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2025 AGM Minutes

Heswall Rackets Club

2025 Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Date: Wednesday 25th February 2026
Location: Heswall Rackets Club
Time: 18:30

Club President Colin Winstanley opened the meeting and warmly welcomed all members attending the 2025 AGM.

1. Apologies

None received from those present in the room.

2. President’s Report – Colin Winstanley

The year 2025 has marked a significant chapter in the history of Heswall Rackets Club. Following the mandate from the 2023 AGM, the committee was tasked with introducing Padel Tennis to the club. There were numerous challenges throughout the process; however, with the committee’s collective support for Roger Hughes and a steadfast commitment to success, these obstacles were effectively addressed.

I am deeply appreciative of the committee’s dedication in bringing Padel to fruition.

The Padel Open Day on 31st January, which launched the sport at the club, was an outstanding accomplishment despite inclement weather. The event attracted many newcomers who experienced Padel for the first time. The concerted efforts of the Bar team, Junior Section, and those responsible for food and entertainment fostered an exceptional community spirit, undoubtedly encouraging many visitors to consider membership or make further enquiries.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude—without specific order—to all committee members and volunteers who dedicated their time and contributed both to the Padel project and to the club as a whole:

Julie Griffiths
Leah Barker
Brian Carter
John Dunne
Paul Smith
Chris Sheppard
Jeremy Heywood
John Williams
Ben McSkelly
Roger Hughes
Ged Clarke
Keith Armour
Shaun Holgate

Thank you also to the Trustees, many of whom participated in several committee meetings during the early stages and showed confidence by supporting the committee’s efforts.

We are also very grateful to our members for their ongoing patience and encouragement over the past two years.

Because of this collective support, the club continues to thrive. Every area is improving, from the Junior Section and events to both Padel and bar functions.

Ladies Section
Jules has continued to lead the ladies’ teams with increasing ambition and expectations, and we anticipate welcoming additional members in the near future.

It is expected that more new female members will participate in Padel, with Julie actively encouraging them to explore squash as well.

Squash Teams
With Paul assuming the role of Squash Captain, supported by Keith, we have consistently fielded five teams in the league, with the potential for further strengthening through the addition of new members. Both Paul and Keith have managed a challenging year with commendable composure.

Racketball
Chris has elevated racketball within the club significantly. Should this progress continue, there is every reason to believe that Heswall Rackets Club could become a regional centre of excellence for racketball. Chris’s dedication to organising and developing racketball activities has been exceptional.

Junior Section
The junior section continues to thrive, now boasting over 25 regular attendees and a waiting list of aspiring young players. Sincere thanks are due to John, Mike, Rob and Dave for their outstanding work in nurturing this vital part of the club.

Bar and Events
Leah and the bar staff have exceeded expectations this year, providing support not only on team nights and functions but also by frequently opening the bar outside regular hours to promote the club. Their commitment was particularly evident during the successful Padel Open Day.

Leah’s enthusiasm and drive—both for increasing event numbers in 2026 and for her broader input on the committee—are greatly valued.

Going Forward

Membership has nearly doubled in recent months, presenting an opportunity to sustain this momentum. Over the past year, the current committee has developed valuable initiatives designed to further advance the club’s evolving structure, which can be implemented as revenue grows.

The club’s immediate objective is to build upon the achievements reached in 2025. There is significant interest in the club, evidenced by over 40,000 Facebook interactions, and we are confident that a strong foundation exists for continued growth and prosperity.

Padel at Heswall Rackets Club owes its inception to Ged Clarke, who originated the concept, and Roger Hughes, whose leadership helped bring it to fruition.

We also wish to acknowledge John Dunne, whose diligence and commitment in the role of Club Secretary have been invaluable. His daily presence at the club—whether fulfilling secretarial responsibilities, maintaining padel courts, or organising junior programmes—exemplifies exceptional dedication.

While there have been notable individual contributions, these accomplishments could not have transpired without the outstanding collective effort of all involved.

Additional Points from the President

Colin emphasised that 2025 has been a momentous year for the club.
The club was on a slow decline during 2021/22, and the situation was quite serious.
In 2023, a restructuring took place, including smaller sub-committees to make decision-making more efficient.
The Junior Programme restarted, bringing many young and fresh faces into the club.
Racketball participation has skyrocketed.
Every aspect of the club has improved.
We now have two beautiful Padel courts, and clubs around us are increasingly envious.
This represents the beginning of a new foundation, securing the club’s future.
Colin stated he is personally proud of the committee and what they have achieved.

