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“2008 AGM Report”

The Royal Oak pub on Woodstock Road in Oxford provided the setting for this year’s Far from the MCC AGM. With the team looking for a new home after deciding to up stumps from windy Stratford Brake in Kidlington, a venue closer to the centre of Oxford was deemed appropriate, and the Royal Oak ticked nearly all the boxes: good beer, a friendly landlady, a convivial atmosphere, and a lack of skinheads to kick your front teeth out.

Not even some disgusting cheese eating kept the old man awake (background)….

The AGM was very well attended, and with nearly every position within the club up for grabs due to multiple resignations and people buggering off abroad, it made things all the more interesting than previous years.

Herewith the notes from the meeting below….

‘M. Inutes’

Part I – Notes on attendance

Apologies for absence:

Steve Parkinson (Being a dad instead of hanging out with mates on the piss)

Adie Fisher (Bar duties / double booked etc)

John Harris (Stag do)

Andrew Morley (Family commitments)

Adrian Small (Resigned / left club for pastures new)

Mike Clarke (Carlisle / Spain / China / who gives a toss)

Richard Hadfield (Under police arrest)

Present:

Matt Bullock (Chairman)

Geoff Carter

Andrew Darley

Steve Dobner

Dan Edwards

Nick Hebbes (Tour Organiser, Social Secretary)

James Hoskins (Decadilly Organiser)

Jake Hotson (Fines Chairman)

Ian Howarth (Captain, Minutes)

Ian Leggate

Ben Mander

Tony Mander

Antony Mann (Fixtures Secretary)

Mike Reeves

Dave Shorten

Thornton Smith

Martin Westmoreland (Treasurer)

Part II – Chairman’s Welcome

The Chairman began by thanking the Committee for all their efforts over the year, and also commiserations to all regarding the poor weather that once again plagued the season. Thanks to James Hoskins for organising the Royal Oak as a venue for the AGM, with a view to it being the home of the team next year. Thanks also to Ian Howarth for skippering during a difficult season, and also for keeping the website up to shape. Big thanks to Nick Hebbes for stepping in during Ian’s absence (honeymoon in May), and also for organising an excellent tour to the Mumbles – but no thanks for the quite terrible weather. Some thanks to Antony Mann too – but no notes were taken… so it’s assumed this was for maybe for compiling the fixtures, or maybe for buggering off abroad?

Part III – Treasurer’s Report

The Treasurer reported that the club had made a net profit of £30 over the course of the year, which was considerably “better than Woolworths”. It had been a tough year due to no sponsorship, and we are hoping this can be rectified by bringing plenty of custom to the Royal Oak during 2009 (sponsorship). Subs are to stay at £25, and match fees will remain at £5 a game. Additional income is to be raised by Fixture Cards.

Martin was accused of keeping the team in the dark about the club’s finances.

The club’s own book “Not at This Level” has now sold approximately 80 copies, and the Lords Taverners were said to have found the book a very good read (two copies were gifted for the Brian Johnson memorial by Tony Mander). The books printing costs are now more or less covered and the club will soon be in profit.

Further thanks to Ant, Jake and Ian for collecting monies in Martin’s absence (acting as Deputy Treasurers).

Part IV – Ethos

It was forgotten to take this item off the list – so Matt used it to remind people of the necessity in replying to “availability” e-mails for various fixtures during the course of the season. A simple “yes” or “no” will suffice – please DO NOT ignore them! This saves the skipper or whoever is organising the team a potential headache when chasing a full team for the Sunday.

Part V – Committee Member Elections

Always a very popular part of the evening – voting for Committee positions were as always up for re-election. The following results were realised after all hands were counted….

Elected Committee Posts

Chairman

Matt Bullock

- wishes to continue as Chairman, no contenders.

Fixtures Secretary

Ian Howarth

- fends off Jake Hotson for the vacant role after Ant Mann resigns.

Treasurer

Martin Westmoreland

- continues as Treasurer, fending off Thornton Smith who cited “black holes in the accounts”.

Captain

Martin Westmoreland

- sworn into the vacant role, after beating off interest from Jake Hotson (Ian Howarth had resigned).

Vice Captain

?

Martin will decide on Vice Skipper(s) during the off season (in his own words “fuck guest captains”).

Non-Committee Posts

Tour Organiser

Steve Parkinson

- takes on the poisoned chalice, after Nick Hebbes steps down, unopposed.

Fines Chairman

Andrew Morley

- is elected to the vacant post, fending off interest from and Ian Leggate (Jake Hotson had resigned).

