Minutes of the Committee Meeting Held at Chester R.U.F.C. on Thursday 4Th September, 1997 at 6.30 P.M

Minutes of the Committee Meeting held at Chester R.U.F.C. on Thursday 4th September, 1997 at 6.30 p.m.

Present: C.J.Coventry (in the Chair), lC.B.Pinnington, G.Kennedy, C.Gerrard, E.Taylor, H.Middlebrook, D.AEwing, lM.Young, D.B.Pye, P.lA.scroft, W.Gott, F.R.Povall, E.lF.Taylor, lWyatt, W.E.Buckland, D.lMason, E.ADean, N.Morris, D.P.Wright, AMcLean, P.Blakeman, M.Farr, L.Galey, J.Percival, D.Westem, B. Parkey, RMcLaverty, lGardiner, B.Davies, M.RWilliams, RI.Blake, K.F.Sheldon, G.Marrs, M.Lord, D.I.Adams.

Apologies: S.Wilson, M.Cohen, G.Cox, F.;Frice

Minutes: The Minutes of the Meeting held on 3rd July, 1997 having been circulated were confirmed and signed.

Matters Arising: The RF. U. A G.M. in July was the longest ever and there were some scathing speeches made which made the evening very interesting! We had the best support ever from Cheshire clubs submitting their proxy votes which is pleasing indicating that the majority ofour clubs are interested in decisions being made at the AG.M., decisions which, of course, could affect every club in the country. In reply to my letter Mike Wilson, Chairman of the RFU Competitions Sub-Committee, says that the rate for travel and accommodation expenses for County finalists will be decided at a meeting on August 14th. The number of replacements/substitut es for ail competitive games this season will be a maximum of SIX despite what is written in the Laws Book. Clubs who had 4 or more players sent offlast season were asked to take steps to ensure better discipline in the future. In particular they were asked to post notices in the Home team changing rooms to remind players that officials of clubs with a poor disciplinary record will be asked toattend a meeting with the County Disciplinary Committee who have the power to inflict punishment or take such action as they see fit. The clubs were asked to send copies ofthese notices to the secretary, and Dukinfield, Hoylake, Chester and Sandbach have done so but not Ashton-on-Mersey and Old Anselmians. Frank Povall reported that he has drafted a letter in reply to a letter from the Honorary Treasurer of SPIRE pointing out the changes in the Charities Act, and the secretary was asked to send this letter to Mr. Christie. John Gardinèr (Sale) explained that neither he nor the club President was aware that the Chief Executive had written to Cheshire for permission to change their name to Manchester Sale. The club should have canvassed a view from Manchester before doing so and ensured that the proposal had the full support of the Sale Executive and the Manchester Rugby club Executive. Sale and Manchester are the 4th and 5th oldest clubs in the world and are keen to maintain a long history ofbeing good friends and neighbours. Walter Gott reported that arrangements are going ahead for the VIP lunch in the excellent Sale sponsors' lounge prior to the Cheshire v Lancashire game on Sunday 7th December 2

KO. 2.30 p.m. A letter giving more information regarding arrangements is enclosed. Please give it your support in order to make it a successful venture.

Secretary's Report: Bill Beckett, Lancashire Treasurer, died suddenly in July. Harry Middlebrook represented Cheshire at the funeraI, and a letter of sympathy has been sent to Mrs. Beckett on behalf of the Cheshire Committee. The RFU have guaranteed a specific amount of·funding for Constituent Bodies based upon a mixture of direct cash grant payment from the RFU together with the provision of (e certain services free of charge within a total budget of n,300,000. The 'services' include a contribution towards the cost of referees, long distance travel aIlowance, players insurance premium to be paid centrally by the RFU and provision of Information Technology equipment.

