AGM Minutes -2011
Saints Supporters Club AGM – 8th June 2011
Sturtridge Pavillion, Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton, NN5 5BG
Presidents Opening Remarks
The President offered his apologies for not being able to attend the AGM in 2010 and went on to express the tremendous support the SSC has given to the Saints. The President explained how he becomes cross with comparisons made between Saints Supporters and those of Leicester and Gloucester as it is apparent at away games both within the UK and Europe how true the supporters of the Saints really are in comparison to these other well supported clubs at home. He urged the supporters never to underestimate what impact it has on the players when they see the army of green, gold and black supporters at the far flung grounds of England and Europe, and explained that the support of the home crowd at Franklin’s Gardens was really worth 10 points – which will be even better when the stadium is re-developed.
The President hoped that he would be half as good again as his predecessor Dr Barry Nuttal, and would ideally like to see membership numbers increase.
It is great that the money from the Tote is put back in to the club, with ice machines and scrummage machines being purchased in the past, that were simply not budgeted for – the President therefore wished to offer his thanks and appreciation received from the Supporters Club during his time as a player and Team Manager.
Chairmans Remarks
I’d like to echo our Presidents words and say thank you all for coming tonight.
I’d also like to say a huge thank you to all the Committee members who have worked hard this year.
As for the team, it’s been a successful year, unfortunately they fell at the last hurdle. Hopefully, they’ll do better next season.
Onto the SSC and what we’ve been up to. We offered the Academy £1000 towards cookery lessons for the lads, but for various reasons it was never taken up. However, Nick Johnston has approached us for funding towards something else.
Several of the playing staff, including the Academy, have suffered serious knee injuries, so the medical staff would like to bring over a knee specialist from the USA. It will cost around £4000, which the Club do not have a budget for. The added benefit is that the Medical staff will can learn from the specialist, so we will be helping them out as well.
Brian Facer, from the Clubs Management team has, in the past, included Membership flyers in with the Season ticket mailshots. We missed the deadline this year, as they went out earlier than expected, but we will be doing it again next season.
Now for some sad news. Fred Dixie, a long time supporter, passed away this afternoon. I trust you will join me in sending our condolences to Anne and the rest of his family.
Apologies
Bev Knell, Maz Newton, Ray Newton, Jamel Hamilton, Adam Reynolds, Jean Webb, Mark O’Dell, Bernie Kilcullen
Minutes for 2010
These were agreed and signed accordingly
Matters arising
There were no matters arising
Secretaries Report
Membership and Fees – the SSC annual membership fee for season 2010/2011 remained at £7 for adults and senior citizens and £5 for children under 16 years of age. We had 314 members for the past season.
Membership could be purchased either in person at the table in the Rodber Bar before home games, on away coaches or online via our website.
Website – we are always grateful for the work and time that David Lowrence puts into the SSC website. Bookings for coach travel using this means has proved popular and decreases the amount of cash we have to carry at away grounds - clearly this is better for personal security of those running the coaches.
I would also like to thank Ian Sargent for keeping members as up to date as possible via email and Facebook.
Events – the supporters club liaised with counterparts at various clubs in order to give them a good welcome when they came to Franklin’s Gardens and have organised some after match bands, and the Christmas draw. We have built good relations with the landlord of the Thomas A Becket pub who has enabled us to be welcoming to away fans such as those who made the trip from Ulster.
In order for the SSC to give something back to it’s members – a bar and buffet was organised before the Heinekin Cup Quarter Final at Milton Keynes – this proved to be popular and a success – our appreciation goes to committee members and volunteers who organised oversaw the smooth running of this.
Coaches – running travel to first team away games is the priority of the SSC which takes much organisation and dedication from unpaid volunteers – it is due to the dedication of a few individuals that successful trips were arranged for the game in Edinburgh, and additional coaches were provided for the quarter, semi and final of the Heinekin Cup. The SSC is hugely grateful to Marion Newton for the amount of work she does in order to guarantee the smooth running of the coaches, and to David Lowrence for his co-ordination of the online booking system.
Grant – the supporters club has traditionally liked to give something back to the club – last year we were asked to team up with the academy in order to send them on a catering course. It was identified that the Academy players received complimentary meat and vegetables but apparently did not know how to make a proper meal!
