SCSSC social diary

AGM 2010 information

We can now confirm that our AGM will be held in the evening of Saturday 5 June, with a 7.30pm start.

As well as being our AGM, this is of course also our main social event of the year.  It is great opportunity to meet fellow Stokies and exchange footy related banter. All members and their guests are welcome (but please note that only members can vote).

The Mad Hatter is a short walk from Waterloo and Southwark tube/train stations.  Temple and London Bridge are also not too far away, but please don’t try to come via Blackfriar’s station as it will be closed until 2011.

Beer drinkers will be pleased to know that it is a Fuller’s pub with a good range of their ales.  As the name implies it is also a hotel, so if you are really keen and coming from afar, you could stop over for the night. More venue details here.

As you enter the pub/hotel, turn right into the bar area.  We have the exclusive use of the separate area located furthest from the entrance — bear left around the bar — you can’t miss it.

We will be providing a free cold buffet for attendees, probably at half time, but the pub also serve bar meals for those that would prefer to have something more substantial (or maybe like Jeff you will want both!).  We understand that food is served all day up to 9.30pm.

Directions - see map below

From Southwark:  Turn left on exit from tube station.  Walk north up Blackfriar’s Road, towards the bridge, about 400 yds .  Turn left at the  major junction with Stamford Street.  You will see the venue immediately on your left.  

From Waterloo: Follow signs to the IMAX.  Bear right around the IMAX and take the steps up on to the east side of Waterloo Road.  Turn left up the steps so that you end up on the corner of Stamford Street.  Walk east along Stamford Street for about 600 yds.  Venue is on the right hand side.

SCSSC Gala Dinner — cancelled

It is with regret that we have finally abandoned plans to hold a ‘gala’ dinner’ this season.  We have tried our best to get something organised, as we were mandated to do at our AGM, but we have been unable to do so.  It is fair to say that we have probably become victims of Stoke City’s success!  In previous years, we did not have so many problems with fixtures being moved for TV and cup runs (!),  Furthermore, in the Premier League the club does not confirm the hotel it intends to stay at until a few weeks before a game, which makes arranging a meal at the same hotel rather difficult.  All of these factors, together with uncertainty over attendance in time of recession, are such that the committee decided that it was not in the club’s best interests to hold such an event this year.  Apologies for anyone who was still hoping that we would.

We will open the issue up for debate at our AGM.  We think that the dinner/hotel/meet the players format is not viable any more, or at least not whilst we are in in the PL.  An event at the Brit is also probably not viable right now, but may be in the future if the demand for hospitality slackens.  Perhaps we could consider smaller but more frequent events, e.g. Q&A sessions like the one we had with Denis Smith last year.  All suggestions welcome.  Contact any committee member if you have any thoughts, or bring them to the AGM.

Dartmouth Arms — end of an era?

We have just heard that Nick May has sold the Dartmouth Arms.  We have not had any contact with the new owners yet, but our best guess is that the days of having the Dartmouth as our main London watering hole may be coming to a close.   More news when we have it.
This was also going to be the venue for our AGM.  It may still be, but we are looking again at our options and will confirm the venue next month.

The Dartmouth Arms, 35 York Rise, Dartmouth Park, London NW5 1SP
www.dartmoutharms.co.uk Tel 0207 485 3267

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