Newsletter No. 1 September 2006

Dear Parents / Players
Welcome to our first Club newsletter and welcome to the new club. I’m sorry its taken a while to produce. We intend to issue fairly regular bulletins to advise you of where we are with the development of our Club and this is the first of these.

Teams
We are starting this season with the following teams and will, hopefully, add to these in coming seasons as we move forwards: -
 Publicity
Those of you who are lucky enough to receive the Caterham Independent will note that we have received some coverage in there. We are looking at putting in a small article each month which, as the season progresses will probably be more results based. We can also put match reports in the Surrey Mirror (although you need to be prepared that whilst they usually appear – sometimes they don’t quite make it).

Our suggestion would be that each team elects a Parent who is happy to write a match report and then submit it, via E-mail, to the Paper. If that Parent gives me a call on 01883 380943 – I will give you the e-mail address and tell you about time-scales etc. This is fantastic for the players – who seem to love seeing their names in a match report in the paper.

Finances
As we are a new club finances in this first year have to be tightly controlled. We have purchased equipment, goals for the mini-soccer and nets for the Under 13’s. Pitches have been agreed, all League and County Fees paid and insurance in place. Kits are on their way and we are discussing coats at the moment. During this first year, however, we will rely on prompt payment of subs but are not precious about these things. In most cases the first £60 is in and, should you wish to spread the payment of the second £60 – with £10 here or there to make life easier, then that is fine. We do ask that all final payments are in by November to enable us to plan better for the future. The only other thing is, that if you do pay in instalments, you make documentation enclosing them clear so that we can immediately process it against the Player.

Launch
We are looking to give out kits etc and take some Team photos. As the season commences for the Girls and the Under 13’s on 10th September we would like to see everyone at QueensPark at 3.00pm on 9th. I am sorry its short notice but if you would like to bring your boots I am sure that the Teams will oblige and give you a bit of a kick about?

If you cannot make it can you let your Manager know so that he can issue kit beforehand please?

Aims
As a Club going forwards we have a number of aims and ambitions that will hopefully benefit us all. These are précised as follows: -

1. Community Work – We are keen to be an open club and show that we work within the community. This dovetails nicely with another of our plans which is to set up “open” training on a Saturday morning.

2. Open Forum – In the spirit of “openness” we want the Club to be transparent. If, as a Parent or a Player, you have a suggestion, you want to help, you would like to be present at meetings etc then you are more than welcome. We would like full Parental involvement in the running of the Club. We also see the Older Boys and Girls as ambassadors and role models for the youngsters and, moving forwards, if they would like to help with training the little ones (under strict supervision) then again just let us know. We see the Team Captains being important here and would look to them to have the voice for that team, with the senior Team Captains (Boys and Girls) being overall representative of the Players.

Success
The teams that have come across have also enjoyed some success. Certainly amongst the current crop of players we already have Epsom and Ewell League Champions, Cup Runners Up, numerous tournament winners and runners up – so there is a pedigree there that we all have to live up to. Hopefully we will secure some silverware for QueensPark this season.

Social
Whilst we do not have the time to set up a Social Club – if any Parent is interested then feel free. Ideas that we had about this tended to move away from the obsessive money making – and more to arranging occasional Club days out at cost price. In other words there are enough of us to negotiate a coach trip to, say, ThorpePark. We set the Club up as we wanted everyone to feel part of it and the Boys and Girls to have fun and enjoy their football. If, along the way, we can all go out and enjoy ourselves as well then that is a bonus.

QueensPark – the Club and the Place
We will share the results and league position of each team with you and, to that end, you can be involved as much or as little as you like.

We have the keys to the small white pavilion at QueensPark – where there are toilet, changing and electric facilities. We intend to stick a kettle in there so if you want to make a halftime cuppa then feel free – we won’t charge. Hopefully the Pavilion will be built quickly and we will look to negotiate some use of that as well.

Final thoughts
Many thanks for your support. It was not an easy decision for any of us to leave Caterham Pumas after so many years but we feel that there is the scope to create another successful club in Caterham and the surrounding areas. They are a fine Club and obviously we wish them all the best and thank them for their support. I for one will be keeping a very supportive eye on their results (unless they’re against one of our teams).

Any queries or for any other info please give one of us a shout: -
 Best of luck to all teams for the season and see you all Saturday 9th (hopefully).

Chris Varley

Under 13’s and Vice Chairman

01883 380943