R.F.U. Representative's Report: In his absence George Cox submitted a written report:- The members of the Council were called to a meeting the week following the AGM, when it was announced that Colin Herridge has resigned from the Council. CliffBrittle stated that he was unable to work as he has done in the past eighteen months and put forward the following formula:- Sir Tim Bell will not be employed after 1st August, 1997. M.Humphries & Partners' contract will be terminated after 30th September 1997. Richard Prescott - Director of Communications - will take over these duties. There is a need for more experience on the Management Board and F.Cotton and M.Stear should be co-opted. G.Cattermole should become Chaimian of Finance to replace C.Herridge and G.Smith should sit on the board of ERP. AlI these matters were debated, voted upon and carried. Cliff Brittle aIso stated that he has no problem working with the top clubs. He feels that there must be nationwide consultation and that the game must be.reunited. The President then took over and the following points were discussed: 1. The question of the Chief Executive would be discussed at a future meeting in the presence of Tony Hallett. This was later pre-empted by the resignation of Tony Hallett. The judge is hoping to complete his inquiry report by the end of August. 2. The possibility of the AGM being held in Birmingham would be discussed. The question of the England Coach and management team would be discussed by the Playing Committee now under the Chairmanship ofW.Beaumont. The question of the Emergency Committee would be revisited. There is a mood of optimism for the future!!

Rugby Report: Cheshire will play a warm-up/practice game against Yorkshire at Huddersfield RFC on Wednesday 19th November, 1997, KO. 7.30 p.m. Nominations to Roger Blake (01829-733787) as soon as possible please. In the Championship Cheshire play Leicestershire at Syston RFC on 29th November, Lancashire at SaIe FC on Sunday 7th December, and North Midlands at Worcester RFC on 13th December. The pro cess of selecting a squad for this season's games has started. 3

Thwaites Northeril Club Championship Report: Ted Chapellhow (North Division Secretary) has obtained a sponsorship of ;000,000 from Thwaites brewery, hence the change of name from Courage. Apparently this money has been swallowed up by the RFU and the North Division clubs are not likely to benefit from the sponsorship as was fint envisaged. Clubs are urged to write to the RFU Finance Committee Chairman to try and persuade him that the mnoey should be allocated to the North Division league clubs only. A letter will be going from Cheshire RFU Other Divisions have been unable to produce similar sponsorship. The North Division Clubs Competition Sub-Committee has decided to issue a strong recommendation that only a maximum of 4 substitutes/replacements should be in attendance. If any club still insists on using 6 then they should infotm the opposition 7 days in advance. The league fixtures postponed from Saturday September 6th (because ofPrincess Diane's funeral) must be played on the first available date. B.Parkey (Winnington Park) reported that his club have been advised by the RFU that they may use the County Championship dates if necessary. This will, of course, upset selection for the County and the secretary was asked to write a letter of protest. N.B. Since the meeting 1 have spoken to officers of the NCA who say that 4th October, lst November, 28th February are other dates which could be available for replaying postponed games. Clubs who have players selected for the County squad are respectfully asked to avoid rearranging games on County Championshp dates. Clubs are reminded that if players are paid any money, other than recommended expenses, then they must be placed under contract and the contract approved by the RFU Failure to do this could result in disqualification from the league. There was a suggestion that the Inland Revenue may increase investigation into club funds now that the game has gone professional. Be warned!! Teams travelling to play league games in the Isle of Man should send an invoice to Lee Hetherington (North League Treasurer). The club will be reimbursed for the cost of travelling by coach on the mainland, plus the travel cost across to the Island for 21 players i.e they will be reimbursed the total cost less .f250. Mike Lord is now the co-ordinator for the North West. U nder 21 Report: Two warm up games have been arranged, one against Scottish Exiles U21 at Wilmslow on October 5th and one against Crewe & Alsager College at the College on a Sunday towards the end of October. The County Championship games are against Yorkshire at Morley RFC on 23rd November, against Cumbria at Chester on December 7th and against Northumberland (Away) on 14th December. Every club in Cheshire was asked by letter to nominate players for the U21 squad and the response was poor. It is not too late for nominations, and ifyou have anyone at your club good enough to play for Cheshire U.21's please ring John Holland on 01625- 531650 or Frank Priee on 0151-625-6159.

