Club Football by Alchemy Contract Publishing

CLUBFOOTBALL SEPTEMBER 2021

www.clubfootball.org.uk

Champions League Special Join us at the Festival of Clubs CL U B B USINE SS 2 0 21 • S TAT E O F T HE N AT IO N • CHAM PI ONS LE A GU E

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Contents SEPTEMBER 2021

NEWS, VIEWS, CLUB LIFE AND LEGISLATION

6 News Latest legislation, advice and updates.

9 News special Industry insights from analyst Ashley Cairns. How far down the ‘back to normal’ road are we really?

FESTIVAL OF CLUBS 11 Calling all Club Awards finalists! A special invitation. Join us as our guests for a night of celebration and recognition.

13 Club Business 2021 It’s bounce back time! Club-supporting suppliers are ready and waiting to share their latest news, products and advice.

14 Festival of Clubs Care to join us? Read all about it!

18 Club Association lunch Bringing together the UK’s club associations and industry experts – the great and the good.

20 Supplier of the Year Awards

HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS 30 Maintaining Coronavirus safety standards

Nominate your favourite suppliers and best-selling brands and you could win £100 for your club.

Coronavirus isn’t going away anytime soon it seems. A focus on how to keep up the good work when it comes to ensuring that members feel comfortable and safe at the club, with special offers for HQ Building the Business members.

40 Club Act of the Year Nominate your favourite club acts and you could be on your way to winning £500. Time to take a bow Clubland!

32 Food for thought 42 Whirlwind tour Sister title Club Mirror shares just some of its social media activity, past, present and future, providing a window to the Club Awards and a preview of the upcoming Festival of Clubs.

Five food trends and how they are shaping new safety requirements.

33 Fraud scams and how to avoid them FOOTBALL SPECIAL

46 Social Media in Clubland

22 Champions League fixtures

From tweeters to Instagram addicts, and from web wizards to Facebook fanatics, social media has more than proved its worth during lockdown and beyond.

Live Champions League football kicks off on 14 September. Use this fixtures list to enjoy all the action.

Coronavirus has given fraudsters more opportunities than ever to cheat consumers out of their money and identities.

34 The great outdoors Top tips and recipes for thrill-with-the-grill barbecue action.

24 The road to St Petersburg

CLUB SU

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Club Football looks ahead to the unmissable feast of Champions League football coming to club screens.

37 The wedding planner With the pandemic forcing wedding cancellations, couples are busy rescheduling. Is your club on the list?

27 The lure of Europa The second-tier Europa League will offer plenty of drama, with two Scottish clubs and two Premier League sides involved.

48 CIU Beer & Trades Exhibition

28 Attracting the crowds

52 It’s classified

There’s everything to play for as hero teams step on to the pitches. Are you prepared for the fray?

Products and services from club-supporting suppliers.

Showcasing the exhibitors at the CIU’s 29th Blackpool event.

CLUB FOOTBALL 3

LEADER

Contributors

Date for the diary – Festival of Clubs 25-26 November, 2021 From the smallest cricket club to the largest football club, from social clubs to political clubs and everything in between, the inaugural Festival of Clubs will celebrate every aspect of club life. And we’d love you to join us. On the evening of 25 November, we’re hosting the 2021 Club Awards Celebratory Dinner at Doncaster Racecourse where we applaud Clubland for coming through such a difficult time together.

Ashley Cairns

Chris Colverd

Sean Ferris

Karen Foreman

David Foster

Larry Hardcastle

Jonathan Hardy

Toby Johansson

Hamish Maclean

Justin O’Regan

Nick Sellens

Jill Slingsby

Earlier in the day, other activities include the new business-building trade show Club Business 2021 and the annual Beer Festival, where old friends and new will be on hand to discuss their latest products and services, all designed to help clubs bounce back after harsh times during the pandemic. As if that wasn’t enough, the annual Raceday then takes place the next day on Friday, November 26. In short then, there’s certainly much to celebrate and we expect to do it in our traditional, whole-hearted style! Also in this issue: a Champions League special with facts and fixtures to help you make the most of the tournament and HQ Building the Business, providing up to the minute advice on staying COVID-safe. Plus there are interesting insights in our analysis of the current position of Clubland – how much are we selling and what products are members and guests going for? “Clubland is on the move as we see them filled with members and guests – maybe watching a big sporting event or enjoying a barbecue,” says analyst Ashely Cairns. “But how far down the ‘back to normal’ road are we really?” Well one ‘ back to normal’ is at least a certainty. November will see one of the biggest ‘welcome back Clubland’ events in the social calendar. See you there? I hope so! For details of the Festival of Clubs turn to pages 11-15.

Caroline Scoular Editor

Editor Caroline Scoular Design David Foster Events Jill Slingsby, Karen Foreman, Guy Brennan Display Advertising Margaret Doherty Sales and Marketing Manager Leigh-Ann Ogilvie Circulation Jon Hardy Accounts Andrew Soles Publishing Director Sean Ferris

Club Football is published by Alchemy Contract Publishing Ltd, Gainsborough House, 59/60 Thames Street, Windsor SW4 1TX. Tel: 01753 272022. Fax: 01753 272 021 Email: caroline@alchemymedia.co.uk; sean@alchemymedia.co.uk; leigh-ann@alchemymedia.co.uk ACP Gainsborough House 59/60 Thames Street Windsor Berkshire SL4 1TX UK t. +44 (0)1753 272022 f. +44 (0)1753 272021 e.info@alchemycontractpublishing.co.uk www.alchemycontractpublishing.co.uk The views expressed in this journal are not necessarily those of the publisher. Club Football does not verify the claims made by advertisers regarding their products. CLUB FOOTBALL 5

CLUB NEWS

CMAE JOBS NOTICE BOARD Full details available at this QR code.

Managing Director Lyford Cay Club, New Providence, The Bahamas This private member-owned club features a state-of-the-art tennis and fitness centre, full-service salon and spa, 18 hole of golf course, in-house conference services, sailing, fishing and water sports recreation, a threequarter mile white sand beach, pool, accommodation and a vibrant social calendar. Clubhouse Manager Glasgow Golf Club, Glasgow Glasgow Golf Club seeks a Clubhouse Manager. The premier private members golf club has two championship courses and first class clubhouses for the modern golfing family. General Manager Bolton Golf Club, Lancashire An exciting opportunity has arisen for a new General Manager. Bolton Golf Club, boasts a championship golf course, large practice ground, excellent short game area and charming clubhouse, and is described as one the finest and friendliest golf facilities in the North-West. Chief Executive Officer Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society, Edinburgh The Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society Limited (Bruntsfield) is the fourth oldest golf club in the world. Over the last five years Bruntsfield has gone through significant change and modernisation, particularly in respect of the golf course, membership policy and the senior management team, and is continuing to invest heavily in prioritising its service to Members, guests and visitors. 6 CLUB FOOTBALL

Management and leadership programme launches The Sport and Recreation Alliance has launched a Management and Leadership Programme which aims to create opportunities for future senior leaders within the sector. As part of the development of the Alliance’s new strategy – Support. Recover. Achieve – the organisation is exploring ways in which it can support its members in the physical activity sector. Following consultation with members, it has identified a need for a tailored, dedicated

sports sector management development course to help shape and grow the next generation of senior leaders and directors in the sector. The intention is to invest in the development of colleagues who have shown the drive to be future leaders, resulting in ‘a diverse cohort of individuals who have been provided with the skills and techniques to help shape sport and recreation in the UK in the future’. The programme is principally aimed at those in

managerial roles who are looking to develop themselves and add value to their organisations. The sessions will be hosted by Amanda Bennett, a leading expert in good governance, effective leadership and inclusion. Amanda will be joined by crosssector leaders throughout the programme. • For more information visit www.sportandrecreation.org.uk/ events or use this QR code.

World’s first net zero carbon elite football match Sky have partnered with Tottenham Hotspur to host the world’s first net zero carbon football game at an elite level. The September 19 fixture between Tottenham and Chelsea, supported by COP26 and the Premier League, will be branded #GameZero, with the ambition of being net zero carbon. This is achieved when emissions are reduced as much as possible, with the remainder offset through natural projects that remove emissions from the atmosphere. Taking place six weeks ahead of the UN’s COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Sky, Tottenham Hotspur and the UK Government want the game to raise awareness of the threat of climate change. Jonathan Licht, Managing Director, Sky Sports, said: “We hope that by using the power of sport, we can inspire and support

football fans to make simple changes to reduce their carbon footprint and make more climate-friendly choices.” Tottenham Hotspur Chairman Daniel Levy said: “We are delighted to be the chosen partner of Sky on this groundbreaking initiative that will demonstrate the role our game can play in addressing the urgent issue of climate change. As the Premier League’s greenest club, Tottenham Hotspur is passionate about our planet - we look forward to showcasing our wide range of sustainable measures that are already in place and encouraging our fans to take simple actions that can make a huge difference.” Earlier this year, Tottenham Hotspur was named the Premier League’s greenest club following a study carried out by the UNbacked Sport Positive Summit.

Bowls England – ‘Fit For The Future’ Bowls England has launched a five-year plan designed to get more people playing and enjoying bowls. Ensuring that the sport is truly accessible to all by offering different formats to suit all time constraints is a key priority, as well as ‘driving more people to clubs in new ways’. Other priorities include creating positive playing experiences for everyone who steps on the green, putting volunteers first and leading the sport with purpose by developing Governance structures. Chief Executive Jon Cockcroft said: “Any person, regardless of background, postcode, physicality or bank balance can enjoy bowls. “Our ultimate goal is, through this strategy, to see one million people a year playing bowls at one of our incredible 2,000 clubs across the country by 2026.” The full strategy is available at www.bowlsengland.com or use this QR Code.

