WEBVTT
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Hi, and welcome to the Newton and Willows FC podcast from me, Rob Fladder.
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This week I'm delighted to welcome Chris Walker to the pod.
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Chris, how are you?
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I'm good, thanks.
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Thanks for the invites.
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Looking forward to it.
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Ah, you're more than welcome, mate.
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More than welcome, and thank you for accepting that invite without any arm twisting from Mr.
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Tither.
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Correct.
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I I know that you didn't need an arm twisting.
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Correct.
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So look, Chris, uh long association with a club, real, you you do a lot with the club over a long period of time.
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We do have some we do have some background noise, which is great for the for the authenticity.
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But just a quick question: how long have you been associated with Newton and Willows?
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Yeah, man, that's why I said under-sevens, but I was obviously before Andy uh set up the academy.
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So Under Sevens was our youngest team available.
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So Maladowin joined Under Sevens, and like everybody does, you get involved as a coach, as a support.
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He's now in his third year open age, so I reckon that's about 15 years with the club now.
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Amazing, and and that is a consistent story that I've heard a number of times on the podcast.
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You start off with bringing the kid down, and next thing you know, it's a lifelong labour of love.
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And some people are are a little bit forced, I say forced into it, I say uh encouraged, but then we love what we do.
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Absolutely.
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I mean the encouragement part was obviously our great ethos is to get every kid into sports, into activities.
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And at that age, sevens, you know, they're into everything.
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So he was doing the football, he was doing the tennis, he was doing the judo, etc.
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The only one they didn't have a dabble on was rugby, which is fine.
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But yeah, that's how we all start.
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Uh all for the love of our kids, enjoying themselves and getting out there enjoying themselves.
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Amazing.
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And then from that you progress and tell tell everybody what what do you do for the club today?
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Right, I'm the club treasurer, and obviously, since we incorporated into the uh charitable incorporated organisation, we are trustees.
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Amazing.
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So you look after the purse strings?
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The purse strings trying to keep everybody in tow, trying to keep everybody happy with regards to can have another another batch of footballs, can I have another batch of first aid equipment?
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Yep, we look after the numbers.
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How difficult is that, or is it not so difficult?
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It's it's a combination, uh, insofar as our subs uh we know are relatively low within the area.
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The reason why they're low is they are affordable.
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And we operate on a mechanism where probably around about the 60-65% of our total income is derived from our subscriptions.
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Now that might sound strange, you might think, well, you know, that that seems too low.
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But the buy-in is very much the other income, the other income being our raffles, our uh academies, the grants, the sponsors that we get.
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I mean, I'm absolutely bowled over with the sponsors that we've got in this area, and being a great community club that we are, I think that really does sell it to businesses and within the community to you know come and support us.
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So that equates to about 35-37% of our revenue, which in turn keeps our subs at that affordable level.
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We've had the the the guys on that look after someone, you know, helping out, getting those grants and and moving things around.
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So a big shout out to them.
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But for you, it must help because you know that you know your line of your the role you carry out is very important.
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You have to make sure you know there's there's a load of compliance alongside that.
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But when people do keep coming ask, or keep coming, asking for this, that, and that new balls, new first aid kits, must make it a little bit easier to say yes or bear with rather than to keep no, no, no.
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Absolutely, Rob.
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I mean we we do not we do not say no.
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It's we've got a great relationship with our kit suppliers.
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We are one of 200 in the UK Nike partner clubs, and we'll talk about that in a in a little while.
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That really opens the door to uh the brand that we want to support Newtonville's FC.
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So that's really important to us.
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But from the point of view of uh the money, yes, uh, we're fortunate that you know the subs and the income stream allows us to manage the business.
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I mean, you mentioned about compliance, etc.
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Since we went over to the CIO status uh and therefore I became trustees, it really opened up the compliance part of it.
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You know, there's something like 40-44 pages of tick box reports to compile the annual accounts, which are obviously published, they are independently verified and they go onto the public domain.
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So it is there.
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So if you wanted to search on the World FC charitable number, you know, you could find us and the account will be there.
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It's what we present at the AGM uh and they're filed accordingly to the timetables.
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So I've said this.
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I think when I I was uh speaking with Tom the other week, we discussed it it's very much run like a business.
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Without a doubt, without a doubt.
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You know, the standards of the club are up there, right up there, as if it's our own business.
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But for you in particular, I I can imagine it takes up a lot of your personal time.
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It's not just as someone paid the subs, can we make sure we bank it and show it?
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It must take up a hell of a lot of time.
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It it does take a lot of time.
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But you know what, since we've expanded the trustees and you know we've got people who are taking you know their responsibilities in their areas, their the you know, our speed of uh of work getting done, the speed of how we turn things around.
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We're lucky that you know we've got uh everything filed away where it should be, uh safely, uh access to relevant people have got relevant information.
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Uh obviously in the digital world that we're in, you know, the bank statements are all online and things like this.
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And these are these sort of core things that uh the guys, Tom and Emily and Craig that joined us, that they need to get the uh grants out really quickly.
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So, you know, we we can get a lead, we can react to it, you know, sort of more or less, you know, straight away on online real information.
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And you know, the published accounts are there, they're done.
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The bank statements are there, they're done.
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Those were the two main critical areas that uh form you know the grant status.
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Which really helps the club, and and like you said, like this is something that we become reliant on almost, but it helps not just thinking about Newton and Willows, all those associated.
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So, you know, we the club has expanded, there's 40 odd teams, and that includes hand disability, and that those grants really go towards that effort as well.
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Absolutely.
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I mean, one of the main grants that uh we got was like uh 9.5,000 pound for disability football, which uh Andy took the reins and we're going to uh Willowbrook and together with an external uh training company, they were delivering the courses you know for us.
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The feedback from that is just absolutely tremendous.
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And do you know what?
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Within the community, that is a massive, massive tick box for us because the guys that are coming, the kids that are coming, and they are repeating you know the consistencies there, they will come back week after week and thoroughly enjoy themselves in that environment that is suited for their needs.
