotate the pitch use to keep them sustainable throughout the season. There may be weeks due to adverse conditions where we need to stop anything other than essential matches, and look further afield, ie Harpenden all weather for training facilities.

Thank you to all who made these possible both financially, with material contributions and voluntary help. Thanks to John Penn for his lead on these. Ladies toilets are now finished, and look great. We received after submitting a before and after set of photos to the RFU a grant for £5,000. We are now actively seeking a larger RFU 50/50 £10,000 matched grant to make the clubhouse and social facilities more welcoming for the club members and guests, especially ladies ( we are submitting a proposal for more ambient and energy saving lighting in the social areas of the club, new seating, more health friendly flooring in some areas, a cover for the mural to be used for social occasions, such as weddings and parties to name but a few). Keep an eye out for update. Subs at all levels are coming in. if you have not paid do so as quickly as possible. It is unfair to make use of our facilities, without paying for them. We hope to have more news about a new bar supplier in the near future with possible new draughts, but retaining popular ones.

Lastly you will see on entry to the club this week the road has been well repaired, not before time, but as stated in my previous report at a cost to all the clubs who use it. Know any sponsors who might help in this unforeseen bill?

Thanks to well over one hundred volunteers who have contributed to our club spruce up and all who give so much enjoyment to our ever developing players of all ages.

Ian ‘Shanks’ Graham Chair