Social Secretary

Jake Hotson

- wishes to stand for the post after Nick Hebbes resigns. No contenders, unanimous.

Part VI – Season 2009

Membership Rates

Subs are to stay at £25, and match fees will remain at £5 a game.

Nets

Winter nets are to run alongside the OU Offices at Magdalen College (details nearer the time). In addition, Andrew Darley mentioned coaching sessions, which had been organised in early February for anyone interested. It was suggested these were for “his benefit” (loud applause and laughter). Details to finalised.

Ground

Once more the Far from the MCC will be playing at a new ground next year after organising relocation to Brasenose College (in central Oxford). It was considered a good move in light of windy Stratfield Brake in Kidlington being deemed “soulless”, “er, windy” and last, but not least “fucking crap”.

A committee meeting had instigated the move, and special thanks must go to Dan Edwards for sourcing the contact, and James Hoskins for following through with Dan the groundsman (another Dan) at Brasenose College. The only slight consideration is a possible clash of dates with a “Captain Scott XI” – a nomadic team who may possibly use the ground in the early season.

Home Pub

The Royal Oak on Woodstock Road, Oxford is to be the club’s new Home Pub. The landlady (Rachel) is well respected by many of the players and the beer and cider on offer is good. The pub is also relatively close to where the team will be playing their home games next year.

Equipment and Sundries

Jake is going to investigate “blue” tracksuit bottoms….

New Players

It is agreed the club need an injection of at least two new “regulars” for the coming season. It is concluded that these may be sought from three contrasting areas: Brasenose College itself, Andrew Darley’s now disbanded Sunday OU Office team and maybe the Royal Oak pub if we get round to advertising the fact going in to the New Year.

Part VII – Tour

The 2009 Tour is scheduled for the weekend of August 16. Stephen Parkinson has been tasked with organising the shindig, and he is hopeful to lead a sizeable party to Louth in his home county of Lincolnshire. It is a place where Steve regularly name-checks when talking about former glories.

Also – and perhaps more importantly, congratulations to Steve and his missus on bringing another MAD baby into the world, young Harry. Commiserations to Harry having Steve as a role model and dad.

How touching….

Part VIII – FFTMCC Awards

As ever, the following MAD awards and trophies were up for grabs, and following on from a pissed vote the following winners were announced below….

Ant wins a classic “sympathy vote” for POTS whilst pissed.

Roll of MAD Honours

Player of The Season

Antony Mann

Most Improved Player

Andrew Morley

Effort

Ian Howarth

Champagne Moment

Dave Shorten

- huge six out of the ground and against a house (v Whitland CC #163)

James’ MAD Fantasy Cricket

James Hoskins

James fixes the voting, but still comes last.

Humorous and Lesser Miscellaneous Awards

There were also two special awards – firstly a £60 engraved pen handed to Antony Mann for his services to the club over the years. Ant leaves for Australia early in the New Year and will be sorely missed. He is one of The MAD’s two original serving members. It was decreed that nobody can ever wear the #3 shirt in his absence. Ant spouted some bollocks about missing his team mates, but reiterated that due to Jude (Ant’s missus) having family in this country, Ant could be expected to be seen again on these shores in the future.

Ant’s MAD career has thus far has returned 191 wickets at an average of 12.82, and 955 runs at an average of 13.84. Jake Hotson is expected to fill his boots next year (more laughter).

Ian Howarth was handed a chess clock for his services rendered as Skipper for the past three seasons. Club Statto revealed Ian to have been “an average tosser” during his stint as skipper, winning exactly half of his tosses (although nobody believed that stat and there were howls of derision). There were more howls of derision when Ian informed the players they were all “lucky” to serve under him. He closed by thanking everyone and wished Martin all the best as his successor in 2009.

Part IX – Any Other Business

There was special toast to club founder Noel P. Reilly (62), who sadly passed away weeks after the club’s book launch (coincidence anyone?) In fond memory, Noel will be sadly missed, as without him, we would never have… become. Jake Hotson then rambles on for some time thereafter for anyone who wanted to listen.

The word “Jude” (in reference to Noel’s old pub ‘Jude the Obscure’) is no longer to be used in the negative (i.e a fine will no longer be levied at anyone who uses the word). Another irony seeing Ant is now leaving the club… with his wife, Jude….

The Edwards’ Clan will be hosting their now traditional festive “mulled wine” party on December 21 for anyone who is interested in sticking their head around the door.

Steve Dobner is having a New Year’s Party, but in his own words “none of you cunts are invited!”

Here is to a successful campaign in 2009!!!