Chairman's Report - will be in two parts and will be related in no particular order of occurrence or significance:

•  Off field achievements

•  On field achievements

Off Field Achievements

Working Relationship with the Croft Leisure Centre.

We have developed a much closer and in fact excellent working relationship with our facilitator [Croft Leisure Centre]. The Centre manager and assistant manager [Mike and Ray] are very supportive of the club and skater hockey in general [particularly Ray who is a former player] and have shown great interest in the club's progress and achievements throughout the past two seasons.

Sport England Lottery Grant

This will be covered in Dave Gardner's Report but I would like to make one or two comments. We have reported back to Sport England informing them of the progress we have made over the past year and they are pleased with our report. Furthermore, they have "signed off" our grant and wished us well for the future. We no longer have to report back to them. The club will be eligible to submit a further grant application in 2003.

Club Web Site

There have been exciting developments this year one of which was the re-launch of the club web site, which is not only very impressive but also very informative. If you haven't visited the site yet let me commend it to you. [www.swindonflames.com]. My thanks go to Dave Morton and Les Satchell for a splendid piece of work.

Equipment Purchased

Beginners group is now well stocked. A number of storage units have been purchased to house the equipment at the centre rather than in Sandra's home for which I am sure is greatly relieved. An additional and larger notice board has been purchased which I am pleased to see is always very well covered. Two sets of balls have been purchased for use during training sessions. Canopies have been purchased to form part of the outdoor benches [I will cover this again under the Croft Centre Development.

G W R Xmas Appeal Grant

We applied for and received the maximum grant available, [£500]. This grant was used for; training of the European Youth Squad, the purchase of one white helmet and the purchase of seventeen "jackets" for use by all the teams in the club.

Additional Insurance

This was taken out by the club to ensure our storage units, their contents, our trophy cabinets, their contents and our beginners/minnow groups, some non Bisha sanctioned friendlies and some adult officials in the club

Croft Centre Development

We have been working closely with the Croft Centre Management Team.
Our short-term aim is to use the Croft as a venue for matches.
Our medium term aim is to have the Croft recognised as a Centre of Excellence for skater Hockey. Work is taking place with the Centre and the Lifestyle Unit in Swindon. Bisha will also be involved.

Work is continuing on the preparation of the bench areas and the canopies have been purchased. All this work has been agreed with the Croft and the local authority safety officials.

Meeting with Central Government Officials

Earlier in the year I was invited by the Croft Centre to attend a meeting on their behalf as Chairman of one of their major users, with one of the Government's "think tanks", the Audit Commission. This gave the opportunity to promote the club, skater hockey in general, try and obtain more hours at the Croft Centre and to introduce the concept of a Centre of Excellence at the Croft. Their views will be reported back to our local authority and ultimately the Croft Centre.

LA Courses attended by officials of the club.

Earlier this year I attended along with Les, Maggie, Anita, Drew and Dave Morton a course organised by the Lifestyle Unit, concerning Child Protection. This is a very valuable course and I recommend that all officials of the club should attend this course at least every two years.

Players codes of conduct

These were formally introduced this year and sent out an important message as to how the players were expected to conduct themselves.

Improving relationships with neighboring clubs

NW Vikings:
Relations have not always been good but we have worked very hard this year particularly at Junior and Youth levels to build bridges [with a great deal of success].
E.G. Our Juniors invited to play in Folkestone.
E.G. Their Juniors invited to play in Lugano.
E.G. Our Youth invited to play in Basildon.

Forest Flyers:
E.G. Our Juniors invited to play in a puck hockey tournament in Wales [and they were very instrumental in helping the Flyers win the competition].

Publicity Campaign

Vigorous campaign earlier in the yea to attract new players to the club. E.G. posters, articles in press/national magazines, web site, newsletters and net working.

Looking ahead

New campaign about to be launched ready for the new season. One suggestion is that the successes in the national and European championships should be used as a springboard for this campaign.

We have recently signed up to the Lifestyle Unit's local sports development scheme and featured in their launch of that particular initiative.

Lugano 2001 & 2002

The amount of work that went into organising last year's and this year's event was substantial. I would like to thank everyone that helped make these arrangements and contributed to the outstanding success of both trips.

I have requested that a place be reserved in the Youth tournament and Junior tournament in August 2003.

Presentation Night

Date for your diaries; 6 December at Highworth Rec.

On Field Achievements

On Field Achievements

• GB recognition, SW of England recognition & Dream Team recognition
  A number of our players in all age groups have been recognised for outstanding achievements at all levels.
  Too many [which is very significant to our club] to mention now and besides I don't want to steal any of our managers and players glory from the presentation night.

• Officials successfully qualifying as referees [Congratulations to Dave, Derrick and Phil].

• Consistently the best club in the South West of England.

• All age categories performing with distinction.

Lugano Tournament

• Excellent competition with both Youth and Junior teams performing with distinction.

National Championships

• Youth Team runners up last year. The club's best ever result.

European Championships

• Last Year's Youth Team finishing runners up in Europe. What an achievement!

Recent Bisha SW Meeting (on Next Season)

• Myself Phil and Nat represented our club's views on what we hoped for next season. Meeting two days later with the Southern teams; very different needs.

• Bisha National met last Saturday (12 Nov) no decision on next year yet. Will meet again next month.

Drew Chapman

One of the first duties of the new Committee will probably be to consider the vacant position of Coach. On Thursday I received a copy of Drew's resignation [in a moment I will ask Phil Costigan to read it to you]. Meanwhile, I would like to thank Drew for his services to the club over the past year. During that time he has helped to develop still further the hockey skills of many of our club's players.

Personal "Thank Yous"

I would like to single out one or two individuals for particular praise;

Kevin Osman

Has worked tirelessly on behalf of the club and in particular his team over a number of years. I think after his team's success in Britain and Europe over the past 12 months, he can rightly be acclaimed the most successful manager in the club's history.

Sandra Lewis

Has worked tirelessly on behalf of the club's Beginners Group over a number of years. Her devotion is all the more remarkable as she doesn't have a child in that group.

Sue Oldland

Very impressive first year as an official of our Youth Reds team. Has promoted her team at every opportunity, typified by the excellent mini club days with Mark at Gloucester Boxers.

My Fellow Committee Members [who have worked tirelessly on the club's behalf]

We have worked very hard for the enrichment of this club. I would like to thank all of them for their support, enthusiasm and commitment.

And Finally,

I have enjoyed my 15 months as Chairman of this club and I truly believe that this Committee leave it in a healthier condition both on and off the pitch and in a secure financial position.

John Hughes.