Award Winning Football InThrapston... continues

From Ken Knox, Chairman, 2010-11

Firstly, I would like to thank the previous Chair, Martin Glynn, for the excellent work he has put in to pass on a much healthier club to me than the one which he inherited. I intend to continue to build on that solid foundation in the coming year. Fortunately for the club, Martin will be staying on the committee and will continue to be the main TTJFC figurehead in our excellent relationship with Northamptonshire FA. Also stepping back slightly from the coal face is Danny Jelliman, who is standing down as Child Protection Officer. I would like to thank Danny for all his past efforts and for his commitment to a smooth handover to his successor.

The football, administrative and financial aspects of the club are already exceptionally well run thanks to the considerable efforts of Paul Hayes (Secretary), Edgard Kochuijt (Treasurer), Chris Searle (Fixtures Secretary & Webmaster) and James Boon (Kit Ordering). I am delighted that all four have agreed to continue in those roles for the coming season, and equally delighted to welcome Dave Ward (Vice-chair) and Keith Andrews (Child Protection Officer) to senior roles within the club.

All these guys, and many others, put a significant amount of time and effort into the club and the primary focus of Dave and myself over the next few months will be to introduce new processes and procedures, mainly around collection of training fees and ordering of kit, to allow Edgard and James to see a little more of their families. Chris is also working hard to introduce on-line administration and Club to Player communication to simplify life for the Managers and Coaches, and allow them to spend more time doing what they joined the club to do – coaching and encouraging our children to play better football.

We have 10 teams registered in the Weetabix league for the coming season from under-7 to under-16 which equates to 150+ registered players. We also have a large number of younger children involved in our Saturday morning clinic at Chancery Lane. If you add in all the parents, guardians, siblings and grandparents who come along regularly to support the kids, TTJFC affects the lives of over 500 people in the Thrapston area on a weekly basis. We are a large community in our own right and must continue to play a significant role in the wider local community. In the last 12 months we have had a presence at The King John School Fete, Thrapston Charter Fair and The Brigstock Beer Festival  as well as a Halloween Party, Managers & Coaches Social Evening and a Quiz night. Add to that our Presentation Day and the hugely successful Summer Tournament. We plan to do it all again (and more) in the next 12 months, so please give us all the support you can. Planning is already underway for this year’s Halloween Party (Saturday 30th October at Thrapston Sports Club), and the Brigstock Beer Festival (Saturday 18th September at Brigstock Village Hall) so keep an eye on the website for details of those and other events.

I hope the players all have a great summer break from school and when they return are looking forward to their first league game on 11th or 12th September.

Good luck to all for the 2010/11 season.