WHYTELEAFE FC SUPPORTERS CLUB

Supporters Club AGM 30th November 2006 - Chairman's Report

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In November 2003 Whyteleafe FC Chairman Mark Coote asked the 'Leafe faithful to form an official 'Leafe Supporters Club, primarily to help the few stalwarts who were doing so much for the club on match days and in fact, most days either unpaid or beyond the call of duty.

The founder members agreed 100% with the view that the supporters really can and should make a difference to a football club and I took up the Chairmanship on the understanding that our focus should be on helping the club's owners and staff rather than the increasingly common aim at other clubs of confronting them.

We immediately established our constitution and key aims:

• To continue improving the match day experience at WFC.
• To raise the profile of the club locally and within the leagues where it is represented.
• To expand the social aspect of the club and enjoyment for all members.
• To encourage continuity of support from junior teams through to the seniors.

>> These should lead to increased gates on match days <<

Three years on it is time to look back on the last twelve months, twelve very disappointing months as a Whyteleafe supporter to be frank, to see what we have achieved. We should also look forwards and agree fresh purpose and activities for the coming 12 months.

ON THE PITCH

Since our last AGM we have seen just two home league wins, against Ashford Town in February and Molesey in March for the record and clearly this has dented enthusiasm throughout the club and offered little attraction to any likely newcomers.

The pitch-side enjoyment was to be found away from home with four wins, namely Lymington and New Milton last season; Maidstone, Tooting & Mitcham and Corinthian Casuals this.

Manager Stuart Massey and coach Curtis Warmington resigned last month and we eagerly await news of their replacements. The show goes on, of course, both on and off the pitch, but a more attractive style of play and improved results would undoubtedly lift spirits and inject much needed enthusiasm into the football club as a whole.

SUPPORTERS CLUB HIGHLIGHTS

• Sponsored Walk from Leatherhead raising £ 1,250
• £ 625 donated to The Diamond Riding Centre, Carshalton
• £1000 paid to install an excellent new sound system in the ground
• Around £1,000 collected and distributed in the highly popular Supporters Man of the Match vote.
• Another excellent WFC "Beat the Goalie"stall at the Old Coulsdon Fayre
• Fixture posters in local shop windows
• Another 'Curryoke' night which proved to be a great success again
• White Board displaying the teams on match days, diligently maintained by Allen and Christine Kelly
• Editorship and collation of the match day programme, including regular and one-off contributions of articles, quizzes, away day reports and player interviews by SC members
• Julie Pescod often runs the turnstile on match days
• A Christmas Grand Prize Draw
• Junior Team of the Month awards
• First team player of the month award (usually)
• Organisation and execution of another highly successful and well attended end of season awards party with Karaoke
• Peter Gough raises excellent money for the club with Golden Goal
• Mick "Biscuit" Browne runs the very popular Predictascore
• Expansion and maintenance of the unofficial club website www.theleafe.co.uk

All of the above meet one or more of our key aims and, ultimately will lead to increased gates on match days as our Junior and Youth team members, family and supporters move through the club.

Disappointments and Challenges

Aside from results for the team, we did have some disappointments:

• Again, a Race Night was not supported.
• The sponsored walk was again poorly supported numbers wise.
• The Quiz Night in March attracted just five teams - the winners from Croydon Ath.

We cannot blame everything on results of the first team! Do we publicise our events well enough, or far enough ahead? How well do the regular match day fans support social events?

On a personal note, I did not have sufficient time or if I am honest, in the face of such grim football and results, the motivation to take the Supporters Club forward as I may have hoped.

The burning question that our members rightly ask, with some justification, is "what do I actually get by being a member?"

The communication, advantages and prestige of being a Supporters Club member still needs redefining, fresh promotion and some genuine worth. That will be my primary focus for the next 12 months.

Overall though, we have again made some valuable contributions to the football club, some with immediate impact or benefit and others building for the long term.

Supporters Club Officers

I have been ably assisted in this past year by Vice Chair Chris Layton, Secretary Karen Muir and Treasurer Jerry Cheshire. Our constitution states that we must stand down at the date of the AGM, but can stand for re-election.

Chris Layton, Karen Muir and I will stand for re-election in our current posts.

Jerry Cheshire is standing down as Treasurer. Can I take the opportunity to thank Jerry for his contribution and wish him well for the future, hopefully as an active member of this Club.

Looking forward

Where do we go from here and where should we concentrate our efforts for 2007 and beyond? Well, our key aims and mission above continue to define our purpose and priorities. It is up to us as members, starting tonight, to discuss and agree, but the following sit high on the 'To Do' list: -

• Actively increase our Supporters Club membership
• Improve the benefits and incentive to join our Supporters Club
• Seek corporate sponsors for the football club
• More and different social events and improved attendance

Summary

It has been a tough year with little reward and only rare glimpses of what has so endeared us to the 'Leafe, yet hope springs eternal and the imminent arrival of a new manager, new players and renewed optimism that is unique to football supporters gives us a great opportunity to relaunch and press on with our aims and vision.

We exist ultimately for the benefit of Whyteleafe Football Club and really can make a difference to the club and its fortunes. I fully intend increasing our contribution and raising our profile still further in this coming year, ably supported by Chris, Karen our new Treasurer and all of our dedicated and highly capable membership.

Finally, a sincere thank you to all that have joined us, helped us or supported our efforts through sponsorship, prize draw ticket selling and buying, attending social events, man of the match contributions or in any other way.

Another chapter begins for the mighty 'Leafe...

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