Bar crawl on November 15

On Saturday, November 15 there is a Mixed Team Bar Crawl which, confusingly, is open to everyone and promises to be a night you won't forget

The suggestion at the moment is that we meet at the club house for the last autumn international of the day (Ireland V New Zealand), which starts at 5.15pm, and go from there. If anyone has any great ideas as to where we should crawl or what a theme might be, they should let us know.

Contact Dodie Khurshid or Rosie Marriott for more details or watch this space for updates.

Remember, remember the eighth of November

The first social event of 2008-09 is the annual fireworks night which will be held at Thames Ditton on Saturday, November 8. Tickets can be bought from your team captain or from behind the bar at the club.

Helen Hawes named man of the year

A very good night for all who attended the dinner on the 5th, with a well timed power cut preventing the satellite link to the veterans and third XI from being activated. Very suspicious that Ed Breton indicated that the power should be back on at 22.00 and at 22.02 the power was back with us. As always votes of thanks go to those who ensured that people like me could just turn up, drink plenty of alcohol, eat well, have a laugh and go home contented. Special thanks to Sarah, Alison and Ed B who did the hard work to make the evening a great success and I am sure that there were others who also had a hand in setting up the club - apologies for not naming you personally.

Well done to Helen Hawes for winning the club captain's award for years of unrecognised work behind the scenes and in ensuring that the ladies club is in such a strong position - the ladies never seem to have any crises experienced by the other teams in the club but if they do they resolve them without involving everyone else. The general consensus was that next year they play in purple.

The first XI players player award went to Rippers - Ed B please find the trophy in one of the cardboard boxes but come back to me if you can't so I can chase Mike N.

Second XI award went to Jon Heard with the ladies giving out a number of awards to various members of their team.

Rob picked up the 4ths award even though he was rude to me when I umpired them in February.

Not sure who won the 3rd XI and Veterans awards as they were presented in China by Robert Mugabe and made reference to Tibet.

Next year I am setting the social committee and myself a target of 100 attendees so to that end a date will be decided on by the end of October so there are many months to sell the tickets and ensure that teams are involved.

Have a good summer, keep recruiting where ever possible.
David Knapp

Ladies stage topless streak

An investigation has been launched into reports that three members of the Ladies XI used last weekend’s social as an excuse to stage a topless streak round the astroturf while another, more sensible, player didn’t brave the cold but took her top off in the bar. A furious club spokesman angrily attacked the girls for not giving him more notice of their intentions. The identities of the trio are known and will appear here unless cash is forthcoming soon. It is believed to be the first streak since Will Stephens paraded round the pitch completely naked following the 1st XI promotion in 1997-98. On that occasion bar takings increased as people headed inside rather than wait for him to come front-on on the return leg of the trip.

Mixed leagues and clean kit

That rarest of beasts – a committee meeting – was held last month and the following are relevant matters which were raised:-

Mixed League
It was hoped that the Club would also run one Mixed side and it was proposed that the Club should consider the feasibility of organising a mixed league to play at TD on Sunday mornings, at 11.00 am and 12.30 pm. Such a league might bring income into the Club, encourage youngsters and draw in new players. It was proposed that there should be eight sides in the league.

Team Selection
It was noted that the move to integrate teams that was started last year needed to continue this year. It was proposed that each team should aim to have a squad of 14 or 15 players, but that there should be movement of players up and down teams as appropriate throughout the season. This would be left primarily to team Captains to implement.

Kit
The club colours are: blue and orange (home) or white (away) shirts, white shorts, blue socks with orange and white rings. Every player is required to play in the club colours and the new style shirts in particular during the 2007-08 season and, in this respect, kit will be available for purchase from behind the bar.


Socials
It was noted that there was a need for a Social Committee, consisting of players from across the club. While the precise timing and format of social events would be left to the Social Committee, it was thought that four dates should be chosen and then advertised widely, including on the website to include perhaps an event at the start of the season, and an end of season dinner with perhaps a quiz night or wine tasting or the like in between. One could coincide with the Rugby World Cup, but this would be left to the Social Committee.


Tour
It was thought that there would be sufficient interest in a modest end of season tour, such as a long weekend in Dublin, Prague or Barcelona at Easter or over the first May Bank holiday, to make it a viable option.

Discipline
After some disappointing years, discipline improved greatly last season. This was to be encouraged again this season. The club will not tolerate bad language or abusive behaviour towards umpires or anyone else. Transgressions will be reported to the committee, as will any yellow or red cards.

AGM set for March 28

A final reminder that the Annual General Meeting of the club take place on Wednesday, March 28 at the OC Club starting at 8pm. Lots to discuss, as Christian Davies writes:

“If you have anything that you want to discuss please let me know (christian.davies@citigroup.com) and we'll add it to the agenda which will be circulate by e-mail by the end of the week.

"Additionally, the end of season dinner is a week on Saturday(31st). Numbers are looking good (around 70 or so I'm told). So if you haven't already purchased your tickets please do so this weekend from Ed Breton (ed@bretonfitness.co.uk)."

End of Season Dinner

A reminder that the End of Season Dinner is scheduled to take place at Thames Ditton on Saturday, March 31. Tickets, priced at £35, are available from your team captain and the Bretons behind the bar. We somehow managed not to have a dinner in 2005-06 so come along this time and say goodbye to the old astro … first applicants get a section of pitch to take home with them (well, people paid a fortune for squares of Wembley turf …)