Going green with Glenfiddich Glenfiddich has launched a pioneering ‘closed loop’ sustainable transport initiative that will make it the first global spirits brand to run its delivery fleet on green biogas made from the residues of its own distilling process. Using a unique technology developed by its parent company William Grant & Sons, the Glenfiddich distillery at Dufftown in north-eastern Scotland converts its production wastes and residues into an Ultra-Low Carbon Fuel (ULCF) gas that produces minimal carbon dioxide and other harmful emissions. Each truck will displace up to 250 tonnes of CO2e annually, which has the same environmental benefit as planting up to 4,000 trees every year. Stuart Watts, William Grant & Sons’ distilleries director, said: “William Grant & Sons has been a pioneering distiller for more than 130 years, always exploring new processes and techniques to create sustainable benefits for our business and communities. We are proud of these renewable energy breakthroughs in our industry as we scale up the de-carbonising benefits of this closed-loop process across our entire transport fleet.” • Full story available at this QR code.

Join us at the Festival of Clubs November 25-26, 2021 Join us in November as we celebrate clubland at the inaugural Festival of Clubs. The festival brings together a series of events across Clubland, from awards, lunches and dinners to the all-new Club Business 2021 trade show, all built around the prestigious annual Club Awards. These events are designed to bring clubs, associations and suppliers together in a unique networking environment where

BEWARE HMRC FURLOUGH CLAWBACK WARNS MHA

we celebrate and join together to help the sector bounce back after lockdown. “For decades the Club Awards have created a unique opportunity for clubs to come together under one roof and to celebrate the best in the business. Due to the pandemic, judging was impossible in 2020, so we’re making up for it in the first ever Festival of Clubs,” says Managing Director, Sean Ferris. • Care to join us? Turn to pages 11-15 for details.

ukactive launches consultation on leisure provision for disabled people Leisure industry association ukactive has launched a new consultation to review the provision and impact of fitness and leisure facilities for disabled people. The work forms part of ukactive’s Everyone Can agenda, which is supported by Sport England, and aims to help remove the barriers to physical activity for disabled people. The consultation is open to all gyms, fitness and leisure facilities in the UK with survey results leading to publication of

implementable and practical measures for operators to build upon their existing offer for disabled people. Disabled people account for one in five of the UK’s population and were some of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent lockdown restriction. • For more information visit www.ukactive.com or use this QR code.

Suppor ted

All for charity

The Alzheimer’s Society The Alzheimer’s Society, originally established as the ‘Alzheimer’s Disease Society’, began in 1979 when two people with extensive experience of caring for loved ones with dementia discussed the pressing need to raise awareness of dementia. The society believes passionately that life doesn’t end when dementia begins: “We are here for anyone affected by dementia, and we do everything we can to keep people with dementia connected to their lives and the people who matter most. We are here for anyone worried about or affected by dementia. We provide information and support, fund and social research, and campaign for better quality of life for people with dementia and greater understanding of the condition.”

The Society has almost 3,000 community-based services across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, providing practical and emotional support for people with dementia and their carers. Research into the disease is paramount: “We are dedicated to defeating dementia through pioneering research, and fund an innovative programme of research into the cause, cure, care and prevention of dementia. “From lobbying to influencing health and social care commissioners to improving public understanding of dementia, we help people to live well in their own homes, residential homes or hospital.” • www.alzheimers.org.uk

With the furlough scheme coming to an end on 30 September, Nigel Morris, employment tax director at MHA MacIntyre Hudson argues that the scheme was a qualified success but businesses need to take action now to ensure HMRC doesn’t try to clawback furlough money. “The furlough scheme was a great success in preventing mass redundancies Nigel Morris until the economy rebounded. At its peak 8.9m people were on furlough; the latest figure is 1.9m. The overall cost (as of mid-July) is around £67.4bn and is due to top £70bn, which is nearly double the total UK defence spend in 2018/19!* A staggering amount of money and for the most part good value. “Yet the scheme was complex from the start and kept getting more complicated with various amendments and extensions made by the government. Administrative challenges were usually overcome but at a high cost to many employers. Many now fear innocent errors and incorrect claims will be pursued for many years by HMRC. “The advice to all businesses, as the scheme ends, must be to review all their furlough claims and ensure that if they have over-claimed, they make arrangements to pay HMRCback as soon as possible. This should help to avoid interest and penalties. HMRC and the National Audit Office estimate between 5% and 10% of the total furlough money claimed could represent overclaims. “Employers should also ensure that their auditors, bankers and investors are aware of any potential clawbacks. If the clawbacks are not budgeted for companies could end up in breach of borrowing and covenant requirements when they are called on to pay HMRC off. Furlough was a blessing at the time: you don’t want it turning into a major administrative and financial nightmare down the line. “The most common administrative slip up we have seen is where companies have forgottento work out claims for flexible furlough on calendar days (365 per annum) and have instead used working days (260 per annum) which they might use for the rest of the payroll. “Furlough was enough of a success that there is definitely merit in the unions’ suggestion for the creation of a long-term version of it to guard against another pandemic or perhaps a major economic downturn. Furlough 2.0 could draw examples of best practices from Europe, where these types of schemes already exist. A ‘permanent’ scheme would also help businesses to plan with added assurance, and give confidence to markets and funders should the unthinkable happen again.”

*HMRC statistics (July 2021) and MOD statistics (2020)

BT Sport bolsters European football portfolio Italy’s Serie A will be shown on BT Sport until at least 2024 . One of the most competitive tournaments in world football, the League involves some of the biggest names in world football, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Aaron Ramsey and Zlatan Ibrahimovic. The coverage of Serie A on BT Sport kicked off on August 21 and every single

match will be broadcast, totalling around 200 live games across the season. Meanwhile, BT Sport’s coverage of the new UEFA Champions League season begins on September 14 and the group stages of the UEFA Europa League begin on Thursday, September 16. (See pages 22 to 28 for more details.) • www.BTSport.com CLUB FOOTBALL 7

MAKE THE SMART SWITCH WANT TO REDUCE YOUR BEER, CIDER, WATER AND CO2 WASTE BY 87.5%?* FROM 1-TAP TO MULTI-TAP SYSTEMS, SMARTDISPENSE™ HAS THE SOLUTION FOR YOUR BAR’S NEEDS. “IT’S MADE A MASSIVE IMPACT ON SALES” “Complaints around the quality of our pints used to be a daily issue. So, we decided to completely change our offering and install SmartDispense™. Members now comment on the quality, and we’ve seen a 50% sales increase in the past two years.” ALAN NELSON – NEWTON AYCLIFFE WORKING MEN’S CLUB

“WE’VE SAVED TIME AND REDUCED OUR WASTE” “The reduction in wastage has seen us make huge savings – at least £3k this year - while the time saved on line-cleaning has resulted in efficiencies throughout the business.” RACHAEL SCOLLEN – THE GUN

SERVE CONSISTENTLY GREAT QUALITY GREENER PINTS AND BE PART OF THE NEXT MILLION PINTS OF WATER SAVED. CONTACT YOUR HEINEKEN SALES MANAGER OR VISIT SMARTDISPENSE.HEINEKEN.CO.UK

PROUD TO SERVE GREAT QUALITY BEER AND CIDER

*Based on 8-week cleaning cycle

NEWS SPECIAL

Moving back to normal Clubland is on the move as we see them filled with members and guests – maybe watching a big sporting event or enjoying a barbecue. But how far down the ‘back to normal’ road are we really? Ashely Cairns reports.

lubland always presents an extensive programme of social events and entertainments. Now, as members enjoy getting back into their local club, most activities are fully booked, which is great news for clubs (and do spare a thought for the artists who may not have performed for 18-months!). The UK holiday scene is also booming and parts of the UK are virtually full to bursting. The opportunities are coming back. But are we seeing this in the data? I’m asking the following three questions and will share the findings and observations in this article: • Are we back to normal? • How much are we selling? • What products are members and guests going for? Are we back to normal? Well, on the first question it is far too premature to talk of being back to normal. Where we are

right now is opening tentatively. The tentative description applies to licensees/stewards, committees and members/customers. Now, a closer scrutiny of the trade and how it is different to where we were. The wearing of masks is still highly prevalent amongst staff. Sanitisation regimes are significantly more prominent than existed pre-COVID-19. On-line booking is almost mandatory and lastly, among my four bigger observations, is that table service has moved forward in execution and frequently being retained. What this of course means, is that our members have some newer expectations for ‘normal’. It appears this relates to a large proportion of consumers. This may help the trade with its approach to general hygiene. Time will tell, but I certainly see that premises are airier and tidier. That can only help raise hygiene in the customer hierarchy of needs to a ‘must do well’ in licensed premises to attain their approval. From general research of consumers, the latest esti-

mates from a CGA Strategy Pulse Survey show that, for example, 69% of ‘nightclub-goers’ are re-engaging by hitting the dance floor. Across the whole of the market, that week commonly called ‘Freedom Day’ in England, data was showing that 73% of out of home customers have been back to the on trade. Behind this, the frequency of going-out is also down as a proportion of customers having reduced their visits. The research continues to indicate that younger persons are more comfortable going out compared to the older age group where there is a higher level of caution. The one positive is that consumers have an increased tendency to stay closer to home. Briefly, it looks like there are actually less customers at present and they are visiting less but staying local. There is, in the last element, that opportunity for some in Clubland to perhaps increase either their customer base or existing customers visit frequency. That is perhaps a challenge but in the long-run new customers are a must so go for it!

