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This category is for the newsletter posts – as these are automatically emailed out to mailing list subscribers, it should only be used for important announcements and updates.

Update on 2023 Season Section formation etc

By on 14th April 2023 in Committee Meetings, Competition News, Newsletter, Summer League Reports

Since Registration Night there has been a few additional teams registered bringing the total number of teams registered to 52 an increase of 4 from 2022. Whilst this is great because our prime objective is always to grow both the number of teams and individuals playing our game as possible. 52 represents a not insignificant growth in numbers when you consider the challenges that pubs and clubs and their customers (us!) face in these difficult economic times.

The increase in numbers has, though,   presented us with a dilemma, but in keeping with our desire to have as many teams as possible playing we have decided to add an extra section this season. This means that there will be 10 teams in the Premier/A section and in the B section with 8 teams in Sections C,D,E, and F. This means that instead of 18 matches in these sections there will be only 14 with 4 byes in each.

It’s worth reminding all teams that positioning in sections is, as it has been for several years, based on the aggregate score of the top 8 players from the previous season assuming they have registered again for 2023. In a few cases some teams and some players did not play in 2022, so where appropriate averages from their last full season (2019) has been taken into account. This process means that some teams may find themselves in a higher or lower section this year than last and this is simply because either their average determines that or because their registered players have changed. The handicap system used for the Premier and A section is based on exactly the same principles. 

On the positive side, for those sections with less teams  we have been able to arrange  the sections so that they free up 2 teams from each section each week which will give the opportunity to either arrange friendlies or even an informal “supplementary league” with teams from across 4 sections having the opportunity to play each other. We will have to sort out how best that is organised a bit later, it will probably need to be sorted by the teams affected, but it does give the opportunity for all teams to play 18 games and every week over the season if they want to..

As a result of these considerations the production of the fixtures etc has been slightly delayed, but all of the details will be with you by the end of April. The  league season proper starts on May 10th with the 1st round of the team 8’s knockout handicap competition scheduled for the week earlier May 3rd and the draw for those games will be published on the website and to the respective teams in the next few days.

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Winter League Finals TONIGHT!

By on 12th April 2023 in A Chairmans musings, Newsletter

Its the Finals Night for the Winter League tonight at Abingdon United FC so pop along to see some good games fingers crossed.

The Summer is coming and hopefully by May we’ll get rid of these heavy April showers which aren’t good for anyone’s doll score!

We’ve done the 8s draw and had 12 teams entered – fixtures will be published this week online ready for the preliminary matches on 3rd May.

The final summer sections will be at the printers soon and distributed as soon as we can, ready for the league start on 10th May.

Further details will be coming soon! 

 

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Changes and vacancies on the League Committee

By on 16th March 2023 in Committee Meetings, Newsletter

Earlier this week our Chairman, Reg Couch decided to stand down after 4 years in the role. Reg took over as Chairman back in 2019 and before that had held the role of Vice Chairman.

We thank Reg for his past service to the Association in his various capacities. Reg has also  been one of our longest serving players, playing most recently for The Fox at Denchworth in what has been very much a family affair with his wife and son playing alongside him, together with their good friends, Vic and Pauline Pratt.

Unfortunately it looks like Fox B are not going to have sufficient players to form a side this coming season so Reg may be available for “transfer”, at this stage I don’t know whether a fee will be required! No doubt sides based around Grove and Wantage looking for more players could be interested!

Reg’s resignation leaves a gap on the Committee so if anyone is interested and is willing to be co-opted please make contact with any of the Committee formally or informally. It’s not too onerous a job half a dozen or so  Committee meetings over 12 months, support for the Competition days (2), and being present on Finals night and  the Annual Presentation Awards Night at the end of the season.

No money is involved, all Committee roles are entirely voluntary and all decisions made by the Committee are intended to be non controversial and in the best interests of all members of the league and all of  the people who play our game.

As a result of Reg’s resignation Paul Stone has been asked, by the Committee,  to take the Chair for 2023. Paul has accepted that role and we are confident that having Paul back on the Committee and now taking on the role of Chairman will be a real plus for the League going forward.

Once again on behalf of the League our  thanks and best wishes to Reg and a warm welcome to the Chair Paul!

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2023 AGM Update summary

By on 8th February 2023 in Committee Meetings, Newsletter

For those who couldn’t make the recent 2023 Annual general Meeting here is a summary of all of the key points discussed and agreed at the very well attended meeting held at the Croft bar on Monday 23rd January.

