REVIEW OF THE OPERATIONS
This was the second accounting period for Wednesdayite Limited which took over the operations of the supporters trust for season 2014/2015 onwards.
Despite a reduction in the number of directors we managed a season where we broke records for both the car park and coaches.
The car park had 218 (2015 314) season permit holders using the car park as well as 5,098 (2015 4,690 cash paying cars over 28 games (2015 4,690 car over 24 games) generating income of £35,400 (2015 £23,169 ). The car park's previous landlord (Tesco Plc) sold its interest in the land to a Property Developer in January 2015. Previously we had a negotiated a peppercorn lease with Tesco, for the 2015/2016 season our rent was increased to £20,000, we surveyed the members before the start of the 2015/16 and agreed to increase our prices for the first time in five years. This price rise enabled us to maintain an healthy surplus on car park operations of over £40,000 (2015 £36,433), a just reward for the efforts of the six regular volunteers we have working on matchdays.
The away coach operation went from strength to strength. Exluding our Wembley trip for the play off final, we continued our excellent relationship with Wilfreda Beehive and chartered 51coaches to all 27 away games (2015 35 Coaches to 26 away games) in the season carrying 2,604 passenger 2015 (1,676 passengers). Producing gross income of just over £46,000 (2015 £30,000) after booking and credit card fees of £4,775 and coach hire costs of £33,000 we managed to have healthy surplus of over £8,000.
The trip to Wembley proved very challenging for us and we ended up running 12 coaches carrying just over 1,600 passengers to the game, this generated income of just over £24,000 although all coaches where full our costs on the day were £22,000 - including just over £2,000 on free gifts for all travellers, resulting in a surplus of £2,000, we wish to put on record our thanks to the volunteer coach stewards on the day whom without their assistance we would have not been able to operate these,
Membership was up on 2015/16 at 736 (2015 652) members, the membership pack was well received and many members commented that it was the best pack ever, with our unique tax disc car sticker, designed in house, getting rave reviews.
We continued to operate our, free to members, match day lounge at Niagara , giving members and their guests somewhere to meet with fellow Wednesdayites pre-match.
We managed to organise a special Hirsty Bar's in January 2016, attracting 254 attendees, with all proceeds going to Hayley Kalinins cancer treatment fund, overall £6,026 was generated. Wednesdayite agreed to pay all costs and booking fees for the event.
We continued our support of Steve Adams (Tricky Wingers) he operated our Primary school coaching scheme, Steve visited seven different primary schools in the year giving them over 200 hours of free in school time sports coaching to around 1,800 children. Steve recently passed away after a long battle with cancer, he will be missed by us all, hopefully his legacy will continue as we hope continue to support Tricky Wingers visting local primary schools.
Donations in the year totalled £20,417 with £1,500 going to Sheffield Wednesday Ladies Football Club £10,400 going to the SWFC community programme and £8,517 going to Hayley Kalinins cancer treatment fund.
We also sponsored the kits of Atdhe Nuhiu, Darryl Lachman and Sheffield Born Joe Wildsmith.
We continued to fund match tickets via our smile ticket scheme , our spend this season was £867.
Overall we generated a surplus of £21,000, however in order to secure the car park for 2016/17 we agreed to pay a rent of £20,000 in advance for the season.
THE FUTURE
2016/17 has seen the car park continue to be busy with permit sales at a record 360 permits. Due to this increase we have had to limit the number of cash paying cars to 200 to ensure all permit holders can park.
It is anticipated that this will be our last season operating the car park as the new owners have development plans, if this occurs we will see our income reduce substantially but we have built up healthy surpluses over the last few years to enable us to continue to support our other activities.
The coach service has continued to prove increasingly popular with our fantastic away following, with four away games left and hopefully play off games we have already carried 2,010 passengers being carried on 40 coaches to our 21 away games so far this season. With assistance fron TYG , our membership fulfilment partner, we moved our ticketing for coaches to them, saving us over £1 per passenger per trip in booking fees thus enabling us to keep coach prices at 2015/16 levels even though we had moderate increases in coach hire charges. Our coach partner Wilfreda Beehive continue to give us an excellent service.
The lounge has opened for almost every league and cup game this season, thanks to the support of Nigel Short in looking after this.
We continue to rely on a very small team of directors and volunteers in keeping the organisation going. We have been very fortunate to have a small but dedicated team of volunteers.
If you can help us and fellow fans by giving your time please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. stating your full name and contact details, or speak to Paul or Jeff on the car park on any matchday.
We intend to have a members meeting before the end of the season and will let members know the date and time in due course, but despertely need help in this respect, we need someone who will book a venue and organise the event.
Paul Holmes
Chairman
24 March 2017
