Administration Officer's Report
(1998/99 Season)
Much has been achieved during the past twelve months both at school and club level by the EFA, Charitable Trust and the Rugby and Eton Fives Coaching Agency (REFCA). My job as Administration Officer has been to oil the wheels and to assist the smooth running of the various initiatives as the EFA Board take a more pro -active and leading role in pursuance of the game that we all hold so dear.
Success
A successful inaugural Schools ‘Fives’ Tournament was held at Rossall School with all Handball Codes represented including teams from Ireland and Wales; Eton and Rugby Fives schoolboys took part in the European One Wall Handball Championships in Ireland; City of London School played Fives again at Westminster after a lapse of some twelve years; St Johns Leatherhead is considering the viability of turning two of their courts into Eton Fives courts; Orwell Park Preparatory School have launched an appeal to build a court; and Sevenoaks School has taken up the sport utilising the St Olave’s Courts at Orpington.
Uppingham Courts Saved
Loss of the four courts at Uppingham has been avoided after strong representations to the School and Planning Authorities by Old Uppinghamians, the EFA, REFCA and others. We are very grateful that the Headmaster has agreed to refurbish the courts and with the assistance of the EFA and Charitable Trust to allow the placement of a REFCA coach in the year 2000. My sincere thanks to those members who took the time and trouble to write the necessary letters in support of the retention of the courts.
Survival of Game at Two Schools
Successful meetings with the Headmasters of Marlborough College and High Wycombe Royal Grammar School have ensured the survival of the game at the two schools. Marlborough College has agreed to refurbish both the Eton and Rugby Fives courts (four of each code) in time for the millennium year and permission granted to REFCA to organise a Summer Ball by way of celebration. High Wycombe is to employ the services of a REFCA coach from the start of the new season in September 1999.
On the down side the Westway project has been delayed; the new courts at Cambridge are still several years away; and with the change in Headmaster and Bursar at Wrekin College the re-introduction of Fives is on hold. There is also little movement to report on the plans to re-introduce the game at March Comprehensive and Dover College.
Membership
Support from members for the ‘revamped’ Kinnaird was most heartening as was the response to transfer to ‘Company’ membership. The membership drive continues at a pace with some fifty new members joining the EFA in the past twelve months, including three clubs, the Old Aldenhamians, Old Cranleighans and London Universities. School leavers, where known, receive a copy of the Annual Report and are invited to join the EFA. Rossall, Sevenoaks, High Wycombe Royal Grammar and Geelong are to be found in the Schools listing for the first time and the game is once again flourishing at Cranleigh, Emanuel, Mill Hill, Lancing College, the Leys and Stowe. Friends of the EFA, many of whom provide financial support, continue to increase.
Results
I have managed to get most of the tournament results into the Times and Telegraph, usually on a Wednesday or Thursday, as success is more likely mid-week. Having taken over responsibility for the EFA website (www.etonfives.co.uk) my intention is to also publish in the future monthly tournament results, league results and items of general interest on the web.
Meetings attended included the launch of ‘Girls in Sport Partnership’ - a joint initiative by Nike UK and the Youth Sport Trust to further girls in sport and Millennium Festival Awards - an insight into small grants. I was hopeful that Fives Clubs and Schools could benefit from small grants but unfortunately the criteria and in particular the requirement to be claimed by the users; to benefit the local community; to possess annual accounts and a bank account; and to be outside the School curriculum mitigated against use of the scheme. This was confirmed to me by the Sports Council.
Future Action
Administration action for the future is to:
- complete the transfer of the membership to the ‘Company’
- increase membership
- compile a welcome pack for new members
- compile a new ‘Fives’ profile
- provide monthly updates to the EFA website
- obtain sponsorship
Thanks
Once again I am most grateful to all club secretaries, masters-in-charge, fellow Directors, Howard Wiseman and others who have provided such invaluable support during the past twelve months
Mike Fenn
Constructed by Mike Fenn
19 June 2001
efa@etonfives.co.uk