A Real Thirst for Football
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1835 Carl ClubRev Cov.pdf 1 30/10/2009 09:57 THE OFFICIAL VOICE OF THE NORTHERN IRELAND FEDERATION OF CLUBS Club ReviewVOLUME 22 - Issue 7, 2009 A REAL THIRST FOR FOOTBALL Is it available for YOUR football fans? Federation Update Minutes of the executive meeting Held in the Royal Naval Association Club, Belfast on Saturday 10th October 2009 The Chairman opened the The Chairman provided an meeting following which the update on Federation activity Secretary read the minutes since our last meeting. With of the last meeting which the many changes within the were subsequently passed industry other suppliers have without amendment being seized upon the opportunity proposed and seconded by to focus on the club sector Gerry Gallagher and Raymond in regard to which it is more Connors. likely that clubs will look rather more closely at what is The acquisition of InBev available in the marketplace. by C&C Ireland has come as a surprise and while full We have been in discussion Government approval is with Jon Sanders on awaited in respect of Northern the Gaming and Lottery Jackie Millar (centre back), Royal Naval Association, and Dermot Rollins Ireland, matters in the South Consultation paper. There are (front right), pictured with the Federation Executive at the October have been completed. of course particular elements we wish to focus on. Further Executive meeting hosted by the Association at their clubrooms in Great We are pleased to say details will be provided when Victoria Street, Belfast. we have developed an available. excellent relationship with both companies and their Since our last meeting we have management teams over many had the benefit of meeting years. Indeed they continue to Michael McCann, the new view the club sector as vitally Head of Diageo in Northern important. Ireland, who has assured us that the long association We were sad to learn that Terry between Diageo and the Loughins is to depart from Northern Ireland Federation Diageo. Terry has been a very of Clubs remains highly good friend of the Club sector valued. and an excellent ambassador for Diageo. The Federation Chairman John Davidson broached the We have met Dermot Rollins matter of development loans who sponsored today’s meeting for refurbishing club premises in the Royal Naval Association etc. Mr McCann explained Club in Great Victoria Street, that these would be looked at Belfast with some matters on merit. in respect of changes in the industry having been discussed. The matter of co-opting Executive Committee members A Financial report was was discussed with a view that presented by the Treasurer we consider looking at areas with copies being distributed of the province currently not to those present. The report covered. Consideration is to was proposed and seconded as be looked at again at our next a true record of our financial meeting which is scheduled for standing to date by Jim McCaul the 14th November 2009 in and Joe Patterson. the RAOB HQ Belfast. 2 Club Review Issue 6 2009 nifederationofclubs.com The Chairman’s View! It is obvious that the economic recession continues to affect the leisure industry in a major way and clubs are most certainly not excluded. In times such as these it is essential that expenditure is given close scrutiny to best determine where savings can be made. It is foolish to keep premises open on certain days if it is costing you money to do so and a number of clubs have obviously already taken steps to make savings in this area. I like to be optimistic and hope that we are now passing the worst of the downturn and as we enter the Christmas period may see a seasonal upturn to provide a little respite for management committees throughout the province. On 2nd November I was in attendance at a meeting of an industry group to discuss the format for a ‘Code of Practice’ to target the problem areas associated with anti-social behaviour and the health issues This concluded the meeting through alcohol abuse. The representative of ‘MEAS’ the body established in the Republic to target at which point the Chairman similar problems provided an excellent overview of how they have progressed since their inception in thanked Dermot Rollins, 2002. Various questions were posed by those in attendance to ascertain how effective ‘MEAS’ have been Sponsor and representatives in attaining their goals. It has to be said there was a certain amount of ambiguity in the reply to some of of the Royal Naval Club for the questions, as the reduction in such things as alcohol consumption could, for instance, be associated hosting the meeting and for with the high cost of alcohol in the South. the generous hospitality which Patricia McAllister of the Liquor License Review Team confirmed they were monitoring how matters preceded and followed the on minimum pricing progressed in Scotland. We remain of the opinion that education