Abergavenny Hockey Club Committee Meeting - Monday 6th October 2025, Llanfoist Village Hall 19:30
Agenda:
Attendees:
Apologies:
1. Website
Possible issues with first contact. We’ve had reports of prospective members making enquiries but getting no response. Only Elinor and Annabel have access to email to our knowledge. Elinor’s been tracking the juniors email inbox and making changes to the website to keep up with training time changes.
(Elinor) ACTION: Elinor will give Street and Bryony access to make sure we have more eyes on potential incoming player enquiries.
(Elinor) FOLLOW UP ACTION: Elinor to please update Ladies Training to Tuesday evenings 20:00-21:30 at Monmouth Leisure Centre.
2. Chair’s Update
Geraint extended his thanks to the committee for rallying together in difficult circumstances, most notably the situation with Crickhowell High School Floodlights.
Geraint has sensed some resulting tension in the committee, taking a moment to remind everyone that we’re in this together, we are friends and colleagues trying to pull us in the same direction.
Geraint put forth the philosophy that Club Membership should mean more than just playing, but also contributing in other acts of service/volunteering. A lot of work ends up falling with the very few who then become prone to burnout. Geraint suggested that it would be prudent to discuss a way to better communicate and encourage wider participation from club members to support it.
Geraint highlighted that the disciplinary process, constitution and other procedures need updating. to move the principle of “Service to the club” built into the constitution. The Chair suggested bringing back Luke Rees to the committee with a focus on rewriting the constitution and policies. There are two unfilled positions: Vice President and 2nd XI Captain. Vice President seems like the correct position.
In light of a recent potential disciplinary issue, it was agreed that this matter had been dealt with for now. It was agreed that in the future, disciplinary incidents should be documented but not in committee minutes for privacy reasons, but to ensure that future committees have a record. There was suggestion of a green, yellow, red system to categorise the nature of disciplinary offences. This has data privacy/GDPR implications, as does holding data on the membership as a whole, which will need to be properly assessed and considered before moving forward with any policies in this regard.
Examples of actions to be taken in regards to the aforementioned policies, procedures included:
It’s noted that the minutes of meetings should be uploaded to the shared google drive so that Elinor can upload into the members area of the website.
(Street) ACTION: Street to upload this week’s minutes into the Google Drive.
(Annabel) ACTION: Annabel to upload previous minutes to Google Drive.
(Elinor) ACTION: Elinor to upload previous minutes to website members area once the committee accepts that they are an accurate and fair reflection of the meeting (usually agreed in the subsequent committee meeting).
3. Umpires
It was noted that whilst great efforts were made last season to drive the upskilling and qualification of umpires, it was not without it challenges, namely ownership of driving the initiative.
Charlie will continue to act as Umpire Co-ordinator as well as formally leading the “Umpiring Upskilling Programme” with the full support of the committee.
It was agreed that the identification and encouragement of potential umpires should not be left to the captains alone but to be a more collective and deliberate effort, with a positive charm offensive, as opposed to the “stick” , “guilt” or “obligation” approach.
It was noted that due to the attendance numbers at training being lower and split across different nights and locations, that it will be more challenging to provided opportunities for umpire practice.
Captains will work with Charlie to best plan where possible, based on expected attendance and commitment of umpires to practice, even if it’s just small-sided games.
It was noted that there needs to be more support for umpiring the men’s games. It was also noted that future umpires need to just “do the thing” in order to get better - effectively real life practice is the best and only way to become better umpires.
4. Goalie Kits
There was discussion about whether the club would “purchase” Sharon’s Goalie Kit.
(Charlie) ACTION: Charlie to talk to Bryony and Sharon about this potential solution.
The Men’s Section will need a new goalie kit to support the addition of the Men’s 2nd XI Development Team. This hasn’t yet been actioned as it has not been clear who the regular goalkeepers will be. Ruan is using the current Men’s kit. There is the possibility of another younger keeper who has his own kit.
Resolved: The committee support the purchase of a new keeper kit and will await advisement from Street as to what and when, as the goalie situation becomes clearer. In the meantime, it might be prudent to purchase and new helmet with a lower chin guard for enhanced safety.
5. Equipment and Kit Orders
The club will need a refresh of equipment for the new season.
Resolved: The committee agreed to fund an order of training balls, match balls, refresh for all teams, masks/new first aid kit for men’s 2nd XI, etc
(Street/Hen/Bryony) ACTION: Street, Hen, Bryony to provide order to Joe this week.
(Joe) ACTION: Joe to compile a central order.
(Street/Bryony) ACTION: Street & Bryony to compile shirt/socks order to share with Annabel.
(Annabel) ACTION: Annabel to place order once above is received.
6. Treasurer’s Update
~£34,000 in account
Some outgoing expenses such as website, junior goalie kit, match teas.
Teas - £155 bill in gameweek two. Was a great success at the Old Nag’s Head. It was noted the only one opposition team in the Ladies league (Whitchurch) tend to provide match teas. In the men’s leagues, match teas are provided by all clubs.
Resolved: It’s something we’d like to continue to provide moving forward but will need to assess the costs once their kitchen is up and running.
Resolved: It was agreed to build a sustainable financial plan over the next few months to plan accordingly for the coming years.
7. Juniors Update
Training moved to Sundays 10:00-12:00. Lost a couple and gained a couple. Ultimately there may be some unplanned advantages of it. There will be alternate inter-club games/tournaments every other week.
It’s been decided to fold both U16s teams due to lack of numbers/commitment - numbers are there for girls but not enough commitment for the actual matches. Boys just don’t have enough bodies to make up an 11.
It was noted that with County training on a Friday and U14/U16 tournaments on Sundays, it’s impacting commitment to senior games.
It was noted that it is the policy of the club to encourage senior participation once eligible at the correct pace for the individual between the players, parents, coaches, captains involved.
It was noted that a significant number of juniors both boys/girls made their debuts for the seniors in game week one. Summer hockey was instrumental in their development to get them ready for senior hockey. Thanks was paid to Elinor and Street for driving this and to everyone who supported this endeavour through participation, enthusiasm and mentoring.
Resolved: Agreement co-ordinate more deliberately between Seniors and Juniors to find gaps in the Senior match weekends for more substantial junior tournaments, if possible
8. Training Pitch Arrangements
The Men’s Section are currently training as follows:
The Ladies were training on Wednesdays at Monmouth Leisure Centre as a temporary arrangement - the options moving forward are Monday/Tuesday/Thursday.
The Juniors have moved to Sunday 10:00 - 12:00.
Resolved: It was agreed that we should assume there will be no sustainable resolution to the situation at Crickhowell High School and the current arrangements should be assumed to stand for this season, certainly at least in regards to the senior section.
Resolved Post Meeting: That the ladies will train on Tuesdays at Monmouth Leisure Centre at the same time as the men.
9. Christmas & EOSD Dinner
Proposed dates (as per last meeting):
29th November 2025 - Christmas Dinner/Social at Portico Lounge
16th May 2025 - EOSD at Kings Arms
(Charlie) ACTION: Charlie will enquire to book the above dates and venues.
10. AOB:
Geraint proposed bringing Luke Rees back onto the committee in the position of Vice-President with the targeted remit of leading the rewriting of the constitution and policies of the club, with support from the committee, in particular from Geraint and Trevor.
Resolved: There were no objections to Geraint’s proposal to co-opt Luke Rees into the committee as Vice-President with the aforementioned remit.