Sevenoaks Rugby Club Ltd. Knole Paddock Plymouth Drive Sevenoaks Kent TN13 3 RP www.sevenoaksrugby.com
Chairman’s Report May 2022
To all members
Well, what a season that was!
In many ways the best ever, a fantastic re-start after the awful experience of Covid, which really tested the resilience of individuals and clubs like ours, who operate a fine balance of resources between essentials and ‘nice to haves’ aiming to at least break even.
Some amazing successes on the field are detailed below, led by Nigel Gumbleton’s all conquering 1st XV, who were crowned champions of London Premier, a league in which we had thought mere survival would be an achievement.
As we approach our centenary, playing standards throughout the club are higher than ever before.
The quality of our coaching is outstanding; in particular Adam Bowman, Paul Dawson, Mike Hebden, Alex Rolfe and Tom Swallow take a bow.
Right now, The Mighty Oak is the tallest tree in the amateur forest.
This has brought us a new challenge, since from National Division 2 upwards, all clubs pay their 1st XV a match fee (typically £150) plus expenses in return for a contract to play only for that club.
This puts me personally in direct conflict with my long-held belief that professional rugby is only sustainable if the wage bill is comfortably covered by extra spectator/commercial revenue, rather than unpredictable (though welcome!) donations.
Apart from the obvious financial pressure (the cost of 1st XV wages and expenses at level 4 is around @125k pa) I believe it to be extremely divisive within clubs, which must put money first in everything they do from that point on.
We have seen the demise of several good traditionally strong clubs who went down this route but when the ‘donation’ tap is switched off there is nothing left.
So, the challenge is to maintain and believe in the spirit and fitness in the squad which won us so many tight games.
The good news is that 54 players started pre-season strength and conditioning training at Better Body Group gym this week, just days after the last game of the season- a cracking start.
This fundamental commitment to supporting fitness and injury rehab is open to all players and lasts the whole season, paid for by the club through a sponsorship contra deal; a great example of how we can attract and keep quality players without paying them.
We aim to make the passion, camaraderie, culture and player support facilities at Sevenoaks irresistible, to reinforce that fast-declining but crucial team value- loyalty.
Without that, why do we play the game?
If this appears old fashioned I do understand and hope you will appreciate that I must stay true to what I see to be the best interests of your Club and mine. Should there be a determination to pursue this pay to play route, I would need to do further soul searching before being able to lead the Club into that ‘semi-professional’ future with conviction.
It would certainly only be on the condition that the Club finds the incremental revenue to pay players without borrowing money or hiking membership fees. Furthermore, to make provisions for paying 1st XV players by reducing much needed investment elsewhere, for instance kit, equipment and facilities that benefit our boys and girls in the Juniors or senior players outside the highest performing cohort, would be too high a price to pay.
My first position is for every player young and old to have everything they need and more to enjoy our Club, to access sport and to appreciate the true value of the amateur game.
Like many clubs, we celebrate our volunteers, and I would like to thank them all, beginning with the committee, which has been very strong this year.
We mourned the sudden passing of both Jonny Wilkinson and Lee Adamson and are very glad that Hils has stepped up to help with the Acorns after a really tragic time for her- she knows the club will always be here for her.
Replacing Jonny as Treasurer is Charlie Mouncer; we have been really lucky to persuade another qualified accountant and partner of Charlie Naismith -Mighty Oak and 1st XV prop- to look after our finances.
Charlie brings tight financial control with such state-of-the-art aids as Xero accounting software to work closely with Brebners Accountants and keep a very accurate eye on our cashflow.
The club will always maintain a strong cash reserve position- affordability of all expenditure will be tested rigorously.
Greg Gorrill has introduced a valuable new perspective to the ongoing deliberation on the direction of our club and grabbed the comms role with alacrity and panache.
GG has effectively increased the ‘click through’ and ‘opened’ stats of our newsletter and website in partnership with the social media and post-match interview team of Jack Curnow and Sevenoaks’ answer to Davina McCall, Club Skipper’s wife Liv Gumbleton.
Fitzy is as unpredictable and incisive as ever, bringing valuable One Club perspective from his recent role as Head of Juniors and taking on the very challenging commercial role- almost impossible for a volunteer.
The eminence grise that is our President Wooly also provides wise thoughts as well as regular lunchtime merriment, not least when we were graced with the presence of RFU Chief Exec Bill Sweeney and President Jeff Blackett.
More often heard but not seen from his perch overlooking Sydney Harbour, Andy Nicholls keeps us compliant and efficient as the longest serving committee member of all time.
The 100+ volunteer junior coaches, led brilliantly by John, Rosie and the Henley clan en masse, have long been a legend of our club.
No thanks can be enough for the time you all commit to 825 registered young players now aged from 5 upwards- thanks one and all- it’s a remarkable thing you do for the kids in all weathers.
1st XV match days would be a shambles without Derek Arnold organising the team of ground stewards, scoreboard and storing of equipment- thanks all, please put your hands up again next year!
Clarky is our meticulous Child Protection Officer, and also worked tirelessly during Covid helping the club stay the right side of the infamous Johnson-Starmer law, ensuring no parties during lockdown!
The bar and kitchen have had some record days this season, and that wouldn’t happen without Donna, Colin and Diane’s teams- ‘coping under pressure’ doesn’t get close to describing what they do so well- just so we can all have fun together and entertain other clubs with superb quality catering and busy bar atmosphere.
Diane’s brilliant Soft Play Café is also now a significant contributor to club funds.
The list of people who give up their time for the club is endless, but I’d like to give a big thank you to Paul Vizard (Fixtures Sec) Alan Crane, (Referee liaison) and Andy McClinton (Subs admin) without whose efforts there would be no games- thanks fellas!
Will Rosier will kill me for mentioning that he not only fixed the embarrassing cold showers issue, but also bought and donated the cosy woodburning stove to the club.
Similarly, Andy Browning, who personally contributed hugely to the recent clubhouse refurbishment- thanks guys.
I believe it is important for everyone to acknowledge and be grateful for unprompted gestures like this, particularly from past players, that make us what we are.
The Club’s playing ambitions include:
1st XV competing effectively at National League levels.
2nd XV entering the competitive England Championship at Level 7 or 8
3rd XV highly active Senior Men’s social side
4thXV more matches for the Acorns Vets
Senior Women’s team to be introduced
Boys Academy to be best in the Southeast
Growing our formidable Girls Rugby section across multiple age groups
Continued growth and quality of Youth and Mini Rugby
Renewed community rugby outreach programme with local schools
Ensuring our success in these goals and our mission to bring access to sport to as many as possible of all abilities, while also making our spectator experience and facilities the best they can be, requires further investment and commercial focus.
This is where Adam Bowman’s new full-time role is critical, and we look forward to him bringing the same level of quality and organisation to our community outreach, sponsorship and rugby camps programme that he has shown as Director of Rugby.
Sponsorship is in great shape thanks to Sarah Bowyer, a huge thank you to you all, and in particular to Savills, our headline sponsor for the past 8 years.
We have new initiatives including Mighty Oaks Holiday Rugby Camps for children U7-U15 (Schools Years 2-10) starting in July, and the 1925 Club, an opportunity for any member to support the Club with a significant donation and to become more closely involved in backing our future Junior and Senior success.
As always, I welcome your opinion on any matter- please email direct tn@landequity.co
Meanwhile, I wish you all a restful summer- see you on the balcony!
Trevor Nicholson
Chairman
Sevenoaks Rugby
