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Financial challenges ahead (May. 2006)
Our vice president Phil Sloan has been busy with his sub-committee,
formulating an action plan on two major financial issues facing the Club.
Firstly, fundraising and sponsorship now form an essential mainstream income to the Club, to offset our declining income from house-only membership and fruit machines.
Fund raising, sponsorship, donations, the 200 Club and the new Club Numbers Game (Club Lottery) are all major revenue generators, which help to keep our subscriptions at an affordable level for all. Without the contributions from these sources an average full adult subscription with one sport would be around £250 per annum. We need all our members to recognise and fully support our Club's efforts in this regard.
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Anyone who is interested in sponsoring the North West's Number One Sports Club can please contact Phil Sloan on 0785 2198311.
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Sponsorship no longer provides for luxuries and nice-to-haves, but is a fundamental part of playing section funding.
Anthony Coyne, who has done sterling work in attracting sponsorship through the cricket section, led a review with the other sections via Phil’s sub-committee, with regards to best practices in attracting and working with our sponsors.
Amongst new initiatives, the Club is launching a new Numbers Draw lottery game, open to both members and non-members.
We are also looking at hosting Coaching Camps during school holidays, in conjunction with Sefton Community Sport, as a source of revenue to the Club, while our internal junior coaching offerings continue to attract new members to the Club.
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Secondly, the Club faces an Energy Cost crisis, due to the recent market increases.
If our energy consumption remains unchanged, our energy costs for gas and electricity will rise from around £14k in 2005 and £18.8k in 2006 to £24.3k in 2007. To mitigate this £10k increase we need to take action now to reduce our consumption.
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Everyone can help, by NOT WASTING energy, turning lights off, having rooms at the right temperature, particularly switching off lights in changing rooms, WCs and squash courts when not in use.
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In addition, Squash Courts 3 & 4 will be fitted with thermostats to reduce our maximum setting to nearer the England Squash recommended optimal of 15degC. We will consider restart timer switches for Court heaters, alternative heat and lighting controls, and improved insulation to Court buildings.
There will be a wide-ranging review of Main Club House consumption, incorporating
radiator thermostat settings, lighting (eg low energy fittings & bulbs), insulation, main boiler and radiator efficiency, and lighting and fan controls in changing rooms and toilets.
We will speak with the brewery regarding energy efficient Bar & Cellar Management, and seek feedback from members regarding closure of one bar in winter on quiet occasions.
We will also investigate grants, for energy efficiency capital spend, through sports or other agencies and government bodies.
Look out for Project SEAN (Save Energy At Northern) to be launched at the Club imminently.
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Northern scoops National Award. (May. 2006)
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The Northern Club has won major national recognition at the 13th annual Sports Club of the Year
awards evening held in London on 2nd.May.
Says our president Paul Davies, "We came third in the country. TOP IN THE NORTH WEST.
A thoroughly enjoyable evening, and the award of £1,000 justifies the efforts
of many people at the club."
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Pictured at the presentation are Lord Colin Moynihan (right), Chairman of the British Olympic Association,
and Richard Boardley (left), Director of the Foundation for Sports and the Arts,
along with our club delegates Mike Bishop, Wendy McDowall and Paul Davies.
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And the Six Nominations are .... (Apr. 2006)
Following our local successes in recent years, Northern were nominated as entrants to find the national sports club of the year.
We are absolutely delighted to report that the nominees have been whittled down to the last six, and Northern are amongst them.
Here is part of the letter received by Paul Davies, our president.
20 April 2006
Sports Club of the Year Awards 2006
Dear Paul
Congratulations - The Northern Club is a winner in the Sports Club of the Year Awards 2006! This year we received 176 high quality applications, and your club can be truly proud of its achievement in being one of six award winners.
I am now writing to invite you to our Gala Dinner on the evening of Tuesday 2 May at which the Awards will be presented by Lord Colin Moynihan, Chairman of the British Olympic Association. At the dinner you will discover whether you have won 1st, 2nd or 3rd prize and receive a cheque for £6,000, £3,000 or £1,000 accordingly.
As a winner of one of the Awards, the CCPR will cover the costs of two people attending the Dinner, to receive the award on behalf of The Northern Club. You are welcome to invite further representatives from your club to the Dinner at your own cost. The Dinner is being held at the Grange City Hotel, Tower Hill London and there will be a drinks reception at 7.00pm, followed by the Dinner at 7.30pm. Dress is lounge suit or equivalent.
May I take this opportunity to congratulate you again on your success in the Sports Club of the Year Awards. I look forward to meeting you next month.
Yours sincerely
SALLIE BARKER
Head of Services, CCPR
www.ccpr.org.uk
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Bar Snacks re-introduced from Easter. (Apr. 2006)
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Bar snacks are to recommence from Easter Saturday.
Our caterers will be on site from about 2pm in the afternoon on Saturdays,
with service until 8:30pm to allow for orders to be placed following the afternoon’s matches.
There will be a similar service on Friday evenings.
Bar snack menus will be placed on the tables in the lounge.
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Please support the re-introduction of bar snacks,
as this in turn will encourage our caterers in the service that they can feasibly provide.
Our House Chairman, Di Birch, will be meeting regularly with Dave and Chrissie,
so would welcome any ideas or feedback (pun intended).
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Northern regain Snooker Trophy. (Apr. 2006)
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The annual snooker match between Northern and the Gunners Club took place on Saturday 2nd.April.
Northern won, defeating the Gunners, to reclaim our trophy.
The result hinged on the last ball of the last frame,
with John Sumner holding his nerve in a black ball dogfight to seal the match 6-5.
