There was plenty to celebrate the Wroxham FC AGM held last Thursday. Chairman Lee Robson was re-elected to the role he has held for the past three seasons with able deputies Mark Wilkinson and Chris Green also re -elected. Ray Bales will continue in the secretary's berth and Steve Corey's excellent debut season as the treasurer was lauded throughout the evening. The Committee were returned en amsse with some notable members stepping down but retaining volunteer status. Alan Royalle and Vernon Feltham have finally called it a day with Alan serving in some capacity since the early 60s and Vernon putting in a similar stint. Both become life members.

The Chairman's report is outlined below in full.

On behalf of the board we are pleased to present the annual report and financial statements for the year ended 31 May 2020. Despite the early conclusion to the season, there were some memorable moments, including the run to the quarter finals of the FA Vase, which helped increase prize money from The Football Association, bar income and crowds, with the highest attendances for a single match for a decade at the FA Vase last sixteen round against Stowmarket Town of 1,041 and FA Vase quarter final against Bitton AFC of 978.

Congratulations to Jordan Southgate and the team on some fantastic performances.
The Club has also completed some major projects during the 2020 year end including the installation of a mobile telephone mast providing the Club with a significant one off payment which we put to good use by upgrading the Trafford Park floodlights to Light Emitting Diode (LED), aiding reliability and energy saving. This project was possible with funding support from The Football Stadia Improvement Fund and Suffolk County Council – Business Energy Efficiency Anglia, for which the board wish to record their thanks. Thanks too to Chris Green who worked tirelessly on the project.

In addition to the continuing hard work in operating and developing the Club, advances have been made over the season with the introduction of the Women’s team, the expansion of both the Junior and EJA section. In the past two years and going into the new season we will have increased our teams from 4 in 2017 to nineteen and players from around 60 to almost 400. In the summer we announced a move to develop female football with the new partnership with Bure Valley Football Club intended to further promote the female game in the Broadland and North Norfolk area.

I’m sure everyone will agree that the appearance and growth of the BLUE WAVE over the season has added to the match day experience and been a lot of fun!
In other news Garth Good has joined our academy taking over from Matt Halliday who has moved to a new job. Our thanks go to Matt for his great work over the years.

As a result of the horrific Coronavirus pandemic, there is considerable uncertainty, however we hope that the new season will commence in the autumn with early September being announced as a possible start date but not real clarity over whether that will be with or without spectators/supporters.

With the increased income from the 2020 year end, some smaller projects can be undertaken. It is however necessary to remain cautious before committing resources to new projects, with the short and longer term impact on future income for the Club being unpredictable. Some of these have already commenced with the re-levelling and re-seeding of the Trafford Park pitch, renovation of the dug outs and redecoration work. The clubhouse will also be COVID compliant, including protective measures to allow the clubhouse facilities to continue to operate safely.

As we grow and begin to be a really sustainable football club and community business we do need to make sure our organisation grows with us to sustain progress. We did not only increase our crew on the pitch but off it too. Our volunteer base is now approaching 70 people! At an average of 25 games per team this season Wroxham teams will fly the blue and white striped flag in almost 500 football games and arrange 800 training sessions in 10 venues. Not bad for a village of 1500 people!

In the coming months I will be bringing forward proposals to change the way we are set up and the way we operate with a proper board of directors and better links between all of the teams and activities. The proposal being considered is not that of shareholders but a Community Interest Company, where the members form part of the management structure and the Club operating for the benefit of the local community –a truly community owned football club.

In closing the board and I would like to record our thanks and appreciation to all of our volunteers for their hard work and continued support and to all the Wroxham Football Club fans and sponsors for their support and passion, without which the Club could not operate.

#AHOY!

Lee Robson
Chairman