3. Treasurer’s Report – Jeremy Heywood

The Treasurer’s Report was sent out in advance and available on the night.

Treasurer’s Report 2024

Following several volatile years at the beginning of this decade, 2024 could be remembered as a less eventful but positive year, during which the club continued progressing toward a sustainable future.

Much of this progress can be attributed to growth across several areas of the club:

The Junior Section continues to grow and is vital for the club’s future.
Racketball has expanded significantly and continues to attract new members.
Functions have increased through both new enquiries and repeat bookings.

Thanks were expressed to everyone for their tireless efforts to drive progress, which is reflected in the club’s financial performance.

Revenue has grown across the board, although cost pressures remain. Gas and electricity contracts are due for renewal in mid-2025, which may provide some cost improvements.

Financial Summary

Overall club loss: £8.7k
Depreciation charge: £9k
Actual cash surplus from operations: £0.3k

This means the club can pay all usual bills as they fall due, although at present it would struggle to fund facility improvements year-on-year.

Cash reserves have declined due to investment in the new Padel project.

£13.8k in 2024
£9.3k since the pandemic

This investment is intended to boost membership, participation and footfall, which is key to the club’s long-term sustainability.

The outlook for the coming year is positive, with membership continuing to grow.

Jeremy Heywood
Treasurer

Treasurer’s Key Points on the Night

2024 was a less eventful year for the club financially.
Juniors, racketball and functions have helped the club significantly.
Revenue is increasing across the board.

Questions from the Floor

John Neo

Q1 – How much is currently in the bank?
Answer: Approximately £60,000

Q2 – Are we on track to make payments to the LTA and members?
Answer: Yes

Colin added that the club has managed the project entirely in-house and emphasised that the club cannot take its foot off the gas.

Approval of Accounts

Proposed by: John Neo
Seconded by: Paul Cuthbertson

Accounts approved.

4. Membership Report – Brian Parker

Brian Parker was not available on the night, but the report was provided.

This is Brian’s fifth year in the role of Membership Secretary. When he first took over the role, membership numbers were below 180.

Shortly afterwards the Covid pandemic created difficult times for the club.

Thanks to the incredible work of past and present committee members, the club now finds itself in a very different situation.

Current membership numbers:

356 full members
439 total on the database, including Pay & Play members

Growth has been steady over the past two years, and the introduction of Padel presents a strong opportunity to move the club forward.

Membership levels may now be the highest since the 1980s.

Brian encouraged all members to support the committee and assist wherever possible in continuing to develop the club.

Best Regards
BP

5. Team Reports

Reports were provided for:

Men’s Squash Team – Paul Smith
Men’s Racketball – Chris Sheppard
Ladies Squash – Julie Griffiths
Juniors – John Dunne

All reports were emailed to members and made available on MyCourts.

No questions were raised on the night.

6. Club Incorporation Update

Colin stated that the next matter the club needs to address is club incorporation.

Tony Marks
Question: Why is this necessary?

Roger Hughes explained that as an unincorporated club, the club itself cannot technically own assets and must rely on the Trustees.

As the club grows, it is recommended to become a limited company, which would:

Remove responsibility and risk from the committee and trustees
Limit the financial liability of members

Ged Clarke asked about the costs involved.

Colin responded that initial costs could be around £5,000 just to start the process.

The committee intends to explore the process further during 2026.

John Neo asked whether members were comfortable with this direction.

Ged Clarke stated he was not comfortable yet and that more information would be required.

Colin confirmed that this is not something the club will take lightly.

7. Padel Project Update – Roger Hughes

The Padel Project Report had been circulated in advance and was available on the night.

Project Summary

At the previous AGM the committee was authorised to construct two Padel courts between the clubhouse and Chester High Road at an estimated cost of £180,000.

Funding was raised as follows:

£40,000 – Club funds
£115,000 – Member loans
£45,000 – Loan from the Lawn Tennis Association

Construction costs:

Court construction: £144,000
Planning costs: £18,000
Additional costs (electrical work, card readers, landscaping): approx. £10,000

The project was completed within the £180,000 budget.

The courts became operational at the end of December, initially with a soft launch for members only while systems were tested.