Due to other commitments, the course was not able to be organised, and so the SSC retained the £1000 grant. We have since been approached by Nick Johnson asking us to help fund a knee specialist to come over from America – to work not only with a number of players from the junior academy through to the first fifteen who have experienced knee injuries. This is in order to get the players back to training and playing sooner, but also to pass on vital skills to the saints coaching and medical teams.
Tote – we are always looking for tote ticket sellers and buyers! The money made from the Tote is ploughed back into the supporters club in order to keep the coach fares as low as possible. So please buy them at home games – you may even win! Also, if you would be willing to sell some tickets before the home games, you will receive reduced coach travel as a thank-you!
Treasurers report
Memberships and Tote are down, mainly due to the present financial climate. The coaches made a modest profit.
Expenditure was approximately the same as last year, taking into account the cost of Tote tickets, newsletters, Christmas draw, Membership cards etc.
No bands were sponsored this year, due to acquiring Corporate sponsors.
Major expenditure/one off payments included:
£1000 for the Academy
£500 for Bruce Reihana’s testimonial
£300 for BHF/SWH9
Membership stood at 314 (including 34 Munster fans trying to get tickets)
We now have a Facebook presence so those of you so inclined can find us there
Election of Officers
Secretary – Helen McAteer wished to be re-elected as Secretary. Proposed by Simon Millward, seconded by Martin Haywood.
Vice Chairman – Adam Reynolds wished to be elected as Vice Chair following his previous service as Chairman. Proposed by Gary Tipping, seconded by David Lowrence.
Election of Committee
There were no new members of the committee.
The following members we re-elected:-
- Jean Collingwood
- Martin Hayward
- David Lowrence
- Roger Munns
- Marion Newton
- Stella Sargent
- Gary Tipping
- Bev Knell
This was proposed by Keith Bennett and seconded by Simon Robinson
AOB
- Jean Webb – has organised the coaches with Marion Newton for 18 years, but is unable to continue with this commitment. Thanks were expressed to Jean for her tireless work over the years. Stella Sargent has kindly offered to help Marion Newton.
SSC Christmas Draw
Nick Johnson at the SSC Christmas Draw
On Friday 2nd Dec Nick Johnson spoke about the work of the phyisos and fitness coaches at FG. He thanked wveryone for the £1000 donation to the department, and left noone in doubt that it would be put to good use.
Pictures of the evening can be found here
At Last - a convincing win
Saints stood up runaway top 3 team Exeter at the gardens ob Saturday - Read
Castres
In the Heineken cup run, Saints were drawn away at Castres - David Lowrence reports on a tough trip
I have been at some cold venues, including a number in our sojourn in Div 1, but Stadium Phillipe Antoine in January takes the biscuit. Large flakes of snow on a metal clad arena in an industrial park are not conducive to warmth. However the blood thinning effect of hospitality in Castres bars will not have helped!
Heineken Cup Pool Stage 6
Castres Olympique v Northampton Saints
Stadium Phillipe Antoine 22nd January 2011
KO 19:45
Castres12 Saints 23
Castres Hospitality in La Cocina Bar (Photo Courtesy Stockers)
For those who travelled to the South of France, Castres was certainly the place to be on Friday and Saturday nights, although this rather attractive capital of the Tarn region can be very quiet at this time of year. Having spent an hour trying to find my hotel (The Renaissance - highly recommended) having driven from Toulouse on Friday evening - I can attest to the narrowness of the streets and the beauty of the buildings along the river.
OSB will tell you that every French town has a place “Jean Jaurès”, but Castres is the only one that can claim him as a true son, because the socialist leader, assassinated in 1914, was born here, and it is home to the museum that celebrates his life and work.
Arriving on Friday the first port of call was the Irish bar, where we gathered before venturing forth for some food. A good call, for on our return we were confronted by Messieurs Mallinder, Grayson, West and Grayson, ably protected by their minder Mr Shields. Copious amounts of AG were consumed, but our tour rules prevent naming of names, except to note that the coaching team remained upright and lucid, so it wasn’t them!!
Saturday duly dawned with a promise of sunshine and and dry conditions. Nothing was said, however about the thermometer dropping like a stone. By the time it came to depart for the ground, brass monkeys with high pitched voices were greatly in evidence. By the time we arrived at the ground, the snow had started - but thankfully not settled.
The travelling Saints were much in evidence, although the necessity to keep out the cold meant that green was not the dominant colour in the stands!
