Drybrook Rugby Club

As we reflect on the tough season past and prepare for a new season across all sections of the club, I thought timing good to share insight into the financial status of the club.

The hospitality industry like others has been through unprecedented times… Long term closures due to the pandemic followed by a cost-of-living crisis which has seen costs inflate at rates not seen for decades has seen a multitude of businesses cease operations and or increase prices to their members and customers.

The nature of a family club steeped in history like ours means people are concerned, this is great but at times can also set the rumour mill running and I thought it pertinent to offer clarity. Our club offers facilities the envy of the high-profile clubs and visitors we host who are amazed at both the level of rugby and facilities we provide. We do this while trying to maintain the best value possible for our members.

The club as the bustling hub we know and love on the surface looks like it should be doing well financially, and we have been successful in generating additional revenue in the form of money over the bar. This is demonstrated in the fact that we have taken more in the last 12 months than we have in any period previously. Ignoring 20/21 fiscal year (due to Covid) we have seen an average income growth of 19% per year which is phenomenal in the climate. This however has been offset by our increase in costs across all areas of our business but mainly:

· Product costs – The price we are paying for the products we sell

· Staffing – with record sales comes a staff bill to match while also combatting a labour market shortage and ensuring compliance with minimum wage & holiday legislation.

· Entertainment

· Rugby expenses (equipment, transport & accommodation which is also no longer heavily subsidised by the RFU and players food).

To put numbers around this last season we paid:

· £13,000 in bus and accommodation costs across the club (even with the cutbacks at the end of last season)

· £7,000 in electricity

· £12,000 in entertainment and event planning/fundraising costs

· £13,000 in pitch maintenance

· £6,000 in TV costs (Sky & BT subscriptions)

· £5,000 in first aid and physio costs across the club

· £3,000 in Refuse collection

Those elements alone generate £59k of costs based on us making approximately £2 per pint sold, you will quickly see that is 29,500 pints we need to sell to cover just those few outgoings that equates to 567 pints a week.

This is on top of the continued investment you will have seen around the club:

· The completion of the function room renovation this was critical to our operations, we continued to invest in repairs and patch ups of the room until the fact was the room was not fit for purpose and without a functioning room there is no way we could have operated last season.

· The renovation and improvement of the pitch side paths

· The building of the outdoor patio which although very kindly laid by a team of volunteers still had a cost.

· The essential repair of the collapsed drain at the end of the training pitch

All that does come at a cost, and we are not in the position we would like to be financially, cash in hand has really been and continues to be tight. So, we look to next season with sustainability at the forefront of the committee’s mind. Steps

have already been taken to cut costs where possible & having a very focused handle on our predicted cost base means we can structure memberships, sponsorships, and our general pricing strategy to maintain a value for money offering to our members and the community while ensuring our financial position returns to a level at which we are all happy.

I really hope that helps provide insight into where we are, I am excited about what the year ahead can bring and urge anyone who has any questions or concerns to have a chat with me or any other member of the committee. There are two things I can guarantee

1. We do not always make the right decisions, but we are happy to talk about them

2. We do always do what we feel is best for the club at the time

Finally, the club is run by a committee who are always looking for fresh ideas and fresh faces to help and to challenge our ways of thinking. If you think you would be able to offer time and experience to this group, then please do talk to me or any of the other committee members and let us get you involved! I love this club dearly and know lots of others do, there is so much we could do better so take the opportunity to make a real difference and jump in. The timing could not be better as we look to host the Annual General Meeting in August, a chance to take stock and look to the future on all fronts, so why not come along and get involved and have a say in the running of OUR CLUB

Together we can have a great 23/24 Season, let’s go!!

Dean Large
TREASURER