FOOTBALL: Wellington AFC announce a profit (From This is The West Country)

FOOTBALL: Wellington AFC announce a profit

5:00pm Friday 22nd June 2012 in Sport

Wellington Football Club has recorded a profit of more than £2,800 on the past season.

The news was announced by treasurer Reg Oxby at Wednesday’s annual meeting, which also saw Mike Hall take over as chairman of the Toolstation League club.

Mr Oxby said the profit marked a remarkable turnaround in the club’s financial fortunes – having made a loss of more than £10,000 two years ago and £1,300 last season.

While the majority of the club’s costs had risen sharply, it had saved nearly £4,500 on playing expenses while the clubhouse profit had risen by more than £4,000 after re-negotiating the club’s deal with its brewery.

Meanwhile, Mr Hall replaces Ken Bird who has stepped down after ten years as chairman but is staying on as a member of the management committee.

A Somerset FA referee, he lives in the town and his three children all play for Wellington’s youth sides.

In his final chairman’s report, Mr Bird said it had been a tough year – littered with challenges and more than its fair share of ups and downs.

“But it has certainly produced more positives than negatives thanks to a huge amount of work by our dedicated band of volunteers.”

He said the club was in need of more helpers in all areas.

“We have a membership running into many hundreds and yet the vast amount of work involved in running this successful club is carried out by only a handful of people.

“We are truly indebted to them for their efforts, without which this club would simply not function.”

He said the club was delighted to have retained its Toolstation League status despite a difficult season for its first team while the other senior sides had all done well and the youth section continued to thrive.

Mr Bird and his wife were made honorary life members of the club and he was also presented with a Kindle reading device in recognition of his decade as chairman.

Officers elected: President, Alan Shire; chairman, Mike Hall; vice-chairman, Andy Thorne; treasurer, Reg Oxby; secretary, David Derrick; membership secretary, Jenny Oxby; youth section co-ordinator and welfare officer, Colin Waller; clubhouse manager, Keith Davey; bar rota organisers, Reg Oxby and David Derrick.

In addition to Ken Bird, the meeting elected five new committee members – Graham Aspin, Steve Coles, Joe Conway, Jason Hawkings and Wayne Maunder.