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Another message I hear time and time again on this podcast is about the importance of children coming back, children enjoying and the safety.
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You know, we we do those that are not uh working in accounts or responsible for it, we always, you know, you're the bean counters, you're this, that, and the other, and sometimes a bit of the enemy.
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But we we we it's only typically because we don't understand, right?
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How difficult at times is it to get people to understand the importance of you know, when we do take money in, we have to do it carefully and responsibly, and we have to be able to demonstrate that we look after that and we spend it correctly.
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Does that pose a challenge at times here?
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Do you know what obviously working in finance it's it's second nature to me.
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Yeah.
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You know, the standards, the compliance that you're gonna adhere to is you know, is second nature, it's within my sort of DNA, as it were.
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But with the trustees, you know, that we got for you know second signatories on payments and things like this, I mean we do you know weekly payment runs, you know, things like this.
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Uh the guys submit their expense claim for them to referee uh expenses.
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They know that you know they can send it you know safely, electronically, and they get paid electronically.
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So gone on the days of the cash.
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Yeah, the cash used to be a real issue.
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I mean, once upon a time in the early early days, you know, we used to get somebody corrupt in the training and say, Can you just stop training, please?
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Can you pay me two pounds or three pounds?
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You know, subspace that is overdue, please.
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None of that now.
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None of that now.
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All the subs are you know collected electronically through an external source again, and that's great for reporting.
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And it is the way of the way it's going, isn't it, these days?
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I mean, you know, people pay by direct debit, they pay by standing orders, you know, that has taken a huge amount of pressure away from us as trustees and all sorts of coaches.
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You know, they get on with coaching the teams, they're not there to go and collect money.
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Absolutely.
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I I think that there was a a meeting that I attended back in September the first time I come to the club, and I didn't realise just how much was put on a coach actually when I think about first aid coming to collect keys, kits, footballs, you know.
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It may sound obvious, but a lot of it I just thought turn out teach the kids to run around a bit and a bit of skills and come back.
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But there's a lot so the work that you do and making sure that you make it as easy for those guys as well.
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Absolutely.
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I mean that is what the coach is there for, and you know, to coach.
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Yes, we seek the resistance if um you know if we haven't got uh sort of non-payers, etc.
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But the idea behind that, Rob, is that they're seeing people, you know, when they bring the children off, you know, yeah to play as it were to play football.
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So uh it's not like uh they'll get a red letter, you know, sent to them by post or email or anything like that.
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You know, we try and keep it as informal as possible.
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Absolutely.
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So yeah, the coaches you know help us, you know, with that as well.
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But it's it's it's really a case of you know compliance and really we've got to keep the subs rolling in to keep the standards that we've got to keep the group progressing.
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I don't like to uh increase subs, you know, try and justify all our subs rates, but sometimes you know we just have to because you know out there everything is increasing in costs.
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But again, you know, we're very sort of sympathetic to that.
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Um we don't want to stop any child playing football.
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I mean that's the bottom line.
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Absolutely.
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Um it is great, as I say, that the subs are at that level.
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We think they're affordable.
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Uh we know we're on the lower competitive rate in the area, so hopefully that's a big positive plus for us.
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But again, that's countered by the other income streams.
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Yeah, they are so important to us, and we get a great buy-in from that.
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So it's a win-win situation, I think.
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Yeah, and uh, you know, I don't think enough's said about that.
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You know, I I love the word you chose there, affordable.
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I think people say cheap or expensive, and that's relative.
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You know, it it always is.
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What someone thinks is cheap, it uh could be expensive to somebody else, but affordable is a a real term.
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You know, we look at cost of living, we look at you know everything else goes up in our world, it never comes back down, and uh it would be a shame if k children couldn't get out of the house and come in a safe, fun environment for an hour a week or whatever it is, and go and play on a Saturday or Sunday because of cost.
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And you know, uh football is a working class sport, it always has been, should always be in our minds, and the work that you do to keep that low, fair play, mate.
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You know, that I'll say that on behalf of parents, forget whether it's Newton Lawillo's or not.
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Fair play, because it's nice to know that that's being done for children.
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I look at a lot of them as I drive home from work and they're hanging about on bikes at some McDonald's or other fast food chains are available.
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Um but it's good that you know just kind of play yourself down there and it's affordable.
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That's that's it, it's got to be affordable.
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Certainly, you know, when I do the accounts and I can see how much you know we're paying for this and we're paying for that.
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Yes, it's affordable, but we don't want to take any shortcuts.
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For example, the total we pay on winter training, which is obviously in you know 3G and other areas, you know, that is you know£44,000 and you know as a as a number that's a high number.
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That is approximately half of our subscriptions.
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And then when we add on to that the trophies that we did before, end of season awards, etc.
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We don't like to scrimp on those.
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We want a good affordable to us trophy that the child will look at that and go, that's good.
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Yeah.
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Same with our tournaments, you know, medals.
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You know, you can get a medal or you can get a very good medal, and we will pay for a very good medal because it's all affordable.
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And it is great when you're doing the tournament and you can hear the buzz, wow, look at these.
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Yeah, they're better than that one that we went to the other week.
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And sometimes, you know, the runners-up don't get a cup, the winners will get a shield.
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Yeah, yeah.
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Yeah, our winners will get a cup, and our winners will get a cup, and the whole winning team, and the runners-up get medals.
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And it's we just think it's so important to reward.
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Yeah, we say children, obviously 16 and 17-year-olds aren't children, but it's so important to reward them, and it's within our business model, you know, to make sure that all those costs are covered.
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And you know, another thing about the costs, if I can, you know, the cost of training courses.
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It astounds me when you can read on social media about how much people are paying to their club for subs.
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And then they say, Oh, but we have to pay for this and we have to pay for that.
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I mean,£165 is a base level one coach cost in our development plan, we want higher levels of coaches, so we fund that as well.
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And we get that by moving into the Nike Partner Club, which, you know, if I can sort of talk about it.
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Absolutely, yeah, please seem to go on to this.
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We were scheduled, we and went to three-star accredited.
