AGM 2015 Football Report

Report for Season 2014-15

The club began the season on a very positive note with our re-entry to the first division and as holders of the Ladies FA cup. Both teams, first team and combi , had won their respective leagues and it was felt we could hold our own against most of the top teams.

However a number of players leaving the club in the first week of the season meant that it was always going to be a struggle from the very beginning. To the credit of the teams and the managers, Rich Easthope and Dave Liggett, everyone worked incredibly hard to stay up and, if certain results and luck had gone our way we would have survived.

The ladies, too, found it a little harder to come by wins due to the emergence of Peel as a new force in women’s football. However the fact that the management, Luke and Kevin, remained positive and strong and the main core of women players retained their places from last year  the team managed to finish well up the league and reach the final of various cups

For the first time in a number of years Gymns  SFC  managed to turn out a youth squad  to play in the under 16’s B league on Sundays. Under the management of Steve Slack and Calum Peat the team played admirably. They finished mid table and were a credit to the club. At least three of those youngsters have gone on to play in the combi this year.

Of course the teams and the club as a whole would not be able to survive if it wasn’t for the ongoing generosity of our sponsors, Celtic Associates and Randalls so I’d like to take this opportunity to thank them once more for their support of the club this season.

Financially the club has managed to stabilize its affairs and ended the season with money in the bank. The raffle and various fund raising efforts, along with the income generated from the advertising boards means that we can now afford the seemingly infinite demand the teams put on water bottles!! 

At this point It is also worth mentioning our landlord, Drinkwater Estates, who generously donated £1200 towards the cost of the new roof. Now, what with the new ceiling and refurbished toilets, the old place has been given a new lease of life which should last us for a good few years.

The pitch, under the management of Les Crellin is looking very good indeed. The work he has put in is a credit to him. Now the work done in verti draining over the years, allied to his own conscientious   approach is beginning to produce a pitch which not only looks excellent but is good to play on . Les is now a valued member of the committee and has made it clear where he sees the pitch and ground improvements going and the committee back him 1oo%.

As to the future we now have a new management structure in place with ken and Jim in the first team roles and Richard and Dave in the combi. Luke and Kevin continue with the ladies. We are looking into kick-starting Youth football as this is clearly an important factor in a successful club. We will also look to replace the existing floodlights with new more efficient LED structures and this in turn should reduce our training costs.

This year certain members of the committee stepped down and it falls to me as chairman to thank them for their valued work. So, to Jabba, Nick, Calum and James, many thanks for all your efforts lads and please feel free to rejoin us when either the kids are older or work allows.

With the new season underway and a very positive attitude prevailing in the club it only remains for me to thank all those members and non members such as  Jamie Stokoe, who have helped the club in some way or another over the past year. Good luck for the future and enjoy the footy!!

Club Chairman:-  Tony Hewson.

12 September 2015