The side Castres fielded had a number of key changes from that which visited the Gardens last year, but no French side at home is weak, and this one was no exception. After some arial ping pong in the first 10 minutes, and scrappy play, Jon Clarke put Joe Ansbro through for the first try of the evening. Myler missed the conversion, and this was indicative of the kicking for the match. Castres hit back and in a drive for the line were held up (confirmed by the man upstairs), the first victory for a Saints defence that was to be crucial in winning the match. 10 minutes later, that rarest of creatures for the Saints - the drop goal - made an appearance as Myler made up for his earlier miss. Two minutes later, that man Ansbro made a break and through Calum Clark, Myler and finally Dowson, the second try of the night went to Saints. Myler converted and Saints were now 15-0 up. Castres However quickly struck back through Bernard who converted his own try, making it 7-15 at half time.
The temperature off the field was dropping like a stone, although ably encoraged by the Castres drums and the Saints choir the heat on the pitch was well and truly rising as the second half got under way. The Castres team showed what they were made of by placing the Saints line under threat and following some tough defending another attempt by Castres was held up and the the ball was beautifully turned over by Dowson. Great hands and that man Ansbro sent Saints hurtling at the Castres line, where Foden was on hand to touch down Saints third try. The conversion was again found wanting, but that was the try that broke Castres. They spent a long time in Saints 22, but the defence was just too much, and on a foray forward, 10 minutes from time, a penalty to Saints, kicked by Myler making the score 7-23. In the final minutes Saints again found their line uner threat, and in spite of a heroic hold up by Dowson, Castres scored a consolation try to make the score 12 -23. Saints and the travellers left the ground delighted. A home quarter final assured and an unbeaten run in the pools. Having read the reports and thankfully not having had to suffer the prattle of Barnes and co, I can assure all those who were not here that this was no pushover. Beating any French side at home is a good result, and this one was particularly dogged and quick. At times they played sevens against us, and this combined with the freezing temperature mage it a very tough match.
And so to the town to thaw out and consume more of the Black stuff. Once again your intrepid travelling supporters were treated to the presence of the Saints coaching team in the Irish pub, this time joined by the entire squad. A great evening of rugby rounded off by a good time in the pub.
Sore heads abounded in Castres this morning as some departed for Toulouse, leaving a few diehards to brave the stillness of a Castres Sunday in January. So quiet that no bars open to watch Perpignan thrash Scarletts. That and the current thriller at Adams ark having to be viewed in the solitude of hotel rooms!
In half an hour or so we will know who we face in the Quarter Final (looking like Ulster - well played Wasps), although I would not hold my breath for this to be at MK, the Ricoh being preferred by some of the coaching team.
The agony of the Heineken Cup
Saints were finalists in the 2010/11 Heineken cup. Here is the match report by Howlin' from Comeonyousaints.com
We dared to dream What a stadium, what an atmosphere, what an occasion. As we strolled by the river Taff , through the park that lead us from the county cricket ground and the “black Pig” pub, the contrast could not have been more stark than what awaited us just ten minutes away in the home of Welsh rugby, The Millenium Stadium. And what more fitting home for what was to come. One of the most stunning , open and exciting finals to have ever graced the Heineken cup.
Heineken cup final 21st May 2011
Leinster v Northampton Saints
Millennium Stadium Cardiff
Leinster 33 northampton Saints 22
Leinster were the out and out favourites. Previous winners in 2009, filled with international stars, they had been there and done it. What chance the young pretenders from Northampton.
At the beginning of the season, I believed that Saints were not yet good enough to succeed in this competition. With a bit of luck along the way I though they could get to the premiership final and once there could triumph over any premiership club on their day. But Europe ? A different matter entirely. Just look at the teams who started in that competition back at the start of the season. Leicester, Wasps from England. The mighty Toulouse, Stade Francais , Claremont. The great Munster and of course Leinster themselves.
Experience counts in such auspicious company. Our squad were still learning. But as Saints battled through the quarter and semi finals I began to believe. The manner in which we dispatched Ulster and then Perpignan; particularly the way we dismantled the mighty Perpignan pack, gave me hope that we might, just might, win the whole damn thing. Saints were on the brink of becoming the first team to win the competition unbeaten. Nine from nine ! Join the elite band of multiple Heineken cup winners. What an achievement that would be.
But sitting in that massive crowd soaking up the atmosphere my nerves were shot. If the players felt anywhere near to the state I was in how could they even catch a ball, let alone play world class rugby ? But play rugby they did. And this supporter is swelling with pride in his team today.
