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“2012 AGM Report”

For the second year running the club’s Annual General Meeting was hosted in the cramped, but cosy back room of the Fir Tree pub on Iffley Road. A successful evening was enhanced by a higher than normal turnout – all pointing to a healthy continuation for the FFTMCC in the coming years.

The loot to be won – including the new ‘Ade Fisher Performance Trophy’.

Without further ado, herewith the notes – or at least the varied and scattered ones that made it onto some crumpled piece of paper in the back pocket of my jeans….

‘M. Inutes’

Part I - Notes on attendance

Apologies for absence:

Steve Dobner (not prepared to do a 150 mile round trip)

Duck (argument with Dave Emerson and subsequent withdrawal from event)

Dan Edwards (attending Horspath CC dinner and dance instead)

James Hoskins (couldn’t be arsed to fly from the Australian outback)

Ian Leggate (couldn’t be arsed to fly from the Canadian outback)

Antony Mann (couldn’t be arsed to fly from some Sydney mountainside)

Giant Duck (stuck in Ian Howarth’s clapped out Ford Focus)

Steve Parkinson (up to his knees in mud in Louth)

Proof positive that any old fucker can win an award at the AGM….

Present:

Matt Bullock (Chairman)

Andrew Darley

Dave Emerson (Director of Cricket)

Nick Hebbes

Nick Hill

Jake Hotson (T20 Captain)

Ian Howarth (Fixtures Secretary, Minutes)

Ben Mander

Tony Mander

Patrick Mellor (Fines Chairman)

James Pearson

Mike Reeves (Treasurer)

Chris Roberts

Mark Rundle

Dave Shorten

Thornton Smith

Gareth Timms

Russell Turner

Martin Westmoreland (Captain)

Part II - Chairman’s Welcome

After calling for order following a delayed start to the evening due to firework displays and several journeys to the bar, Matt thanked everyone who had turned up and for all those who had made the season a memorable one (including the weather).

This was also the first AGM to be held since the untimely passing of the late Ade Fisher, which Matt made special mention of – and also to champion a new trophy in honour of him – the “Ade Fisher Trophy” (to be awarded to the best MOTM Performance over the course of the season).

Chairman Bullock is rugby tackled by a rowdy pisshead….

Following on from last season’s AGM where the ethos of the team was brought into discussion, Matt thanked everyone for adhering to the resulting ‘Clean up the Club’ campaign and conducting their ‘cobs’ in private. Behaviour both on and off the field has seen a marked improvement – this needs to continue for the coming years.

Paddy (left) wide-eyed as Fines are brought under control….

Whilst Patrick Mellor has done a sterling job as Fines Chairman this term, it is encouraged that the chaos surrounding match fines is reigned in. Fines are to be spread more equal among the team (spread the death!) with less scenarios resulting in perceived victimisation. Fines will hopefully be attributable during the course of the match, as opposed to inventions whilst sat in a ‘kangaroo court’ at the pub afterwards. Saying this, the humour and theme of Mad fines must continue. Tour fines are still expected to peak – but in a sensible climate (if possible). The incumbent Fines Chairman will rule on expected outlays.

Matt also provides the usual blitzkrieg of stats including the following notable cricketing career milestones – some of which were remembered and detailed below:

3000 career runs

Dan Edwards

1000 career runs

Matt Bullock

Mike Reeves

100 career wickets

Ian Howarth

Part III - Captain’s Report

After a tumultuous fourth season at the helm, Martin began by thanking the team for sticking with it despite the quite ludicrously bad weather that plagued much of the season: “Thanks – I thought tonight would be called off!” He made mention of the large volumes of “unseen” work done behind the scenes to rescue much of the season (changing venues, constant rearrangements, never ending communication with opposition) – players should be appreciative.

An envelope entitled ‘Champagne’ is the closest Moo got this season….

His standout memories were Dan Edwards’ platinum duck at Harwell with #3 batsman Ian Howarth still on the toilet; the superb victory over nemesis Appleton in the long form of the game; the Oxenford T20 where Bob’s last over tied a quite incredible match; and other ones that pale into comparison….

Moo states there will be a requirement (in 2013) for people to make teas for home games (assuming we play any!) as Steve and Kim Dobner are unable to find the time. The tea budget is £60 – so there’s a few quid to be made for anyone taking on the role, either for the season or on a game-by-game basis. A list of standard requirements / guidance is available to assist anyone who has never made a cricket tea before. The Captain will delegate this task if volunteers are unforthcoming / unwilling. Everyone is expected to chip in where applicable.

Part IV - Treasurer’s Report

Mr. Reeves began his speech on the welfare of the club by stating that the FFTMCC were solvent and assuming the errant James Hoskins pays the £145 he owes from running the Fantasy Cricket, then funds stand at over a grand.

Mike prophesises appalling summer weather….

Proposals for the following season include a £200+ outlay on an afternoon at Dummer Cricket Centre with perhaps £60 for a minibus. This will include two nets, a bowling machine and a coach. Other expenditure may come in the form of new Club Top Trumps (a cost of £170 would need to be offset by players purchasing their packs).