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Our kit supplier said, This I know opens another door for you, the Nike Partner Club.
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And with all the years, because obviously it's a brand, you know.
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Huge.
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England are wearing it and everything else.
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So we were told that uh we'd like to invite you, and that word invite because there's just 200 clubs in the UK, 40 in the northwest, and they recognise that two-star, three-star accredited clubs have got the race in order.
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Yeah.
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And I say that, you know, really as a massive achievement for us.
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Uh, we are run as a small business, and sometimes that's hard to say to mums and dads who got little Tommy and little Jessica coming with him, football.
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Absolutely.
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So it's a business.
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But the business is run so that you can play football in a safe and warming environment.
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So the Nike Pub Partnership, yeah, as I say, they benefit us with a training bursary.
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So based on the number of clubs you get, you get X number of revenue.
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So that equates to just over£4,000 for a year.
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Wow.
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And that equates to like£24 coaches.
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Now, if we didn't have that, we would have to increase our subs to cover them because every team has to have at least a base-level coach.
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Uh, it also covers the safeguarding and the first aid costs, which get a prerequisite to you know being a coach for the team.
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And as I mentioned in the development plan, we've got UFBs and C's, so we've got a couple of guys who have gone through that and a couple more guys are doing that because one again we want to promote the coaches.
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You know, they're giving up their time and their uh fun coaching, and if they show that they want to develop through that, then you know we will support them on that.
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But we can do that because Nike Partner Club, you know, affords us that uh that bursary.
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When I was talking to Tom, we were saying about some of the unseen benefits of the accreditation, and that's another example.
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We didn't cover that often.
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But to be you know invited by a global brand, and let's not forget that global, you know, it's it's not just UK or whatever.
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But you know, it's it's amazing, and and again, it you know, we talk about standards at the club, people want to be associated.
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You get an award uh you know in a tournament, you know, you get a cup if you come run us up or not.
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Come and put one of our kits on, it's Nike branded.
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You know, there's a lot of attraction.
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Oh, and by the way, your subs are the lowest in the area.
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So we've got great facilities, great coaches, we invest in those.
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Yeah.
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What's not to attract people?
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Absolutely, Rob, and it's it's great teamwork.
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We've got a fantastic bunch of trustees, we've got a fantastic bunch of coaches, and as the teams keep expanding, more coaches you know keep on coming in because I think they can see you know what we do, how we do things, and we take a heck of a lot of boxes that you know we are doing things right, which is being recognised, you know, and his development plan that uh he uh pushed us all to contribute to.
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FA Template.
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I mean what an achievement that is, yeah.
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You know, um the Nike partner club.
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Yeah, what an achievement because not everybody can get it.
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The three-star accreditation.
00:18:24.769 --> 00:18:32.769
It it beats me how some teams don't shout up how they are accredited, either the one stars or the two stars or the three stars.
00:18:33.169 --> 00:18:41.089
We will shout the three because you know it it means we've ticked a heck a lot of boxes that would be recognised as a well-run junior football club.
00:18:41.569 --> 00:18:52.210
Absolutely, and uh I was speaking to two ex-coaches last week, Matthew and Liam, one being at the Championship Academy and one being in Philadelphia.
00:18:52.289 --> 00:18:59.329
But you know, Liam comes back from Philadelphia, gets off the plane, and he says his first text is to the club who's playing, who's training, when can I come down?
00:18:59.490 --> 00:19:07.970
And you know, Matthew being a homebird, wants to come back, and you know, they they still want to come down to the club, and that's you know, it it it speaks volumes.
00:19:08.049 --> 00:19:09.089
These are young men, by the way.
00:19:09.250 --> 00:19:19.649
Yes, yeah, you these aren't you know that they they've got social lives, they've got family, they've they've got other things they can do, but they want to come back, and that's ingrained in everything the club's doing.
00:19:19.889 --> 00:19:25.569
And they started as kids within the club that have gone through the years, gone through the open age.
00:19:25.730 --> 00:19:29.649
Their dads have been you know coaches, you know, with the club as well.
00:19:30.049 --> 00:19:36.450
And it's just phenomenal that these guys um you know keep coming back to us and keep enjoying the socials.
00:19:36.769 --> 00:19:42.450
Yeah, it is, and we're like tonight, we we are down at the club, the AGM, it's gonna kick off soon.
00:19:42.609 --> 00:19:55.250
Not not literally, sorry, uh choice of words, um, but people are starting to arrive, and but you can see it, and everybody's in their club shirts, and there's a nice vibe about it, and you know, it it's just the right thing to uh that the club's doing.
00:19:55.490 --> 00:20:04.849
So just before we sort of wrap up, um what what what do you see or what do you think about the future of the club and where the finances are, Chris?
00:20:05.009 --> 00:20:08.129
Is there anything uh you you wanna want the listeners to know?
00:20:08.450 --> 00:20:19.569
Well one of the buzzwords that we've also mentioned tonight and uh I've got down in my you know speech for the AGM is consistency uh and affordable and fairness.
00:20:19.970 --> 00:20:44.450
The consistency part is our accounts really are you know quite consistent, but that's not to sort of be complacent because if we don't get the buy-in from our sponsors, if we don't get the buy-in from the grants, um you know, we wouldn't be in trouble, but perhaps we wouldn't be able to you know keep as much going as we have got going now.
00:20:44.690 --> 00:20:49.089
We might stagnate and stand still, which we do not want, we're gonna keep moving forward.
00:20:49.329 --> 00:20:53.970
So, from a point of view of where we're looking forward, let's keep going.
00:20:55.730 --> 00:21:01.329
Let's take it on board, let's move that consistency into that level above consistency.
00:21:02.049 --> 00:21:09.089
But my sort of thought would be if we have to increase subs, we're doing it for a reason.
00:21:09.569 --> 00:21:16.210
We will still make it affordable, we will still be under the market rate for your subs.
00:21:16.450 --> 00:21:32.049
But you know, rest assured from a public set of accounts that go out into the domain, as it were, uh, you can see where every every pound is spent in the club and also where every pound is received into the club.