Competitions Report:- AlI 16 clubs qualified to enter the Cup Competition have entered. The Plate Competition has attracted 18 entries, and the Preliminary Round will be drawn after this meeting. This round to be played between 22nd November and 13th December. 4

Any Other Business: P.Blakeman (Altrincham Kersal) reported that Lancashire clubs have been asked for photographs and d.o.b. details for all their junior players. D.Adams explained that the R.F. U. are organising Data Bases to be kept of all junior players in every club and that each Constituent Body will be provided a computer for the person responsible fot keeping the records. GeoffPugh (Chairman Mini Junior Sub-Committee) will be doing this for Cheshire. Peter Ascroft (port Sunlight) said that his club have been having great difficulty in , contacting Steve Peters (YD.O.); several other members complained of the same problem. Chris Gerrard said that he and John Young are having a meeting with Steve on 5th September, and, hopefully, this problem can be sorted out. Frank Povall reported that Brian Baister (Chairman of the E.R.P. National Clubs, Counties and Divisions Committee) is attending the North Division meeting on 9th September. He also reported that sorne unconstitutional activities have occurred with the North Colts Sub-Committee and hopefully this will be cleared up at the meeting. Graeme Marrs reported that negotiations were in progress for sponsorship money from 'e the Cheshire Building Society, but probably only a small amount will be obtained.

The next Meeting will take place at the Chester Club on Thursday 13th Novernber, 1997 at 6.30 p.rn •

...... ç.~.. ~~ ......

