Hethersett Athletic

The Chair reported on the club’s most successful year to date with the men’s first team winning Division 1B of the Norwich Sunday League and reaching the final of the Norfolk Sunday Senior Cup. The Reserves had gained promotion to Division 3B of the Norwich League and the club had been named Norwich League Club of the Season. In addition the Girls Under-13s had reached the final of their league cup competition.

The youth teams had not met with the same success as in previous year but the club had continued to press forward with its aim providing football for all ages.

He congratulated Ian Holman on being named South Norfolk Sunday League secretary of the year and also sharing the Lee Thompson Memorial Trophy with son Danny.

He stated that two major aims for the future continued to be having our own ground and starting a senior Saturday team.

He concluded by thanking the club’s sponsors who had helped to contribute to a solid financial position and also club members who had appointed him as an honorary life member at the annual presentation evening.

Secretary’s Report

Mel also referred to the 2003/2004 season as the most successful in the club’s history. He thanked team secretaries and officials for all their hard work and stated that Hethersett Athletic has a very good reputation in local footballing circles. We are now recognised as one of the leading clubs in Norfolk.

He outlined the fact that running so many teams can provide a headache with pitches.

Mel stated that in the past season, 254 players had been registered with the club of which 205 had played. It was the first time the club had fielded over 200 players in a season. A total of 267 competitive matches had been played.

Discipline had been good with just two sendings off, for deliberate handball to prevent a goal, during the season. There had also only been 29 bookings. There had been good performances as well in fairplay leagues with the Under-11s coming second.

Mel reported that the secretarial workload has increased considerably. Mel Bradfield had stepped down as assistant secretary.

He had been sorry that the newsletter had been discontinued during the season as this was an ideal way of getting information to club members. He also felt more should be done to promote girls’ and women’s football and that he felt committee meetings should be shorter.

Treasurer’s Report

Mel produced an overview of accounts. He also ran through the individual accounts of the teams, stating that most had met and exceeded their targets.

Members felt that a full discussion should take place at a subsequent committee meeting about the club’s financial and committee structures.

Constitution/Development Plan

No amendments to these were necessary.

Election of Officers

The following officers were elected:

Chair – Peter Steward: nominated by Dave Manington and seconded by Mel Perkins

Vice-Chair – Sue Milne: nominated by Tom Gregory and seconded by Dave Manington

Secretary – Mel Perkins: nominated by Nick Tarrant and seconded by Sue Milne

Assistant Secretary – Mike Malloy: nominated by Tom Gregory and seconded by Dave Manington

Treasurer – Mel Perkins: nominated by Ross Potter and seconded by Dave Manington

Development Officer – Peter Steward: nominated by Ross Potter and seconded by Dave Manington

Football Development Officer – Mark Kerr: nominated by Sue Milne and seconded by Mike Molloy

Assistant Football Development Officer – Bob Oliver: nominated by Ross Potter and seconded by Tom Gregory.

Child Protection Officer – Sue Milne: nominated by Dave Manington and seconded by Nick Tarrant.

Fund-raising and Sponsorship Officer * - Ray Milne: nominated by Tom Gregory and seconded by Dave Manington.

Any Other Business

* - Ray Milne informed the committee that he would not be renewing his contract under the Raysinfunds banner. Ray was thanked for his work by the chairman and agreed to revert back to being a club officer. He was subsequently elected to the post of Fund-raising and Sponsorship Officer.

PRESS REPORT OF AGM

Hethersett Athletic reported on its most successful season at the annual general meeting held at Park Farm Hotel.

Chair Peter Steward reflected on a season which had seen the men’s first team win Division 1B of the Norwich Sunday League and reach the final of the Norfolk Senior Sunday Cup. The Reserves had gained promotion to Division 3B of the Norwich League and the Girls’ Under-13s had reached the final of their league cup.

In addition the club had won the Barry Evans Memorial Shield for the Norwich Sunday League team of the year. The A team’s Ian Holman had been named South Norfolk Sunday League secretary of the year.

“Hethersett Athletic is recognised as a very successful club with a very good reputation,” said club secretary/treasurer and founder Mel Perkins.

The secretary reported that during the 2003/2004 season, the club had 254 registered players and played 267 competitive matches. Discipline had been very good with only two sendings off – both for deliberate handball to prevent a goal.

“Our club has the ability to become one of the best in Norfolk and we are continually looking at ways of moving forward,” Peter Steward said, adding that two of the major aims were “to have our own ground and to start a senior Saturday team.”

The meeting heard that club finances were in a strong position, thanks to a great extent to the support of sponsors.

“The support of our sponsors has allowed us to push ahead with the development of the club,” Steward said, adding that the club was looking forward to the 2004/2005 season with renewed confidence.

Officers elected at the meeting were: Chair, Peter Steward; Vice-Chair, Sue Milne; Secretary and Treasurer, Mel Perkins; Assistant Secretary, Mike Molloy; Development Officer, Peter Steward; Football Development Officer, Mark Kerr; Child Protection Officer, Sue Milne; Fundraising and Sponsorship Officer, Ray Milne.

The club will be taking part in a Societies Day at Hethersett Village Hall on 4^th September.

For further details and news from the club, visit the official web site at www.hethersettathletic.org.uk