Dear Member,
A late but well meant Happy New Year.
Website
As you presumably know as you’re on it we have an excellent website which is updated after every game with results and a match report. We will continue to develop this site during 2010 and you can also follow us on twitter and facebook (coming soon – Ed.) from the links on the site.
Subscriptions
As with previous years it is a requirement for those in the Section to be members of the FP Club Centre. The section subscription has remained at the same level for many years, however as we are now levied £40 by the parent club for members, we have been left with little alternative but to increase it this year.
The rates, which include membership of the Club Centre, are £60 for full membership and £40 for those under 25. For those with life membership of the cricket section who do not intend playing, the only sub payable is via the Section to the FP Club – £40 per annum, regardless of whether you are an FP. Wives membership remains at £10.
Please let me have your subscriptions ASAP as there is pressure from the Club Centre to collect and pass on these subscriptions with their year already started. I would not want anyone refused entry because of these arrangements. If anyone has already paid their subscription to the Club Centre for 2010 then please note this – I do not wish to pay twice. Please contact Geoff Morrison for details of where to send cheques.
You can also pay by direct bank transfer. However, if you do this please reference your payment and contact Geoff Morrison with details.
Past Subs and Match Fees
There are always a few members who may have inadvertently failed to pay last years subscription or missed an odd match fee. As mentioned elsewhere in this letter, finance is vital to our section and all members should pay their dues.
Match Ball Sponsorship
We now have access to the Rubislaw pavilion and with plans to replace the existing artificial pitch, I am appealing to everyone to make a determined effort to deliver a record year of match ball sponsorship. Without the sponsorship, our section would not be viable. The fixture card will be printed in late March/early April and will record all sponsors. Many local businesses and individuals have helped us with this in previous years.
Can I ask everyone to start working on this one now and to report successes to myself. Please be proactive in this – I shall contact you again on this topic should you not get back to me but it certainly makes my life easier if you contact me.
Sponsorship rates are £25 per game for the Grade 1 XI and £15 per game for the Grade 3 XI. I do realise not all have access to sponsors but I’m asking everyone to try their hardest on this. Anyone who wishes me to send a letter to a possible sponsor, just let me know the contact name, company name and address and I shall do the rest – sooner the better.
Finances
Our finances are in good shape but we still need to build up the financial strength of our Section further. We may shortly have to start paying to use Rubislaw for certain facilities and we have plans for some further upgrades. These plans include a mobile net cage and new artificial pitch which may be in place for the new season if we can secure sufficient funds.
The Commitee
The committee continues to meet through the winter months and carries out a great deal of valuable work ‘behind the scenes.’ We still have stability in the section with the same 1st XI captain (Roland) and 2nd XI captain (Ian). Both captains are raring to go in 2010, with both sides keen to solidify their status in their new grades 1 and 3.
As always there is only so much the committee can do and there are many areas where help would be much appreciated. The areas I can think of right now where the committee need everyone’s help are:
1. Junior Team
A vitally important area where we need a lot of help and enthusiasm is with the organisation and running of the junior team. The junior team is the future of our section in years to come and anyone who is able to help with this very important development area please let me know. Any form of help will be gratefully appreciated
2. New Members
Please be on the look out for new members and introduce anyone who wishes to play cricket to come along and try us out. We need new blood on both the social and playing fronts for all teams
Nets
Details of indoor nets will be posted on the website soon (watch this space – Ed.). After these sessions we intend to start outdoor nets on a Tuesday and Thursday evening.
I look forward to receiving your subscriptions and sponsorship and hope to see as many of you as possible during what I hope will be a very successful season.
Geoff Morrison
(Treasurer)