C.J.Coventry - President 13th November, 1997

Arnendrnents to Mernbership Card

Birkenhead Park: Representative on Cheshire Committee - Walter Gott, 4, LLys Enfys, Gwemymynydd, Mold, Flintshire CH7 5NB Tel: 0l352-757857 Schoolboys Sub-Committee Secretary: Bob Davies, 7, New Mills, Hayfield, High Peak SK2 2JG Tel: 01663-742162 Mike Wilson (Chairman of the RFU Competitions Sub-Committee) in answer to the question, CHESHIRE RUGBY FOOTBALL UNION that E3,OOO is the agreecj rate to cover travel and accommodation for teams travelling to Twickens. e from the North for a Final. The secretary was instructed to write to the RFU Chairman of Finance sug gesting that no team should be out of pocket as a result of playing in a Twickenham Final, and expens es should cover travel and Iwo nights accommodation. Individual Members' Secretary RFU REPRESENTATIVE REPORT Dennis Western, White Cottage, 118 Irby Road, Heswall L61 6XQ George Cox gave several reports to your committee over the season and the following are the main Telephone: 0151-648 3208 points of interest 1) The RFU now has planning permission to purchase the allotment behind the North Stand at Dear Member - SEASON 1997 - 9a Twickenham. This should significantly increase parking facilities. 2) The RFU's next move in the development of the Twickenham Stadium will be to approacA _elcome to the new season, which following the British Lions superb achievements against South National Lottery and the Sports Council with a view to re-developing the south si de of the grou. .' seems to provide almost continuous rugby ail year round. Congratulations to Fran Cotton and his 3) New office accommodation is being provided at Twickenham. team. 4) The RFU have agreed a lucrative de al with Nike. Following a winter of internecine baUles at Twickenham, Cliff Brittle eventually emerged victorious at 5) The priee of tickets for international games at Twickenham will increase next season. the Annual General Meeting in May, with an increased majority and is in the process of appointing his 6) The RFU have issued a Mission Statement :- "To promote, foster, and govern rugby in England for new team amongst them being Fran Cotton, whose support of Cliff Brittle contributed enorrnously to the the benefit of ail and be world leaders, through excellence, in every respect of the game". result of the election. The resignation of both the Secretary; Tony Hallett and Treasurer; Colin Herridge 7) The RFU has made a commitment to ensure that ail Constituent Bodies have enough money to run have been accepted. their affairs. It is Cheshire's turn to chair the Northern Division Committee and Frank Powall has been elected to a) It is planned to give priority to the funding of an overseas tour each year by one of the Divisions, this important position. It has been decided that only two representatives from each county should th us each Division could make an overseas tour every four years. attend these meetings. 9) There has been some confusion as to the number of replacements, it was originally suggested that Three stalwarts of the Cou nt y were unanimously elected as Honorary Life Members for their contin six were required for ail games in 1997/9a but this has been overruled by the RFU Laws of the uing contribution to Cheshire affairs, they are Mark Colin, Walter Gott and John Young. Congratulations Game Committee which states that four replacements only are required. to ail of them. 10) They were very keen the clubs should submit their Balance Sheets to Cou nt y Treasurers, and next season clubs who have not done this may be banned from applying for International match tickets. Your Membership Booklet for the ensuing season is enclosed together with a copy of the Annual 11) The RFU have formed a County Championship Working Party to look into the problem of the deteri Report. Harry Middlebrook stood down as president at the A.G.M following Iwo very successful years. oration in standard. They hope to provide a structured season which will avoid clashes for league Harry had the unique experience for a Cheshire President of representing the County at two games and County games. Perhaps postpone the County Championship programme until league Twickenham Finals, but unfortunately both Sale and Crewe and Nantwich lost narrowly in the Pilkington season is complete? Cup and Nantwich Junior Cup respectively, 50 hopefully there will be an improvement in next seasons competitions! DISCIPLINE The Finance Sub-Committee have recommended that the fee charged to players attending MESSAGE FROM CHRIS COVENTRY· CHESHIRE PRESIDENT Disciplinary meetings should be increased to E20. This was approved by a substantial majority. It is a great honour to have been made President of Cheshire R.F.U. ln a recent successful case brought against the Welsh RFU by a player, the Welsh disciplinary sys On leaving school 1 played for Bowdon for two years and then joined Sale and played for Cheshire tem was criticised by the Court on several grounds, one of which was that a player cannot play whilst an in 1961. 1 have been on the Cheshire Committee for over 20 years serving on the Disciplinary and appeal is pending. RFU disciplinary procedures as amended last season had anticipated most of the Competitions Committees. Although from a now professional Club, 1 am still a great believer in amateur points of criticism levelled at the Welsh system but had consciously retained the ban on playing whilst rugby. an appeal is pen ding to avoid manipulation of the system. There must remain a vehicle for players to join a club, play at any level, for fun and a run out on a As a result of the recent court decision RFU consider it prudent to reverse the rule 50 that a player Saturday afternoon, not to mention the odd pint after the game. may play whilst an appeal is pending. To avoid abuse of the system players who lodge an appeal will During my term as President 1 hope to visit most clubs and shall at ail times be available to give help not be permitted to withdraw the appeal which must be determined by an appeal committee having if possible. power to increase as weil as confirm or reduce the sentence. 1 look forward to a successful season on the field, not only for the Cheshire senior side but ail the TIES AND SWEATERS • cae sides. Please give them your support, the players step up a gear with support from the touch- lin . Dennis will continue the marketing of County Ties and Sweaters and will be pleased to receiv. g- gestions for other products which could be made available to members. .:; -'::cfongratulations to the two Cheshire Club sides who reached the finals of their respective cup com Ties are E5.00 and Sweaters (Botany Wool) E25.00, plus postage and packaging, if appropriate. petitions. Lets hope this coming season Cheshire are representing in ail three Cup Competitions. ln conclusion may 1 wish you ail an enjoyable and successful coming season. If there is anything Dennis or 1 can do to assist you over the new season, please let either of us know. INTERNATIONAL TICKETS - URGENT!!! Yours Sincerely, The same format as previous seasons will apply with ail applications being dealt with by your Assistant Treasurer, Harry Middlebrook. However, owing to the changed method of applications and allocation of tickets, please bear in mind the following advice. There is no need to send vast sums of money to the R.F.U., so members should not send more th an for the tickets they require. The new R.F_location system means that we will still get the same number of tickets each year subject to a sm , iation. Away tickets are in very short supply, the County only receive 2 or 4 for each match, DAVE WRIGHT your' est opportunity is to make a contact with Clubs in other Unions. A register is kept of ail tickets Chairman, Individual Membership Issued for each season and then for the past five years, the sheet showing the allocation of tickets is • always on view at the County A.G.M. A check is made with the Membership Secretary to ensure ail t