Unless you come from planet Zog or are reading this report in the mistaken belief that Comeonyousaints.com is a religious site and think you are reading instructions on how to become canonised , you will know what happened next. You won’t get a blow by blow account here. Try Chris Wearmouth on the Offy he really is rather good at that.
No here I will recount that Saints played a blinder in the first half . They tackled like demons, often dislodging the ball and overturning possession. One tackle by Foden on the mighty BOD deserved to be, and on a different occasion may have been, a match winner. When in possession they played some great running rugby. Leinster found it hard to contain the rampaging Saints. The mighty Saints pack lived up to their reputation. Even when Mujati was sin binned for pulling a player back, the seven man Saints pack, containing one of our “weak bench” , pushed them back winning a penalty and won one against the head. Saints score three unanswered tries with Myler missing just the one conversion by hitting the post and adding a penalty. 22-6 to Saints at half time. We dared to dream.
We knew that Leinster would come back like a storm in the second half. Unfortunately we had turned the underdog tag around. There is not much in this world more dangerous than an Irishman with his back against the wall. The hope was that the third try might be enough to keep us in the lead but this would require holding out for at least the first ten or fifteen minutes of the second half.
Saints started well enough. The first wave was repelled with a turn over and a l¯vîg®*™¨j˜LPh. But the tide had turned. The Leinster attack was relentless . Eventually the sea wall broke and the tries started coming. Sexton fully deserved his man of the match. He has grown in stature rapidly and one can see why he has stolen O’Gara’s international crown. When his first conversion hit the same post as Myler but instead of bouncing back as Myler’s had, went over, the signs were there that this wasn’t going to be our day.
In the end it was the classic game of two halves. The difference being when Saints were scoring their 22 points Leinster managed to stay in touch with a couple of pens and scored 6. When Leinster scored their 27 Saints could not respond.
So the better team won in the end. But Saints didn’t lay down. Once the Irishmen established their lead, the Saints rallied. The bench were used and there was still some rugby to be played. But Leinster still had enough gas to make the tackles and the breakdown penalties went their way allowing them to clear their lines. Saints closest chance of getting the score that may have instilled some doubt in the champions minds came when Foden, who had a wonderful match, galloped past O’Driscoll and fed Ashton. A fully fit Flash would have gone for the outside and maybe, just maybe reached the line. But late in this game, late in a long hard season, it was a break too far and he cut back inside looking for support and the chance was gone. So no trophy for Saints for the first season since Jim took the reigns.
Jim Dorien and Grayse have, in three seasons, brought the club from the first division to the brink of European glory. They have built a team that can stand toe to toe with the best in Europe, a team that was 40 minutes away from lifting the Heineken cup. Now they must build a squad, within the limitations imposed, that can stay the course. That building has already started as we saw from the performances of Callum Clarke, Tom Mercey and Alex Waller and the raft of signings arriving next season.
If you are a Saints supporter you will be hurting today and for some time to come. And why not you dared to dream. You had one hand on the Heineken cup, the greatest prize in club rugby; you nearly touched the sky. But remember you won’t be hurting any more than the battered and bruised players who went to hell and back to try and make our dream come true. They left nothing on that pitch Saturday, they more than earned our support. Thank you lads. In time, if you can, watch the match again. You will come to realise what most of the neutrals already know. That was a fabulous game of rugby. Possibly one of the greatest finals ever. No tight cagey rugby, but two wonderful teams going hammer and tongs at each other, playing exciting, breathtaking football. And remember we may have lost but it was your team in the final. Not the mighty Toulouse, not Stade Francais nor Claremont. Not Leicester or Wasps, not even Munster. No, it was Northampton………Northampton in the final of the greatest club competition on earth…………and we will be back.
SSC Player of the Season 2010/11
Following a very closely fought competition, with on-line voting for the first time, the SSC Player of the season was finally declared.
After the last home match of the season Lee Dickson was presented with the trophy - a very popular choice.
Bruce Bruce Bruce’s Testimonial
Tote Proceeds to Bruce's Testimonial Fund
After the Wasps Match at Franklin’s Gardens today, the Saints Supporter’s club presented the proceeds from the Tote Collection to Bruce Reihana’s Testimonial fund. In his seventh season with Saints, Bruce, or (Bruce!Bruce!!Bruce!!!) as he is known on the terraces and Maz Newton and Bev Knell from the SSC Committee clearly enjoyed presenting the cheque
