Octopus Cricket Club

Affiliated to C.C.C Founded 1947 Colours Green & Black Ground St Aloysius’ Sports Ground, N6 5TX

Octopus Cricket Club AGM 14/10/2011

At The Back Packer Bar (formerly The Brill), Kings Cross

The meeting opened early at 19:10 – with 13 of 17 present and 3 others arriving by 19:30

1. Present

A James (AJ - Chairman); S Satterly (SS – Treasurer); A Winter (AW – Acting Captain); S Ogilvie (SO – Fixtures Secretary); P Hayward (PH – Secretary/Press & Records); S Ingram (SI – PR & Coms); W Hodge (WH); J Pandya-Smith (JPS); M Lamplough (ML); G Ketineni (GK); S Knowles (SK); M Dempsey (MD); F Gott (FG); G Murthy (GMy); G Marsh (GMh); M Hindle (MH); A Gopu (AG)

Apologies

H Molson, S Molson (Joint-Presidents); I Hill; S Reid; E Webber

[There was also an apology from JPS for his bowling average]

2. The minutes of the previous meeting.

These were agreed and signed by the Chairman

3. Matters arising.

· As Treasurer, SS had investigated a cheaper insurance option and was pleased to announce we already had it. So there was no change to our current liability cover.

· SS had investigated internet banking for the club account and had paperwork for AJ and PH to take away and complete later

· The “new member” flyer had not been created. SS offered to produce this for 2012 in the form of an email to new players after their first game or two.

4. Captain’s Report

(Eight different players captained in 2011; however as AW skippered the most games he was invited to give the report this year, at this, his last AGM before returning to New Zealand)

· Thanks to everyone for coming; great to see, and such commitment is vital to the club’s success

· It had been honour to captain the side this year and to give this year’s Captain’s report

· Firstly, a thanks to all the other captains for their efforts. It is a great job to do, but also a difficult job, so thanks too for all the on-field support other experienced players provide

· While rotation has been a great experience for those involved, going forward the club needs 1 or 2 consistent captains to provide clearer leadership on the field and one voice for players to follow

[This included a nod to Harsh’s captaincy and how it was much missed this year]

· A more clearly nominated Match Manager should also exist for next year to organise the XI, teas and last minute issues, thus allowing the Captain to concentrate on on-field duties. At times this season there was too much to think about for one person (especially if also keeping wicket).

On the cricket itself…

· Tough season, with not very many wins

· Not through lack of application, but rather bad luck at crucial moments, with missed opportunities in many games – such as a dropped catch or fragile partnership – often proving decisive

· Fantastic effort to raise an XI every week [Secretary’s note: it is now over 3 years since we last failed to fulfil a fixture] so thanks to all those who played and all those who helped draft in new players and last minute replacements.

· Special mentions to Jo for playing 18 games and to Matt H for being “a rich source of ringer gold”.

On leaving….

· Thanks for 4 years (and 2 matches) of fantastic matches, nights out, fun times, team spirit and camaraderie. It’s been brilliant.

· Always been happiest after cricket when everyone in the team has gone home feeling they have contributed to the match and/or performance in some small way, so long may that continue.

[Cue prolonged applause for a fine speech and a vote of thanks, “sorry to see you go, massive loss, etc…” for AW’s contribution to Octopus. SO “Don’t worry, I’ve got his passport”; MD “I’ve got his kid”. LOL]

5. Treasurer’s Report

· Slight improvement on last year, carrying approx. £1,000 into next year

· As usual, this includes an estimated provision for this year’s pitch hire which has not yet been invoiced

· Away day teas on the up due to a few more beers this year, plus inflation generally

· Despite healthy financial position, still need to be careful

· Not much else to say other than “Debtors; please cough up”

· More caps have been ordered; free to new members otherwise replacements to be paid for

· New shirts available but club have not paid for these. Individuals to pay for their order.

· Annual Subs:

o Another year of constant chasing which has to change

o Please pay early to avoid the need for incessant badgering

· A debate ensued on a solution. SS proposed that if annual subs have not been paid by Game 3 of the season, then match subs for regular players increase from £8 to £10 a game until bill is settled.

· This proposal was voted in with a large majority.

· SS will send round a weekly list of players who have paid annual subs to aid match-subs collectors levy the correct fee. SI to update the site with the new terms.

· On the subject of match fees, players were reminded to bring the correct cash with them on the day.

[At this point SO queried the estimated pitch cost but was firmly batted down by SS, who was then duly thanked and applauded for another sterling season in charge of the accounts. These were signed and accepted by the chairman]

6. Fixtures Secretary Report

• 21 games is a lot. Well done.
• Easy to organise this year with all but one date filled by opponents approaching Octopus first. This reflects well on the club so well done to everyone for playing the game in the right spirit. [Except Sam, as he’s not here. And he doesn’t. J]
• Feeling this year that we were under-netted so that is something to address next season
• As per tradition, this year’s fixtures were then briefly reviewed and discussed by the group. General consensus was to repeat last year’s fixtures fairly closely, with a couple of exceptions, while acknowledging it is nice to branch out and play somewhere new at least once a season.
• We like two or three mid-week 20/20s but only mid-season please, with the best light, and on Fridays if possible. SO took this on board but will not go looking for more 20/20s
• Possible new fixtures to explore through OCC contacts are HAC (through Will), Shenley C (nr St Albans) and 2011 ringer Ian Chapman’s XI (Matt H). Plus talk of a tournament v Bohemians.
• MD announced he also has means of securing a ground in Camden at short notice if ever needed.
• Last Man Stands review:
• Fun to do but we were smashed too often and did nothing for our confidence
• On one occasion led to a Sunday-Weds-Thurs-Saturday 4 game week which should definitely be avoided in future!
• If we enter again, it will likely to be with a change of day (Monday?) and standard
• MH proposed Octopus became the feeder club for mates’ team he and FG are setting up
• Suggestion from JPS that that, in effect, becomes the Octopus team
• Left for MH, FG and JPS to thrash out the detail and come back with an LMS proposal for 2012

7a. Press & Record Officer’s Report

• Nothing much to report. As per last year, a pat on the back for another season of ‘Balls Faced’ scoring. Pleased to have finally compiled the career averages for recent players and will up date once a year going forward.