CLUB FOOTBALL 9

NEWS SPECIAL How much are we selling? The trade has opened up progressively since midMay, but still was constrained during that period with COVID-19 advice and regulations. Into lateJuly early-August we reached what resembled preCOVID-19 normal trading. Compare what members and staff had to do in, say, May 2021 to current and there are several important differences from the earlier time. These included elements such as: trading times being tighter; requirements in place to register a customer; asking them to wait to be seated and, lastly, only able to serve them at a table. All of those impositions made the on trade more stilted and slowed it down. If this was a plan, it seemed to work as has been seen in visit data (numbers of premises trading and volume of drink sold). To measure sales performance, total volumes have been converted to an all drinks count. This is a ‘standard drink serve’ and converts volume into standard drinks (i.e. a spirit is converted into a 25ml serve; a glass of wine to a 175ml glass and draught beer into a pint). Earliest signs from July’s data showed that trade is coming back, but there is still a way to go. Across the quarter, sales were down in all categories by -44% compared to same quarter in 2019, slightly worse when compared to 2018 at -46%. Over a 4-week period (19 June – 17 July) comparisons improved markedly as can be seen here, but there is a way to go until we may see parity.

Pd7 2021 17/7/21 -26.0%

All drinks volumes Pd6 2021 Pd5 2021 19/6/21 22/5/21 -35.9% -71.1%

That is a stark message. However, at this point there were still have restrictions in Wales and Scotland as well as other premises choosing not to open at that point. What products are customers going for? The earliest sales data is difficult to read (as outlined above) but the products side is perhaps a little easier to see in so far as it is the ‘Share of Drinks’ looked at by mix. The drinks range covered is Beer, Cider, Spirits, Wines and Soft Drinks. The analysis covered the 12 weeks up to mid-July 2021 and the relative measure used value sales across the Sports & Social Club channel. The biggest products categories still retain their dominance and so it can be seen that Draught Standard and Premium Lager are the two most important product categories, accounting for 35% of sales. This is in line with 2019 and 2018 levels. The next two are the same, although have swapped the historic positions as Draught Standard Ciders moved up to third spot over Keg Ales. I should point out that the latest data includes the late-Spring heat wave that certainly benefits the Cider category. It is quite possible that in the midst of the pandemic there was much more volatility and lower level of sales that these suffered

10 CLUB FOOTBALL

as shown in the chart below. Notably in this period we see that Cask rose to the 3rd largest product category. It is most likely that Cask, by virtue of its uniqueness, was a favourite drink especially in the takeaway format. Cask has dropped down to the seventh spot in 2021. Wine was 5th before and is 4th now. In the pandemic it dropped to 9th, but of course it was readily available via off sale, so less likely to have benefited during that most restrictive period. The rise up the sales value table of what are collectively called Non Cream Liqueurs, then add to this observation similar rises in draught Cola, plus rises for Mixers, Juices, Sparkling Wine (not

shown in chart) of the elements that form the cocktail. It is widely documented that cocktails are a growing serve type and that is an opportunity for Clubland. Collectively the ten product categories that are shown accounted for 70% of total sales value. This is a very similar level to the previous years of 2019 and 2018. As one can see there is a shift though in the categories at present. The hard to gauge element is as suggested above that the demand for cocktails or perhaps simpler established mixed spirits drinks is the upward trend in Clubland as it appears to be in other channels.

FESTIVAL OF CLUBS 2021

An invitation to previous Club Awards Finalists and Winners Dear Club Colleague, Your two free tickets for the Festival of Clubs As a previous Club Awards finalist we’re inviting you and a colleague to join us as our guests to the inaugural Festival of Clubs and to a night of celebration - the 2021 Club Awards Celebratory Dinner. The dinner takes place on Thursday, November 25, 2021 at Doncaster Racecourse. We’d love you to be there. This is the time to applaud all of our past finalists and winners who have come through a torrid time together. All clubs will be presented with a Certificate of Recognition on stage by our host, with live streaming and images posted online for easy access for the club and your members. If you’re able to come earlier in the day, other activities include our new business-building trade show Club Business 2021 and the annual Beer Festival. Our Raceday then takes place the next day on Friday, November 26 with complimentary tickets. In short, we do hope that you’ll be able to join us for an action-packed Festival of Clubs as we celebrate Clubland in all its shapes and sizes. With very kind regards and hope to hear from you soon.

Sean, Caroline, Cindy, Angie, Justin, The Festival of Clubs Team PS: Please complete the form overleaf so we can reserve your complimentary tickets.

clubmirror May 2021

AT THE HEART OF THE COMMUNITY

CLUBHOUSE EUROPE

ISSUE 23

CLUBFOOTBALL JUNE 2021

www.clubfootball.org.uk

Cheers! What’s new as clubs throw open their doors Plus: Football Special HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS NEW S SPECIAL THE ROLE OF TECHNOL OGY

Reaching out via Social Media? Time to shine – page 20

CMAE news – CMAE partners with Golf Saudi European Conference – hailed a virtual success HQ Building the Business – protecting the bottom line CCM Success – testimonials from across the globe

Club Journal June 2021

The magazine for all CIU members

75p

Union President salutes hard work of clubs as June 21 heralds return to normal conditions

Calling club footballers! Time to enter the 2021 BT Sport Pub Cup U E F A E U RO 2020 S PE CI AL • F E S TI VA L O F C L UB S • C L UB T E CHNO L O GY

Ahead of June 21, when club life is set to return to normal with the removal of all Coronavirus restrictions, Union President George Smith has paid tribute to the hard work and commitment of club members across the country who have steered their venues through 15 months of major disruption. “It’s a real testament to the calibre of officials running CIU clubs throughout the country that they have managed to battle through this dark time and come out the other side in such a strong position. “During the pandemic, when the country was put into lockdown and our clubs were forced to shut their doors, many of our clubs instantly sprang into action to work alongside local community organisations to help vulnerable people in their area. “As you will have read multiple times in the pages of the Club Journal over the past year, many of our clubs became food distribution centres and enlisted their members to deliver vital food packages to those sheltering from the virus who perhaps did not have close family and friends to rely on for supplies. “In addition, our clubs have been used as COVID testing stations and even, in some cases, vaccination centres, as the UK has fought back against the virus. “Against this backdrop, clubs – when allowed to open between lockdowns – have also had to adapt their trading conditions to meet the Government restrictions, investing significant club funds into COVID security measures in order to keep

Union President George Smith

their members safe.” Mr Smith welcomed the imminent end of restrictions which will allow club members to meet and enjoy themselves under normal conditions. “The finances of many of our clubs are very finely balanced,” he said. “Social distancing measures, reduced capacity and table serviceonly restrictions put a major dent in the ability of clubs to meet the costs of being open. “For example, many clubs rely on vital income from hiring out function rooms for private parties but that source of income has been missing since the start of the first lockdown and will only return after the restrictions end on June 21. “It has been very heartening to see members once again flocking back into their clubs since inside service returned on May 17 and that sense of optimism can only grow as the restrictions fall away in the coming weeks.

“Clubs have been very grateful for the Government’s financial support that has come their way during the pandemic in the form of grants and loans. “It’s very important that, going forward, the Government recognises how vital non-profit making members’ clubs are to their local communities, including providing social fellowship to otherwise isolated people, and give us the chance to recover fully. “As a Union, we will continue to press the Government at the highest level on the key issues which affect our member clubs’ ability to serve their members and local communities and ensure that our member clubs’ collective voice is heard by the powers-that-be.” For a feature on how clubs are approaching reopening, see pages 10-12

inside... Editor’s Letter . . . . . . . . . 2 Club News . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Club of the Month . . . . 14 HQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Crossword . . . . . . . . . . . 29

www.wmciu.org.uk

CLUB FOOTBALL 11

FESTIVAL OF CLUBS 2021

Introducing the 2021 Club Business Trade Show

LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN!

FESTIVAL OF CLUBS 2021 Indication of Ticket Requirements • CELEBRATORY GALA DINNER • HAIL THE ALE • CLUB BUSINESS TRADE SHOW 2021 Please note (and with the pandemic in mind) should you require extra paid-for tickets, be assured that all monies will be refunded should the event be unable to take place for any reason.

Join us and clubs from around the country as we come together at the club event of the year – the inaugural Festival of Clubs from the team at Club Football and the Club Awards. Just complete this form to confirm your two FREE tickets, any extra ticket requirements, or just email us at info@clubmirror.com. Name: __________________________________________ Job title/role: ________________________________________ Club Name: _________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________ _______________________________________________ ____________________________ Post code: _____________ CONTACT DETAILS: Please contact me via:

n n n n n

Email – Email: _____________________________________ Text – Mobile no: ___________________________________ Post – (as above)

PLEASE PRE-REGISTER ME/MY CLUB FOR (PLEASE TICK APPROPRIATE): One FREE ticket Two FREE tickets

PLEASE PRE-REGISTER ME/MY CLUB FOR THE FOLLOWING ‘NO-COMMITMENT’ INDICATION OF TICKET REQUIREMENTS’ n (State number) .......... ticket/tickets @£66 (£55+VAT)

n n

1 x Table of 10 (including 2 x free tickets) @ £528 (£440 + VAT) Other (please state) ..........................................................................................................................

I AM INTERESTED IN ATTENDING THE FOLLOWING EVENTS ON THE SAME DAY n Hail the Ale Beer FestivAL

JOIN US!

Club Business 2021

We look forward to hearing from you!

Festival of Clubs, ACP, 59-60 Thames Street, Windsor SL4 1TX e. info@clubmirror.com t. 01753 272022 12 CLUB FOOTBALL

FESTIVAL OF CLUBS 2021

The Festival of Clubs November 25-26, 2021 With events now back on the hospitality agenda, the Festival of Clubs promises to be an important new addition to Clubland’s calendar. See you there? he Festival of Clubs is a series of events, from trade shows to celebratory dinners and business-building ideas, all designed to welcome back Clubland in a safe, fun, free and invaluable two-day event, all built on the ever popular Club Awards and annual Beer Festival. The Festival brings together clubs, associations and suppliers, all keen to network, celebrate and join together to help each other bounce back from the lates, long lockdown.

