Incorporating Shoreditch Sharks Annual Report 2014
Action Plan 2014\15 season
Development of Rugby in Shoreditch
1. History Old Street Onians RFC was formed in 1992 as an inclusive Rugby Club dedicated to bringing rugby to the heart of London and became affiliated to the RFU in 1995. We are a central London rugby club based in and around Islington, Hoxton and Shoreditch and cater for those who wish to train and play hard, as well as those who wish to just turn up and play social rugby.
Senior home games are played on Hackney Marshes with training being held on Haggerston Park’s Floodlit Astroturf from September to March. From April through to September the club plays seven-a-side rugby tournaments, tag competitions and touch rugby.
2. The 2013/14 season An exercise of consolidating the lists of those players who are still current was undertaken this year, removing the many players who have not been active for over a year or more. We currently have over 100 players registered with the club. The season our 3 captains remained unchanged. Thanks to Chris, George, Dave and their vice captains for all their efforts.
We enjoyed a mixed season results wise with the 1st XV finishing 9th out of 11 in the London 3 NW division - in what proved to be a very competitive league. The 2nd XV once again made the merit table semi-finals by finishing 4 in Merit table 2. Having achieved promotion last year to finish above London Scottish V, Wasps 2s and Bank of England 2 is a very creditable season. As always the success of the 3rds was to get a team out on a regular basis and ensuring a fun time for all.
Key to the future development of the Club this year was the addition of coaching talent to the club with a number of senior players becoming qualified as level 2 coaches. This will do much to help the club develop its teams next season.
A by-product of this was the twin highlights of welcoming Chris Robshaw and Connor O'Shea to take one of our usual Tuesday night training sessions and for the club to be invited to play on the hallowed turf of Twickenham and to receive coaching from Mike Catt an others. Two great experiences for all those who took part. A further highlight was the tour to Portugal, thanks and congratulations to Nick Barham for his efforts here.
Thanks as always must go to all those who volunteer their time to help run the club, but as always special thanks to Lynn and Richard Hay for their unrelenting support of the club.
The junior side of the club which has run since 2006 was a disappointment this year with for the first time no junior coaching taking place either on a Sunday morning or through local Schools. This could be put down to a lack of volunteer to lead this, but given that we have been running the Sharks for 7 years the fact that we have been unable to engage local parents in the running of the club is perhaps the most significant factor.
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Action Plan 2014\15 season
3. Club vision
Old Street will be central London's first choice rugby club providing a welcoming experience for those returning to rugby and enjoyable competitive rugby across a range of playing abilities.
Old Street Rugby Club: Enjoyable competitive rugby with your best mates ...... some of who you have never met before
4. Aims and objectives 1. Improving our strength in depth a) Have a player recruitment drive to attract and retain talent at all levels b) To aim for the third team to play on a regular basis throughout the season 2. To celebrate the club's history in World Cup year a) To celebrate the club's history through staging the Unlikely Union art show of founding members at Twickenham in October 2014 b) Thereby creating new publicity for the club 3. Developing our skills and fitness a) To ensure a qualified coach for each team b) To develop a coaching development plan c) To integrate the performance of all 3 teams (moves, patterns, tactics and play) d) To increase the average attendance at training and quality of performance e) To provide physio facilities at training and at 1st team matches 4. Improving our resources a) Widening the pool of people who drive our success b) Continue to develop our refereeing talent c) Look for opportunities to diversify our fundraising 5. To campaign against the use of the Marshes for non-sporting activities a) Whilst current Hackney Council consultation has said they will not ask for a blanket permission, the Council has said they will look at each application for a music festival on its merits. We have to be conscious of the negative effect on the club last year and we need to ensure future events don't affect us. 6. Develop junior rugby in Hackney a) We need to decide is this realistic - we need a volunteer to drive this forward. Those interested please speak to Lynn, Wakey, David or Steve Rice
