Category: News

Rovers achieve sponsorship boost

Tuffley Rovers have renewed their first team shirt sponsorship with local company JMJ Fabrications Ltd. for a third consecutive season, ahead of the start of the 2020/21 campaign.

JMJ Fabrications had previously sponsored the club’s second team squad for two years before becoming the main club sponsor and their support has been pivotal in many of the developments that have been introduced at Glevum Park over the past few years.

The Tuffley based company, a fabrications specialist, have moved into stadium design over the last five years and have been involved in the construction of Rovers’ new stand, pitch-side fence system and dugouts over the last three years; part of the transformation of Rovers’ home that has made it amongst the best facilities in Gloucester.

Rovers’ returning sponsor have also been involved in works with other clubs, including Premier Division side Chelsea, as they look to expand their stadium improvement clientele after recent success. Such has been the success of this expansion to JMJ’s business that they have now established a stadium specific brand in STAD-FAB (Twitter @ StadFab2020).

Football Secretary, Neil Spiller, was delighted that the club had secured the sponsorship deal for a further season.

“We’ve formed a fantastic relationship with a local company that has been mutually beneficial, as they’ve provided financial support, as well as helping us in developing the ground over the last few seasons”, he said. “We are absolutely delighted to secure their sponsorship and display the JMJ logo on our shirts for yet another season.”

JMJ Director, Jamie Gibbons, was equally effusive about the partnership continuing.

“As a local company we are delighted to continue our support for Tuffley Rovers and maintain a partnership that we believe is a great way for us to advertise our business and also our support for the local community”, he added. “The club are doing great things and we are very proud to be a part of it.”

In addition, Rovers have renewed their Veterans’ team sponsorship with Altripan UK Ltd., who have sponsored the club for almost ten years.

A worldwide supplier of plywood, Altripan have been a wonderful supporter of the club, with Director Andy Simpson a regular supporter at the club’s first team fixtures.

“Tuffley Rovers has been a big part of the local community and I am delighted that Altripan have once again been able to support the club”, he confirmed. “We continue to see ourselves as a passionate supporter of the club and are delighted to lend our financial support once again.”

Rovers are in the process of concluding several sponsorship deals ahead of the new season but would welcome support from any local companies. Their current sponsorship brochure can be viewed via their sponsorship booklet.

Rovers granted improvement funding

Tuffley Rovers are celebrating three separate grant awards that have helped ensure that their Glevum Park home is looking much improved!

Despite the long gap without football action, Tuffley Rovers have continued their preparations for the 2020/21 season and have released tremendous support from Sport England the Football Foundation, in the form of three grants that have enabled the club to make improvements on and off the pitch at Glevum Park.

First, the club were able to invest in improving the surface at their home venue, which was much needed after the harshest of winters, and an award of nearly £4,000 from Sport England has helped ensure that the pitch is in tip-top condition ahead of the first home pre-season game, scheduled for 13 August 2020.

The challenging winter conditions and then the cessation of activities associated with Covid-19 meant that the installation of a new pitch-side barrier system was significantly delayed, but the work on this was completed in the last week, further enhancing the improving appearance of Rovers’ ground, as part of a programme of works that had started when the club returned to the Hellenic League in 2013.  This work was completed with the support of a significant grant from the Football Stadia Improvement Fund.

New fence system (3) New fence system (2)

This piece of work was led by former Chair, Neil Spiller, who stood down in May but has continued in the role of Football Secretary.

“When we re-entered the Hellenic League we had to make a number of improvements to our ground and at that time our financial position meant that we could only erect a temporary solution, with a pitch-side fence made from scaffold poles”, he explained.

“That served its purpose but last season we suffered some damage in one part of the ground and we had to look at a more permanent solution. This led to an application to the Football Foundation, who have been tremendously supportive, and we were able to secure a sizeable grant that means we now have a fence installed that is a source of genuine pride”, he added.

The new fence is the latest in a series of changes that has seen new stands, terracing and dugouts installed at the home of The Rovers and that isn’t the end to the improvments.

Most recently, the club received further support, in the shape of the Football Foundation’s Club Preparation Fund, which has allowed the club to install additional hygiene facilities to help meet Government requirements in relation to Covid-19.

Hygiene     Hygiene (2)

Newly appointed Football Chairman, Dan Boon, was delighted with the support the club had received from the various funding channels.

“Like many Non-League clubs, we have faced a number of challenges around loss of revenue and other issues arising from the early end to the 2019/20 season, which was particularly difficult given how much the dreadful weather between October and March had impacted upon the club”, he said. “This funding has allowed us to make both short-term and long-term improvements to Glevum Park and we can only thank Sport England and The Football Foundation for their continued support.”

Although it might be a while before spectators can see all the improvements, given the current prohibition on spectators attending games, the club hope that future visitors and pre-season opposition will be able to notice the further progress which has been made.

Notice of 2020 Annual General Meeting (Football Section)

Tuffley Rovers AFC give notice of their 2020 Football Section AGM, to be held at Glevum Park on 17 August 2020.

