Chairman’s Report 2024
I am pleased to present my report for the year 2023/2024.
Introduction
In keeping with last year, I would ask you to engage with our website, newsletter, and much improved social media presence. Via these channels you can learn all about our on-court activities and successes in Surrey and the South London boroughs over the last year. Click the links below to find out more:
surreysquash.co.uk > Newsletter sign up > Facebook > Instagram >
I believe we remain the pre-eminent county in the country in most aspects of our sport, from our junior programme and league participation through to our inter-county and national performance, and I am proud to be a small part of the county collective.
Chairman’s Statement: Keeping our own house in order
Following the anticipated continuing devolution to the county associations of operation and, now, functional responsibility by England Squash, it is imperative that we attract and retain the right resources to maintain and develop squash for the long-term and this remains our primary strategic focus.
People
Joe Lee
As mentioned in my statement last year, we decided to commit a material portion of available resources to appoint Joe Lee as our Head of Club Development and, during his short tenure with us, he was able to make some inroads with leisure centres and wider club engagement and in supporting new coaches. Part way through his contract, Joe was made an offer he couldn’t refuse, joining the newly invigorated Oakwood club, and I wish him all the best.
Luke Beedie
Buoyed up by Joe’s initial success, it was decided to fund a suitable replacement – albeit with a revised remit – and we were delighted to appoint Luke Beedie as, I believe, the country’s first full-time County Co-ordinator.
Luke has primary responsibility for our PR and marketing, and I’m sure you will have seen a considerable increase in activity on Facebook, and Instagram, promoting individual players, club events and Surrey Cup Division 1.
Alongside this, Luke is our primary communications and operational resource, working with Micheal Hennings (Head Coach) and Neil Frankland (Director of Squash) to develop and communicate exciting new initiatives in our junior programme.
Luke should be your primary point of contact for any queries regarding squash and racketball (Squash 57) in the county. You can contact Luke via the website here or via email at: [email protected]
As well as Joe’s departure, we bid a fond farewell to a number of county representatives this year:
Clare Wright
A former England Squash Coach of the Year, Clare, has been a huge presence in Surrey Squash for a number of years. Not just as a fine coach and, latterly, Girls’ Head Coach, but also as our erstwhile Communications Officer.
Clare really came to the fore during lockdown, instigating and promoting various remote activities to help build a sense of community during often lonely times. Clare has decided to move somewhere north of the Watford Gap and we wish her all the best.
Julie Chappell
Julie has decided to take a well-earned break from all things Surrey Squash and we wish her well.
Julie performed two key roles for the county, as both our primary liaison with the parents and guardians of our juniors and a key agitator with England Squash to secure the hosting of prestigious events, such as the Surrey Junior Gold. Her powers of persuasion will be sorely missed as will her tireless good humour when securing venues and sponsorship!
Kim Ricks
After more than 15 years with Surrey Squash as both committee member and county team representative, Kim has decided to step down.
Kim’s sage input at committee meetings and her championing of the women’s game will be missed.
Funding/finance
Income: £59,030 (£54,770)
Expenditure: £68,666 (£49,580)
Loss/gain: –£9,636 ( £5,190) (prior year in brackets)
Movement on investments: £8,546
Net loss: £1,090
Total funds on 30 April 2024: £241,305, of which cash £52,067
Although we were fortunate enough to benefit from a recovery in the investment market during the year, expenditure comfortably exceeds income, and this is set to continue for the current financial year.
Our primary source of income is from league and tournament entry fees and junior subscriptions, but this is not enough to fund all activities in the county.
As has been well-publicised, England Squash has moved to a model of direct collection of affiliation fees from individuals and a material side effect of this is that they will no longer be administering the collection of the county affiliation fee on our behalf.
We are, therefore, faced with the prospect of trying to invoice individuals and juniors without the administrative infrastructure and, potentially, the database available to England Squash. The only way that we can hope to reach as many individuals as possible is with the support of their clubs.
With this in mind, Neil, assisted by Luke, has devised a Surrey Squash membership programme, which offers material benefits to the individual and financial savings to their clubs.
Over the next several months, club officials will be approached so we can explain the benefits of the programme in detail and to gain support to contact their memberships directly.
I believe that it is imperative to our long-term financial survival that all clubs welcome and proactively support this initiative with their memberships.
Conclusion
Another exciting year, as we continue to strive for growth in our game, despite the well-documented challenges we face.
Huge congratulations to those who have excelled and achieved on court and a heartfelt thank you to those working hard behind the scenes; thank you trustees, committee members, volunteers and paid team members for your hard work, diligence and good humour.
I am pleased to report that we remain financially robust and, as such, are able to offer an unprecedented level of support and outreach to the county.
We must continue to find ways to generate meaningful revenue streams for the medium and long term to ensure our sport remains on an upward trajectory.
Thank you.
John Hughes
November 2024
