Tracy Wassall (Chair), Karon Swinburn, Ian Biddle, Dave Swinburn, Dave Magnall, Paul Dipple, Aiden Dipple, Garry Strain, Ben Lee, Tim Foster, Mark Fawthrop, Marc Woolley, Dave Moulsom, Steve Capron, Amy Waters, Dave Stokes, Jason Lowe, Pete Taylor, Stephen du Cros

Previous Minutes
The minutes of the previous AGM held on 24rd November 2023 were proposed by David Swinburn and seconded by Ian Biddle, and agreed as a true record

Matters Arising
There were no matters arising from the previous minutes.

2022 Accounts were approved at the meeting on 23rd January 2023.

Chairman’s Report

After the great successes of 2022, 2023 proved to be more challenging than we had anticipated. Before the season started, we were hit by two thefts of machinery, which set back our proposed capital spend. Our hoped-for Overseas Player failed to materialise, and Darren Kok suffered an injury that only allowed him to play a few games. We were therefore always on the back foot and the standard in the higher leagues made for a difficult season. However, a number of positives were seen, with Paul Dipple stepping up to the plate as 1st team skipper and galvanising the team to produce some good results. Paul certainly has the respect of the players and I am delighted that he has agreed to stay as 1st team skipper for 2024. With many of our young players at university for the early part of the season, there were opportunities for others, and many younger players gained valuable experience; in total 16 juniors played senior cricket across the season.

I know that Dave Stokes had to work hard to put teams together, and thanks to him for all his efforts, particularly in giving opportunities to younger players to bat and bowl and not just make up the numbers. That long term strategy will no doubt reap rewards in the future. Dave has decided to step down as 2nd team skipper and I would like to thank Dave for his great work as Captain and as a member of the Committee, from which he is also stepping down.

Our Under 15s played in the Warwickshire Premier League and finished a creditable joint 3rd. Our Under 13s won their Warks Pairs Pool, as did our Under 11 girls in the CHL. We are always looking to recruit new players and late in the season, we welcomed Rob Stanley from Great Alne and Devlin Jacobs from Lapworth, who will prove good acquisitions. Rob is constructing an Honours Board over the winter, which we will hopefully have much use for going forward! Paul Dipple is also hopeful of other players moving across to us and is progressing an overseas player/coach coming over. Even if that does not come to fruition, the Committee have agreed to use professional coaching in 2024, which can only benefit us.

Dave Swinburn, as our Head Groundsman, has done a tremendous job, even after the loss of some of our equipment in the pre- season thefts. Our square continues to gain plaudits from visitors and members, but we will continue to need help from as many people as possible, to continue the good work on the ground going forward. We have now replaced the bulk of the machinery following the insurance payout and your committee will be looking at our capital spend going forward.

Security has become more necessary, and we are looking at both physical and electronic means of protecting our assets. The provision of an additional changing facility, which was voted as the priority at the last AGM, has proven challenging. We cannot use ECB grants to buy the building itself, but they can be used to fit out, so we are now looking at second hand, basic units, which will be cheaper. As always, we will need to liaise with Ragley and Heritage England as well as Stratford Council for planning permission. Sandra has regular contact with many people at Ragley, who remain very supportive of our Club. Expenses continue to rise but we now have much better controls of income and expenditure, following work by our Treasurer, Jason Lowe.

It would be good to hold more events, both to increase the social side of the Club and also to raise funds but we do need people to step up to organise and support such gatherings. Amy Waters is looking to organise more events going forward and will hopefully be joining our committee. The Club Presentation Evening again went very well, this time at The Alcester Inn and the format will be repeated going forward. Ashlee Powell made great efforts to boost our Fundraising and the “pledge wall” raised over £2,000 for the Club, very well done with that. Clubmark is due to be reassessed in 2024, which is our licence to access help from County.

I have joined the Cotswold Hills League Executive Committee as League Safeguarding Officer. One of my first aims was to simplify the League regulations for Overseas Players and this was agreed at a recent EGM. We will be looking at all regulations to ensure simplicity, clarity and fairness are at the heart of the CHL.

We now have around 140 kids at the Club on Friday evening training, so any help from members would be appreciated. In addition, there are now 6 of our girls and boys in County age groups. At the other end of the age spectrum, Dave Swinburn, one of 3 members playing for senior county teams, scored 830 runs for the Warwickshire Over 60s 2nd XI and Over 70s 1st XI at an average of 63.85 including 2 centuries, Dave was also awarded the Warwickshire Seniors Player of the Year at the County awards dinner at Edgbaston in October; there are therefore opportunities for other older members to still play competitive cricket, once they stop playing league.