00:21:32.769 --> 00:21:42.450
So um very much welcome anybody you know who would like to you know talk about the finances and where we are and how do we see ourselves in the next year or the next three years.
00:21:43.169 --> 00:21:44.690
Personally, I don't see any problem.
00:21:44.849 --> 00:21:49.409
You know, we've got the academy keep turning out at least three teams you know every year.
00:21:49.649 --> 00:21:53.809
Um we've got the age groups moving through to often age.
00:21:54.049 --> 00:22:13.649
Uh I think you know the club is moving forward, perhaps not at a great speed as it was, you know, moving from 20 teams to 30 teams to 40 teams, but we're moving great streams forward in our facilities because we want the facilities to be there to match every team.
00:22:14.609 --> 00:22:20.049
Well, I think that's well said, and I don't think people say well done and thank you enough to people behind the scenes.
00:22:20.129 --> 00:22:24.769
So, Chris, on behalf of everybody and all the members of the club, and there'll be plenty of them here tonight.
00:22:25.009 --> 00:22:26.129
Well done and thank you very much.
00:22:26.289 --> 00:22:34.849
And thank you for ensuring that the accounts are are in check, we are compliant, and that we're able to make football for children affordable.
00:22:35.009 --> 00:22:35.329
So thank you.
00:22:36.849 --> 00:22:37.169
Take care.
00:00:28.850 --> 00:00:32.530
Hi, and welcome to the Newton and Willows FC podcast from me, Rob Fladder.
00:00:32.770 --> 00:00:35.570
This week I'm delighted to welcome Chris Walker to the pod.
00:00:35.969 --> 00:00:36.609
Chris, how are you?
00:00:36.770 --> 00:00:37.490
I'm good, thanks.
00:00:37.570 --> 00:00:38.210
Thanks for the invites.
00:00:38.370 --> 00:00:38.929
Looking forward to it.
00:00:39.090 --> 00:00:40.210
Ah, you're more than welcome, mate.
00:00:40.370 --> 00:00:44.370
More than welcome, and thank you for accepting that invite without any arm twisting from Mr.
00:00:44.450 --> 00:00:44.929
Tither.
00:00:45.090 --> 00:00:45.490
Correct.
00:00:45.730 --> 00:00:48.049
I I know that you didn't need an arm twisting.
00:00:48.289 --> 00:00:48.689
Correct.
00:00:48.929 --> 00:00:55.730
So look, Chris, uh long association with a club, real, you you do a lot with the club over a long period of time.
00:00:56.129 --> 00:01:01.650
We do have some we do have some background noise, which is great for the for the authenticity.
00:01:01.810 --> 00:01:05.090
But just a quick question: how long have you been associated with Newton and Willows?
00:01:05.170 --> 00:01:09.969
Yeah, man, that's why I said under-sevens, but I was obviously before Andy uh set up the academy.
00:01:10.049 --> 00:01:12.450
So Under Sevens was our youngest team available.
00:01:12.609 --> 00:01:19.650
So Maladowin joined Under Sevens, and like everybody does, you get involved as a coach, as a support.
00:01:20.049 --> 00:01:25.489
He's now in his third year open age, so I reckon that's about 15 years with the club now.
00:01:25.810 --> 00:01:30.530
Amazing, and and that is a consistent story that I've heard a number of times on the podcast.
00:01:30.609 --> 00:01:35.810
You start off with bringing the kid down, and next thing you know, it's a lifelong labour of love.
00:01:36.209 --> 00:01:45.170
And some people are are a little bit forced, I say forced into it, I say uh encouraged, but then we love what we do.
00:01:45.489 --> 00:01:45.969
Absolutely.
00:01:46.049 --> 00:01:53.090
I mean the encouragement part was obviously our great ethos is to get every kid into sports, into activities.
00:01:53.329 --> 00:01:56.769
And at that age, sevens, you know, they're into everything.
00:01:57.009 --> 00:02:00.849
So he was doing the football, he was doing the tennis, he was doing the judo, etc.
00:02:01.090 --> 00:02:04.289
The only one they didn't have a dabble on was rugby, which is fine.
00:02:04.530 --> 00:02:06.129
But yeah, that's how we all start.
00:02:06.209 --> 00:02:10.770
Uh all for the love of our kids, enjoying themselves and getting out there enjoying themselves.
00:02:11.090 --> 00:02:11.490
Amazing.
00:02:11.569 --> 00:02:16.530
And then from that you progress and tell tell everybody what what do you do for the club today?
00:02:16.770 --> 00:02:25.730
Right, I'm the club treasurer, and obviously, since we incorporated into the uh charitable incorporated organisation, we are trustees.
00:02:26.530 --> 00:02:27.170
Amazing.
00:02:27.330 --> 00:02:29.090
So you look after the purse strings?
00:02:29.490 --> 00:02:39.410
The purse strings trying to keep everybody in tow, trying to keep everybody happy with regards to can have another another batch of footballs, can I have another batch of first aid equipment?
00:02:39.650 --> 00:02:41.650
Yep, we look after the numbers.
00:02:41.969 --> 00:02:44.930
How difficult is that, or is it not so difficult?
00:02:45.250 --> 00:02:54.290
It's it's a combination, uh, insofar as our subs uh we know are relatively low within the area.
00:02:54.530 --> 00:02:58.689
The reason why they're low is they are affordable.
00:02:59.410 --> 00:03:08.450
And we operate on a mechanism where probably around about the 60-65% of our total income is derived from our subscriptions.
00:03:08.689 --> 00:03:13.410
Now that might sound strange, you might think, well, you know, that that seems too low.
00:03:13.730 --> 00:03:24.290
But the buy-in is very much the other income, the other income being our raffles, our uh academies, the grants, the sponsors that we get.
00:03:24.450 --> 00:03:36.610
I mean, I'm absolutely bowled over with the sponsors that we've got in this area, and being a great community club that we are, I think that really does sell it to businesses and within the community to you know come and support us.