THE STORY SO FAR The Club Awards, owned and run by sister title Club Mirror, are the only awards serving the UK’s buoyant club sector. The eagerly awaited annual event, launched to great acclaim back in 1992, continues to represent an exclusive, rare opportunity to bring together the independent club sector and suppliers at one venue.

CLUB FOOTBALL 13

FESTIVAL OF CLUBS 2021

AND NOW IN 2021 Due to Coronavirus, the 2020 Club Awards were unable to take place. Throughout the pandemic, clubs across the land were busy working within their communities, from setting up food banks to acting as vaccination centres. At the same time, they have been refurbishing and revamping their clubs as they prepared for the long-awaited reopening. Our annual event in 2021 is therefore a celebration of clubs across the land. EVENTS & ACTIVITIES INCLUDE • Club Awards Celebratory Dinner • Club Business 2021 • Supplier Awards • Club Associations Lunch • Hospitality Social Media Awards • Club Act of The Year • Beer Festival (Other activities in the pipeline to be announced.)

14 CLUB FOOTBALL

Club Business 2021 The inaugural Club Business Trade Show & Exhibition will see clubs and club-supporting suppliers seizing the opportunity to network with their peers, club associations and industry experts, all with the aim of building club business, protecting the bottom line and ensuring that members can enjoy the best possible experience as they come back to their favourite club. The show takes place on Day 1 of the first-ever Festival of Clubs, where clubs and suppliers can share news, swap views and discuss latest updates on what’s on the market in an infomal setting.

CARE TO JOIN US? Whether you’d like to visit Club Business 2021 or celebrate in style at the celebratory dinner, just drop the team a line and we’ll book you in. e. info@clubmirror.co.uk t.+44 (0) 1753 272022 www.clubmirror.com

CLUB FOOTBALL 15

THE CLUB ASSOCIATION LUNCH

What’s my wine? The Club Association Lunch serves a serious purpose – to pull associations together and create a forum for dialogue. But there’s a lot of fun to be had along the way. Enter What’s my Wine!

an you spot a merlot at 20 paces? Does your nose know its Chardonnay from its Cabernet? That’s what we’ll be asking attendees at the upcoming Club Association Lunch. In true Call my Bluff style, our panel of wine experts will invite guests to taste six wines (two per course). Each expert will then attempt to persuade the audience that their description is the correct one. So who’ll tell the truth and who’ll be caught out? All will be revealed on November 25 in Doncaster as part of the Festival of Clubs.

18 CLUB FOOTBALL

COMMON WINE TASTING TERMS Acetic

The wine has been “got at” by bacteria.

Acidity

The essential natural component which gives wine freshness and zing and prevents it from cloying.

Aggressive

Over-tannic or over-acidic.

Alcoholic

Over-alcoholic wines tastes “hot”, burns the palate.

Apple

A smell often found in young white wines.

Aromatic

Often associated with wines made from grapes such as the Gewürztraminer and Muscat.

Baked

Like stewed fruits, probably from an over-warm vintage.

Balance

A balanced wine has its fruitiness, acidity, alcohol and tannin (for reds) in pleasant harmony.

Bite

High acidity, good in young wine.

Blowsy

Exaggeratedly fruity, lacking bite.

Body

A full-bodied wine fills the mouth with flavour.

Bouquet

Smell.

Chocolate

For some people, a sure sign of the pinot noir grape.

Closed

Has yet to show its quality.

Complex

Having a diverse, well blended mixture of smells and flavours.

Corked

A wine spoiled by a bad cork has a musty smell and flavour.

Crisp

Fresh, lively, with good acidity.

Depth

Wine with depth fills the mouth with lingering flavour.

Dry

Having no obvious sweetness.

Elegant

Restrained, classy.

Fat

Used to describe mouth filling wines, especially Chardonnay and white wines from the Rhone and Alsace.

Finesse

Understated, classy.

Finish

How a wine’s flavour ends in the mouth. Can be “long” or “short”

Herbaceous

Think of a cross between grass and flowers – “planty”.

Hollow

Lacking depth and roundness.

Hot

Used to describe over-chaptalised, over-alcoholic wines.

Jammy

A jammy fruit smell often signifies red wines from hot countries.

Legs

The visible evidence of glycerine in a wine, these are the “tears” that run down the glass’s side after swirling.

Lemon

Young whites may display a lemony freshness.

Length

The time the flavour stays in the mouth.

Nose

The smell of a wine.

Nutty

Especially of Chardonnay and sherry.

Oaky

In moderation, pleasant, like vanilla.

Oxidised

If a table wine looks and smells of sherry, it’s oxidised.

Palate

The flavour, and what you taste it with.

Quaffable

Everyday wine, usually soft, fruity and undemanding.

Residual Sugar The natural grape sugar left in a wine which has not been fermented into alcohol. Ripe

Grapes were fully ripe when picked.

Robust

Solid, full-bodied.

Round

Smooth and harmonious.

Short

Wine with a short finish.

www.londonwineacademy.com

CLUB FOOTBALL 19

SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

CLUB SU

YEAR HE

IER OF L T PP

MIN

N O AT I

Supplier of the Year Awards Clubs are at the top of their game when it comes to working with suppliers and favourite club brands. So which brands are truly pulling their weight? And which brands are consistently proving their worth at the club bar? Time to nominate! And as a thank you, your details will be entered in to a Free Prize Draw with the chance to win £100 for your club. Name: ________________________________________________________________________________ Club name: _____________________________________________________________________________ Your email: _____________________________________________________________________________ Tel: ___________________________________ SUPPLIER OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS My top supplier/s (up to 3) are: 1 _________________________

2 __________________________ 3 __________________________

My top drinks brand/brands (up to 5) at the bar are: 1__________________________ 2 ___________________________ 3 __________________________ 4 __________________________ 5 ___________________________ The most highly nominated suppliers and brands will be recognised during the Festival of Clubs at Doncaster Racecourse on 25 November, 2021. How to nominate: You can send in your nominations by email to caroline@alchemymedia.co.uk with the subject line ‘Supplier of The Year Nominations’. Alternatively, cut out this form and post to: ACP/Supplier of the Year Awards, 59-60 Thames Street, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 1TX Deadline: 15 October, 2021 20 CLUB FOOTBALL

Marston’s Beer Company – now the Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company – was presented with a Special Award at the last pre-Covid Club Awards Dinner.

CLUB FOOTBALL 21

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE 2021 The 2021/22 Champions League final takes place on Saturday, 28 May, 2022 at the Krestovsky Stadium, Saint Petersburg.

Champions League – fixtures Live Champions League football on TV is shown exclusively by BT Sport in the UK, kicking off on 14 September. Use this fixtures list to make sure that the club enjoys all of the action. Tuesday 14 September 2021

