Something flashed up on my Facebook feed this week, people commenting on my outline for Staines RFC in the build up to the SGM to vote in the new Chairman. I can’t believe I have been in the role for a year now. Lots has happened, some great and some not so great. The challenges make us stronger.

I was interested to see how we had done against my initial plans and ideas:

My Vision for Staines RFC

To grow and nurture a thriving Mini and Youth section leading to eventually becoming the leading amateur rugby club in Middlesex.

To be the hub of the community and offer an enjoyable, relaxing and welcoming environment for all.

I think we are well and truly on the way to achieving this vision, it’s early in the journey and we have a way to go but all positive so far. Our integration into the local community continues to grow.

Ideas/Plans May 2017

• Grow the EMB and its members, through a refreshed structure that has a diverse sound of voice from the club as a whole.

We have had some bumps along the way, but the EMB Has grown and I feel has a much more diverse view of the club as a whole. There may be a vacancy that needs addressing but we will wait and see what happens.

• Implement a sustainable business management plan – Allowing managers to have more ownership and freedom to improve their decision making.

Unless it will have an impact on The Club, all elected positions have had the freedom to develop and improve their particular section.

• Grow commercial income to allow us to invest and develop in our facilities and playing environment.

Private Let’s have grown significantly, a new sponsor was found in Coupa (and hopefully this relationship will grow), building bridges with Adrian Hall, links with The Shack and Sportingclass continue to grow, Redstone continue to support the club and we even supported the England V Ireland legends game and had an advert in the match programme. We are slowly building more commercial links are needed to bring in much needed funding.

• Grow participation throughout the club – build strong/lasting relationships with external stake holders.

London Irish has been a non starter, however Harlequins have been very approachable. We have held a few meetings now and there are some potential plans for the future (watch this space). Participation is growing in the Mini section, U15s are in a good place and the seniors have gone through their consolidation season, hopefully we can now build on the foundations created and move forward.

• Create a 5 and 10 year player pathway plan to look after the current U14s and U11s (and below), to enable us to grow the correct environment for player transition through the club.

Our first season has highlighted some areas of concern, and we’ll be working hard to recruit to plug the gaps, in terms of youth teams, we’ll be supporting the U15s through their transition into the senior club.

• Create a fun and enjoyable family friendly environment.

Hopefully this has been evidenced by our supporters this season, certainly feels a much nicer place to be. Nice to see wife’s and girlfriends heading back to support the players on a Saturday and even better to see the junior section of the club supporting the seniors on a Saturday and that support being reciprocated on a Sunday morning.

• Introduce Reward & Recognition for volunteers – A “thank you” goes a long way!

Still a work in progress, there have been a few thank you’s to individuals. We also have the Club pre paid discount cards now, allowing members to enjoy discount at the bar.

• Re introduce the club socials – Club New Year’s eve Party, etc.

Fantastic fireworks evening, New Years Eve was a great success and the club lunches have been better attended.

• Have a transparent and open approach to our communications and plans – actively seek membership feedback.

Communication has been much better, Yogi doing a fantastic job. We will be looking at different ways to communicate with the membership going forward. I hope you feel that the members of the EMB are more approachable and willing to discuss things now.

• Introduce more opportunities for member forums – Membership voice events.

Work in progress, plans to run some had to be changed.

• Find and develop symbiotic relationships from within our community to create more value for money for members – member benefits – gym membership discounts etc.

We do have a few of these, but this is another area to work on going forward.

• Strive to become the “One Club” we all want to be. – Introduce 3x Rugby Manager Roles on to the EMB (Mini, Youth & Senior) to remove Barriers and help with transition and development of players through the club.

✔ All Rugby managers in place. Can feel a real one club mentality now.

• Look to secure funding for us to be able to reintroduce a Staines Academy – this needs to be sustainable in a challenging rugby environment.

Something that is still an idea, the U15s will probably be the next development squad and it’s more important to support them than try and recruit a full squad.

• Introduce an occasional Vets side – to allow us to retain players once they have retired from league rugby.

Our vets side played 4 fixtures this season, great to have rugby on a Friday night under lights. Hopefully we can build on this next season.

• Present all major changes of the clubs operation to the membership for us all to decide on the best way forward for Staines RFC.

There have been no major events/changes to present to the membership.

There are some early stage ideas that if become a serious offer we will then present to the members to gauge take up.

• Grow our relationship with the RFU and London Irish – Look at best practice in a professional environment. Make the most out of tools supplied to us to engage members – GMS.

Our relationship with the RFU has been a mutual one this season, we hosted the biggest CPD event ever, have hosted Sweden and England Schools through introductions from the RFU and have held other coach development events.

Our focus switched from London Irish to Harlequins, and we have some exciting projects in the pipeline that hopefully we can share with you all soon. One being the introduction of a Girls u12/13 side in partnership with Harlequins Foundation.

• Create a group to look at reintroducing an End of Season Staines Charity 7s event.

Not going to happen this year, but we have some plans in the early stages for an event to be held in 2019. Watch this space.

When I sit back and look at what we have achieved this season, I am extremely proud. It’s not one persons success, it’s a team success. We are all pulling in the same direction, and have the best for the club at the hear of everything we do.

I have a few people I would like to thank,

Derek Renton – has done a fantastic job as club safeguarding officer over the past 3 years, he’ll be passing over the reins to someone else next season.

Angie Channon – been a huge part of the success of the business side of things.

Mike O’Reilly – stepping up to fill a void and to then mentor the incoming FD.

Ian Callachan – Growing the biggest section of the club, and leading some of the best events held at the club. Ian also took over the role of Property Manager half way through the season and has done a great job.

Rob Winn – Mr Fix it – thank you for all the work you have done for us this season.

Jay Atchinson – Again thank you for everything you have done this season.

Angus & Joe Thomson – great work with the grounds. Hours of commitment to development both of the grounds and as individuals.

I hope to see as many of you as possible over the next few weeks. Looking forward to the Home Tour on the 12/13 May and then the end of season presentations dinner on the 25th May.

If you want to have you say on how the club is managed next season don’t forget to attend the AGM on 20th June.

Have a great summer, enjoy the break and see you all in September.

Steve