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Action Plan 2014\15 season
5. What resources are required?
To meet our objectives the club has identified the need for the following resources: 5.1 People skills – We need to continue to grow the pool of members who can help develop the club. The following sets out areas where we need additional resources; a) Coaching: We aim to have a Level Two coaches for each of our 3 competitive teams and ideally for these coaches to travel with each team to aid the Captains. The club will fund players wishing to undertake Level 2 RFU training on the condition that they commit to active contribution to coaching at training. b) Referees: We have a commitment to provide referees for our home fixtures. Nick, Chris, Rick, Mark and Wakey are now RFU qualified referees. Only Rick and Mark referee regularly but we have a commitment for up to 30 home games per year. As a result the club should look to increase this pool to 3 or 4 qualified referees. Current members wishing to be become qualified should be funded to undertake the training on the basis that they referee at least 4 games per year. c) Volunteers: The senior club are always open for new help on the administrative side. These volunteers need to be on both the administration and coaching sides of the club. d) IT and web: The move to www.pitchero was a success after the failure of our old system. The web site needs continued updating and content. e) First aid qualified: These courses are available through the RFU and we need to promote these opportunities internally to members, with the aim of having a qualified first aider at every match for each team. To achieve this aim we should also build and maintain a database of qualified first aiders within the membership, ideally each team should have a qualified first aider. 5.2 Money - In the 2013/14 season the club again broken even. We have no debt and an appropriate small level of cash reserves for the proverbial rainy day amounting to £4,000. Income remains constant at c.£17,000 p.a., 60% from membership fees. For the coming season we propose that: The members agree the attached budget and allow the club treasurer to manage the finances of the club over the year. Membership and match fees remain the same One additional new kit is purchased Training is held on just Tuesday nights Physio will be available to all paid members on Tuesday night training and during 1st team games
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Action Plan 2014\15 season
6. Annual Budget 2014\15
The following budget is prepared for the senior section on these simple assumptions;
1. The senior section will run 3 teams each playing 20 games (10 at home) 2. Match fees will remain at £5 away and £10 home and membership at £120 and £240 Gold Street 3. We will have 60 (£7,200) + 20 Gold Street (£4,800) paid members
Annual Expenses Budget 1 Administration costs £3,500 2 Pitch hire £1,400 3 Astroturf hire (2 hours per week) £2,400 4 Physiotherapy expenses £2,800 5 Post match hospitality £2,200 6 Kit £800 7 Equipment £500 8 Transport £1,000 10 Laundry £350 11 Training courses £500 12 Referee Expenses £550 13 Registrations and league expenses £300 14 Contingency £1,000
Total £17,300
Annual income 1 Annual subs £12,000 2 Matches fees – via Gold Street and on day £4,000 3 Ticket administration £500 4 Socials and fundraising £1,000
£17,500 Annual deficit / surplus £200
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Action Plan 2014\15 season
No. Objective Actions Who When Progress 1 Improving our strength in depth a) Develop strategies for recruiting new players All Ongoing b) Hold elections for Captains and Vice Captains All Jun 2014 c) Ensure 2nd and 3rd teams in appropriate leagues LH Aug 2014 d) Erect promotional banner at Haggerston Astro IH Jul 2014
2 To celebrate the club's history a) Organise the Unlikely Union art show of founding members at DS Oct 2014 in World Cup year Twickenham in October b) Arrange club promotional video(s) DS \ BL Oct 2014
3 Developing our skills and a) Start training for all on 8th July 2014 DB \ NB Jun 2014 fitness b) Ensure 3 x 2 level 2 and 3 x level 1 coaches DB Sept c) Develop coaching plan for the season DB \ NB 2013 Dec 2014 Aug 2014 4 Improving our resources a) One further member to become qualified referee RH Mar 2015 b) Find at least 2 volunteers for first aid course Aug 2014 c) Find volunteer to organise annual tour Oct 2014
5 Ensure no disruption from a) Lobby LB of Hackney to ensure facilities adequately maintained LH\IH Ongoing music festivals and disruption kept to a minimum
6 Inspire youth rugby in Hackney a) Those interested please speak to Lynn, Wakey, David or Steve SR Sept Rice 2014
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Action Plan 2014\15 season
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