NEWSLETTER - APRIL 2008

Dear Club Members

I know it has been a while since the last newsletter but we are now intending to have these sent out on a regular basis so, if you have anything that needs to be reported to the rest of the Club, please let the committee know.

New Website

Many of you will know that we have now gone high-tech with a new Youth website the address for the site is http://www.hempnallyouthfc.co.uk/, if you want to have a look at it. In future, the newsletter will be posted on the website along with all the weekly match reports and any information the Committee needs to pass on, such as fundraising events. You are also able to email any of the Committee members through the site and they will get back to you as soon as possible if required. Please feel free to tell them anything you wish to be included in the newsletter (e.g. football boots for sale).

Fundraising Activities

It is important that we continue to raise money to help pay for training equipment and improvements to the Clubhouse and the Fundraising Committee are busily thinking up fun ideas and ways to raise some cash.

Recent fundraising events included a Spiritual Evening and Bingo which raised a combined total of £500. Thanks to all who supported the events and those who helped.

Dates for your diary for forthcoming events are as follows:

Quiz Night with Supper at Hempnall Village Hall on 7^th June. Further details will be available soon so keep your eye on the website.

Jumble Sale - As it is now the Spring Cleaning Season a Jumble Sale is being planned for September at Talbot Park so if you have anything to donate please keep us in mind and save that jumble!

The Bonus Ball has been running for a few months now and has seen three winners, each receiving £25. There are still some balls available for the weekly draw at £1 per week. If you would like to take part please see one of the committee for an application form.

Tournament

Many of you will remember a couple of years ago we held a very successful 5-a-side Tournament and the Club is organising another for 2008. The event will be held on the weekend of 14^th & 15^th June so please keep this weekend free. What better way can you think of to spend Father’s Day?! Full details are available from the Team Managers and Committee Members and also on the website.

Fun Day & Awards Presentation

The annual Fun Day and Awards Presentation will be held at Talbot Park on Sunday, 6^th July. As in past years the children will be asked to nominate someone in their team for the Player’s Player of the Year and hopefully will choose for that person’s merits and not because they are their best friend. A voting slip has been added to the end of this letter. Please could the players write their nomination on the slip and hand it to their team manager so that trophies can be ordered. Hopefully everyone will be able to come and enjoy a family day out with a barbeque and bar and, with any luck, plenty of warm sunshine.

Leagues & Successes

We are nearly at the end of the season, although there are still a few games to be played for some of our teams due to recent wet weather call-offs. All our teams have again performed well this season even if some have not been as successful as they would have hoped at the start of the season.

The U15’s are topping their table with three games in hand at the time of writing, and well on their way to becoming league two winners. The U8’s, who were a new team at the beginning of the season and knew virtually nothing, have improved enormously. The U10 Girls, are also doing very well and are already halfway up the league table and the U13 boys have finished in mid table in league one, the first time a Hempnall team has been promoted to a top league and stayed there.

Finally well done to the U10A Boys who are third in league two with an outside chance of promotion and have reached the Shield Final at Emerald Park, Gorleston on Sunday 27th April kick off 1.30pm. It would be great to have lots of familiar faces there to cheer them on so if you are able to make we would love to see you there to support the club.

Clubhouse

Over the past few months you may have noticed that work has been going on in the Clubhouse. The plans are to have more changing rooms, a first aid room, kitchen and canteen area for the match day teas and coffees. Much of the work has been started by a few volunteers (usually the same old faces that also work on your committee) but we could really use some more help in order to finish the work as soon as possible. If you have any ‘skills’ you feel may be of some help to us, such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical, painting, or even tea-making, please would you let the Club Secretary, Andy Crowe, know (01508 530615). He will then contact you when dates are planned to put in a few hours’ work. The more help we can gather, the quicker the work can be completed and we can all enjoy the facilities.

This is all we have to tell you for the time being. Remember; keep looking at the Club website for further information on all items mentioned.

Name of Player Voted for-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Team: ----------------------------------------------------

Voted By: ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please vote for the player you think has played their very best and pass this slip to your team manager. Thank you for your vote.