  • League entrance fees will increase for 2023 from £40 to £45 per team with up to 15 players registered per team. ( This effectively represents the same cost as pre Covid years when the team registration was £30 plus £1 per registered player)
  • The existing Committee were re-elected with the very welcome additions of  Paul Stone and Anton Wooloff both agreeing to return to the Committee. They are very welcome!!
  • A new (re-instated) position of Honorary President was proposed and agreed of and a suitable incumbent will be nominated and appointed by the Committee
  • The discussion over start times for matches was interesting but the proposal to compromise on our long established start time of 8.30 and the 2022 amended  start time of 8 pm led to an agreement that the 2023 preferred start time will be 8.15 pm 
  • Competitions other than the 8’s will again be held on Sundays as in 2022, but with the 3’s, 4’s and 5’s to be held on one day and the Pairs, Singles, Captains and Secretaries being held on a later date. full details and dates to follow.
  • The season will kick off on Wednesday 3rd of May with the first round of the 8’s and the league proper will start on the following Wednesday, the 10th.
  • The online registration of match cards which worked very well in 2022 will be retained.
  • The option (in the lower section/s) of playing with a minimum of 6 players per side will be retained as an option for 2023 season
  • Registration Night will take place on Monday March 20th at Abingdon Conservative Club for both the league and the Team 8’s Competition. Details will be on the website with registration forms soon 
  • The entry date and for the remaining Competition’s will be agreed and confirmed later.
  •  An effort will be made to recruit and attract more teams and players of all ages and gender for 2023 to enable us to increase our numbers above the 48 teams entered in 2022. We need  to  focus on both former and new pubs and clubs throughout the area and the benefits of having 16+ people spending money in  their bar every Wednesday or every other Wednesday for 18 weeks of the Summer.
  • Thames Cables have kindly agreed to continue as League sponsors for 2023 and have asked that their sponsorship should include some increased  focus (and benefits) on the lower sections.
  • It was proposed that we seek to build on the history of our Association first documented by our founder the late Basil Collins who documented the first 30 years of the Association. So we are seeking a volunteer(s) 

I think that’s about it. It was a very well attended (19 teams represented) meeting with good discussion on a range of topics that impact our game and all of  the teams and people who play it. 

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History: 1990 to 2020 the next 30 years….

By on 24th January 2023 in Newsletter, Special Events

This Abingdon and District Aunt Sally Association was founded in 1960 by Basil Collins and collegaues. Basil sadly is no longer with us but when he retired from the league in 1990 he wrote a document cataloging the League in the first 30 years. A reproduced copy is available in the History section on the website.

At the AGM this week Roger Nichols suggested that we should collate the ‘next 30 years’ so we are looking for any historical artifacts you may have to get us started. If you want to volunteer to help please do!

We already have a few photographs in the Photos section but we are lacking a complete set of Finals Night programmes since 1991 and any other stories or newspaper articles that we can summarise and form ‘The Second 30 Years’ booklet. 

Check out the The History Books in the Photos section as well. 

Contact any member of the Committee if you’ve got any:-

  • Old photos
  • Old programmes
  • Old final league tables/scorecards (with important events like this one)
  • Any stories or anecdotes about the game, whether about the weather or great players past, passed and present.

Alternatively login and leave a comment and we’ll be in touch.

 

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2023 Annual General Meeting Date correction and change of venue

By on 11th January 2023 in Committee Meetings, Newsletter

The 2023 AGM will be held on MONDAY JANUARY 23rd not as I mistakenly previously posted JANUARY 29th which is, in fact, a Sunday not a Monday as previously stated! I was obviously suffering with the excesses of Christmas and New Year when posting the date last week!

 

There is however a change of venue as Abingdon United can’t host us on a Monday as they have both Darts and Boxing every week utilising both bars at United.

The meeting will now take place at The Croft Bar in Peachcroft commencing at 8pm. There’s plenty of car parking adjacent to the Croft.

 

Any items to be raised at the AGM either for discussion or to  propose changes to the rules will be discussed at the meeting and every club/team registered for the 2022 season is entitled to 1 vote each in the event of any voting necessary on the day.

 

I would remind everyone that through 2022 we had only 4 serving Committee members and that’s just not enough resources  to maintain the league to the standard needed. So any volunteers will be welcomed with open arms, but will be subject to both a nomination and election process on the night.

Full details of the Agenda will be sent to Secretaries and Captains early next week and we really want all 48 teams entered last year to have the opportunity of making their contribution to the way the league is organised and administered going forward.

 

 

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Wishing all Abingdon & District teams a Happy, Healthy and successful 2023

By on 29th December 2022 in Newsletter

Well another year is almost over and it is has been a year when many of us have got back in the routine of a Summer of Aunt Sally.

48 teams entered the League in 2022 making it a successful season for the league  after an absence of 2 years due to Covid restrictions.

We can now all look forward to the Summer of 2023 and hope we can continue, not only to welcome back all of the teams that played last Summer, but also look to recruit more teams to get us back near to our pre Covid entries of 60 teams.

The first step on the journey to Summer 2023 will take place on Monday January 29th when we hold our 2023 Annual General Meeting at Abingdon United FC starting at 8pm, hopefully representatives from all teams old and new will be represented and an Agenda will be published ahead of the meeting.

If anyone has any issues to raise  please feel free to raise them in advance or at the meeting, any proposed rule changes will be discussed at the meeting, but if you would like to submit any proposed changes, preferably at least 7 days prior to the actual meeting. Any proposed rule changes from the Committee will be included with the agenda.

We know there are some  lessons to learn from the previous 62 seasons and particularly from 1 or 2 of those changes introduced in 2022  which were designed to get us “back in the game”. 

Mentioning the Committee brings me to our lack of numbers. Last year we functioned with only 4 Committee members, we survived, but it was hard work so a few new willing volunteers would be enthusiastically welcomed! It really isn’t too onerous either in terms of effort or time and it will take pressure of the 4 existing members assuming of course they all elect to stand again and are re-elected!

So the Committee would like to wish all teams, players, supporters and our many long  suffering partners the very best of health and happiness for 2023 and look forward to welcoming you back in May for our 63rd year!

 

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