Post by Marky on Mar 11, 2005 15:14:01 GMT
Minutes from WESTA monthly meeting – February 2005
Attendance: Jim Brown, Tam Coyle, Gerry Brady, Glenn Hays, Mark Adams, Hamish Husband, Tommy Madden and 44 others.
Apologies: Greg Fisher.
JB said his hello’s to all in attendance and explained agenda of February meeting including a talk from special guest Jackie McNamara Snr.
No Secretaries report. GH went through minutes from January’s AGM/Burns Supper.
MA went on to discuss the Travel Convenors Report in GF’s absence.
During previous months meeting GF had requested from the members anyone wishing to book accommodation for Milan then he would be happy to do for them so but no one had been in contact with GF since Januarys AGM.
MA then went through the travel arrangements for Belarus saying that flights have been booked for Riga on the Monday, staying over in Riga the evening before then setting off by coach to Minsk on the Tuesday. MA also went through the early details for this year’s trip to St Galmier (St Galmier looking to come over to us for Italy game). MA stated that it would take place in the first weekend in July, with flights looking to be booked as soon as possible. Cost at moment is coming in at £80 return and MA wants details for those wishing to go by end of March/early April. MA welcomed any queries but would book flights for everyone, requiring a £20 deposit prior to doing so.
TC went through details from the recent ATAC meeting minutes.
TC talked about the forthcoming football fixtures between each TA both in 11-a-side and 7-a-side formats. 11’s are still to be decided as prelim game that will decide WESTA’s next opponents has still to be played. It was also confirmed that this years 7’s will be hosted by ETA at Tyne castle Football ground but not on the initial date of early July, with several TA’s stating this would not suit and therefore event hopefully go ahead on 25th June.
TC let all know of proposed cheap hotel deals for TA through one of the fellow ATAC members, details are still to be confirmed but will update as and when.
It was disclosed that the up coming Italy game in March will have the TA in a safer area in the San Siro, taking up a section of the ground including an upper tier therefore ensuring a better ‘experience’ of the game compared to that of the Welsh. On a similar subject it was revealed that the good behaviour of Scotland fans abroad and not through just Celtic’s recent Champions League game in Milan had ensured a larger amount of tickets released by the Italian FA. ATAC felt that the recent newspaper article took away the previous years of reputation building by all Scottish fans abroad……….everywhere. Finally on the Italy subject, the ATAC meeting produced an early costing for the World Cup qualifier’s ticket prices, with prices apparently no more than 15 euros.
A good response was echoed by all ATAC clubs regarding the ‘new’ SSC launch.
On a final ATAC note, TC read out a number of Scottish footballs DVD’s that were now on sale which also included the Abi Titmuss and Paris Hilton ‘game’?! All DVD’s can be bought for £5.
Following TC discussing the ATAC minutes, Andrew Gibson went through the chair to ask if the WESTA members had been asked if any questions were put to TC prior to the last ATAC meeting. TC replied that it was indeed put to the floor with no one coming forward with any suggestions but JB followed this by suggesting that any questions for the next ATAC meeting on April 12th should be given to TC in good time.
· JB further went through the proposition of minutes being placed on the website for members to see.
Initial thoughts at AGM meeting was that as club we shouldn’t be putting full minutes onto a public website even though the majority of those present stated they had email/internet access. Although there was arguments put forward for minutes to be placed on the website it was finally agreed by the majority present that an abbreviated version would keep most happy. Minutes were also asked to be communicated out to all members better. A list was circulated to ask everyone there preferred option – email or post.
· JB talked about the Greenfield Primary School and their request for funding.
A couple of members had approached the committee looking for possible funds to help towards Greenfield Primary School’s football kit and apparatus. Although JB stated as a club we wouldn’t be putting our name forward as a sponsor we would propose an alternative. MA suggested that as he will be running a half marathon he would use the primary school as his ‘main charity’, donating all sponsorships raised from WESTA members. JB told MA that if he beat his set time of 1hr 48mins he would donate £50 towards the final total. Andrew Gibson also followed up with the same offer. Both were greatly welcomed by all members present.
· GH went through the latest news on the WESTA football team.
Last month the WESTA football team entered two teams into the 5-a-side tournament down in Ayr which was organised by Shoot Soccer Ayr to mark the first anniversary of the passing of Ally McLeod. Both teams did well, with WESTA A (consisting mainly of the ‘older’ players) getting to the quarter finals and WESTA B (consisting the ‘younger’ players) going one step further and getting to the semi-finals. A good day out, enjoyed by all except Neil Harper who bravely saved a shot and broke his wrist in the process. WESTA were the only TA club present and the tournament looks likely to become an annual event.
GH went through the details that TC had previously mentioned of the where things stood at present concerning both 11-a-side and 7-a-side tournaments. The 11-a-side prelim match between Perth TA and Prestonpans TA was cancelled and therefore we don’t know yet who we will be playing in the next round. Whoever we play in the next round the winner will go through to either meet Rampant Lions, ABTA or TAMB. With WESTA pulling out of the running to host the 2005 7-a-side tournament, ETA will now be holding this year’s event through in Edinburgh. A date has still to be agreed as ETA want to play it on the first weekend in July but this does not suit the majority of TA clubs, with WESTA members being away in St Galmier during that date. TC will find out in due course from ATAC if the date of June 25th will be confirmed as WESTA feel this should be enforced as past tournaments took part during the end of June.
Finally GH explained to the members that he will be approaching Eddie for funding and sponsorship for a new set of strips for the football team. MA supplied GH with details of a company who can produce a high quality strip for us at a minimal cost, roughly around the £250 mark.
Guest Speaker
After meeting had closed, guest speaker Jackie McNamara Snr had joined those present to give a talk on his football career and what he is doing a present within the game. JMc Snr went through his time with Hibs and Celtic, freely answering questions from the floor as well as stating that the greatest player he had played beside and against was Kenny Dalglish. He also said that he enjoyed his time travelling with the fellow Scotland fans like ourselves. Jackie also went on to talk about his feelings about the way the game is being run at the moment, venting that football has now become a game for ‘entrepreneurs’ with business taking over from the game. His said that his involvement with the Tony Higgins and Fraser Wishart at Players Union highlighted this even more.
JB thanked JMc Snr for taking time out time to come along and speak to us, following this up by presenting him with a bottle of whisky from the WESTA members to show their appreciation for doing so.
· Next meeting is on March 20th (brought forward due to Italy game the following week)