7b. PR & Communications Officer Report

SI announced a few changes to the website he will make over the close-season:

• ‘Next Fixture’ box, top right, will be removed as it is never up to date
• Column to record shower and changing facilities to be added to the fixture list
• Review possible fixes for home page that is not displaying clearly in old browsers
• PR banner/endorsement for Roots at N1 to be added
• More visible link/call to arms for New Players to be added to the Home Page

[Cue a gratefully received vote of thanks and more applause for PH and SI’s stats/web-site based efforts this year]

8. Election of Officers

The Captaincy and Vice-Captaincy up for grabs, but otherwise no change or challenges:

· Joint Presidents: Steve Molson and Helen Molson

· Chairman: AJ

· Secretary: PH

· Treasurer: SS

· Fixtures Secretary: SO

[A belated round of thanks and applause was offered at this point for his continued efforts]

· Captain: With Harsh Joshi formally stepping down due to other commitments, SO put himself forward (with Mrs. O’s consent and a commitment to play at least 10 games in 2012) and was voted in unanimously.

· Vice Captain: AW stepping down to return home; WH and JPS were voted in unanimously as joint replacements.

· Press & Records Officer: PH

· PR & Communications Officer: SI

SO also happy to be regular Match Manager unless he shouts loudly

WH and JPS to assist as much as possible

At least one of those three will aim to play in each match for consistency.

SI to grant AG access to the website after AG offered his assistance and technical expertise as required.

9. Playing Awards

Although S Reid had not paid annual subs in time, a written commitment to clear his debts was accepted and a vote passed to include his votes by proxy.

• Batting
• Nominated GK, SK, JPS (and a special mention to GMy for his explosive batting)
• Winners GK and JPS share the award

• Bowling.
• Nominated SO, MH, SR, GMh (and a special mention to SI for his LMS heroics)
• Winner SO wins a close vote

• The Alex Lamb Trophy (Fielding)
• Nominated AW, JPS, ML
• Winner AW and JPS share the award [AW expresses relief he can leave it behind]

• Players Player of the Year (Secret ballot)
• Six players were proposed
• Winner JPS wins a tight vote

• The Jack Younie trophy (Clubman of the Year).
• Nominated MH, SI, PH, FG, AW
• Winner PH by a small margin

• Duck Trophy (Stats)
• In an exciting season-long race MH snuck ahead in the penultimate game and won with 4 ducks, after three rivals all scored runs in the last match. MH commented he was disappointed at others’ efforts to join him in such a terrible season results-wise.

• The Captain’s Cup (For New, Improved or Emerging Talent)
• AW was pleased to announce that after a difficult decision with several players in the running the winner was GMy: for his lower-order batting, including many 4s and 6s, and his class opening bowling.

• Individual Performance of the Season (New award)
• Eight individual displays were nominated
• Winner GMy for his match-winning 109 off 86 balls vs Hoopers on 7^th August

Trophies to be engraved and presented at pre-Christmas drinks.

11. Any Other Business

• Tour
• All happy to play HOB again though their turn to come to us
• Mooted India tour needs at least 12-18 months’ notice if it’s to be a viable project
• Menorca have filled their fixtures so a return not possible
• Amsterdam/Netherlands a possibility [at this point MD immediately confirmed his availability]
• MH and FG volunteered to be joint Tour Investigators and will come back with proposals by the end of October.

• Home Games Start Time
• After several years up for discussion, a vote was finally proposed and passed to start our home games at 1pm – bearing in mind the need to be flexible for certain opposition.

• New Players
• The club need a new permanent Wicket-Keeper. MH to mine his contacts.
• Captains/All to give greater consideration to treatment of ringers/debutants, who have often completed the XI at short notice. E.g. Avoid them doing long umpiring stints and consider batting them up the order if not had a bowl etc…
• However this needs to be balanced with needs of regular players to have a bat/bowl etc…so captain’s discretion is vital.
• All need to make an effort to be more sociable after games. WH proposed Octopus beers on 1^st Thursday of the month to general agreement.
• General agreement too that regular players should chip in for a crate of beer for home games. Would encourage greater socialising after the game, given that nearest pubs are a decent walk away and not particularly marvellous.
• Match manger to organise these beers or nominate someone else in advance. MD suggested that the £2 match-sub levy for annual sub debtors be ploughed into the beer fund with SS did not oppose.

• Nets
• All agreed we need regular nets
• SI to re-join Paddington Rec and organise Thursday nets from 1^st week in March
• A regular(ish) Thursday net to continue into the season as a way of encouraging player recruitment and offering practice time to rusty/nervous newcomers [See previous minute point: Ringers, Treatment of]
• Tuesday nets through the winter with SO’s other team LongTales also still an option.

The meeting was closed at 21:31, with the usual commitment to meet before Christmas for some drinking and awards-presenting.

AW was given a nice framed photo and one of Bilal’s balls on a plinth by means of parting gifts.

Harsh popped in about midnight and we went on drinking until 1.30am

THE END