There will also be opportunities to Umpire our League Matches and thanks to Dave Moulson for umpiring some of our games in 2023; hopefully Jonathan Barnes will be undertaking his umpire training over the winter. Our Women and Girls section continues to grow exponentially, due largely to the efforts of Ashlee Powell and Dave Magnall. We will continue to use Pitchero for all availability and fixtures in 2024 across junior and senior cricket; thanks to Adam Farrow for managing the administration of this.

As always, we are looking to add members to the Committee who can add to our skill set and if you would like to be involved, please let me know or submit a nomination form. I, together with other section heads, will be happy to provide more details of our future plans, and will be happy to field questions from members on the night.

I would like to sincerely thank the Committee members who have served in 2023, all of whom do much more for our Club than just attend Committee meetings. They are Dave Swinburn, Paul Dipple (who took over from Darren Kok), Dave Stokes (who is stepping down), Ian Biddle, Karon Swinburn, Jason Lowe, Sandra Stokes, Ben Lee, Russell Jones, Tim Foster, Ashleigh Powell, Dave Magnall and our Safeguarding Officer, Jenny Darby. In addition, a considerable number of other people, including many juniors, have helped in work on the grounds and pavilion, coaching and managing junior teams and with All Stars and Dynamos. They are: Darren Turner, Trevor (Ben Lee’s father-in-law), Richard James, Alan Powell, Paul Rowe, Lucia Cuttle, Alex Gretton, Pete Taylor, Kelly Austin, Leigh Ginn, Tyler Austin, Gemma Biddle, Katie Kavanagh, Dave Moulson, Adam Freeman, William Sallis, Adam Farrow, Sam Jones, Nick Campbell-Kelly, George Stokes, Phillipe Steele, Rupert Cross, Freddie Stokes, Pritam Mulari, Kobe Turner, Sam Jones, Charlie Taylor, Ed Taylor, Louis Newton, Alan Hobby, Amanda Hobby, Amy Waters

2023 is now behind us and we are looking forward to a much more successful 2024.

Treasurers Report and Presentation of Accounts

Jason Lowe circulated the Profit and Loss Account for 2023.

The insurance payout covering the cost of machinery stolen was £11,500, and there is £8,000 still remaining.

There was £3000 provision made for the water bill.

The income from the bar was £13,000 and the BBQ brought in £4,000.

The Accounts show a cash loss of just over £1,500 but do not show the £2,000 fundraising income raised by Ashlee on the pledge initiative.

The members accepted the P&L as presented and agreed that the Committee should finalise the accounts once the treatment of the remainder of the Insurance payout had been agreed.

Elections

All those that held positions indicated their willingness to stand again and nominations were received.

Election of Officers for season 2023

The Election of Officers was completed as follows:

Title Name
Chairman Tracy Wassall
Vice Chairman David Swinburn
Secretary Amy Water
Treasurer Jason Lowe
Fixtures Secretary Ian Biddle
League Secretary Tracy Wassall

Election of Captains for season 2023

The Election of Captains was completed as follows:

Sat 1XI Team Captain P Dipple
Sat 2XI Team Captain Liam Clarke
Sun XI Team Captain Ian Biddle – captains appointed weekly
Ladies Captain Ashlee Powell
100 Ball Captain Tim Foster

Election of Section Heads for season 2023
The Election of Section Heads was completed as follows:
Juniors Ian Biddle
Women and Girls Ashlee Powell
Ground David Swinburn
Pavilion Russel Jones
Bar Tim Foster
Social Secretary Amy Walters
PR and Marketing Liam Clarke
Child Welfare Officer Jenny Darby

Election of General Committee Members for season 2023
The Election of General Committee Members was completed as follows:

Ben Lee
Sandra Stokes
Dave Magnall

ECB Anti- Discrimination Code 3.5

Alcester and Ragley Park Cricket Club shall adopt and implement the ECB’s Anti-Discrimination code 2022 and any future versions of this policy.

Awards – These were presented by Chairman Tracey Wassall

The Club person of the Year was awarded to Ashlee Powell for her support and contribution to the women’s section and to the club overall.

Young Player of the Year – Ed and Charlie Taylor share this award.

Any Other Business

Fees – the fee schedule implemented in the 2023 season worked well and will be continued for the 2024 season.

The meeting was closed at 8.40pm