00:03:36.770 --> 00:03:44.770
So that equates to about 35-37% of our revenue, which in turn keeps our subs at that affordable level.
00:03:45.410 --> 00:03:51.890
We've had the the the guys on that look after someone, you know, helping out, getting those grants and and moving things around.
00:03:52.050 --> 00:03:53.650
So a big shout out to them.
00:03:53.730 --> 00:04:01.090
But for you, it must help because you know that you know your line of your the role you carry out is very important.
00:04:01.250 --> 00:04:05.650
You have to make sure you know there's there's a load of compliance alongside that.
00:04:06.210 --> 00:04:19.410
But when people do keep coming ask, or keep coming, asking for this, that, and that new balls, new first aid kits, must make it a little bit easier to say yes or bear with rather than to keep no, no, no.
00:04:19.810 --> 00:04:20.449
Absolutely, Rob.
00:04:20.769 --> 00:04:23.889
I mean we we do not we do not say no.
00:04:25.089 --> 00:04:28.769
It's we've got a great relationship with our kit suppliers.
00:04:30.209 --> 00:04:36.769
We are one of 200 in the UK Nike partner clubs, and we'll talk about that in a in a little while.
00:04:37.089 --> 00:04:43.089
That really opens the door to uh the brand that we want to support Newtonville's FC.
00:04:43.250 --> 00:04:44.850
So that's really important to us.
00:04:45.090 --> 00:04:52.930
But from the point of view of uh the money, yes, uh, we're fortunate that you know the subs and the income stream allows us to manage the business.
00:04:53.090 --> 00:04:54.850
I mean, you mentioned about compliance, etc.
00:04:55.090 --> 00:05:03.250
Since we went over to the CIO status uh and therefore I became trustees, it really opened up the compliance part of it.
00:05:03.810 --> 00:05:15.810
You know, there's something like 40-44 pages of tick box reports to compile the annual accounts, which are obviously published, they are independently verified and they go onto the public domain.
00:05:16.290 --> 00:05:17.170
So it is there.
00:05:17.250 --> 00:05:23.329
So if you wanted to search on the World FC charitable number, you know, you could find us and the account will be there.
00:05:23.569 --> 00:05:28.290
It's what we present at the AGM uh and they're filed accordingly to the timetables.
00:05:28.930 --> 00:05:30.129
So I've said this.
00:05:30.210 --> 00:05:35.810
I think when I I was uh speaking with Tom the other week, we discussed it it's very much run like a business.
00:05:36.370 --> 00:05:37.410
Without a doubt, without a doubt.
00:05:37.650 --> 00:05:41.889
You know, the standards of the club are up there, right up there, as if it's our own business.
00:05:42.050 --> 00:05:46.689
But for you in particular, I I can imagine it takes up a lot of your personal time.
00:05:46.770 --> 00:05:51.329
It's not just as someone paid the subs, can we make sure we bank it and show it?
00:05:51.650 --> 00:05:53.329
It must take up a hell of a lot of time.
00:05:53.650 --> 00:05:55.970
It it does take a lot of time.
00:05:56.210 --> 00:06:09.569
But you know what, since we've expanded the trustees and you know we've got people who are taking you know their responsibilities in their areas, their the you know, our speed of uh of work getting done, the speed of how we turn things around.
00:06:09.650 --> 00:06:18.850
We're lucky that you know we've got uh everything filed away where it should be, uh safely, uh access to relevant people have got relevant information.
00:06:19.009 --> 00:06:24.290
Uh obviously in the digital world that we're in, you know, the bank statements are all online and things like this.
00:06:24.370 --> 00:06:33.650
And these are these sort of core things that uh the guys, Tom and Emily and Craig that joined us, that they need to get the uh grants out really quickly.
00:06:33.889 --> 00:06:41.170
So, you know, we we can get a lead, we can react to it, you know, sort of more or less, you know, straight away on online real information.
00:06:41.329 --> 00:06:43.410
And you know, the published accounts are there, they're done.
00:06:43.569 --> 00:06:45.410
The bank statements are there, they're done.
00:06:45.650 --> 00:06:49.970
Those were the two main critical areas that uh form you know the grant status.
00:06:50.689 --> 00:07:01.730
Which really helps the club, and and like you said, like this is something that we become reliant on almost, but it helps not just thinking about Newton and Willows, all those associated.
00:07:01.889 --> 00:07:10.930
So, you know, we the club has expanded, there's 40 odd teams, and that includes hand disability, and that those grants really go towards that effort as well.
00:07:11.250 --> 00:07:11.569
Absolutely.
00:07:11.650 --> 00:07:27.490
I mean, one of the main grants that uh we got was like uh 9.5,000 pound for disability football, which uh Andy took the reins and we're going to uh Willowbrook and together with an external uh training company, they were delivering the courses you know for us.
00:07:27.730 --> 00:07:30.210
The feedback from that is just absolutely tremendous.
00:07:30.290 --> 00:07:31.090
And do you know what?
00:07:31.329 --> 00:07:50.210
Within the community, that is a massive, massive tick box for us because the guys that are coming, the kids that are coming, and they are repeating you know the consistencies there, they will come back week after week and thoroughly enjoy themselves in that environment that is suited for their needs.
00:07:50.850 --> 00:07:59.170
Another message I hear time and time again on this podcast is about the importance of children coming back, children enjoying and the safety.
00:08:02.449 --> 00:08:11.410
You know, we we do those that are not uh working in accounts or responsible for it, we always, you know, you're the bean counters, you're this, that, and the other, and sometimes a bit of the enemy.
00:08:11.569 --> 00:08:15.250
But we we we it's only typically because we don't understand, right?
00:08:15.810 --> 00:08:29.569
How difficult at times is it to get people to understand the importance of you know, when we do take money in, we have to do it carefully and responsibly, and we have to be able to demonstrate that we look after that and we spend it correctly.
00:08:29.889 --> 00:08:32.049
Does that pose a challenge at times here?
00:08:32.529 --> 00:08:37.329
Do you know what obviously working in finance it's it's second nature to me.