Tuesday 28 September 2021

17.45

Sevilla

RB Salzburg

17.45

Ajax

Besiktas

17.45

Young Boys

Man Utd

17.45

Shakhtar Donetsk

Inter Milan

20.00

Barcelona

Bayern Munich

20.00

AC Milan

Atlético Madrid

20.00

Chelsea

Zenit St Petersburg

20.00

Borussia Dortmund

Sporting CP

20.00

Dynamo Kiev

Benfica

20.00

FC Porto

Liverpool

20.00

Lille

Wolfsburg

20.00

PSG

Man City

20.00

Malmo

Juventus

20.00

RB Leipzig

Club Brugge

20.00

Villarreal

Atalanta

20.00

Real Madrid

Sheriff Tiraspol

Wednesday 15 September 2021

Wednesday 29 September 2021

17.45

Besiktas

Borussia Dortmund

17.45

Atalanta

Young Boys

17.45

Sheriff Tiraspol

Shakhtar Donetsk

17.45

Zenit St Petersburg

Malmo

20.00

Atlético Madrid

FC Porto

20.00

Bayern Munich

Dynamo Kiev

20.00

Club Brugge

PSG

20.00

Benfica

Barcelona

20.00

Inter Milan

Real Madrid

20.00

Juventus

Chelsea

20.00

Liverpool

AC Milan

20.00

Man Utd

Villarreal

20.00

Man City

RB Leipzig

20.00

RB Salzburg

Lille

20.00

Sporting CP

Ajax

20.00

Wolfsburg

Sevilla

22 CLUB FOOTBALL

Tuesday 19 October 2021

Wednesday 24 November 2021

17.45

Besiktas

Sporting CP

17.45

Besiktas

Ajax

17.45

Club Brugge

Man City

17.45

Inter Milan

Shakhtar Donetsk

20.00

Ajax

Borussia Dortmund

20.00

Atlético Madrid

AC Milan

20.00

Atlético Madrid

Liverpool

20.00

Club Brugge

RB Leipzig

20.00

FC Porto

AC Milan

20.00

Liverpool

FC Porto

20.00

Inter Milan

Sheriff Tiraspol

20.00

Man City

PSG

20.00

PSG

RB Leipzig

20.00

Sheriff Tiraspol

Real Madrid

20.00

Shakhtar Donetsk

Real Madrid

20.00

Sporting CP

Borussia Dortmund

Wednesday 20 October 2021

Tuesday 7 December 2021

17.45

Barcelona

Dynamo Kiev

17.45

PSG

Club Brugge

17.45

RB Salzburg

Wolfsburg

17.45

RB Leipzig

Man City

20.00

Benfica

Bayern Munich

20.00

AC Milan

Liverpool

20.00

Chelsea

Malmo

20.00

Ajax

Sporting CP

20.00

Lille

Sevilla

20.00

Borussia Dortmund

Besiktas

20.00

Man Utd

Atalanta

20.00

FC Porto

Atlético Madrid

20.00

Young Boys

Villarreal

20.00

Real Madrid

Inter Milan

20.00

Zenit St Petersburg

Juventus

20.00

Shakhtar Donetsk

Sheriff Tiraspol

Tuesday 2 November 2021

Wednesday 8 December 2021

17.45

Malmo

Chelsea

17.45

Juventus

Malmo

17.45

Wolfsburg

RB Salzburg

17.45

Zenit St Petersburg

Chelsea

20.00

Atalanta

Man Utd

20.00

Atalanta

Villarreal

20.00

Bayern Munich

Benfica

20.00

Bayern Munich

Barcelona

20.00

Dynamo Kiev

Barcelona

20.00

Benfica

Dynamo Kiev

20.00

Juventus

Zenit St Petersburg

20.00

Man Utd

Young Boys

20.00

Sevilla

Lille

20.00

RB Salzburg

Sevilla

20.00

Villarreal

Young Boys

20.00

Wolfsburg

Lille

Wednesday 3 November 2021 17.45

AC Milan

FC Porto

17.45

Real Madrid

Shakhtar Donetsk

20.00

Borussia Dortmund

Ajax

20.00

Liverpool

Atlético Madrid

15, 16, 22, 23 February 2022

20.00

Man City

Club Brugge

20.00

RB Leipzig

PSG

8, 9, 15, 16 March 2022

20.00

Sheriff Tiraspol

Inter Milan

20.00

Sporting CP

Besiktas

5, 6 April 2022

Tuesday 23 November 2021

Teams and matches for 2022 to be confirmed

20.00

UEFA Champions League Round of 16 1st Leg

UEFA Champions League Round of 16 2nd Leg

UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 1st Leg

17.45

Dynamo Kiev

Bayern Munich

12, 13 April 2022

17.45

Villarreal

Man Utd

20.00

Barcelona

Benfica

26, 27 April 2022

20.00

Chelsea

Juventus

20.00

Lille

RB Salzburg

3, 4 May 2022

20.00

Malmo

Zenit St Petersburg

20.00

Sevilla

Wolfsburg

Saturday 28 May 2022

20.00

Young Boys

Atalanta

20.00

UEFA Champions League Quarter-Final 2nd Leg

UEFA Champions League Semi-Final 1st Leg

UEFA Champions League Semi-Final 2nd Leg

UEFA Champions League Final

CLUB FOOTBALL 23

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPECIAL – NEW SEASON

The road to St Petersburg What is set to be an epic season of UEFA Champions League football kicks off on September 14 as the Premier League’s finest teams set their sights on going all the way in the illustrious European competition. Club Football looks ahead to the unmissable feast of football coming to our screens.

he world’s most illustrious club competition returns in September with hopes high that England’s four representatives – Chelsea, Manchester City, Manchester United and Liverpool – can mount strong challenges for the fabled trophy. Competition will be fierce, however, and when you throw Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund and Atletico Madrid into the mix, there is very little room for error for any team hoping to go all the way. And with UEFA repealing their earlier ban on travelling fans in light of the improving Coronvirus situation, it is likely that the upcoming games will generate some of the fantastic atmospheres we’ve come to expect from the competition. For the majority of fans who will not travel, the blanket coverage of the tournament by BT Sport – the broadcaster is showing every single game live – will be very welcome to club members eager to watch the world’s best players performing on the European stage. Holders Chelsea have strengthened their ranks over the summer with the arrival of Romelu Lukaku and Saul Niguez and will have every intention of successfully defending their title won in the final against Manchester City last season with a 1-0 scoreline, having despatched Real Madrid 3-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals. is time around, omas Tuchel’s side find themselves up against Juventus, Zenit St Petersburg and Malmö in Group H in the initial stage of the competition. First up, they take on Russian champions Zenit at Stamford Bridge on September 14 before travelling to Turin to face arguably their strongest of the group, Juventus, two weeks later. Swedish side Malmö, who are managed by former Newcastle striker Jon Dahl Tomasson, make up what should be a relatively straightforward group for the west London club to progress from. Despite the relatively favourable draw for Chelsea for the group stages, club legend Petr Cech, who is now the Blues’ technical and performance advisor, says that the team is taking nothing for granted as they prepare the defence of their title. “You always have to respect the traditional

24 CLUB FOOTBALL

teams like Juventus and you always have to respect every opponent you get in the group in the Champions League,” said Cech. “ese are big games and Zenit and Malmo will want to play their part in the group stage and give themselves a chance to get as many points as possible, so we have to respect that. “e players and staff and everybody knows that once you win something, you are always the one everybody wants to play against and it is a special motivation. It is always harder to retain titles so we know it’s going to be tough. “We go into the group as reigning champions and everybody will expect us to do well and we will have to live with that fact. “You want to show that you can do it again and it’s not easy, but we have a great squad and people with experience so we know that we can cope with those expectations, now we have to prove it on the pitch.” Expectations are also high at Manchester City whose dream of Champions League glory was dashed once again last season as they lost to Chelsea in the final, despite the vast talent at their disposal coupled with the tactical acumen of manager Pep Guardiola. Guardiola will no doubt have a masterplan to neutralise Lionel Messi – with whom he won two Champions League titles at Barcelona – after City were drawn to play the Argentinian maestro’s new side, Paris Saint-Germain, in this season’s group stage. e two clubs are joined in Group A by RB Leipzig and Belgian champions Club Brugge, two relatively unfancied sides. City are sure to be a force to be reckoned with, particularly with Romeo Lavia and £100 million man Jack Grealish as the new additions to a squad already overflowing with footballing talent. It will be fascinating to see how they fare against PSG, one of the few European teams around who can match City for both resources and lofty European ambitions – as the Parisians’ hefty summer transfer bill demonstrates. Last season, City met the French side at the semi-final stage, beating the French giants 2-1 in Paris and 2-0 at the Etihad, so will have huge confidence that they can top the group, despite the various changes in playing personnel at both teams in the interim. City’s Sporting Director, Txiki Begiristain, however, sounded a note of caution after the

group draw was made in August. “We have been through against PSG before but you have to understand they have improved every year and now this summer, even more,” he said. “e signings they have made, the names and the quality of the players they have, are clear to see. “You see the groups in this season’s competition, like the one featuring Porto, Atletico Madrid, Liverpool and Milan. “Just to get to the knockout round is going to be unbelievably difficult for all those sides. Some of the big names in football are going to be out at the group stages. at is the magnitude of this competition.” e 2019 champions Liverpool certainly have a tough task ahead with some quality opponents facing them in the group but manager Jurgen Klopp remains optimistic of his side's chances of progressing. “It’s a tough group obviously,” Klopp told LiverpoolFC.com. “It’s the Champions League, so that’s how it is, and you have to play the best teams in Europe, and obviously some of them are in our group. “We played, I don’t know how often, already against Porto, so they will be waiting for us. We have obviously a little bit of an open bill with Atletico, and AC Milan, a historical one obviously. “So, I think our supporters should be looking forward to it – we are, for sure. I know that people sit always at home and think, ‘Ah come on, that would be cool, then you have this team together and the worst of pot four and the worst of pot on’ and all this kind of stuff. “So, we didn’t get that obviously but we’re still pretty ambitious and would like to show the really hard work from last year, qualifying for the Champions League, that it was worth it. at’s how we will play the games.” e Reds get their campaign underway on Matchday 1 against AC Milan. Amazingly, this is only the third competitive meeting for these two giants of European football. e first was Liverpool’s shoot-out success in the 2005 UEFA Champions League football: the ‘Miracle of Istanbul’, in which the Reds hauled back a 3-0 deficit to triumph. e last encounter was in 2007 when Milan were 2-1 winners in Athens.

BT Sport will be showing every game of the new UEFA Champions League season live

CLUB FOOTBALL 25

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SPECIAL – NEW SEASON The UEFA Champions League coverage gets underway on Tuesday, September 14

Meanwhile, Manchester United find themselves in a far more favourable position in Group F of the tournament where they face ties against Atalanta, Villarreal and Young Boys, none of which are regarded as heavyweight opponents at the rarefied level of European competition. United have reached two Champions League quarter-finals in the past 10 years and have been resoundingly beaten in both, by Barcelona in 2019 and Bayern Munich in 2014. With the sensational signing of veteran superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as the likes of England star Jadon Sancho and four-time Champions League winner Raphael Varane, United will be looking to go the distance in

Europe this season – starting with winning their group. ey begin the campaign with an away trip to Switzerland to face Young Boys on Tuesday, September 14 in what could be Ronaldo’s ﬁrst European game for Manchester United since a 2-0 defeat in the 2009 ﬁnal against Lionel Messi’s Barcelona. Interestingly enough, Ronaldo leads Messi 134-120 in the competition’s all-time scorers list and will be aiming to widen that gap further during 2021-22. e rivalry between these two all-time great players – both showing absolutely no signs of succumbing to the ageing process – will be just one of the many side-plots in what is sure to be

an epic season of UEFA Champions League football. For a demonstration of the quality of the competition, Matchday 1 features a group clash between Bayern Munich and Barcelona at the Nou Camp – a massive game for neutrals and diehard fans alike and a head-to-head which would be worthy of a ﬁnal. Bayern have notched up six European Cup/UEFA Champions League titles in their illustrious history – the latest in 2020 – while Barcelona have an incredible eight wins at the highest level of European competition, the last time in 2015. It all adds up to a feast of unmissable football across the group stages and beyond.

