SECRETARY’S REPORT
This year in an effort to avoid unnecessary duplication, the chair, Grant Berni and myself, decided to agree on a set focus for our reports. Consequently, it falls upon me to offer a reflective synopsis of what, in all honesty, been something of a turbulent year for the game in Wales. What, I hear you ask, is new in that? I think that the most significant factor is the absolute chaos that followed the revelations brought to light by a small, but brave and determined band of women who ensured that the WRU was finally brought to answer for some of its significantly damaging short comings. I am sure that members will join me in hoping for a significantly improved structure at the very top of Welsh rugby.
Back now to our primary focus, that being the season for our own team, the Ospreys. URC wise, it was certainly a mixed bag of results, but within the higher tier competition in Europe, we certainly provided a reason for optimism! Personally, I have to say beating Leicester at Welford Road, was equally matched by the whole experience at Saracens. We didn’t manage the win, but we did compete and were, in all honesty, unlucky to loose that day! Results aside though, the OSC filled 5 coaches to travel to the game, a big contribution to the 2,500 plus Ospreys supporters that were there to support the team that day. Ospreys Number 8 Morgan Morris and several other players reported that the sight of the, “Black Sea,” as they left the bus on arrival, was the highlight of their season! Enough said. I should like to take this opportunity of thanking those committee members who were responsible for running, “Operation Saracens,” a wonderful achievement.
Our charity activities, once again we excelled, raising £2,000 to support our nominated charity, “Sporting memories,” run by the OITC team. Once again thanks to all involved, for their fantastic efforts and of course, to our fantastically generous supporter base, who once again exceeded all expectations! Our speculative decision to diversify in to the millinery business and produce OSC bucket hats, proved to be successful, as we add different colours to our range this coming season! The addition of , “ Toby’s Tombola, ” to post match activities, has contributed to our charity fund and provided much entertainment! Thanks also to Ospreys Rugby and local businesses, who have donated prizes.
Last season we continued to contribute to the Ospreys Online Match day Programme, with various features on our pages, focussing heavily on our wonderful supporters, teams from our feeder clubs and rising stars. Our thanks to Ospreys Rugby, who have ensured that we have received visits from players throughout the season. I think I speak for all Ospreys supporters, when I say, that we remain grateful to the players for coming over; especially those who have arrived straight off the field! It means a lot to us all. Our system of awarding OSCAs (Groggs) to the players awarded Player of the Month/ Season, has once again proved popular with players and supporters alike.
Congratulations to Morgan Morris on winning the Player of the Season award, for the 2022-2023 season.
I think that I have covered everything, if not please forgive my lack of memory.
In conclusion, I would like to thank everyone who makes the OSC a success! It is my firm belief that the OSC extends beyond the management committee and includes all who hold a current season ticket, the current requirement for membership. Any member wanting to help in any way, please speak to one of the committee.
From a personal perspective, I would like to say that I am honoured to have served as OSC Secretary, this past season and thank everyone for the support I have received.
Keith. J.Collins. OSC Sec.
CHAIR’S REPORT
I’d like to start by rewinding to 2020 when we started planning how to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Ospreys Supporters Club. As well as planning events for our 10th anniversary, we set out some ground rules on how committee members should behave, we generated clear objectives for the OSC and a plan on how to achieve them.
From an ambitious 24-point action plan that’s now three years old, we’ve made significant progress and are a long way down the road to building on what we already did, so whilst the journey isn’t over, committee members should be proud of what we’ve achieve as a collective.
Our 3 objectives remain unchanged:
- To be the best supporters club around
- To have OSC committee members happy with what they do
- To have OSC members happy with what we do
We plan to continue doing what OSC members find valuable in terms of matchday experience both at home, semi-home and at away games (Saracens last season will be a lasting memory for anyone who travelled to North London last season) & we value feedback from all OSC members to help shape how we develop what we do in the future.
Working relationships with the Ospreys and Ospreys in the Community remain in good health and I’d like to thank former Ospreys brand director Paul Whapham for helping establish more robust lines of communication with the OSC over the past few seasons. Despite it being a given that the OSC supports Ospreys Rugby, we don’t always see eye to eye and I appreciate that the Ospreys management value the voice of the OSC and do listen to our concerns when we raise them.
On another positive note, work continues as part of Joint Supporters Group Cymru and meetings with the WRU resumed after Ieuan Evans and with Nigel Walker took up the two senior leadership positions. Meetings have continued following the appointment of Richard Collier-Keywood as chair & we aim to continue to provide a voice for supporters of the professional game with the governing body.
I’d like to thank the committee members for their hard work throughout the season and say thanks to Nigel Maggs, who stepped down during last season.
Thanks again to the committee members, to the Ospreys and most of all to our membership – here’s to the new season.
Grant Berni, OSC Chair
TREASURER’S REPORT – Year ending 30/06/23
We opened the 2022 /23 season with a carried forward balance of £2,214 and at the 30th of June
2023, we reported a closing balance of £5,307.
Within that, I would just like to take some time to highlight some figures of material significance:
We received £500 in sponsorship money from Sportsbreaks.com. We would like to note our thanks to Sportsbreaks.com for their support in recent seasons, enabling us to fund our Player of the Month and Player of the Season awards.
Badge and Tombola proceeds totalled £2,507 – thanks for this must go to the loyal supporter base and Riverside regulars for their ongoing support. As a result of their generosity, we have been able to donate more than £2,000 to Ospreys in the Community and their Sporting Memories Project. The donation has been made since the closing of the 22/23 season accounts and will be reported in next season’s figures.
In terms of expenditure, we spent £775 on Groggs / our Player of the Month and Season awards. As previously noted, the majority of this cost has been covered by the sponsorship received via Sportsbreaks.com.
Badge sales covered the initial outlay of £588 to purchase the badges, with any profit then added to our fundraising for OitC.
Following a successful trip to Saracens for our last 16 Champions Cup tie, we made a profit on bus sales of £1,446. It is never our intention to make money on such trips and even in a climate of ever increasing costs, we endeavour to make transport as affordable and accessible as possible. The money generated from this trip was as a result of unprecedented uptake and a significant effort to organise five supporter buses for the game. Some of the profit offset the £130 loss made on the Neath bus, enabling us to keep that service running.
We have expanded our supporter merchandise offering with the sale of OSC bucket hats. Sales covered the initial outlay on these, with any profits intended for investment in enhancing the supporter match day experience.
Other small items of expenditure incurred as a result of running our core activities, can be shared as part of the full end of year account. We have continued to be self-financing and again, have not required financial input from Ospreys Rugby.
We have continued to develop our online shop and the option for contactless payment has proven popular with supporters. The efforts of committee members to continually improve what we can offer and in the most convenient way possible, is hugely appreciated by myself
and others involved.
Louise Collins-Davies, OSC Treasurer
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