00:08:37.569 --> 00:08:37.649
Yeah.
00:08:37.889 --> 00:08:45.409
You know, the standards, the compliance that you're gonna adhere to is you know, is second nature, it's within my sort of DNA, as it were.
00:08:45.730 --> 00:08:54.850
But with the trustees, you know, that we got for you know second signatories on payments and things like this, I mean we do you know weekly payment runs, you know, things like this.
00:08:54.929 --> 00:08:58.610
Uh the guys submit their expense claim for them to referee uh expenses.
00:08:59.169 --> 00:09:05.969
They know that you know they can send it you know safely, electronically, and they get paid electronically.
00:09:06.209 --> 00:09:08.049
So gone on the days of the cash.
00:09:08.370 --> 00:09:10.609
Yeah, the cash used to be a real issue.
00:09:10.769 --> 00:09:17.409
I mean, once upon a time in the early early days, you know, we used to get somebody corrupt in the training and say, Can you just stop training, please?
00:09:17.569 --> 00:09:19.329
Can you pay me two pounds or three pounds?
00:09:19.569 --> 00:09:22.129
You know, subspace that is overdue, please.
00:09:22.529 --> 00:09:23.169
None of that now.
00:09:23.329 --> 00:09:23.809
None of that now.
00:09:24.049 --> 00:09:29.969
All the subs are you know collected electronically through an external source again, and that's great for reporting.
00:09:30.289 --> 00:09:33.809
And it is the way of the way it's going, isn't it, these days?
00:09:33.889 --> 00:09:45.329
I mean, you know, people pay by direct debit, they pay by standing orders, you know, that has taken a huge amount of pressure away from us as trustees and all sorts of coaches.
00:09:45.569 --> 00:09:49.490
You know, they get on with coaching the teams, they're not there to go and collect money.
00:09:50.129 --> 00:09:50.609
Absolutely.
00:09:50.689 --> 00:10:02.929
I I think that there was a a meeting that I attended back in September the first time I come to the club, and I didn't realise just how much was put on a coach actually when I think about first aid coming to collect keys, kits, footballs, you know.
00:10:03.649 --> 00:10:09.089
It may sound obvious, but a lot of it I just thought turn out teach the kids to run around a bit and a bit of skills and come back.
00:10:09.250 --> 00:10:14.289
But there's a lot so the work that you do and making sure that you make it as easy for those guys as well.
00:10:14.609 --> 00:10:15.089
Absolutely.
00:10:15.169 --> 00:10:18.449
I mean that is what the coach is there for, and you know, to coach.
00:10:18.529 --> 00:10:23.089
Yes, we seek the resistance if um you know if we haven't got uh sort of non-payers, etc.
00:10:23.329 --> 00:10:30.529
But the idea behind that, Rob, is that they're seeing people, you know, when they bring the children off, you know, yeah to play as it were to play football.
00:10:30.769 --> 00:10:36.529
So uh it's not like uh they'll get a red letter, you know, sent to them by post or email or anything like that.
00:10:36.609 --> 00:10:38.529
You know, we try and keep it as informal as possible.
00:10:38.769 --> 00:10:39.009
Absolutely.
00:10:39.250 --> 00:10:42.289
So yeah, the coaches you know help us, you know, with that as well.
00:10:42.609 --> 00:10:51.809
But it's it's it's really a case of you know compliance and really we've got to keep the subs rolling in to keep the standards that we've got to keep the group progressing.
00:10:52.769 --> 00:11:03.569
I don't like to uh increase subs, you know, try and justify all our subs rates, but sometimes you know we just have to because you know out there everything is increasing in costs.
00:11:03.809 --> 00:11:07.089
But again, you know, we're very sort of sympathetic to that.
00:11:07.329 --> 00:11:11.969
Um we don't want to stop any child playing football.
00:11:12.129 --> 00:11:13.329
I mean that's the bottom line.
00:11:13.649 --> 00:11:13.889
Absolutely.
00:11:14.209 --> 00:11:17.490
Um it is great, as I say, that the subs are at that level.
00:11:17.889 --> 00:11:19.169
We think they're affordable.
00:11:19.809 --> 00:11:26.129
Uh we know we're on the lower competitive rate in the area, so hopefully that's a big positive plus for us.
00:11:26.370 --> 00:11:29.649
But again, that's countered by the other income streams.
00:11:29.889 --> 00:11:34.289
Yeah, they are so important to us, and we get a great buy-in from that.
00:11:34.529 --> 00:11:36.849
So it's a win-win situation, I think.
00:11:37.169 --> 00:11:40.129
Yeah, and uh, you know, I don't think enough's said about that.
00:11:40.289 --> 00:11:43.169
You know, I I love the word you chose there, affordable.
00:11:43.409 --> 00:11:48.129
I think people say cheap or expensive, and that's relative.
00:11:48.529 --> 00:11:50.049
You know, it it always is.
00:11:50.209 --> 00:11:56.370
What someone thinks is cheap, it uh could be expensive to somebody else, but affordable is a a real term.
00:11:56.769 --> 00:12:13.169
You know, we look at cost of living, we look at you know everything else goes up in our world, it never comes back down, and uh it would be a shame if k children couldn't get out of the house and come in a safe, fun environment for an hour a week or whatever it is, and go and play on a Saturday or Sunday because of cost.
00:12:13.729 --> 00:12:22.289
And you know, uh football is a working class sport, it always has been, should always be in our minds, and the work that you do to keep that low, fair play, mate.
00:12:22.529 --> 00:12:27.490
You know, that I'll say that on behalf of parents, forget whether it's Newton Lawillo's or not.
00:12:27.729 --> 00:12:31.969
Fair play, because it's nice to know that that's being done for children.
00:12:32.049 --> 00:12:39.089
I look at a lot of them as I drive home from work and they're hanging about on bikes at some McDonald's or other fast food chains are available.
00:12:39.329 --> 00:12:44.209
Um but it's good that you know just kind of play yourself down there and it's affordable.