UEFA Champions League 2021/22 - Key Dates Group stage 14/15 September: Matchday 1 28/29 September: Matchday 2 19/20 October: Matchday 3 2/3 November: Matchday 4 23/24 November: Matchday 5 7/8 December: Matchday 6 Knockout stage 13 December 2021: Round of 16 draw 15/16/22/23 February & 8/9/15/16 March: Round of 16 18 March: Quarter-final & semi-final draws 5/6 & 12/13 April: Quarter-finals 26/27 April & 3/4 May: Semi-finals 28 May: Final (Gazprom Arena, Russia)

26 CLUB FOOBALL

EUROPA LEAGUE/EUROPA CONFERENCE LEAGUE

The lure of Europa The Champions League might be Europe's premier club competition, but the second-tier Europa League will offer plenty of excitement, drama and thrills of its own in the 2021/22 season, particularly from a British angle with two Scottish clubs and two Premier League sides involved. Europa League – Groups Group A: Lyon, Rangers, Sparta Prague, Brondby Group B: Monaco, PSV Eindhoven, Real Sociedad, Sturm Graz Group C: Napoli, Leicester, Spartak Moscow, Legia Warsaw Group D: Olympiakos, Eintracht Frankfurt, Fenerbahce, Royal Antwerp Group E: Lazio, Lokomotiv Moscow, Marseille, Galatasaray

here is plenty of British interest in the UEFA Europa League and European Conference League this season with Leicester City, West Ham, Rangers and Celtic in the second-tier competition and Spurs competing in the new third-tier Conference League alongside some fairly exotic sides from the length and breadth of Europe. Leicester will face Napoli, Spartak Moscow and Legia Warsaw in Group C of the 2021-22 Europa League. West Ham will play Dinamo Zagreb, Genk and Rapid Vienna in Group H. Scottish champions Rangers have been drawn against Lyon, Sparta Prague and Brondby in Group A, while Celtic are in Group G with Bayer Leverkusen, Real Betis and Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros. In the the Europa Conference League, Tottenham will play Rennes, Vitesse and NS Mura of Slovenia in Group G.

Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan, Seville – hosting the final on May 18, 2022.

The first group stage matches will take place on Thursday, September 16, while the final round of fixtures are due to be completed on December 9. This season’s Europa League final will take place in the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan in Seville on Wednesday, May 18. The inaugural Europa Conference League final will take place at the Air Albania Stadium in Tirana on Wednesday, May 25. Leicester finished fifth last season in the Premier League to qualify for the Europa League for the second successive year, while West Ham secured a top-six finish to secure their place in the group stage for the first time. The Foxes reached the last 32 of the Europa League last season before losing 2-0 on aggregate to Slavia Prague, who eliminated Rangers in the next round. Steven Gerrard’s side were beaten by Malmo in the Champions League third qualifying round in August to drop into the Europa League qualifying play-off, where they edged past Armenian side Alashkert to clinch a group stage place in the second-tier event for the fourth consecutive season. Celtic have also reached the group stage for the fourth year in a row after surviving a second-leg scare to beat AZ Alkmaar 3-2 on aggregate. Tottenham overturned a first-leg deficit against Pacos de Ferreira to reach the group stage of UEFA’s new third-tier European competition after finishing seventh in the Premier League last season. All the action will be exclusively live on BT Sport, ensuring that fans don’t miss out on their teams’ journey through Europe.

Group F: Braga, Red Star Belgrade, Ludogorets, Midtjylland Group G: Bayer Leverkusen, Celtic, Real Betis, Ferencvaros Group H: Dinamo Zagreb, Genk, West Ham, Rapid Vienna

Europa Conference League – Groups Group A: LASK, Maccabi Tel-Aviv, Alashkert, HJK Helsinki Group B: Gent, Partizan, Flora Tallinn, Anorthosis Famagusta Group C: Roma, Zorya Luhansk, CSKA Sofia, Bodo/Glimt Group D: AZ Alkmaar, CFR Cluj, Jablonec, Randers Group E: Slavia Prague, Feyenoord, Union Berlin, Maccabi Haifa Group F: FC Copenhagen, PAOK, Slovan Bratislava, Lincoln Red Imps Group G: Tottenham, Rennes, Vitesse, NS Mura Group H: Basel, Qarabag, Kairat Almaty, Omonoia

CLUB FOOTBALL 27

MARKETING MATCHES

Marketing matters – attracting the crowds There’s everything to play for as hero teams step on to the pitches. But while they have their work cut out, so too do clubs, as thousands of licensed premises compete for the hearts, minds and wallets of fans country-wide. Are you prepared for the fray? Marketing matters Clearly communicate the date and start times. Place banners, signs and posters at strategic points around the club, and make use of materials available from suppliers.

Guest players Don’t forget to bring the word-ofmouth tactic into play. Ask members to spread the word, and invite them to draw in guests for the activities.

Hi tech, hi performance The quality of screens should rank highly on any check list. Funds permitting, now could be the time to invest in a new system Or consider screening sports alfresco on allweather screens to recreate an on-the-terraces atmosphere.

ajor sporting events present exciting opportunities for clubs to draw in nonregulars, lapsed members and guests. Sports clubs, quite naturally, have the advantage, as members are already conditioned to their visits having a sporting bent. But the Champions League always presents clubs with a sporting chance to score heavily on the bottom line. Customers are confronted daily with offers and deals at their local pubs and bars, so promotions centred around subsidised drinks prices are not enough. Your proposition will, of course, match or better these, so play on the other factors which can provide the competitive edge – a safe, membersand-guests-only environment and a raft of add-ons to enhance the viewing experience.

Dressing the bar With the plethora of bunting, banners and POS material available from suppliers surrounding various sporting events, clubs can dress the bar – and bar staff – to reflect the excitement of the matches.

Food glorious food Providing snacks before kick off, at half time and during the last quarter of the game will keep spectators’ stomachs replete. They’re then more likely to stay for the classic postmatch activities – bemoaning the standard of linesmen (we lost) or celebrating the insightful referee (we won).

All bar none Suppliers have been working hard to maximise the consumer spend during this iconic tournament; enlist their support. Obvious advice, but category management is key. Move best sellers to the front of the fridge, and consider offering ‘all-in’ deals, such as jugs of beer, buy one get one free, free hot dog with every four pints and so on. Tactical top ups during the last 10 minutes of the game will help to keep members in the club longer. And don’t forget the soft drinks for members who are driving, need to return to work in peak fitness, or who simply prefer them.

Speedy service No one wants to miss the action while they queue at a busy bar for the next round. Table service can help here if you have the staff to spare. Or take a tip from theatre land and invite members to pre-order before the action starts. Look at spill-free trays, four pint jugs and bottle-seller bags to speed up service.

The team Staff on the ball? Bring them on side and brief them thoroughly. What’s being screened and when? Who’s going through to the next round? How about providing footballrelated questions to ask members as they buy a round. Get it right and members get a free packet of crisps (or similar).

Competitions Quizzes will separate the men from the boys, and – if you want to go there – check out who really understands the off-side rule.

Post match magic Don’t let the final whistle herald the end of the event. Having worked to build the atmosphere, keep it going once the screen is turned off. Run a question and answer session on the game just witnessed, for example. Enjoy!

28 CLUB FOOTBALL

Score 50% off BT Sport With Budweiser Brewing Group. Simply add a draught Budweiser Brewing Group Brand to your bar to qualify. 12 month plan. New customers only. Call BT Sport now on

0800 917 3196

BT Sport on 12 month contract: This offer is available, at BT’s discretion, to customers who have qualified for the BT/BBG Additional BBG Brand Offer or the BT/BBG New Customer Offer before 30th June 2021. This will be applied following confirmation that your additional BBG brand has been installed. Customers who take this offer must sign up to BT Sport Total with a 12 month minimum contractual period. If you terminate the service during the minimum period, you may incur early termination charges. If you are a Pub, Golf Club or club affiliated to Corca your subscription charges will be based on the rateable value of your premises. Please call to confirm your rateable value and BT Sport subscription price. Not available in conjunction with any other offers other than those mentioned above. This offer is subject to BT’s Agreement for BT Sport – Commercial Premises (Single Premises) which can be found at business.bt.com/terms/#sport, BT/BBG New BT Sport Customer Offer.

HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

Coronavirus isn’t going away anytime soon it seems, so in this issue we focus on how to keep up the good work when it comes to ensuring that members feel comfortable and safe at the club. On the topic of safety, we also highlight some of the most prevalent frauds and scams which have emerged during the pandemic, and examine how to avoid them. Plus: Five food trends and how they are shaping new safety requirements.

Maintaining Coronavirus safety standards HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS is here to help clubs come out of the Coronavirus pandemic in fighting fit shape. Take a look at just some of these key products and services, all designed to ensure a Covid-safe environment.

rom utilities and energy savings to procurement and financial services, HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS is here to help clubs come out of the Coronavirus pandemic in the best possible shape. This issue the focus is on maintaining safety for all levels of post-lockdown stages,. By working with supporting partners and suppliers, this complimentary service for readers saves time and resources, freeing club officials to run the important bits of club life – looking after members. Sanitiser products and Personnel Protective Equipment Sanitiser products and Personnel Protective Equipment (PPE) are available to readers with an additional 10% saving on first orders for products such as: • Face masks • Safety visors • Detergents, hand and cleaning • Disposable gloves • Dispensers Quote HQWELCOME10 on your first order. Deep cleaning assistance Technicians will disinfect areas and objects that pose a threat of cross contamination using Steri-7. Steri-7 is a high-level surface disinfectant, killing up to 99.99% of a broad range of pathogens within seconds of contact. The areas disinfected will be all touchpoints in club premises, such as door handles, light switches, tales, seat arms and kitchen surfaces etc to help minimise the risk of microbial transfer. Additional ultra-low volume (ULV) disinfection fogging can be used when required for the treatment of large areas in a short space of time as the small droplets of the disinfectant fog settle underneath, on top of and on the sides of many objects and inaccessible areas to help make your club clean and safe. Fevercam systems and equipment

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single camera system on the market today. It is UK developed and ISO27001 Certified. Alcohol based sanitiser room bombs This product sanitises a room in less than one hour, killing germs making the room virus free and at the same time smelling fresh. You can see the demonstration video at this link. Sanitiser Room Bombs, suitable for rooms up to approximately 12 m2 per single use can.£117.60 + vat per case of 12 cans + £10 delivery UK wide. To order or receive a product spec sheet please contact 07495893993 or email enquiries@hqbuildingthebsuiness.com.