 

NOTICE OF 2020 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

TUFFLEY ROVERS ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUB

FOOTBALL SECTION 

NOTICE is hereby given that an Annual General Meeting of Tuffley Rovers Association Football Club will be held at Glevum Park on Monday the 17th day of August 2020 at 7:15pm.

The meeting shall be properly constituted after a period of at least 21 days’ written notice, provided herein. The purpose of the meeting will be to:

  • Receive the report of the Executive Committee and the auditor;
  • To elect the officers and other members of the Football Committee;
  • To elect the officers of the Executive Committee;
  • Any other business or the consideration of any resolution, which has been submitted to the General Secretary at least fourteen days before the meeting.

The proposed agenda of the meeting will be:

  1. Apologies;
  2. Matters arising from minutes of previous AGM;
  3. Officers’ reports;
  4. Election of life members;
  5. Election of officers;
  6. Election of Football Committee;
  7. Any other business (provided not later than 7:15pm on 3 August 2020).

Any current member of Tuffley Rovers Association Football Club is entitled to attend the meeting. Voting shall be restricted to the members of the Football Section, as set out in the constitution of Tuffley Rovers AFC.

The committee vacancies subject to election at the AGM are:

            Role                                                                           Current post-holder

  • Executive Chair Graham Moody
  • Football Chair Dan Boon
  • Vice-Chair of Football Committee (vacant)
  • General Secretary Sonia Spiller
  • Treasurer Neil Spiller
  • Assistant Treasurer Allan Summers
  • Compliance Officer (vacant)
  • Football Secretary Neil Spiller
  • Assistant Football Secretary Will Cronshaw
  • Head of Football Development Ken Blackburn
  • Football Welfare Officer Craig Darkin
  • Commercial Manager (vacant)
  • Players’ Representative (vacant)

 The Football Committee also has five vacancies for committee volunteers. All posts are currently vacant.

If you wish to be considered for election please confirm this, via e-mail and specifying the post for which you intend standing, to executivecommittee@tuffleyroversfc.co.uk, no later than 5pm on 14 August 2020. 

Due to the restrictions in place due to Covid-19, it is proposed that the agenda, minutes of the previous AGM and any other papers (including the accounts) usually supplied for the Annual General Meeting shall be made available to members who request them in advance via executivecommittee@tuffleyroversfc.co.uk  No paper copies will be available at the AGM itself.

 

Dated this 25th day of July, 2020.

BY ORDER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

Social club re-opens…with an added bonus!

TUFFLEY ROVERS SOCIAL CLUB TO RE-OPEN FROM SATURDAY, 4 JULY 2020
(MEMBERS ONLY)

We are pleased to confirm that we will re-open the Tuffley Rovers social club this Saturday, from 12noon.

Having reviewed the Government Guidelines we have put a number of safety measures in place, to help ensure we offer as safe an environment as possible for our members. This will include:

✅ Revised entry and exit arrangements to support a one-way system around the club

✅ We will ask all members to observe at least 1m+ social distancing, in line with Government Guidelines

✅ No-one will be permitted to wait or remain in the bar area after service – only those queueing for service can be in this area

✅ All members will be required to sign in with their name and phone number as per guidelines relating to Track and Trace. Anyone who declines to provide their details will not be served

✅ Hand sanitisers will be in place for all members

✅ All games machines, including the pool table, will be unavailable for use

✅ Glasses will be single use for each drink purchased

✅ Children must be supervised at all times

✅ We ask members to make contactless payment by card, wherever possible

✅ Capacity will be restricted and once the maximum is reached no further entry we will be permitted (other than on a ‘one in, one out’ basis)

✅ Our staff will look to remind members of their responsibilities. Anyone whose behaviour falls below the standard or who declines to respect staff or their fellow members will be asked to leave

✅ Regularly scheduled cleaning routines will be in place to ensure the safety of everyone visiting the club

It will be vital that all of our members respect these rules if we are to maintain a safe and healthy environment for staff and members alike. We ask you to respect the staff and adhere to social distancing guidelines.

ADDED BONUS!!
In addition to the reopening of our social club on 4 July 2020, we will also be reopening our licensed bar at Glevum Park from 1pm on Saturday.
Similar safety measures to those applied at our social club should be observed at Glevum Park, including:
✅ Revised entry and exit arrangements to support a one-way system around the bar
✅ We will ask all members to observe at least 1m+ social distancing, in line with Government Guidelines
✅ No-one will be permitted to wait or remain in the bar area after service – only those queueing for service can be in this area
✅ All members will be required to sign in with their name and phone number as per guidelines relating to Track and Trace. Anyone who declines to provide their details will not be served
✅ Hand sanitisers will be in place for all members
✅ Plastic pint glasses will be in use
✅ Children must be supervised at all times
✅ We ask members to make contactless payment by card, wherever possible
✅ Capacity will be restricted and once the maximum is reached no further entry we will be permitted (other than on a ‘one in, one out’ basis)
✅ Our staff will look to remind members of their responsibilities. Anyone whose behaviour falls below the standard or who declines to respect staff or their fellow members will be asked to leave
✅ Regularly scheduled cleaning routines will be in place to ensure the safety of everyone visiting the club
It will be vital that all of our members respect these rules if we are to maintain a safe and healthy environment for staff and members alike. We ask you to respect the staff and adhere to social distancing guidelines.

