There’s lots to consider when setting up or running a multi-sport club. While each club has its own unique set of circumstances, it can be helpful to find out how other clubs are set up and run and get their advice.
We spoke to Graeme Roberts, from Wirral Club Limited and Chair of Wirral Rugby Club, to find out more about his multi-sport club.
Wirral Club Limited (WCL) are a multi-sports club, based in Cheshire. They provide their local community with opportunities to take part in rugby and cricket, with over 600 members. WCL have three sections:
WCL and their respective sections pride themselves on the experience they offer and are proud that many of their junior members continue to participate through to adults, and some go on take up volunteering roles.
WCL attribute this to how well the club is run, its structure and its decision-making processes, which keep their people at the heart of everything they do.
WCL are a registered charity and company limited by guarantee. They are the umbrella organisation for Wirral Rugby Club Seniors, Wirral Rugby Club Minis and Juniors, and Wirral Cricket Club. WCL:
WCL also have a trading arm (also a company limited by guarantee), which has been set up to run the clubhouse and manage the finances associated to the income generated from the bar and venue hire.
Before setting up in this way, WCL looked at examples of other multi-sport clubs, carried out extensive research, and sought expert legal advice to ensure this structure was right for them.
The finances of WCL and its trading arm are managed by the overarching Board. However, each section of the club is responsible for its own finances, including:
Each section pays an agreed contribution to WCL, based on a proportion of the income they generate from membership fees, for the upkeep and development of the facilities used. The required contribution from each section is agreed between the various sections and regularly reviewed.
It’s always been accepted that the rugby section (including both the senior and junior and mini sections) would contribute more than the cricket section. This is due to their larger membership, and the fact that the cricket section is responsible for some of their own grounds maintenance (the cricket square and immediate surrounding area).
The WCL Board is made up of eight people, including five independent members and a representative from both the senior and junior rugby sections (two representatives) and the cricket section (one representative).
Representatives from each section provide updates and put forward priorities from their respective section at the meeting. The WCL Board includes their:
The Board is also hoping to add a health and safety representative in the near future.
The Board includes individuals with a range of skills and experiences. As an independent body, it makes decisions to meet the overall needs of WCL, rather than individual sections. Any decisions regarding the overall running of the club are made by the Board.
Each section has its own sub-committee, who are responsible for making decisions relating to their specific section.
Each sub-committee is responsible for the day-to-day running of their section, including:
The senior rugby section. for example, has a Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Disciplinary Officer, Safeguarding Officer, Rugby Safe Lead, County Representative, and Players' Representatives.
Membership is offered for each specific section. A discount is offered to those wanting to become a member of the rugby and cricket sections.
While membership is specific to each section, it also includes membership to WCL and enables full use of the facilities.
Each section has its own safeguarding, disciplinary procedures, accident reporting and insurance policies in place, as they’re often tailored to their NGB’s requirements.
WCL have their own overarching policies, which are adopted by each section, including: health and safety, employment, equalities, diversity and inclusion, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, procurement, and facility hire.
As the leaseholder of the facilities, WCL are responsible for the development of all the facilities and fixed assets at their site. This includes:
In addition to the use of the facilities by the rugby and cricket sections, a cycling group, archery club, and two football clubs also use their facilities.
Any external hiring of the facilities is managed by WCL, who receive the income associated to this. However, if the external hire is for the playing facilities used by a section of the club, this income is used to benefit that section. For example, if an external organisation hires the cricket pitch, this income contributes towards the upkeep of the wicket, or the cost associated to hiring winter indoor net facilities.
Part of the cricket outfield forms part of the first team’s rugby pitch. Due to the cross-over of the cricket and rugby seasons, this can be challenging and has been discussed, at length, by the WCL Board and each section. It has been agreed that the rugby first team play away from home for the first and third weeks of the season, so they don’t clash with the cricket first team.
When facilities require improvements or development, priority projects are put forward by each section, with final decisions being made by the Board.
