Letter from The Chairman
Dear Towcestrians,
Hopefully all members and families had great summer and managed to find time to relax and enjoy the club facilities whether you were playing one of our sports or supporting the many functions held over the last few months.
I am nearing the end of my first year as chairman and have had a chance to see at first-hand how the club operates in a full Tow’s year. Together with my team on the General Committee we are aiming at continuing the great work started by our predecessors. In some ways it has been a difficult year as we have met the challenges of an ever evolving club growing in a year from just over 900 members to now approaching 1400. In many ways It is similar now to running a medium size business and we are indeed putting into place structures that you would find in a successful company, albeit profits made are directly ploughed back into the club for the benefit of our members and for the future generations.
So what have we achieve over the last year? We have the club on a firm and sound financial basis but I stress we cannot be complacent and need your support helping to fund the club by paying sports subscriptions, supporting social events, sponsoring the club or simply enjoying the bar and catering facilities. How is the monies spent? We employ a club steward, bar and accounting staff to help with the running of the club as well as contracting work out where needed for ground maintenance and cleaning. There is a lot to maintain on a property of this size whether in the clubhouse or on the grounds, indeed we sanctioned £18k on ground work in the summer season and that investment will continue to increase every year. Kit and other projects are continually been sought by all sections which we are happy to sanction to continue to grow the club.
Each of the sections have had great success, the Rugby 1st XV narrowly missing out on promotion to The National Leagues and other teams gaining promotion, Hockey 3rd XI now join the 2nd team in the Northants Div 1 which shows the strength in depth and they have now appointed an England coach to strive for promotions again this coming season. Tennis section has had a number of
teams promoted this summer and has also now appointed an exciting new team of coaches for the betterment of both young and old, and Cricket too have recently been promoted into Div 2 on the SNCL where they will be playing against local rivals Greens Norton and Silverstone, Cricket also hope to re-introduce a 2nd XI next year to be able to give everyone more senior cricket games. As ever we mustn’t forget the Mini and Junior sections of each of our sports who continue to thrive in their sections. I would like to say a massive thank you to all who have participated in all the teams representing Towcestrians and I wish you well for the next season. I have to also say a huge thank you to all the coaches, managers and admin support staff of every team without such fantastic volunteered work the club and teams simply couldn’t operate.
So what about the next year? Well we have some very exciting news! With help from SNC, The RFU and some sponsors we have now at last secured the necessary funding to start the final phase of the clubhouse redevelopment with the long awaited new front entrance, and members lounge extension with refurbishment. Work will start in early November, if not sooner, and hopefully will be finished by the end of the year! The front entrance is an area which is in much need of modernisation to match the image presented by the main club area and will also be extended out further into the car park. The New Members Lounge with be over doubled in size and completely redesigned giving a comfortable place for members and guests to relax, watch TV, chat and meet and perhaps enjoy some of the new bar menu we will be providing. It will not only offer a sanctuary from some of the social events planned throughout the year but when not in use can be hired out as a small meeting room to bring in much needed revenue. Also to accommodate the members lounge we will be extending the bar. Plans and drawings will soon be made available on the Club noticeboards for you inspection. A huge vote of thanks goes to the people who have worked tirelessly to make this happen, also to our generous sponsors and to you who contribute every time you spend some money at the club. Thank you all!
Our continuing pursuit of more playing surfaces is moving on and I will to keep you posted on ground developments in due course. In the meantime we have once again acquired the use of additional space for the M&J’s to play and train on and work has been ongoing to have it ready for the forthcoming season.
The changing rooms have been re-decorated and work begins soon to decorate the main clubhouse area to keep us looking smart, so please bear with us for any small disruptions that may occur while this and the building work is completed.
As you can see, there are some exciting and perhaps challenging times ahead for the continuing development of the premier sports club in the area and I trust you will keep supporting and enjoying YOUR Towcestrians.
It remains to wish you all successful winter season of sport here at the “Tows”!
It is a privilege to serve you all.
Sincerely
Mark