Trojans AGM Chairman’s Report – 27^th September 2004

The Chairman’s Comments

After yet another year although possibly not the most memorable in terms of results on the rugby field, I feel we have had another successful year at Trojans.

Although impressive, when looking back over a seasons results across both minis and junior squads, maybe we should not just measure our success at Trojans, simply on wins and tries scored but, more in what we have achieved as a club and most importantly the development of the players, the team and their overall development both as a player and as individuals.

Yet again, this season would not have been possible without the continued dedication and commitment of a large number of you who work so tirelessly for the benefit of other members and all those associated with the section and the club. Without you I am confident that the Youth section and the Rugby section as a whole would not run quite as smoothly. My personal thanks to you all including Youth secretary, fixtures secretaries, coaches, managers, kit manager and club house personnel who work behind the scenes week in and week out.

But, it is not just me who should be thanking you……the huge thanks also comes from all the children that you help train, develop, educate, lead by example, and to whom you are mentors. If those children were sitting with us this evening I am sure they would be putting their hands together and showing their appreciation.

At the last AGM I mentioned four key objectives and personal goals which I had hoped to achieve during the 2003/2004 season:-

- To improve the flow of Communication

- To raise the standards of Rugby played at Trojans

- Be proud of being a Trojan

- Improve Sponsorship and Finances of the Youth Section (The Club House)

Maybe it was naive of me to think that we could achieve all these objectives in one year and although we have in parts been successful we still have some way to go. I am therefore proposing that these four objectives remain our prime objectives amongst all the other day to day, week by week issues that we all get involved with.

Communication

It has improved and with a little more help and assistance we can improve the levels of communication even further. The use of e-mail is undoubtedly one of the quickest cheapest and easiest ways to communicate.

Communication or should I say the lack of communication is one aspect that we as a “club” are consistently criticised for. But the rugby section are mindful that we wish to do something about it and by doing so we should be able to bridge the undoubted gap between the rugby sections and for that matter Trojans sports club as a whole. The recent newsletter from David Greenhalgh is just one example of how we intend to utilise this facility.

It is and remains a major challenge for many organisations to keep members/players informed of changes, plans for the future, social events, matches and results to name but a few. Yes we have a fantastic and very informative web site but who regularly refers to the site as a means of communication? By improving communication it can and will be beneficial to us all.

I am therefore setting us in the Youth section a realistic target of creating a data base of all the players and members e-mail addresses. That way, we can utilise this facility not to inundate you with copious quantities of e-mails but to selectively use it as a means of improving communication. I would ask all managers to get together in the near future to decide on how best we collate the information. I hope to have a comprehensive data base of everyone’s addresses by the end of November.  The data base will be held and compiled by the Youth

Secretary on behalf of Trojans Rugby Club.  It will only be used for Trojans information and will not under any circumstances be released to any third party.

One reason for the need for a central data base was demonstrated when a very successful dinner dance was held at Chilworth Manor in May after the event we had several parents on specific age groups complaining that they knew nothing about it and would have liked to have attended.

Raising the standards of rugby played at Trojans

I am delighted to report that after another season, we continue to have players from our junior teams representing Hampshire and Dorset at under 14s, 15s and 16s.

Player development through to representative level and recognition of the high standards we achieve at Trojans is well known by many involved in rugby. We remain one of the top clubs in Hampshire both at senior and youth level. The friendly rivalry that exists, combined with the competitive edge in wanting to beat a Trojans team is something to be proud of.

But it’s not just in Hampshire that we are known for our high standards, the word is certainly getting around. We are now regularly receiving calls from clubs from the Midlands and Kent all seeking fixtures against Trojans.

Our success as a section may also be measured on the number of new players that have joined Trojans over the last six months. Of course some of these players have joined because of the success the England team had at the World Cup. But there is a tremendous amount of competition in the Southampton area for players yet we continue to attract good numbers. We must keep them as this is the future of our club.

I have and will continue to place emphasis on putting our coaches onto training courses that will help develop them and our players. We recently ran a referees course at Trojans to get more people qualified as referees.

We at Trojans continue to be committed to all our coaches in putting as many as we can afford, through relevant coaching courses and is crucial to future coach and player development.

Other important issues and tasks - Looking to the future

Code of Conduct – to ensure we maintain high standards I plan to issue a code of conduct for players, coaches, managers and spectators which will encompass the does and don’ts when watching our teams play rugby.  The whole emphasis of this initiative is to enhance the children’s enjoyment, appreciation and understanding of the game of Rugby

CRB – a big thank you to all those who have provided us with the relevant information in order for us to ensure that all of the relevant people are checked in line with our club Child Protection Policy.

Seal of Approval – the RFU Seal of Approval has been introduced to recognise a clubs achievement of the high standards necessary for the successful organisation and running of the game at Youth level.  We are required and expected to meet certain standards before the seal of approval will be awarded.  Not only will we be in the Hampshire Rugby Football Unions annual report but we will be included in the Hampshire Handbook.  Youngsters wishing to start rugby will normally be directed to a club with the seal of approval in preference to a club which has not applied or has failed to meet the requisite standards.

We at Trojans are in the process of complying to the standards set by the RFU and I hope to be in a position of applying for the Seal of Approval certainly by the end of the 2004/05 season.  This the equivalent of a business accreditation IS09002. 

Girls Rugby – this is a new initiative for Trojans Rugby Club and we are hoping to become and be recognised centre of excellence for girls and ladies rugby.  This is all part of building upon the already successful Ladies section which exists at Trojans.  Where ever possible please do encourage, support and promote our expanding girls rugby.  Girls rugby is part and parcel of the Youth section.

Volunteers – each and every one of us are volunteers.  It is vitally important that every Manager and Coach talk up the need for and encourage more volunteers.  We will during the course of this season need to find replacement to undertake.

Junior Fixture Secretary:            Mini Chairman:

RFU Registration Officer: Mini Fixture Secretary – has hopefully been filled

Sponsorship and Fund Raising – we continue to require on going financial support in the form of sponsorship and fund raising.  You will hear in a few minutes from David Greenhalgh the exciting plans for the Trojans club house. However we still require financial help particularly in renewing and replacing equipment such as tackle bags, tackle shields, match shirts and other rugby equipment.  All/any help will be greatly received.

E-Mail  web@trojansrugby.co.uk or phone the Club on 023 8061 2400 (Bar) 023 8061 3068 (Admin)      

This page last updated:  10 October, 2008