1 applicants have paid their subscriptions. • emen of Moore and Runcorn respectively. This was approved. :Requests from constitu'ent bodies are still almost entirely for tickets at the two highest priees an • wickenham wish to remind clubs that Constituent Body approval is required for any club name Rfu. have decided that these will be the only categories offered, lower priced tickets will still be allo- changes. Letters from Sale F.C. requesting approval for a name change to Manchester Sale F.C.; and cated through Clubs. 1 from Manchester F.C. giving reasons why they take the strongest possible exception to another club The main fixtures this Iseason will be England v. Wales on 21 st. February 1998 and England v. attempting to purlciin the name of Manchester. It was unanimously agreed by your committee (two Irel~nd on 4th April, 1998 .. abstentions) not to support the Sale request. The County has alreaC!y applied for a limited number of tickets for this years matches which are Administration still continues to cause problems. Points have been deducted from clubs fielding inel England v Australia on 15tp November 1997, England v New Zealand on 22nd November 1997 at Old igible players on 41 occasions - 10 in Cheshire! Fines have been levied for not producing match cards Trafford. England v South AI frica on 29th November 1997 and England v New Zealand on 6th December on 73 occasions - 10 in Cheshire! Fines have been levied for not telephoning the result on 43 occasions 1997. 1 in Cheshire! Please remember that If you have received tickets for the Five Nations matches you will not g~ 1"UbS cannot have their league match postponed "because they are unable to field a representative this year and the limit is tWb tickets for major internationals. _ ow" If this happens their opponents get the two points. You must stick meticul6usly to the instructions on the application form. Please bear in mind that the Mike Lord (01244 312702) continues to represent the Cou nt y on the Northern Division for ail starilp on your stamped addressed envelopes should be "First or Second Class", not with stamps with League issues. If you have a problem give him a cali. the amount in figures as thé postage rate often changes and understamped letters can be delayed. RUGBY REPORT SENDIVOUR APPLICATION (Betore 30th September, 1997) Congratulations to the Chairman of Selectors, Roger Blake, his fellow selectors, coaches and play To: N. H. MIDDLEBROOK, ers for their efforts on behalf of the County this season. Although the result was - played 3 won 1 lost 2 - 27,1 CLARENDON ROAD, SALE CHESHIRE M33 20U the atmosphere within the group was good. Telephone: 0161-962 2957 ln the first game against Northumberland at Northern RFC there were 11 players in the team, and who will de al with ail enquiries about International Tickets - Cheques payable to Cheshire R.F.U. please. the lack of experience showed, with many errors and failure to retain possession. Even worse, a great deal of good possession won by the forwards, especially in the line-out, was wasted by poor kicking. A SUBSCRIPTIONS 1 Members please note that at the A.G.M. subscriptions were increased to E12 per season, and E100 much improved display against the County Champions for the past two seasons, Warwickshire, with for Life Membership which ,btill represents excellent value as members are admitted free of charge to ail some excellent rugby producing a 19 points lead in the first 20 minutes of the game. There was a relax Home County matches and to the Finals of the Cheshire Cup and Plate, together with the opportunity to ation of effort in the second half when Warwickshire threatened to take control, but good defence kept apply for Home Internationèl tickets. the score down and the team thoroughly deserved the 24-12 victory. Poor tackling gave away too many tries at Newark against NoUs, Unes & Derby, and a 24 point start for the opposition proved impossible Your Hon treasurer decided, with support from your committee, to change our Banking facilities ha~ to catch up. from the Royal Bank of Scbtland to the Cooperative Bank. There will be a number of advantages to be gained from this change: (a) There will be lower or no charges. (b) Better deposit account rates. (c) This season Cheshire play Leicester at Syston on 29th November, Lancashire at Sale on Sunday Hopefully some support foriadverts etc. (d) Better responses from Bank Officiais. 7th December and North Midlands away on 13th December. Walter Gott has offered to organise a pre match luncheon for the Lancashire game with a view to raising the profile of the County Championship May 1 also ask you to please take the time to complete the enclosed standing order and return it to and providing some useful revenue for the County. A warm up game will be played against Cumbria on your own bank as soon aslpossible. Remember to put your own banks name and address at the top of 19th November. the Jorm and under Special Instructions at the bottom, please write "Cancel S.O. with Royal Bank of Scot/and" and complete thJ bottom line with your own account title and number and sign and date it. The Colts had another excellent season but ended disappointingly with defeat in the semi-final at t Castlecroft 8-27 against East Midlands, the ultimate winners of the Championship. Seven Cheshire COURAGE LEAGUE 96/97 players had been selected for advancement; this in itself was a splendid reflection on the quality of the Congratulations go td Altrincham Kersal (South Lanes / Cheshire 1), Marple (South Lanes / side. Martin O'Keefe (Birkenhead Park), Gordon McLeilan (Chester College), Richard Bradshaw Cheshire 3) and Shell Sta~low (South Lanes / Cheshire 4) who won their respective leagues. Ashton (Wirral), Nick Ashton (Wirral), Rob Hartley (Macclesfield), Phil Shaw (Lymm) and Richard Walker on-Mersey, Caldy and Crewe and Nantwich also gained promotion. Sadly Sandbach, Parkonians, (Altrincham) were selected for the North Squad. This is the first time that Cheshire Colts have won the Hoylake and Port Sunlight were relegated. Roche Cup awarded to the Champions of the North. This was the first yearlOf 'home & away' fixtures and was in general considered to be a fairer and Pilkington Cup - There will be a reduction in the number of rounds from 9 to 8, but there will be an ~,ore balanced system tha~ the previous one. The Manx Clubs who have to travel to the main land every increase in the number of clubs for round 1. Each County can nominate two clubs with Yorkshire and othe. r game are to be congratulated on fulfilling ail their fixtures, despite the heavy costs involved. el"n Counties nominating 3 each. 56 clubs from the Counties plus 28 from leagues 4 North and ,Monteil Carrington ha~e rejoined the league for the coming season and Whitehouse Park" Iso S _will compete in Round 1. First Round losers will receive E2,400. Cheshire's nominations will be being given another chance to complete. '.,., C ter and Vagabonds. , The format for 97/98 deason is the same as 96/97 except that registration waiting period reduces Crewe and Nantwich played weil in the final of the National Junior Knock-Out Cup at Twickenham from 30 to 7 days at ail levéls. Courage are no longer sponsoring the RFU League Competition. and only lost after extra time. Our congratulations go to them and to Sale F.C. for reaching the ,Clubs have been aske~ to look at their registration lists and try to reduce the numbers by de-regis- Pilkington Cup Final and finishing up as 5th in the Courage League. tering players who are no Ibnger with the Club or have given up playing. The Cup and Plate competitions managed to survive the weather and other obstacles with Old 'As from this season thè following League title changes are made: Anselmians beating Caldy 20-13 in the Plate Final at Chester, and sale overcoming a very spirited resis tance from Chester to take the Cup 48-10 at Lymm. National Leagues 1 an~ 2 become Premier 1 and 2 Both finals were weil attended despite the most inauspicious pre-match weather. The Cup National Leagues 3 4N become National 1 and 2N. an~ co.·uee wish to thank the members at Chester and Lymm who helped organise two smoothly run It has been decided th~t the restrictions on registration will be changed from 50 players to a Fi nd, of course, those clubs who did not make it to the Final without whom there would be no Any club or group of 61ubs proposing to form a lower tier league e.g. at 2nd XV level,