Pay & Play bookings were launched at the beginning of February.

Open Day

The Padel Open Day on 31 January attracted nearly 200 people, with over 30 new members joining.

Court Revenue

January income: £2,500+ (despite poor weather)

Winter target: £4,500 per month

Required to service loans: approx. £3,000 per month

Acknowledgements

Special thanks were given to:

Leisure Surfaces (Cheshire) Ltd – Main contractor
Ged Clarke – Original concept
Committee members
Ben McSkelly – Technical systems
Sean – Site management
Trustees – Support and confidence in the project

Questions Regarding Padel

Richard Brown asked about the loan repayment process.

Roger explained:

The club initially contributed £40k
The LTA loan was £45k interest-free
Member loans were £5k bonds, paying 5% interest

Repayment structure:

First year: 5% interest only
Then £1,000 capital
Then £1,200
Then £1,150 plus interest

The cash flow forecast is available for members to review.

Forecast:

By 2027, the club expects to have approximately £50k in the bank

Roger noted the club must remain cautious, as some venues (such as Oxton Padel) have suggested demand could decline, although this remains uncertain.

8. Election of Officers and Trustees

All Trustees confirmed they were happy to remain in position.

Colin asked whether any members wished to stand for a committee role.

No responses were received.

Colin asked the room to vote to retain the current committee.

The room voted unanimously in favour.

Proposed by: Paul Cuthbertson
Seconded by: Richard Brown

9. Member Questions

Sebastian Gardiner

Q1 – Given the difficulty securing planning permission, should the club consider applying early for two additional Padel courts opposite the clubhouse?

Colin responded that it would be sensible to wait and monitor court usage before making decisions, though the concept has been discussed at committee level.

Q2 – Why is the club not using Playtomic to increase bookings?

The committee explained:

Playtomic would create a separate booking system from squash and racketball
The club prioritises members first
Playtomic cannot support squash bookings
Cost comparison:

MyCourts system: £55/month
Playtomic: £121/month plus user fees

Playtomic also charges users:

20% for open matches
2% classes/leagues
4% tournaments

The club is concerned about future fee increases.

The committee will review this periodically.

Colin added:

“We want to try and change the club without changing the club.”

Q3 – Could the club install picnic benches near the Padel courts to encourage families to stay longer?

Leah and John confirmed this is already being explored.

Q4 – Has the bar seen increased usage from Padel players?

Jez and Leah confirmed there has been a noticeable uplift in evening bar trade, particularly on previously quieter nights.

Q5 – Should Squash Court 1 be reinstated as a squash court?

Research conducted by Ben showed:

659 occasions with all four courts booked
Maximum additional revenue if Court 1 reinstated: £2,636
Current direct booking revenue: £22.9k
Incremental increase: 1.2%

Breakdown of bookings:

Teams: 131
Junior coaching: 116
Mix-ins: 106
Coaching: 29
Match events: 11
Other: 12

61% were teams, events or juniors.

Lucy Grattan

Q6 – As the car park is often full, could the club install lighting at the rear for safety?

Colin confirmed the club will investigate this.

Tony Marks

Q7 – How is the club promoting Pay & Play?

Leah confirmed the website and social media have had 47,000 hits recently.

Tony suggested the club consider paid social media advertising.

Colin noted the recent poor weather but agreed further promotion will be explored.

Roger confirmed 70+ Pay & Play members are already registered.

Tony suggested the website membership option should be more prominent.

Richard Stapleton

Q8 – Could a roof be added to the Padel courts?

Colin explained that planning permission would almost certainly be refused due to greenbelt restrictions and proximity to nearby houses.

The current courts cannot have a roof added retrospectively.

John Neo

Q9 – Could Tony Marks provide a marketing proposal for the committee?

Paul Grannon

Q10 – Could the club install floodlights and marked spaces in the car park?

Colin confirmed this is being investigated.

Current quote for parking lines is £80 per line.

Members were asked to inform the committee if they know of more affordable providers.

Richard Brown

Q11 – Should searching “Heswall Padel” on Google link directly to the booking system?

Colin agreed that improving website usability is important and any assistance from members would be appreciated.

Meeting Close

The meeting concluded with thanks to all members for attending.

Members were thanked for their continued support, and the club looks forward to welcoming everyone again at the 2026 AGM.

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13/03/2026

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