In life we generally do not learn anything worthwhile from the times and experiences that go well, the opposite being true.
The practises & disciplines of what we have gone through collectively over the last few months will shape most of our life’s as a reference point in the future.
Real values is what really matters including strength of character, a sense of being collective, social responsibility, selfless behaviours, inclusiveness and most importantly really caring for others matters. Those traits have really come to the surface at Cartha over the past period.
What I have been blown away with (in spite of the circumstance surrounding this pandemic) is the prolific proactive joined up and responsible way you've all "virtually" collectively raised the profile of the Club, maintaining and further developing our core values and culture.
That being enacted in every section of the Club driving innovation, support, competition, fundraising, volunteering, looking after our collective well-being and positively managing our circumstances have become our by words. All combined has made me so very proud to be part of this unique and wonderful Club and leading to the time when we can open our Club House, pitches and get back to playing the game that we all love. Living up to our “One Club - Cartha Daft - Cartha Family” motto.
From these challenging times new leaders have emerged from within Cartha which will stand our Club in great stead for the next period and into the future. The circumstance reminds me of a quote from Harold Geneen the late USA Communications Entrepreneur - "Leadership is practised, not so much in words as in attitudes and actions .“
Actions that we have had in abundance. In particular within the Club special mention should be made of our Club Coach Thomas Davidson who has stepped up again and well through the mark establishing among the male players competing groups of Clan Houses named after Past Presidents and/or Captains of the Club namely Buchanan, McArthur, Sim, Barnes and Campbell. Given certain tasks to achieve and points awarded accordingly, tasks that are not all to do with rugby but all to do with keeping the players and coaches together as a motivated, focused group in doing so continuing to build our culture and values! Thanks to Sam Harrison for keeping the players focussed on fitness programmes along with nutritionist Alex Boyle. Most Tuesdays the playing group come together for a “Zoom” meeting where on- going rugby objectives and related subjects are discussed . As I write, Clan Barnes are just ahead of McArthur and Sim with Buchanan and Sim close behind. They have also gathered collectively in excess of £3,000 for the Cartha “Just Giving” page. Which is “Just Amazing!”
Our Women’s and Girls section are also to be similarly commended under the guidance of their coaches Steven McLoughlin and Mary Lafaiki, girls coach & fitness guru our Scottish internationalist Christine Belisle.
Collectively having also raised significant funds for the Cartha Just Giving page. They have also established a Clan system who are named Lions Pride, Tasmanian Devils, Tiger Queens, Bison’s, Bush Babies and Pengueens. For those on social media I would urge you to log into the women’s Facebook page to see what they have been up to, it’s both hilarious and competitive along with the serious training parts. They are also meeting weekly on Zoom. NB Our Women’s rugby section are putting out two senior teams this season!
The above complemented by our junior section which is brilliantly managed by Stephen Running and his committee.
As a note of interest when Cartha Athletic were formed in 1896 the club was established via its constitution under a total equality premise a principle not universally practised in that time or unfortunately in the 20th century or sadly in this millennium.
We really were pathfinders for equality !
Our social media pages like one of the Club songs “the roof is on fire ” so much so that Cartha at one point were third in the UK among all rugby Clubs in social media ranking - an amazing feat! Can I thank all the site managers for this. Both the Men’s and Women’s sections have been outstanding in this regard.
Thomas Davidson has also established Cartha TV where on a regular basis he interviews present and past players. Be warned he is coming after some of the Club Elder statesmen and women for an interview. Some great stories past and present recollection.
The recent interview with ex Cartha player and Coach now at Glasgow Warriors makes for particularly interesting viewing!
When we get back to actually playing rugby we do not as of yet know. But we have just received today guidance and instruction from the SRU our governing body re phrase 2 commencing training which is the 29th of June. In anticipation of this we will be sending a link to our Cartha “return to play” document which has been devised by Thomas Davidson, which he drafted two weeks ago and has now updated. There has also been an announcement on the return to professional rugby in Scotland hopefully grass root Club will also be back not long after. Associated I would like to publicly thank your committee who collectively have worked so diligently on our behalf throughout this lockdown period.
Continuing our monthly committee meetings virtually by “Zoom” ( I used to think Zoom was the noise made by a motor bike when overtaking ) and out with this keeping in regular contact with each other via email and our club Secretary. Concerning governance of the Club as members know we have had to postpone our AGM until a time when we can meet safely. But for those members who wish they are more than welcome to request a copy of the accounts and any minutes of our committee meetings via our Hon Secretary Jamie Jamieson; jamiejamieson@ntlworld.com.
The AGM is the place to ask formal questions but please feel free to contact me at; edcrozier@aol.com re any immediate queries you may have or directly via your Club section committee members. Associated our Club membership convenor Helen Dennison has collected as many of the contact details of CQP Life Members.
If you think you're missing from this list or know someone who is please email Helen she’s on; cartha.membership@gmail.com
We have also formed a finance subgroup that manages all of our outgoings and income. No expenditure is incurred without being passed by this group. This process is overseen by our Club Finance Manager, Colette Johnston Douglas .