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ADDRESS ......

1alose my cheque for L ...... made out to Cheshire R.F.U. ~ STAMPED ADDRESSED ENVELOPE for each International Match for 1997/98 Season and require the following tickets:

DATE MATCH Priee No. Priee No.

15-11-97 ENGLAND v. AUSTRALIA 33.50 30.50

22-11-97 ENGLAND v. NEW ZEALAND 32.50 28.50

29-11-97 ENGLAND v. AUSTRALIA 35.50 30.50

6-12-97 ENGLAND v. NEW ZEALAND 35.50 30.50

21- 2-98 ENGLAND v. WALES 35.50 30.50

4- 3-98 ENGLAND v. IRELAND 35.50 30.50

Total Total

Please indicate: (1) If alternative tickets will be acceptable Yes D No D (2) Will single tickets be acceptable Yes D No D (3) Match preference - WALES D IRELAND D N.here is a 50p non-refundable administration fee included in the above priees.

'. REMEMBER: Application must be accompanied by:

STAMPED ADDRESSED ENVELOPES FOR EACH GAME and be received in time.

NO ENVELOPE - NO TICKET. Applications in by 30th September, 1997 ta: N. H. MIDDLEBROOK, 27 Clarendon Raad, Sale M33 2DU. Tel. 0161-9622957.

R.~ REQUIREMENT: PI. return ,unwanted tickets ta N. H, Middlebrook, do NOT sell on ta others.

IMPORTANT if your annual subscription (other than Life Members) is not up ta date by 30th September, no tickets will be allocated ta you.