The club was founded in 1992.  It started with a group of players arranging five a side sessions as a means of keeping fit, and then developed into organising eleven a side friendlies.  The club membership grew, as did veterans football nationally.  At the beginning of 1995/96 season the club joined the Umbro Veterans Cup tournament, and at the beginning of the 1997/98 season joined the West Midlands Friendly Veterans League.  Each season the club plays about 45 league, cup and friendly games.   The club is registered with Worcestershire Football Association, and abides by its rules.

PURPOSE OF THE CLUB

The interest which brings all club members together is the playing, watching and talking about football.  The club has developed in such a way that the social side of the club has become as important as the footballing side.  Attention is always given to ensuring that the right balance is maintained between preserving the social aspects and footballing ambitions of the club.

COMPETITIONS

The club is currently involved in the following football competitions;

·        West Midlands Friendly Veterans League and Cup competitions.

·        Over 50s League competition.

·        Friendly and Charity games.  The club has some regular friendly games against such teams as Droitwich High School Teachers and Islington Dynamo.  

Eleven a side home games are played at the Droitwich High School pitch, 11.00 am kick off time.  Five a side training sessions currently take place on Fridays 6.30 to 8.00pm at the Droitwich High School Gymnasium.

ORGANISATION OF THE CLUB

The club is run by a Management Committee.  The committee composition is Chairman, Treasurer, Deputy Treasurer, Eleven a side Managers, Five a Side Organiser, Fixtures Secretary, Social Secretary, Tour Organiser.

Members meet 2 or 3 times a year, the last meeting being the AGM at the end of the season, where the accounts are tabled, reports are submitted, decisions made, new members nominated, the new committee elected and awards given out. We are currently running 3 squads within the club which are Droitwich “A”, Droitwich Friendly Team and the Droitwich Over 50s.

INSURANCE AND LIABILITY

Individual members are responsible for arranging their own insurance cover.  The club does not provide any insurance cover for injuries or damage.

CLUB FINANCES

The club is financed through a 200 club scheme where numbers are purchased at £24 each from club members and others wishing to donate.  Monthly prizes are won and occasional donations are made to charities.  In addition, playing members pay a fee per game, and all other activities organised through the club are self financing.  Some equipment and football kit is sponsored by generous donations from club members.

NEW CLUB MEMBERS

New club members are nominated via an existing member, and their application for membership will be vetted by the current league team managers and the chairman.

The criteria used in considering the application and agreeing admission to the club are that new members are:

1) aged over 35

2) have football ability that will strengthen the league teams

3) they contribute positively to the life of the club, both in their attitude to football and social activities.

EXPECTATIONS OF MEMBERS

The following behaviour and attitudes are expected of club members;

·        That they conduct themselves on and off the field with consideration and regard for other players and club members.

·        That they are actively involved in the footballing and social aspects of club activities.  This means regular attendance and availability for club games and other club activities.

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

A number of social activities are organised during the course of the season, and it is the expectation that club members are involved in as many of these as possible.  These activities include;

·        Occasional day trips to watch football games.

·        Christmas meal, which includes wives and partners.

·        Gatherings for the FA Cup Final

·        European Tour.  This consists of a long weekend at the end of the season with one or two games of football against a European veterans side.  Previous visits have been to Germany, Holland and Ireland.

THE FUTURE OF THE CLUB

It is expected that the club will continue evolving and growing as the interest in veterans football grows.  There will continue to be a turnover of club membership, but it is hoped that the friendships formed will last a lifetime.

David Allan
Club Chairman

October 2005