Special General Meeting – 11 July 2020

The Executive Committee of Tuffley Rovers AFC wish to give notice of their intention to hold a Special General Meeting, open to all club members (football section or social section), to address proposed amendments to the club’s constitution.

A full notification has been sent to all club members for whom the committee hold a current e-mail address. If any member has not received the notification they are invited to write to mailto:executivecommittee@tuffleyroversfc.co.uk (with their name in the subject title) and a copy will be sent by return.

The meeting will take place via Zoom at 7pm on 11 July 2020. Members who wish to attend the video conference meeting are asked to register (via the same club e-mail address) not later than 8pm on 10 July 2020.

This meeting is only open to those who hold membership during the 2019/20 year (1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020).

U18s trials – coming soon…

Despite the uncertainty as to when the 2020/21 season will start, Our U18s will be holding an open training session on Wednesday, 8 July 2020 starting at 7:30pm.

In order to ensure social distancing requirements are met, anyone interested in joining the session should book a place in advance, so that our excellent coaches can plan around numbers. We welcome new and existing players who will be eligible for U18s football during the 2020/21 season.

To book your place, e-mail to Development@tuffleyroversfc.co.uk, asap. Full details of the sessions (including the venue in Gloucester) will be sent once players are booked in.

New Football Chair appointed

Tuffley Rovers have a new Football Chair, with the appointment of Dan Boon, as Interim Chair, following the decision of the previous incumbent, Neil Spiller, to step down from the role two weeks ago.

Spiller, who will remain at the club, had been holding a dual responsibility as Chairman and Football Secretary, but decided to call time on one of those roles, which created a vacancy and this has been filled, at least in the short-term, by 36-year-old Boon, who has been involved with the club since 2011.

The new Chair will now work alongside his predecessor, as well as Ken Blackburn, the Head of Football Development, as they look to shape the future of the club, with any ambitions for success undented by the recent change in leadership.

“The club has been moving in the right direction for some time, and so I’d like to pick up where Neil has left off, but working with him and the rest of the committee to put Tuffley Rovers in a position where we can offer facilities and a club culture that we can be proud of”, confirmed Boon.

“We need to look at creating an environment where all of our teams, coaches, spectators and anyone connected to the club enjoy their football, whilst we also become as competitive as possible, challenging for silverware in as many competitions as possible”, he added. “However, we also need to focus on player development and retention, so individuals can see a pathway to whichever level they aspire to play at, as well as establishing a much stronger community presence, creating partnerships with the local community and then with more organisations across Gloucester.”

The outgoing Chair, Spiller, was quick to welcome the appointment.

 “I am delighted Dan, who is someone who has become increasingly involved in the club, has stepped up to take on this role”, he said. “I think we’ve made great progress in recent years, but I felt that we need to spread the load by stepping back from some of the responsibilities that come with being the Chairman”, he confirmed. “With Ken Blackburn’s role now clearly established, I thought it was a good time to hand over the reins and Dan is, in my view, the right person to take this forward.”

With plans to start the 2020/21 season still very much up in the air, Boon might have to wait a while for his first competitive football as Chairman, with none of the nine sides he’ll now lead yet clear on when their respective campaigns will start.

 

Rovers prepare for week of cup opportunities

Tuffley Rovers take a temporary break from Hellenic League Premier Division action this week, as they look to make progress in two separate cup competitions.

After an entertaining draw at Windsor on Saturday, Mark Pritchett’s team will travel to face Division One (West) side Malvern Town on Tuesday, with both sides looking to secure a quarter-final place in the Banbury Litho Floodlit Cup and the Rovers Player/Manager is expecting a tough challenge against a team who have recorded some impressive results during the season, to date.

“I’m really looking forward to the game and the opportunity to visit a new ground”, Pritchett said. “I’m expecting a very tough game, against a side who are doing well in their league, who did well in the FA Vase and who have already beaten a few Premier Division sides in cup competitions this season.”

After a patchy opening 45 minutes at the weekend, Pritchett scored a superb, long distance strike to earn his side a point at Windsor, although they might have stolen all three points after a second half performance that was full of positives.

Youngsters Adam Bloomfield and Jerry Idowu, who were both substitutes at Windsor, will play for the U18s at Cinderford on Tuesday, in order to get game time, but Pritchett does expect to have Lewis Bainbridge and Ben Prictor available again for selection.

This will be the first of two cup fixtures in five days, with Rovers due to travel to Gloucestershire County League side Hardwicke in the GFA Challenge Trophy on Saturday.