similar to that meeting. adopted in targeting smoking is the only real way forward, but of course that requires copious amounts of funding. It is certain that there is no quick fix to the problem now faced by society. Bob McGlone Secretary, Finally, I am concerned that yet another club Northern Ireland appears to have been subjected to overzealous PSNI Federation of Clubs visits underlining the importance of the NIFC’s wish to bring PSNI Rights of Entry into line with the manner in which other sectors are governed. Published by Media Marketing, B1.06 Portview Trade Centre, Belfast BT4 1HE - Tel: 028 9045 9864 • Fax: 028 9045 9034 • Email: [email protected] Secretaries queries Entertainment Renewals, Securing a rates rebate provides major benefits Public & Legal Notice A number of clubs have requested the Federation’s assistance Advertising recently to explore the possibility of securing a rates rebate. Upon visiting the said club premises it was apparent there was a strong case for such a rebate to be enjoyed. However as a matter SAVING YOUR of good practice, we recommend that an expert on the subject is engaged to survey and prepare an application for submission to CLUB MONEY the rating authority. In particular Mr Rory Clark of Brown McConnell Clark & McKee, 11 Rosemary Street, Belfast, Tel: 028 9032 0027 has been very helpful. † Apart from the financial savings to be derived if successful in Biggest selling local morning newspaper in Northern Ireland † securing a rebate, you will also be categorized as a sports club and Biggest read local morning newspaper in Greater Belfast † will benefit from not having to apply for a children’s certificate. Biggest read local newspaper in the rest of Northern Ireland Example 12cm x 1col Entertainment Renewals Costs Copies Sold Daily Mirror £126 + vat 60,228* N.I.F.C. HELPLINES Better value than News Letter, Irish News or Belfast Telegraph O7889 800329 Telephone: 028 9056 8110 † 07889 800331 SSource NITNITGIGI 20200707 *S*Source - ABCABC, ABC MGNNJ Jan-JunJ 20200707 07889 681714 07889 800325 E-mail: [email protected] nifederationofclubs.com Issue 6 2009 Club Review 3 Corporate News Down Royal raises the champagne stakes Exclusive Champagne House Ireland’s premiere racing Billecart-Salmon agreed a event and an ideal platform sponsorship deal with Down for the racecourse to develop a Royal Racecourse at its popular mutually-rewarding partnership two-day Northern Ireland with one of the world’s Festival of Racing, which kicked most famous champagne off on 6th November. houses. This was an exciting opportunity for Billecart- The celebrated wine-maker, Salmon to connect with new based in Mareuil-sur-Ay in the audiences and at the same time heart of the Champagne region, support the most prestigious put its name to the ‘Billecart- sports and social occasion of the Salmon Handicap Hurdle’ year.” which took place on Saturday 7th November alongside Hosting an action-packed the Grade One JNwine.com programme of premium racing, Champion Chase. trackside entertainment and unrivalled hospitality, Down James Nicholson, chairman Royal Racecourse said this Billecart-Salmon’s Lucinda McMillan joined Down Royal Racecourse of Down Royal Racecourse year’s event attracted the highest Manager, Mike Todd, to toast the ‘Billecart-Salmon Handicap Hurdle’. and managing director of local calibre of horses from Ireland Billecart-Salmon distributor, and the UK. again broadcast to thousands correspondents from ‘At the JNwine.com said, “The NI of viewers across Britain and Races’, Radio Five Live, Radio Festival of Racing is Northern This year’s Festival was once Ireland by leading racing Ulster and Channel 4. 4 Club Review Issue 6 2009 nifederationofclubs.com The End of an Era The Federation bid farewell to a dear friend What can we in the Northern on behalf of Ireland Federation of Clubs say Diageo will be about Terry Loughins that has a hard act to not already been said? Well follow. quite a lot actually. Terry is Terry is one of those people possibly who come along all too rarely. even more To quote a local saying, he is photographed a dyed in the wool Guinness/ than Trevor Diageo man who became McClintock, recognised as the face of the another high company throughout the Island profile trade of Ireland. personality. Of course Terry will always be remembered Needless to say the Federation, with affection from his days as as the representative body of a sales representative with the sports, social and recreational company and it came as no clubs throughout the province, surprise when he secured his were bewildered by Terry’s present role. imminent departure. Of course the restructuring of company Always willing to help and with personnel is nothing new as a smile to greet you Terry will there has been an abundance of be sadly missed, nevertheless I it since the economic recession feel certain he will remain close commenced, but this one in to the trade in some capacity.