Manage the temperature of everyone before entering the club without the need for direct human contact, protecting staff, members and volunteers. • The technology medically measures people’s temperature (with facial recognition) • Camera units can be used for high or low people volume, able to measure multiple faces simultaneously • Ideal for unmanned receptions or staff entrances with real time alerts • Can integrate access control systems • Can detect the presence of face masks • Cloud based dashboard for ease of access and control The company can also work with existing club camera systems and can add its propriety software to enable ‘Facial recognition’ enabled and ‘temperature’. Enabled, links are then added back into the existing systems for monitoring and compliance. Cameras can be purchased on a supply only basis. Fevercam is one of the most sophisticated multi or

MORE INFORMATION With no costs involved, HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS is committed to helping clubs build their business, offering expert advice, comparative energy sites and access to discounts at club-supporting suppliers. e. enquiries@hqbuildingthebusiness.com t. Call the team on 07495 893 993 Services include: Covid-safety Products and Solutions, Energy Management & Compliance, Office supplies, Telecoms, IT & digital support, Waste Management, Fire Equipment & Maintenance, Boiler & Air-conditioning Replacement & Maintenance, Renewable Technologies, Health & Safety, HR, Transaction Handling, Food & Drink, Business Insurance, ANPR / Parking Facilities, Refurbishment & LED Projects.

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HQ BUILDING THE BUSINESS

Five food trends and how they are shaping new safety requirements

Kirstie Jones, environmental health expert at Navitas Safety, discusses food trends which are likely to become part and parcel of club life thanks to the pandemic.

he pandemic has caused a fundamental reset in human behaviour. New food and beverage requirements have been shaped for the longterm. Here are five food-related trends which will need due consideration in order to deliver a service that members will now expect.

to consider, not just for 2021, but for the future, too. Whilst this may not seem a cause for concern in terms of hygiene, it can pose a greater risk of crosscontamination. Each dish should not be cooked in the same oils for instance or ingredients stored in the same area of the fridge. To reduce and prevent this from happening, and to ensure there are no mix-ups, all meat, vegan, and vegetarian dishes should be separated within each order. Ideally, any allergen, vegan or vegetarian dishes should be delivered completely individually. However, where this isn’t possible, these orders should be placed on top and must be double wrapped, with all other orders underneath.

1. A positive food safety culture Food safety culture is the way in which an organisation values their food safety, and it is vital that these values are shared by both management and employees. Businesses with a strong and positive food safety culture that safe food is essential and a commitment. Clubs should actively consider presenting accreditations such as a Covid19 certification to help members feel safe. 2. Takeaway packaging Takeaway packaging must ensure it has clear allergen labels. Each container must state the exact name of the dish and its contents and should be clear and readable. Although this is particularly important when serving consumers with allergies, this must be done at all times. As of October 2021, the UK Food Information Amendment will come into force, whereby data labelling is key. Pre-packed for direct sale products must be labelled with a description of the item, detailing the full ingredients listing. As such, any of the 14 key allergens must also be highlighted and be clear to see. Clear allergen labelling also provides consumers with confidence as well as traceability and transparency when it comes to the business selling the item. As well as this, to aid hygiene and cleanliness, all food should be decanted into strong and sturdy lidded containers that will not spill during transportation. Not only will this prevent mess, but it also reduces the possibility of contamination between foods. Although takeaway services appear much more casual, clubs must work to the same standard as they would in a restaurant. With regular hand washing and limited contact between foods, food containers and staff, this will prevent the spread of viruses, infection, and cross-contamination.

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With the coronavirus, it has been bought to the attention of everyone that viruses can remain on surfaces for up to 72 hours, proving the importance of regular cleaning and disinfecting. Public Health England also announced the introduction of calorie and salt reduction targets for takeaway and eating out businesses, which will see a further need for clear labelling. 3. Connected consumers and online ordering and booking For clubs using online ordering services, all allergy information must be available at the point of selection. To support this, customisable menus, or the ability to order online via an app can improve accuracy, efficiency and speed. As expected, following the coronavirus pandemic, the on trade is now offering a contact-free service, utilising the rise in digitisation with the use of online menus and the ability to order via an app. 4. Eco-conscious consuming via veganism and vegetarianism With the number of people adopting vegan and vegetarian diets and lifestyles, this is an important trend

5. Sustainability Going digital not only speeds things up for all involved, but it also positively impacts the environment. With more customers and businesses focusing on making sustainable changes to their lives, reducing paper usage and single-use plastic is almost essential. Following the need to digitise and automate, paper-based safety trails are no longer needed, nor relevant. (The average restaurant spends approximately £20 per month, per site, on paperwork printing costs alone.) Embracing sustainable and digital processes would not just benefit the business by reducing costs, but it would also remove unnecessary paper and thus, waste for both the club and the consumer. Clubs should look to invest in innovative digital hardware and software that can record all data in a cloud-based system, eliminating the need for paperwork entirely. An integrated digital system allows businesses to monitor food safety effectively with watertight traceability and accountability, resulting in a reduction in food waste. It isn’t just about materials and going digital, though. Clubs with a food business need to work hard to ensure less food is being wasted. To do so, this may mean minimising menus (as well as encouraging members to recycle packaging properly and effectively when using a takeaway service). • www.navitas.eu.com

Fraud - five hot scams and how to avoid them

oronavirus has given fraudsters more opportunities than ever to cheat consumers out of their money, a well-known example being text messages claiming to be from the NHS which informed the recipient that, “we have identified that you are eligible to apply for your vaccine”. Here’s a look at the fraud trends to watch out for. 1. Authorised Push Payments (APP) APP fraud – where fraudsters trick you into forwarding money from your account to theirs – cost consumers more than £207 million in the first half of 2020, according to UK Finance, the trade body representing financial firms. According to experts at GBG, a company that specialises in identity data intelligence, APP is highly effective, trending upwards and may be the biggest threat to consumers in 2021. Gus Tomlinson at GBG explains: “Imagine a fraudster hacks your information and then, when you go to make a significant payment for a deposit, say, you are phoned or emailed by the fraudster who gets you, as a willing victim, to voluntarily transfer the money – but to the wrong destination account. “We always think organisations check the identity of consumers to stop fraud, but it is equally important for consumers to be certain of what they are doing before they take any action.” Homebuyers looking to take advantage of the Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) holiday that ends on 31 March should be especially vigilant when moving money. UK Finance advises buyers to always followup on emails asking for personal financial information with a phone call to the alleged senders. 2. Account takeover Account takeover is essentially online identity theft. It involves criminals who pose as you to gain access to one or more of your accounts, and then use that access to carry out unauthorised transactions. For example, a fraudster could get into your current account using stolen credentials and use it to make transfers to other accounts. They may also change your account details to lock you out or cover their tracks, while some criminals will sell access to your account on to other fraudsters. Payment fraud solutions company Sift calls account takeover the ‘fraudster’s weapon of choice’ and says attempts rose 282% between 2019 and 2020. Using biometric security such as Touch ID on Apple’s iPhones or the equivalent fingerprint locks on Android devices can make things more difficult for fraudsters and provide you with a layer of defence against account takeover fraud.

3. New account fraud Like account takeover fraud, criminals will use stolen credentials to open new accounts in your name. For example, a fraudster could get hold of your personal information on the dark web before using it to bypass identity verification checks and open a new loan account. According to American risk-management specialist RSA, almost half (48%) of all fraud involves accounts that are less than 24 hours old. It is important to be extra vigilant with your personal information, whether that be correspondence your put in the bin or data you enter onto a website. Documents should be shredded if possible, and you should check the authenticity of any site before providing personal information. Experts also recommend you take care when posting information on social media, as a skilled fraudster could populate a fake profile using photographs and other details you provide. 4. Transaction fraud This kind of fraud sees fraudsters making purchases with stolen payment information. The information is typically gained via phishing attacks that trick consumers into thinking they’re dealing with a trusted company and willingly sharing the details with a fraudster. With more of our everyday lives playing out online because of coronavirus and stay-at-home orders, transaction fraudsters have more opportunities than ever to con those who let their guards down. The best way to protect against phishing attacks is

to check emails that claim to be from reputable senders carefully. Inspect the URLs behind hyperlinks by hovering over them with your cursor and be suspicious of emails that contain obvious spelling errors. If contacted by phone, never share personal financial information with the caller. Instead, telephone the company using its official contact number to verify the call. 5. Synthetic identity fraud Synthetic identity fraud is sophisticated, relatively new and is the fastest growing financial crime in the United States, according to management consultancy firm McKinsey. It sees criminals creating entirely fictional personas using a blend of personal information stolen from genuine people and invented details to fill out the gaps. For example, a synthetic identity could use your genuine address to pass an organisation’s identity checks, but with an entirely fake name. The fraudster will then use the fake identity to open accounts and carry out transactions. Technically there is ‘no victim’, since the person named on the account doesn’t exist, but the use of your address, for example, could have a harmful effect on your credit file. This kind of fraud is difficult for businesses to detect and prevent, but you can limit your chances of enabling synthetic identity fraud by using strong passwords and biometrics while being vigilant against phishing attempts.

