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Story courtesy of
Gresley Rovers received just over £28,000 as their share of last season’s FA Vase final takings.
The windfall crowned what chairman Peter Hall described at last night’s annual meeting as “one of the finest seasons Gresley have ever had.”Around 50 club members considered a statement of accounts that revealed Rovers’ profit for the year ended May 31st 1991, amounted to £31,641 – compared to a loss of £1,636 the previous year.
Income from matches increased from £13,163 to £50,947 – thanks to Rovers’ unprecedented success, winning the West Midlands League and the Derbyshire Senior Cup and reaching the FA Vase final.
And Rovers even managed to reduce their players’ wages and expenses bill by almost £3,000 to £21,800.
The club was forced to reorganise midway through the season when secretary/treasurer Peter Jenkinson resigned, with chairman Hall last night revealing officially for the first time the text of Jenkinson’s resignation, which cited a desire “to spend more time with the wife, who has given me so much support over the years.”
Jenkinson did not attend last night’s meeting, leaving the chairman to fend off a series of minor queries and the meeting to accept the accounts “as read”.
Hall went on to thank Jenkinson for his long service to the club and to congratulate remaining committee men for their “tremendous efforts” during last season.
He also congratulated the players and management on their achievements and the club’s supporters – “fantastic, home and away.”
Last season’s committee was re-elected en-bloc with Rod Summers winning the position of club secretary on a show of hands over fellow nominee Dave Hackett by 31 votes to 15.
Neil Betteridge was elected treasurer, while Hackett was confirmed as fixture secretary for the coming season with four newcomers – Nick Holmshaw, Simon Davies, Stan Crockett and Graham Clark – accepting places on the committee.
A call from supporter Alf Corner to have press statements from the players approved by the club chairman or secretary prompted a heated discussion with manager Frank Northwood asking: “Do you want to put us under lock and key?”
Corner, referring to recent reports in the Mail of criticism of the club by former player Steve Astley said: “I’m in a better position than most to what’s going on and when people read such tales as that it leaves a lot to be desired.”
But chairman Hall confirmed that he had been approached by the Mail for comment on this and on previous occasions.
Queries from the floor over the future of the Moat Ground if the club should wish to climb the football pyramid were answered by development officer Frank McArdle, who said that Rovers were in regular contact with the Football Association.
“The club did itself proud at Wembley. Unless we really go off the rails I am confident we are going to get to a position where our case will be fairly and properly considered by the highest authority possible,” he said.
