2.2 When visiting the local schools sports teacher I was able to as questions in order to further my knowledge, I was able to find out whether any person within the area had previously tried to set a club before and whether or not it had been a success. He informed me he had no knowledge of this being tried before but he did inform me however that during the football season at school, parents and family of students had been extremely cooperative towards the school, showing support and willingness to help with transportation and refreshments. He also informed me that very offer he has students complaining to him about there being no out of school entertainment and sports for them to take participate in.
2.3 Cropwell Bishop has a strong relationship with the county council, it would be worth considering writing to the council for support with the club, it may be a good idea for them to consider as the club may take a percentage of children away from hanging around the streets, leading to less crime etc. The council could help with funds, transport to and from the matches or occasionally cut the pitch and training field.
3. Competition:
- Presently Cropwell Bishop does not have any U16 football clubs within a 5 mile radius. This shows that there is no immediate competition. The area does fortunately have 3 over 18 teams which play on Saturday and Sunday afternoons, which frees the pitch in the mornings for our uder16 matches. The over 18 teams are all currently in different leagues and playing at different levels.
- The area currently has 3 under 16 leagues which are stated as follows:
- LEISTER AND DISTRCT SUNDAY JUNIOR FOOTBALL U10 – U16
- NEWARK AND ALLIENCE JUNOR LEAGUE U10 – U16
- NOTTINGHAM BOYS AMITURES FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION U10 – U18
3.3 The only real competition for Bishop United lies within the leagues stated above. All of the teams currently entered in these leagues are within one hours travel distance from our home pitch.
4. Committee:
(Figure 1 :)
4.1 Figure 1, as shown above, is a basic structure which may be used for the running of Bishop United. The committee comprises of 5 sections all of which will play their own role in starting up and developing the club.
4.2 Chairman: The chairman needs to have a good and respected background as it is his name that is associated with all the correspondence to do with the club. The chairman will need to appear at most of the meeting to voice his opinions of what could be done for improvement, a good business man is needed to make the club grow along with ambition and vision in order to make the club grow and fulfil its potential.
4.3 Manager/Coach: Has the role to developing the skills already existing between the players to a higher competing standard. The manager/coach’s main role is to control all team affairs ensuring that the squad has the best starting 11 players and substitutes for every game. His role also includes picking the team, making sure that the players are getting the best training and injury care possible. He is also there to inform the board of any problems on or off the pitch, i.e. problem players, broken equipment, or lack of transport.
4.4 Secretary: The secretary has a key role, since the company secretary is the clubs principal administrative officer. The clubs secretary has a number of duties with responsibility for ensuring that the cub fulfils obligations. The secretary is not involved in managing but ensures that all the documentation is completed and open to public inspection, the secretary also deals with all signing on fees.
4.5 Treasurer: The treasurer puts together financial reports and assesses how and when the club is able to afford to buy equipment. Also how much money is needed and when the money is needed to be raised by. The treasurer also controls the bank account along with the Chairman as two signatures are needed to take money out of the club bank account.
4.6 Players: There role is to give the club 100% commitment on and off the pitch including fund raising and community events to give the club a good reputation, this is as much part of being a player as turning up for all the games and training sessions as players will only get back what they put in.
4.7 Support Staff: Include parents, local villagers, qualified First Aiders, training staff, physiotherapist. The primary roll of the support staff is to aid where ever they can in all aspects in running the club, from washing the kit to driving the players to games.
5. Sporting Equipment required for the club
5.1 After using various methods of research i.e. the internet, brochures, telephone directories and word of mouth, the following list has been compiled for ordering the clubs supply’s, the following list is only to get the club off the ground. Information was obtained from 3 Nottinghamshire sport suppliers and 2 nationwide suppliers in order to compare and to get the best quality and value for money for the club.
5.2 Equipment List:
- Home football strip, including shorts, shirt and socks
- Away football kit, including shirt, shorts and socks
- 2 substitute suits
- 5 training balls
- 2 match balls
- 2 nets with pegs
- 4 corner flags
- 2 whistles
- 7 training bibs
- first aid kit
- 2 sets of goal keeping gloves
- 8 drinks bottles
5.3 Suppliers in the Nottinghamshire area:
- MAJESTIC – David Lane, Old Basford, Nottinghamshire
- M.B.C EURO – 14 Nottingham Road, Boroughough, Derby
- NON-STOP SPORTS – 14 James Street, Nottingham
5.4 Nationwide suppliers:
- Klub Kits – 18/19 Palmeson Business Park, Fareham, Hamts.
- ASTORIA SPORTS LTD – 9 Addiscombe, Court Road, East Croydon, Surry.
5.5 Below I have collected and displayed the information in a table. This table gives you the average cost you will be looking at when planning to purchase all the sporting equipment required for one football team.
6. Advertising:
6.1 To get the club noticed it is very important to have good quality, accurate and eye catching advertising. Advertising for a football club can be done in a number of ways, for example, flyers, broachers, word of mouth, adverts in the local shop windows, the evening post (the Nottingham local evening newspaper) or the local radio station. The club needs to be aware of the cost of advertising as at first the club will have very limited funds
6.2 Bishop United needs to start looking for sponsorship immediately; this can be done by sending letters to all the local businesses within the area, or asking the local people. A sponsor may be very keen to help if they too are benefiting from the deal, Bishop United could offer to have the name of the sponsor on all of the kits worn during training and matches, another alternative place to advertise sponsorship would be around the pitch on bill-boards.
6.3 Below is a flyer designed for under 16 year old potential footballers. When advertising at a young audience it is very important to communicate to their level.
WANNA BE A FOOTBALLER?
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN JOINING UP FOR WEEKLY TRAINING AND MATCHES?
BISHOP UNITED U16
THE BRAND NEW FOOTBALL CLUB IN YOUR AREA
FA QUALIFIED COACHING
WHY NOT COME ALONG TO OUR FIRST TRAINING SESSION AT CROPWELL BISHOP VILLAGE PLAYING FIELD AT 10AM ON SUN 17TH JUNE?
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CALL STEVE ON 0115 989 3697
7. How else to raise money for the club?
7.1 It may be a good idea for players of the club to occasionally take part in sponsored events, for example car washing, cycling, runs. All the money raised would then go forward to help with the development of the club, for either expansion or to buy more improved high-tech equipment. It may be a good idea to approach local business men within the area.
7.2 The Chairman of the board has already kindly offered a starting fund of £100 which will be paid into the Club’s bank account on April 1st.
8. What is the clubs potential if it were to become a success?
8.1 If the club becomes a success there may be a chance of further development, this may be done in numerous ways, for example, companies may give greater investment to the club causing funds to increase. An injection of money could lead to the club developing in other ways for example, the number of teams within the club, U10’s, U11’s, U12’s etc. or even a girls team developing which may help to develop girls leagues, this proposes equal opportunities and a chance to give girls who are interested a go.
8.2 Managers will be able to take players on trips or training days in order to enhance performance if this does occur and players from other clubs notice the development it may persuade them to reconsider their position at their current club. The club will be able to enter into tournaments as well as the local league; there is always the chance of players being scouted at tournaments which will do no harm to the clubs reputation.
9. Cash Flow forecast:
9.1 Bishop United needs to keep control of its working capital. It is vital to know what money is owed, what money is due and what the cash flow position is. It is essential to control this aspect of the club if it is to succeed. Among this document you will find an estimated Cash Flow Forecast which will hopefully take shape a the beginning on April