Subs will stay at £30, with sponsorship for matches being £30 for a Sunday and £20 for a T20. Match fees will remain at £5 (plus nominal fines).

In summarising, Mike declared that actually playing games was bad for finances and hopes 2013 is a complete washout to go with 2012’s complete washout (which Mike successfully hoped for at last year’s AGM!)

Part V - Season 2013

Ground(s) / Pub(s)

Looking into the crystal ball, the club hope to make use of the Folly Bridge and Fir Tree pubs whenever home matches (at Brasenose) allow. Games contested at Jesus College will probably make use of the Marsh Harrier pub.

Nets

Details of nets and coaching will be posted when Andrew Darley has had time to sort after the New Year. The club are keen to use modified facilities at the recently refurbished Oxford School (off Glanville Road). A session at Dummer will hopefully follow before the start of the season on Sunday, April 16^th.

Nick Hebbes (left) converted 60% his knocks in 2012 into ducks….

Kit

Martin will most likely be ordering another round of merchandise in the New Year. Hoodies have proved a spectacular success the last two years, whereas baggies were total shite. Club whites have been mooted, but whatever the order – PLEASE SPECIFY YOUR SIZE!!! Failure to do so will leave you trying to clamber in apparel relating to “small”.

Players

The size of the FFTMCC’s playing staff is considered to be such that there is room for 2 or 3 new cricketers (Moo only had a few occasions this year where he had 13+ players to select from). The emphasis here, as in the previous year, is on “cricketers” – i.e people who have actually played the game since primary school days and know which end of a bat to hold. The doors are considered closed to the further acquirement of “enthusiastic non-cricketing” types, but the club will entertain whoever in times of dire emergency….

Contact with Brasenose College itself has been discussed (snaring a few useful student cricketers); pilfering the remnants of the OU Offices and checking out who graces nets in the New Year.

Fixtures

The Fixture Secretary wants to move away from ‘double weekends’, where the team have been obliged to squeeze two games in over a weekend (team numbers conspire against this). The majority of fixtures will remain the same from 2012, with the Audley Ducks being replaced by Harwell CC and the Norfolk Rangers maybe taking up a Sunday at the end of May. There is also talk to replace a couple of T20’s mid-season with evening net sessions (it is hard to find form at the crease).

Part VI - Tour 2013

Next year’s 2013 Tour will encompass Weston-super-Mare, North Somerset – where travelling times from Oxford are hoped to be greatly reduced from previous tours to the coast….

Weston-super-Mare here we come…

Jake Hotson and Thornton Smith have stepped up to the role of Tour Organisers and will keep the club up to date as details are rubber stamped. It is to be noted that Thornton Smith has seemingly left Jake to do all the work (much like Mr. Emerson left the donkey work to Ian Howarth last year).

Part VII - Committee Member Elections

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

Gary Timms wins the ‘Most Undemocratic Victory Award 2012’….

Elected Committee Posts

Chairman

Matt Bullock

- continues as Chairman, opposed by Thornton Smith (1 vote).

Fixtures Secretary

Ian Howarth

- is shoehorned into continuing, opposed by Thornton Smith (1 vote from Ian).

Treasurer

Mike Reeves

- elected, after fighting off opposition from Thornton Smith (1 vote from Mike).

Captain

Martin Westmoreland

- continues as Captain for one final term, unopposed.

T20 Captain

Gary Timms

- undemocratically ushered into the role despite losing a vote to incumbent T20 Skipper Jake Hotson.

Jake agrees to step aside to allow Gary greater experience with a view to taking on the Captain’s role in years to come.

Vice Captain(s)

Russell Turner and Dave Emerson

- jointly elected, unopposed.

Director of Cricket

Dave Emerson

- fought off competition from Nick Hebbes and Patrick Mellor.

*

Non-Committee Posts

Tour Organiser(s) 2014

Andrew Darley and Patrick Mellor

- a coalition per se are enlisted.

Fines Chairman

Patrick Mellor

- continue in the role (with restrictions and greater sharing out of fines)

Social Secretary

Ian Howarth

- unopposed, immediately resigning to hand over full control to Giant Duck.

Director of Overseas Development

This role has now been abolished.

Part VIII - FFTMCC Awards

The following MAD awards (with accompanying trophy) were voted for when inebriated (as is traditional), and the below winners announced:

Dave Emerson once again holds aloft Ian Howarth’s POTS award.

Roll of MAD Honours

Player Of The Season

Dave Emerson

Most Improved Player

Gareth Timms

Effort

Ian Howarth

Champagne Moment

Chris Roberts

- winning boundary for the last wicket (v Wootton & Bladon CC #256)

Stan’s MAD Fantasy Cricket

James Pearson

Team ‘Scared Hitless’

Adrian Fisher Performance Trophy

Chris Roberts

- 4 wickets in tied T20 match with 3 wickets in the final over (v Oxenford CC #274)

(Inaugural Trophy)

Chris Roberts – inaugural winner of the ‘Ade Fisher Performance Trophy’.

Part IX - Any Other Business

The only other business was to get progressively pissed as the night wore on and increase the bar takings for Joe and his pub. Here’s to a much drier and most enjoyable 2013!!!