Boosh wrote:Felch wrote:The Dark Knight wrote:Held our AGM tonight. It was all pretty smooth sailing, the club is rebuilding financially quite well and a pretty stable commitee was selected.
Then the proposal to change our guernseys was put forward and the discussion over the proposed changes lasted longer then the entire meeting did.
A few guys have put forwarded a motion to change the guernseys we play in, some liked it and some didn't. The commitee will now go to the league about it and go from there.
The reason they want to change our guernseys from the prison-bar design to more of a black- dominated design is because they feel our on-field image has to change for the better and getting away from the prison bars is a good way of doing that. The club is changing it's off-field image, we are moving forward into a new era and a new guernsey could mark that. It's also about success aswell, the club hasn't had too much success in the current jumper. The last two year has been evidence of that, to go with that our ordinary succes rate in finals over the past years. Also not to mention the 25 year drought of an A grade premiership.
As for those against it both younger and older heads all believe that we should keep the prison bars and not lose our history and respect that history i.e The old Port Pres days. Alot of the older guys are big on this one and do not want the guernsey changed at all.
The new jumper has been earmarked as a new A grade only strip, an away strip or alternate strip, or even an entire new strip for the whole club, which I very much dobut will happen.
IMO, as much as I don't want too lose that history, I think we do need to start fresh in some sort of way and a new jumper could be the way to go. We've had to rebuild and change our image over the past couple of years and things have changed and are changing for the better IMO. We're on a new path now so a guernsey change and therefore an on-field change might be the best thing for the NHFC if success is to happen. Only time will tell.
This is all good DK, but i would think there are far deeper reason's as to why Haven have gone from arguably the second strongest club on the peninsula, to being in D6 and a basket case on the field all within a few years. Surely the majority of time at an AGM should be spent on how to get things back on track, not arguing about what strip to wear. No disrespect intended DK, but from my point of view (which is as an outsider), this is ludicrous.
Whilst there is no disputing North Haven have been in decline recently, some of the blame lies with the club and some was out of the clubs control. There have been financial restrictions over the past couple of seasons, which were no fault of the clubs but the club has to accept responsibility for some very poor coaching decisions. The result has been the loss of several key players and the capacity to replace them. Without starting this tedious arguement again paying players to some extent is necessary and 95% clubs do it whether they admit it or not and North Haven are guilty of both over using and now under using this facility for recruiting players.
In terms of where the club is now most of the above mentioned issues have previously been addressed and resolved. The club is financially very stable, we have a young enthusiastic talented coach and an improving playing group which will be supplemented by some senior aqcuisitions for next season.
Portland have certainly passed North Haven in the peninsula pecking order but its fair to say Portland are currently benifiting from a group of players that have come through the juniors that are very naturally talented (if not fit Picacchu and too bright Tommy Lipson) and North Haven certainly do not have that luxury.
Agree with you 100% Boosh, in fact you just emphasised my point about the madness involved in wasting time discussing guernsey changes.
Something to think about though - has Haven's playing group improved, or have they just got to a level where the current playing group can compete ? D6 is a long way from the verge of D3.
IMO, the peninsula is not big enough for Haven, Portland and Port Districts to all flourish at the same time. 2 of the 3 can, but that will always be at the 3rd club's expense. Swings and roundabouts though - you just need to ride out the troughs.
(for work) 