Regarding re-opening of the Club House. No one is keener to open the Clubhouse than myself and the committee, in this regard we are guided not only by Scottish Government legislation but also by our governing body the SRU. We were hopeful of the relaxing of these regulations on Thursday the 18th June by the First Minister but were disappointed that none were forthcoming. I think it will now not be done till sometime in July but will keep you all posted. By the way It will be a day to remember when it does, Davy Sinnott will have a few surprises for us!
In anticipation of this we have formed a Covid Club House reopening subgroup which has established the protocols for doing so and is being continually updated as circumstance change. We on your behalf are being very proactive in this regard not reactive, meaning that we hopefully remain in control. We are also in the process of engaging with a company called Sanodaf who specialise in deep cleaning of premise, clients include the NHS and Scotrail.
They were introduced to us by Shawlands Sharks player Gregor Sim and our 1st XV manager David Forbes. (Gregor’s late Dad was a past Cartha Captain)
Meaning that all of the Club on a regular basis will be given a deep clean for the immediate foreseeable future. If you would like to know more about this Company their web page is www.sanondaf.co.uk.
Again, all linked to governance we were successful in applying for financial grant support from several sources, namely the SRU Club Hardship Fund, The Third Sector Resilience Fund and the Small Business Govt Grant. The two people that drove this are Helen Dennison and Club Secretary Jamie Jamieson. The Club owes these two individuals a sincere vote of thanks which I am publicly on your behalf doing now. We were initially turned down for the Small Business Grant, but we appealed and thanks to advice received from John Dickson ( Father of men’s co Capt. of 1st xv) were successful in that appeal. These monies will hopefully see us over the summer months at which time membership fees will kick in. In regard to membership fee I’m making a special plea to have these paid on time the Club really needs them not only for financial support but to make provision for supply of services to members including but not limited to buses to away games, physio treatment, covering overhead, facility provision and other essential services which in turn will contribute to making us the most successful Club on and off the pitch and go to the best Rugby Club in the South Side of Glasgow.
A Direct Debit facility has been introduced this year which I hope members will use if paying monthly. Of course, we are all aware of the financial burden that some families and individuals may be currently in. If this is the case please contact Helen Dennison who as mentioned earlier is our membership convenor in total confidence to discuss, no one with economic and/or social difficulties will be left “outside” at Cartha Queens Park. Helen is at; helendennison@hotmail.co.uk
At this time I’m all asking for all those who can to volunteer to join one of our sub groups two key ones being “social” which is managed by Alan “Caldy” Caldicott he’s on; caldyalancott@live.co.uk. Secondly our sponsorship sub group which is managed by Ewen "Brick” Campbell who is on; ewen.c@hotmail.co.uk. It is about support and evenly distributing the workload. Both Caldy & Brick really need your help.
Please get in touch with them you’ll be made more than welcome and only given tasks that Ewen & Alan feel you are comfortable with.
In mentioning sponsors can I also take this opportunity of thanking the continued support of Cartha’s sponsors in particular our long term main sponsor Tommy Nolan via his Company at www.ncs-ltd.com and Clift Graham via his Company at www.ceg.scot.
Please if you are in a position to do so support the Companies that support Cartha.
Keith Pender, John McCarron and Ian Campbell continue to work miracles maintaining our ground and clubhouse facilities at the level we have and on the budget that is available to them.
Sincere thanks to them please contact Keith directly if you think you can offer any help to him and his grounds team Keith’s at; usat153@btopenworld.com. BTW a wee story, Keith still finds it difficult to talk to me around two incidents one at least 30 years ago when I was refereeing a game he was playing in against Paisley and sent him off for a bit of naughtiness which he pled innocent to he was guilty! and last year when I called the main pitch playable against Melrose there was a small puddle in the in goal area! Both red card incidents against me from Keith’s point of view.
There is also a real need to join up our collective social media I’ve mentioned above how successful that has been and that’s without a concentrated effort (I’ll also come back to that later, not here but on our social media pages). It’s the shop window of Cartha.
Thinking ahead a small group have had an initial meeting re ground and Clubhouse developments but this is on the long term wish list but can definitely become a reality with a collective concentrated effort. More on this to follow.
Though in saying all the above we need to get through the next few months which I’m sure we will and I’m confident that we will come out the other side stronger for the experience.
Among the highs there has definitely been a couple of lows from my point of view no more so when our Landlords at Dumbreck didn’t give us any relief on our rent. Only offering to defer payment. This has left a bad taste given the historical reasons that the land was designated for.
Yesterday as we witness the first hint of the lock down beginning to ease, we still have to be cautious and respect the guidelines despite the temptations of the summer! We all look forward to meeting up in person with our loved ones, teammates, friends and colleagues. Also, especially for the day that we can open our club house once again.
Can I sincerely thank you all on behalf of the Committee and myself for your continued, dedicated hard work that is enabling Cartha to continue to operate at such a highly focused & connected level.
Yours in Rugby & with much Respect.
Ed Crozier
President Cartha Queens Park RFC