00:12:44.529 --> 00:12:46.370
That's that's it, it's got to be affordable.
00:12:47.009 --> 00:12:51.809
Certainly, you know, when I do the accounts and I can see how much you know we're paying for this and we're paying for that.
00:12:53.889 --> 00:12:56.609
Yes, it's affordable, but we don't want to take any shortcuts.
00:12:56.849 --> 00:13:09.490
For example, the total we pay on winter training, which is obviously in you know 3G and other areas, you know, that is you know£44,000 and you know as a as a number that's a high number.
00:13:09.809 --> 00:13:12.609
That is approximately half of our subscriptions.
00:13:13.250 --> 00:13:19.409
And then when we add on to that the trophies that we did before, end of season awards, etc.
00:13:20.769 --> 00:13:22.529
We don't like to scrimp on those.
00:13:22.769 --> 00:13:31.409
We want a good affordable to us trophy that the child will look at that and go, that's good.
00:13:31.889 --> 00:13:32.049
Yeah.
00:13:32.449 --> 00:13:35.569
Same with our tournaments, you know, medals.
00:13:35.729 --> 00:13:42.529
You know, you can get a medal or you can get a very good medal, and we will pay for a very good medal because it's all affordable.
00:13:42.689 --> 00:13:49.329
And it is great when you're doing the tournament and you can hear the buzz, wow, look at these.
00:13:49.490 --> 00:13:52.929
Yeah, they're better than that one that we went to the other week.
00:13:53.490 --> 00:13:57.969
And sometimes, you know, the runners-up don't get a cup, the winners will get a shield.
00:13:58.209 --> 00:13:58.449
Yeah, yeah.
00:13:58.609 --> 00:14:05.809
Yeah, our winners will get a cup, and our winners will get a cup, and the whole winning team, and the runners-up get medals.
00:14:06.209 --> 00:14:09.409
And it's we just think it's so important to reward.
00:14:10.209 --> 00:14:21.729
Yeah, we say children, obviously 16 and 17-year-olds aren't children, but it's so important to reward them, and it's within our business model, you know, to make sure that all those costs are covered.
00:14:22.529 --> 00:14:28.689
And you know, another thing about the costs, if I can, you know, the cost of training courses.
00:14:29.729 --> 00:14:35.809
It astounds me when you can read on social media about how much people are paying to their club for subs.
00:14:36.049 --> 00:14:39.329
And then they say, Oh, but we have to pay for this and we have to pay for that.
00:14:39.809 --> 00:14:50.449
I mean,£165 is a base level one coach cost in our development plan, we want higher levels of coaches, so we fund that as well.
00:14:51.169 --> 00:14:57.169
And we get that by moving into the Nike Partner Club, which, you know, if I can sort of talk about it.
00:14:57.409 --> 00:14:59.329
Absolutely, yeah, please seem to go on to this.
00:15:00.449 --> 00:15:03.889
We were scheduled, we and went to three-star accredited.
00:15:04.689 --> 00:15:10.289
Our kit supplier said, This I know opens another door for you, the Nike Partner Club.
00:15:10.849 --> 00:15:13.809
And with all the years, because obviously it's a brand, you know.
00:15:14.289 --> 00:15:14.529
Huge.
00:15:15.649 --> 00:15:17.409
England are wearing it and everything else.
00:15:17.889 --> 00:15:32.529
So we were told that uh we'd like to invite you, and that word invite because there's just 200 clubs in the UK, 40 in the northwest, and they recognise that two-star, three-star accredited clubs have got the race in order.
00:15:32.689 --> 00:15:32.849
Yeah.
00:15:33.009 --> 00:15:36.849
And I say that, you know, really as a massive achievement for us.
00:15:37.009 --> 00:15:48.129
Uh, we are run as a small business, and sometimes that's hard to say to mums and dads who got little Tommy and little Jessica coming with him, football.
00:15:48.209 --> 00:15:48.370
Absolutely.
00:15:48.529 --> 00:15:49.490
So it's a business.
00:15:49.649 --> 00:15:53.729
But the business is run so that you can play football in a safe and warming environment.
00:15:54.049 --> 00:15:59.969
So the Nike Pub Partnership, yeah, as I say, they benefit us with a training bursary.
00:16:00.449 --> 00:16:03.889
So based on the number of clubs you get, you get X number of revenue.
00:16:04.209 --> 00:16:06.769
So that equates to just over£4,000 for a year.
00:16:07.250 --> 00:16:07.409
Wow.
00:16:08.049 --> 00:16:11.009
And that equates to like£24 coaches.
00:16:11.889 --> 00:16:21.329
Now, if we didn't have that, we would have to increase our subs to cover them because every team has to have at least a base-level coach.
00:16:22.049 --> 00:16:29.169
Uh, it also covers the safeguarding and the first aid costs, which get a prerequisite to you know being a coach for the team.
00:16:29.569 --> 00:16:38.529
And as I mentioned in the development plan, we've got UFBs and C's, so we've got a couple of guys who have gone through that and a couple more guys are doing that because one again we want to promote the coaches.
00:16:38.769 --> 00:16:49.089
You know, they're giving up their time and their uh fun coaching, and if they show that they want to develop through that, then you know we will support them on that.
00:16:49.169 --> 00:16:53.729
But we can do that because Nike Partner Club, you know, affords us that uh that bursary.
00:16:55.169 --> 00:17:02.049
When I was talking to Tom, we were saying about some of the unseen benefits of the accreditation, and that's another example.
00:17:02.209 --> 00:17:03.250
We didn't cover that often.
00:17:03.809 --> 00:17:11.970
But to be you know invited by a global brand, and let's not forget that global, you know, it's it's not just UK or whatever.
00:17:13.170 --> 00:17:20.450
But you know, it's it's amazing, and and again, it you know, we talk about standards at the club, people want to be associated.
00:17:20.609 --> 00:17:26.529
You get an award uh you know in a tournament, you know, you get a cup if you come run us up or not.
00:17:26.769 --> 00:17:29.490
Come and put one of our kits on, it's Nike branded.
