We had a management meeting on Wednesday and I can report there is plenty sill going on, on and off the grass. I wanted to concentrate this mail on social events and work rotas.
As I have said many times, we take around £12,000 in by subscriptions and match fees each season, yet it costs us £18,000 to run the club. We have worked so hard in recent years to get this number down as much a possible but insurance, servicing machinery, petrol, rates, electricity, water, telephone, alarm maintenance, team and league registration etc etc all mounts up. That is why social events and our bar are vital to ensure we continue to survive and thrive.
It should be said that the £18,000 is without extra investment for upgrades and modernisation that we have made much progress with in recent years. Much of the investment has been down to funding applications but these pots of money are drying up and getting scarcer. Our current most needed pieces of investment are a new outfield mower and a new roller. Both of these are well past their best and we have our fingers crossed each time we start them!! As you might imagine both pieces of machinery are many thousands of pounds each but we have to raise the money ourselves to ensure we continue to play cricket on a flat wicket which bounces and on short grass!!
The following are a number of club social events that we ask for your support, invite friends and family. Remember all proceeds are reinvested in your club for machinery, coaching courses, carpets etc etc.
August Bank Holiday Weekend
Saturday - league cricket during day. BBQ, family karaoke, bonfire (no fireworks!) and camping in the evening.
Sunday - 'Mandy's Cafe' open in the am, friendly cricket during the day. Food, race night and camping in the evening.
Monday - 'Mandy's Cafe' open in the am, junior cricket during the day - details TBA.
2nd September - Club member hire and we ask for some help behind the bar. Please let me or Andy Mac know if you can help out for a couple of hours please.
15th September - Junior Presentation Night. Cost is £2 a child, food will be served, bar open and we ask for raffle prizes please. All details and for tickets please get in contact with Phil Jones.
14th October - NECC Quiz Night. Details TBA but again please get the date in the diary and start swotting up!!
17th November - 2018 Dinner & Dance. This year we are switching location and are going to Enfield Ignatians RFC. Details will be forthcoming but please get the date in the diary.
9th December - Christmas Wreath Making. After last years storming success this is a true family hit to get everyone in the Christmas mood.
NYE - Family party to see the new year in, in style. Again we are working on arrangements, but please again do try and support.
Finally, the season finishes at the end of September, but we have to work on the table and outfield as soon as the season finishes to get everything in place for 2018. I urge every junior, every parent, every player who has played and enjoyed time at the club this summer to come and help on the weekends of
7th / 8th and 14th / 15th October
we have lots to do and many hands will help. We have jobs and improvements planned for inside and out, we need to strip and reseed the table and basically prep the club for the winter. Please get the dates in the diary now and come and help out at your club. For too many years now work rota attendance has been very poor and it is just not fair on the same people who already do so much.
Soooooooooo many people enjoy their summers at Strayfield Road. Please join me, roll up your sleeves and do your bit this autumn. It is not much to ask.
I say it in every mail because it is true; NECC is as much your club as it is mine and all of us on Management. If you have any ideas, suggestions, observations or thoughts about anything re. our club then please let me know.
Many thanks for reading my mails and with very best wishes
James
James Scott
Chairman, North Enfield Cricket Club