Other Northern victors were Mark Harrop, Steve Nieman, Dave Gill, Stan Vian, and Tom Fitz.
Captained by Johnny Forrest, the team also included
Mike Bishop, Andy Davies, Dave Cartwright and Tony Maitlands.
Northern President Paul Davies was on hand to present the trophy to Johnny.
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Busy baptism for Paul and Sally. (Apr. 2006)
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The year got underway with a flurry for our new President and his Lady,
with four sports' events in two evenings of the weekend.
Paul and Sally are pictured at Friday's cricket celebrity dinner.
On Saturday, they were wining and dining again as guests of the hockey section.
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But official duties did not end there, as the squash Club Championships were culminating at the same time.
So between courses, it was over to the squash courts to make the presentations to the winners.
And Paul was also on hand to present the trophy for the annual snooker match
between Northern and the Gunners Club, which also fell on the same night.
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March's Musings. (Mar. 2006)
There is now a camera kept behind the bar, to record those embarrassing moments for posterity.
The idea is to capture events, presentations, or spur-of-the-moment occasions, when nobody has their own camera to hand,
so that the photos can then be used on the website or in the local press.
If you're there, and it's newsworthy, please borrow the camera from the barstaff to record it.
An immediate introduction of a club-wide smoking ban has been suggested,
given the imminent changes in July 2007,
but Council have agreed to let the law take its course.
Clubforce weekend is Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th of April.
Last year's event was a great success, good fun for the participants, and saved the club £££thousands.
So pencil the date into the diary, and don't throw out the old pair of jeans and t-shirt just yet.
Also, Council are on the look-out for ideas of jobs around the club where we can best take advantage,
so suggestions please.
The bowls section are already ahead of the game, and bowls members have been busy over the winter carrying out refurbishments to their pavilion.
The House Committee have been discussing sample menus with the Caterer,
who is keen to advertise early evening opening for the start of the summer season.
Discussions are underway to agree a safe position for a coffee machine in the main lounge.
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Past Presidents meet for lunch. (Feb. 2006)
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Around 40 past presidents and their partners attended their annual Sunday Luncheon get-together.
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Current president Mike Bishop gave an update on the hockey championship celebrations of the previous day,
plus a review of his year, which has also included the summer's cricket championship.
Mike is pictured above, with his successors-in-waiting, Sally and Paul Davies.
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February Update. (Feb. 2006)
It has been a good month for membership, with over 20 new applications received including 9 from new bowlers.
A busy time for maintenance, with hopefully some cost-saving advantages, including fitting of thermostats to radiators and repairs to fans in a changing room. New heater time clocks have been installed in the squash courts, functioning with 4pm start time on courts other than court 5, which commences at midday. Work on the main pillar in the lounge has also now been carried out, and the lounge will be redecorated once the new plaster has dried.
Marquee Week will include a fashion show, sports dinner and the summer ball, plus a wedding reception and christening.
Hockey have gratefully received a further sponsorship contribution from EL Woods.
Further to December's report, we have met constructively with the Residents Association. We were able to emphasise certain points, such as control of dogs and an issue relating to the second car park, while he Residents acknowledged our attempts to avoid congestion by the use of cones.
The cigarette vending machine has been removed and cigarettes are now stocked behind the bar, an arrangement that should suffice until July 2007 by which time a better one will hopefully have evolved.
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Robbie and Kylie come to town. (Feb. 2006)
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The club was in the party mood for a night with Robbie and Kylie.
Thanks to organiser Anne Sheils for another great sell-out Do.
click here for more pictures ...
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Hockey Title is On the Cards. (Feb. 2006)
Northern's Men's 1st.XI are riding high at the top of the North West Hockey League,
and all going well will secure the Division One championship title before too long.
Meantime the hockey lads took a night out to host their Texas hold'em Poker Social Evening,
ever hopeful of another variety of win on the cards.
click here for more pictures.
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Northern achieve Squash Clubmark Accreditation. (Feb. 2006)
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The Northern Club has been awarded the England Squash Club Charter for our successes
in ‘Developing the future of Squash in England’.
In addition, we receive the England Squash Club Charter, and Sport England Clubmark accreditation,
for our Child Protection, Sports Equity and Ethics, Playing Programme and Club Management.
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We have also been acknowledged by England Squash as an Approved Centre for Junior Mini Squash,
in recognition of our programme run in conjunction with local schools.
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New Vice President for 2006. (Jan.2006)
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We are pleased to announce that Philip Sloan
has accepted the nomination for Vice President at the forthcoming AGM of 2006.
Phil has been a Northern member, man and boy, since 1973.
Among his roles in the club, he is a former chairman of the cricket section.
Phil came to prominence as a young hard-hitting batsman,
lithe and lean in the field,
and rose quickly to the first eleven at an early age.
He has remained throughout an avid supporter of the club’s social amenities.
Although the wear and tear of his athletic lifestyle took its toll,
recent hip surgery has happily enabled Phil to resume a revitalised playing career in the lower teams.
Our best wishes go to Phil and Jane, and to young bucks Ben and Matt.
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Sefton Community Foundation. (Jan.2006)
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Northern club tracksuits delivery arrangements. (Jan.2006)
The new delivery of club tracksuits is now due
to those members who ordered them in November.
They will be available for collection from behind the bar, for those who have already paid,
from Sunday 15th January.
Anyone who placed an order but has not yet paid should leave a
cheque at the club, payable to the Northern Club and marked for attention of Wendy McDowall
(full tracksuit £35, jacket only £20, trousers only £15).
Please then allow around 7 days for your tracksuit to be available for collection from behind the bar.
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