00:17:29.650 --> 00:17:31.250
You know, there's a lot of attraction.
00:17:31.410 --> 00:17:34.849
Oh, and by the way, your subs are the lowest in the area.
00:17:35.009 --> 00:17:38.769
So we've got great facilities, great coaches, we invest in those.
00:17:39.009 --> 00:17:39.169
Yeah.
00:17:39.490 --> 00:17:41.169
What's not to attract people?
00:17:41.490 --> 00:17:44.210
Absolutely, Rob, and it's it's great teamwork.
00:17:44.529 --> 00:18:10.049
We've got a fantastic bunch of trustees, we've got a fantastic bunch of coaches, and as the teams keep expanding, more coaches you know keep on coming in because I think they can see you know what we do, how we do things, and we take a heck of a lot of boxes that you know we are doing things right, which is being recognised, you know, and his development plan that uh he uh pushed us all to contribute to.
00:18:10.529 --> 00:18:11.649
FA Template.
00:18:12.210 --> 00:18:14.289
I mean what an achievement that is, yeah.
00:18:14.450 --> 00:18:17.649
You know, um the Nike partner club.
00:18:17.970 --> 00:18:21.089
Yeah, what an achievement because not everybody can get it.
00:18:21.250 --> 00:18:23.009
The three-star accreditation.
00:18:24.769 --> 00:18:32.769
It it beats me how some teams don't shout up how they are accredited, either the one stars or the two stars or the three stars.
00:18:33.169 --> 00:18:41.089
We will shout the three because you know it it means we've ticked a heck a lot of boxes that would be recognised as a well-run junior football club.
00:18:41.569 --> 00:18:52.210
Absolutely, and uh I was speaking to two ex-coaches last week, Matthew and Liam, one being at the Championship Academy and one being in Philadelphia.
00:18:52.289 --> 00:18:59.329
But you know, Liam comes back from Philadelphia, gets off the plane, and he says his first text is to the club who's playing, who's training, when can I come down?
00:18:59.490 --> 00:19:07.970
And you know, Matthew being a homebird, wants to come back, and you know, they they still want to come down to the club, and that's you know, it it it speaks volumes.
00:19:08.049 --> 00:19:09.089
These are young men, by the way.
00:19:09.250 --> 00:19:19.649
Yes, yeah, you these aren't you know that they they've got social lives, they've got family, they've they've got other things they can do, but they want to come back, and that's ingrained in everything the club's doing.
00:19:19.889 --> 00:19:25.569
And they started as kids within the club that have gone through the years, gone through the open age.
00:19:25.730 --> 00:19:29.649
Their dads have been you know coaches, you know, with the club as well.
00:19:30.049 --> 00:19:36.450
And it's just phenomenal that these guys um you know keep coming back to us and keep enjoying the socials.
00:19:36.769 --> 00:19:42.450
Yeah, it is, and we're like tonight, we we are down at the club, the AGM, it's gonna kick off soon.
00:19:42.609 --> 00:19:55.250
Not not literally, sorry, uh choice of words, um, but people are starting to arrive, and but you can see it, and everybody's in their club shirts, and there's a nice vibe about it, and you know, it it's just the right thing to uh that the club's doing.
00:19:55.490 --> 00:20:04.849
So just before we sort of wrap up, um what what what do you see or what do you think about the future of the club and where the finances are, Chris?
00:20:05.009 --> 00:20:08.129
Is there anything uh you you wanna want the listeners to know?
00:20:08.450 --> 00:20:19.569
Well one of the buzzwords that we've also mentioned tonight and uh I've got down in my you know speech for the AGM is consistency uh and affordable and fairness.
00:20:19.970 --> 00:20:44.450
The consistency part is our accounts really are you know quite consistent, but that's not to sort of be complacent because if we don't get the buy-in from our sponsors, if we don't get the buy-in from the grants, um you know, we wouldn't be in trouble, but perhaps we wouldn't be able to you know keep as much going as we have got going now.
00:20:44.690 --> 00:20:49.089
We might stagnate and stand still, which we do not want, we're gonna keep moving forward.
00:20:49.329 --> 00:20:53.970
So, from a point of view of where we're looking forward, let's keep going.
00:20:55.730 --> 00:21:01.329
Let's take it on board, let's move that consistency into that level above consistency.
00:21:02.049 --> 00:21:09.089
But my sort of thought would be if we have to increase subs, we're doing it for a reason.
00:21:09.569 --> 00:21:16.210
We will still make it affordable, we will still be under the market rate for your subs.
00:21:16.450 --> 00:21:32.049
But you know, rest assured from a public set of accounts that go out into the domain, as it were, uh, you can see where every every pound is spent in the club and also where every pound is received into the club.
00:21:32.769 --> 00:21:42.450
So um very much welcome anybody you know who would like to you know talk about the finances and where we are and how do we see ourselves in the next year or the next three years.
00:21:43.169 --> 00:21:44.690
Personally, I don't see any problem.
00:21:44.849 --> 00:21:49.409
You know, we've got the academy keep turning out at least three teams you know every year.
00:21:49.649 --> 00:21:53.809
Um we've got the age groups moving through to often age.
00:21:54.049 --> 00:22:13.649
Uh I think you know the club is moving forward, perhaps not at a great speed as it was, you know, moving from 20 teams to 30 teams to 40 teams, but we're moving great streams forward in our facilities because we want the facilities to be there to match every team.
00:22:14.609 --> 00:22:20.049
Well, I think that's well said, and I don't think people say well done and thank you enough to people behind the scenes.
00:22:20.129 --> 00:22:24.769
So, Chris, on behalf of everybody and all the members of the club, and there'll be plenty of them here tonight.
00:22:25.009 --> 00:22:26.129
Well done and thank you very much.
00:22:26.289 --> 00:22:34.849
And thank you for ensuring that the accounts are are in check, we are compliant, and that we're able to make football for children affordable.
00:22:35.009 --> 00:22:35.329
So thank you.
00:22:36.849 --> 00:22:37.169
Take care.
