Our club made a profit of £9,000 on the 2019-20 season, the Annual General Meeting was told.
But treasurer Reg Oxby said the surplus had been achieved with the help of grants awarded because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Revenues had been severely affected following the season being brought to a premature end in March – including the closure of the clubhouse – yet Mr Oxby felt the club was “still in a good position.”
The meeting was chaired by vice-chairman Graham Aspin in the absence of Mike Hall (chairman), who was attending the re-scheduled AGM of the Toolstation Western League.
Mr Aspin paid tribute to the club’s officers for their work and also thanked all the team managers and bar staff for the team effort everybody showed in supporting the club, adding: “Long may it continue.”
In his secretary’s report, Jeff Brown, said Tim Legg had taken over as first-team manager following the departure of Clive Jones and, while the side had experienced a difficult season up to its premature end, a number of new signings for 2020-21 would hopefully enable them to progress.
The Devon and Exeter League had been restructured with the Reserves, under Sean Buttle, placed in Division 1 West for the coming season while the A team had gained their second promotion in successive season with manager Luke O’Hara now needing somebody to help him following the departure of assistant Will Hammond.
The Ladies’ team had a mixed season and were looking for a manager and more players while there were mixed fortunes for the club’s U18s, who now had a new manager, and numerous youth teams.
Mr Brown said information was being published on the restart of football with fixtures in the process of being released and the first-team kicking off against Bodmin Town in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup on September 1st (at Cullompton Rangers).
He also reported that the Wellington Playing Field Stategy, which could eventually see the club move to a ground, had stalled and, in view of problems with the preferred site adjoining the Relief Road, may have to revert to a site at the base of Hillyhead towards the Basins.
Regarding the Longforth Farm site, the Secretary explained that the club had sought pre-planning advice on the site for a pitch for the first team, to meet FA Cup standards, together with changing, hospitality and parking facilities. A local planning expert was now being consulted to guide the club forward in the project.
Officers elected: President, Alan Shire; Chairman, Mike Hall; Vice-Chairman, Graham Aspin; Secretary, Jeff Brown; Assistant Secretary and Membership Secretary, Jane Brown; Treasurer, Reg Oxby; Clubhouse Manager, Jenny Oxby; Welfare Officer and Youth Section Co-ordinator, Colin Waller; Website and Social Media Officer, Ken Bird.
Committee members: Officers plus Steve Bird, Chris Brooks, Mike Bull, Steve Coles, Joe Conway, David Derrick, Mark Owen, John Sellick and Nyima Touray along with managers Tim Legg, Sean Buttle, Luke O’Hara.
