Chairperson's AGM Report 2019

Welcome to the AGM for the 2019 season.

Kiaora, Bula Vinaka, Maloleilei, Namaste, Kia orana, Welcome.

These are just the few of the many ways in which we could welcome you today to show the true representation of our global game.

I would first like to say a big thank you to all the volunteers, mums, dads, families and especially the coaches and managers because without you the club would not be able to function. Clubs of our size rely on these people giving up their time to make them work.

This year we have again fielded 6 men sides and 3 women’s teams, increased our numbers in the first kicks area and enjoyed more teams in the Junior and youth arena.

At the beginning of the season we were approached to take on a Sunday league side called the “Kiwi True Blues” which was part of the fan club in NZ of the Scottish Rangers as our first team. As we were struggling to put together a side of our own this was seen as an interesting proposition and so the first team and reserves therefore became an amalgamation of our guys and the Kiwi True Blues. The group that formed from this has enjoyed mixed results with the reserve side winning the plate final against Warkworth at the end of the season. We are pleased to say that it has worked so far and that we are looking forward to a continued association with them again next year.

 Our Women’s first team underwent a rebuilding phase in the NFF first division and finished a creditable 3rd place with a new coach. The other two social teams have enjoyed battling it out in the 3rd division with the Westies team also taking out the plate final.

The other men’s teams have enjoyed a mixture of results and injuries and have been ably coached and managed. The over 35 Old farts also managed to win their Plate final.    

Our juniors increased this year with one team being formed in the 9th grade and everybody else returning, as well as gaining two teams in the under 11s. We lost our u15 side to boy’s school football but added two girl’s teams to the youth arena.  A premier AFF/NFF 16th grade girls’ team with all bar two girls eligible to play in a lower grade and the other also a combination team in the NFF 13th  .  The girls section has been strengthened by the coaches involved and my thanks go to the Oratia parents who decided that this was a worthwhile move for them as well as Matt, Andy and Damian.

Congratulations go to the 13th Assassins and the 11th  Guardians for winning their leagues and the 11th Predators for winning their grading and being promoted 3 grades  and coming a creditable 4th as well as the 14/15th grade Pounamu girls and the 12th grade Thunders for  coming  2nd in their leagues.       

The first kicks area ably managed by Adam Zame has enjoyed a good season with lots of great games and practices were always organised well. Our thanks to all the coaches involved in this area as its where the love of the game originates .As Adams team will be moving out of the is arena next year we will be looking for someone to take over this in 2020.

Our partnership with the Western Magpies Softball continues to strengthen each year and we are always looking at ways that we can work more efficiently with them and thank them for their continued input to our club and fields.

The fields have held up very well this year with very few cancellations. We had a few hiccups at the beginning of the year around the lights but our thanks must go to Dave Scott for his tireless efforts to make contact with the council and get the best for our club.

The building has been on the back burner this year and with the resignation of Julian Crosswell due to moving to Australia we have just maintained the status quo. There are however some jobs that need to be done and we are in the throes of putting together a “Million Dollar Mission” submission to” The Trusts” to upgrade the outside of the building.

The new Comet system for registration imposed on us by New Zealand Football in 2018 got better as we became more familiar but still had a lot of quirks. Many clubs increase fees or are able to source sponsorship to pay an administrator to sort these things but my thanks go to Amy Wannan and Fran Firman for their support with this. Amy also helped with the management of the money whilst our wonderful Treasurer Louise was away overseas for an extended period. The amalgamation of the NFF and AFF competition personnel caused a few headaches but overall we managed to make it through the season with few complaints. This seems to be a trend and they are now looking at combining on more levels so it will be interesting to see how this develops.

Our website and social media status in this day and age is an important part of how we are seen so I would also like to thank Matt and Kate Crawford who have helped us get onto these platforms.

Once again I invite you all to join me in thanking the Club executive and soccer committee that make this all possible. Like you they have paid jobs that they go to during the week and then come here voluntarily to fulfil their duties.  

GEOFF, DAVE, LOUISE, REBECCA, JULIAN, AMY, MATT, PHIL, GREG, CHERYL, DAMIAN, AMANDA, ADAM, MELISSA, SHAH, KATE and ANDY. We hope that most of them will carry on in their roles next year but we are constantly on the lookout for new people to help.

I have been a member of the club in various ways since 1976 and whilst I don’t expect people to do what I do, I continue to challenge everyone to help in some small way within the club, as this will widen the base of volunteers that we have and bring about the fresh enthusiasm we need to ensure its continued existence over the years to come. Volunteerism is an important part of who we are as a club and we rely on your support in this to keep fees down and for everyone to have access to good facilities and football.

Finally I wish you all a great summer and look forward to seeing you back for the 2020 season.

Debbie McLarin (Chairperson)