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BUILDING THE BUSINESS – BARBECUES

Thegreatoutdoors With umbrella systems, outdoor lighting and heating now readily available, al fresco dining is achievable 24/7, 365 days a year. Top tips and recipes for thrill-with-the-grill action – whatever the weather.

n the summer months the UK’s obsession with al fresco dining comes to the fore, and all eyes turn inevitably to the ubiquitous barbecue. But the challenge for clubs is to ensure that members and guests join the festivities at the club, rather than lighting the barbie at home. And with over 10 million people hosting barbecues last year, the home represents serious competition. So how do you ensure that the club barbecue is the one they all talk about? Making some noise Letting members know that you’ll be twirling the tongs – whatever the weather – is a good starting point. Umbrella systems have reached such a level of sophistication now that not only can they protect against both rain and sun in equal measures, optimistic, a beating sun – but they can include heating, lighting, fibre optics, speakers and graphics to ensure that every activity, from barbecues to weddings, can be held outdoors in comfort. Look for umbrellas which are resistant to dirt, and if the club is in an area used to severe weather warnings, make sure you look for the most durable options! Patio heaters too have proved a boon for outdoor diners, and are now available as free standing, table

top, or even wall mounted. As a rule of thumb, a full size free standing patio

SELLING THE SIZZLE – PERFECT PRESENTATION For professional-looking cross-hatch’ grill-lines sear food on the highest heat section at right angles to the grill bars. Then remove the food and lightly wipe with oil before turning it over and repeating the process. Once both sides are seared at this angle, turn the food lengthwise to the grill bars and repeat the process, before returning to the normal cooking heat. BARBECUE BANGERS AND HOT HOT DOGS 10 things to do with sausages and hot dogs! • Wrap in bacon before cooking (hold bacon in place with a cocktail stick) • Serve with grilled/fried onions and salsa in a wrap • Chop into chunks and toss into rice salad • Create mini kebabs, alternating the meat with colourful peppers • Serve in pitta bread filled with creamy mashed potatoes • Slice down the middle of the sausage/hot dog and fill with cheese • Chop up hot dog and toss in rice salad with green and red peppers • Pierce skin of sausage/hot dog and pour over a marinade of mustard, Worcestershire sauce and ketchup • Chop small baguettes in half, hollow out centre and insert ketchup followed by sausage/hot dog • Chop sausage/hotdog and serve in a bap with gerkins and mustard

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heater (just under 8 foot) will cast enough heat to warm an area six metres in diameter. Put into practical terms, that’s around four to five tables. Where space is at a premium, table top heaters might be the answer. Terrace screens are another consideration – particularly for clubs whose sun trap is also a wind tunnel. Screens can be tailor-made and installed, with an option of colours and designs. The club logo can also be included. Outdoor dining – the barbecue Ensuring that food is cooked through without being burnt is a perennial challenge for barbecue officiandos – particularly when burgers (which are still the nation’s perennial Barbie favourite). Cook too quickly (burnt outside; raw inside) and you’re leaving out a welcome mat for bacteria and pathogens. Cook too long (burnt outside; burnt inside) and you kill off the pathogens as well as any taste the now charcoal brick may ever have had. The quality of the meat you use (and of course each burger’s thickness) will also affect cooking times, so practise ahead of the event if you possibly can. Marinading meats before cooking, as well as basting, will also help to retain the moisture without slowing the cooking process.

Kebab corner PESTO MARINATED COD KEBABS WITH PANCETTA AND MUSHROOM Wafer-thin slices of pancetta wrapped around pesto marinated cod, create ‘skewable’ parcels which also help to protect the fish from drying out during cooking. Makes 10 large or 20 small kebabs. Ingredients 2.5kg cod loin 3kg medium closed cup field mushrooms 1kg wafer thin slices of smoked pancetta For the pesto 250g freshly grated parmesan 250g pine nuts 750g basil leaves 10 cloves garlic (crushed) 450ml olive oil Pesto Blend the pesto ingredients together in a food processor.

4tsp black treacle 2tbsp white wine vinegar 4tbsp sunflower oil 4 green peppers, deseeded and cut into chunks 2 red onions, peeled, cut into chunks and layers separated 1. Mix together the ketchup, mustard, treacle, vinegar and oil until smooth. 2. Thread turkey meat on to 8 skewers, alternating with the chunks of pepper and onion. Lay kebabs side by side in shallow dish and spoon/brush the marinade over meat, turning the kebabs to cover both sides of the turkey. 3. Cover dish with cling film. Leave in cool place for 3-4 hours or until ready to cook.

4. Barbecue kebabs for 6-8 minutes – or until the turkey is cooked and the vegetables scorched at the edges – brushing any remaining marinade over turkey as it cooks. MEDITERRANEAN VEGETABLE KEBABS Simple to make and serve, a tasty addition as a side dish or a vegetarian option. Makes 6 kebabs. Ingredients 2 red, yellow and green pepper, deseeded and cut into large chunks 1 red onion, cut into large chunks Olive oil for basting 1. Thread peppers and onions alternately on to a wooden skewer. 2. Brush with olive oil and place on barbecue.

1. Cut the cod into square chunks (approx. 3cm x 3cm). Mix and coat with the pesto. 2. Wipe mushrooms clean, remove stalks and fry mushrooms in a little olive oil/butter until al dente. Set aside to cool. 3. Skewer the mushrooms and fish alternately, and wrap pancetta around each piece of cod. 4. Oil lightly before placing on the barbecue. Turn regularly. Kebabs are ready when the fish has just turned opaque in the middle. Serving suggestions: serve on a bed of linguini tossed in olive oil with toasted pine nuts and a chiffonade of basil. STICKY TURKEY KEBABS Deliciously different and quick to cook. Serves 8. Ingredients 1kg/2lb 4oz diced turkey thighs 4tbsp tomato ketchup 2tbsp American or Dijon mustard

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BUILDING THE BUSINESS – BARBECUES

Burger bar TANGY BURGERS IN CIABATTA Serves 6. Ingredients 1 tbsp oil 1 onion, finely chopped 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley 1 tbsp chopped fresh thyme 450g/1lb mince 6 sun dried tomatoes, drained and finely chopped 75g/3oz fresh white bread crumbs 6 ciabatta bread rolls Mixed salad leaves and tomato wedges to serve Sea salt and black pepper 1. Heat oil in large frying pan and fry the onion for a few minutes until softened. Transfer to a bowl, add herbs and stir well. 2. Add mince, sun dried tomatoes, breadcrumbs and seasoning. Mix well to form a soft mixture. Divide into six patties; chill until required. 3. Cook over barbecue (25 minutes) turning occasionally 4. Split ciabatta rolls and toast lightly. Fill rolls with salad and burger. Serve immediately. SAUSAGE AND MASH BURGERS A new service style for a favourite food combination. Makes 10 large burgers. Ingredients for sausage burgers 1kg minced pork 2 large onions (finely chopped) 10 cloves of garlic (crushed) 50g chopped parsley 30g chopped sage 5 small eggs 150g breadcrumbs salt and pepper plain flour for dusting Ingredients for mash 1kg potatoes (Desiree or Maris Piper are recommended) 200g butter

Take another quarter of the mix and place over the top of the first one and shape into the finished pattie, giving thick but flat burger shape. Make sure the two halves are well sealed together. Dust both sides very lightly with plain flour and refrigerate until needed. To serve, brush with oil, fry or char-grill until golden brown and finish in the oven – they will not need as much cooking time as a regular burger of this size due to the potato just having to heat through (the meat therefore stays moist).

Accompaniments GREEN COUS COUS SALAD A versatile salad, serve hot or cold, and add ingredients to suit. Serves 10 (as a side dish). Ingredients 600g cous cous 3 green pepper (1/2cm dice) 3 onion (finely chopped) 6 cloves garlic (crushed) 3 dsp green chillies (finely chopped) Zest of 6 limes (chopped) 3 tbsp chopped coriander 3 tbsp chopped chives 600g frozen peas 6 dsp pumpkin seeds 450ml beer (Leffe Blond) 450ml water 1. Pour the beer and water into a pan and bring to the boil. 2. In the mean time, sweat the onions, pepper, chilli and garlic in olive oil until soft but without colour. Add the cous cous and cook for a couple of minutes mixing well with the vegetables. 3. Pour the boiling Leffe and water over the cous cous. Immediately remove from the heat and cover with cling film or tight fitting lid. Leave to stand for 10 minutes.

quickly and evenly. Add the chives, coriander, drained peas and seeds. Season with salt and pepper to taste and drizzle over a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. Cover and refrigerate. ROSEMARY AND CUMIN FLAT BREAD Simple to make, this flat bread requires no proofing to activate yeast. Experiment with flavours (try lemon zest with a squeeze of juice). Makes approximately six pitta sized pieces. Ingredients 150g plain flour 100ml water 1tsp cumin powder half tsp baking powder 3 sprigs fresh rosemary (stalks removed, leaves finely chopped) pinch of salt 1. Place all ingredients except the water in a food processor and switch on. Add the water a little at a time until the dough starts forming a ball, coming away from the sides of the bowl. Remove and form into a ball (the dough should be slightly tacky leaving only a trace of dough as you pass it from hand to hand).

4. Cook the peas in boiling salted water, drain and refresh under cold water.

2. Lightly dust a work surface with flour, break off a piece of dough a little bigger than a golf ball and roll out as thinly as possible (it will naturally form a pitta shaped piece). Dust off excess flour.

5. When the cous cous has been standing for 10 minutes, tip into a large flat tray to cool down

3. Place on the barbecue. Turn when one side becomes coloured and bar-marked.

1. Peel and cut potatotes into large chunks. Cover with cold, salted water, bring to the boil and simmer until soft. Drain. Put through a potato ricer or mouli legume, or, if not available, use a masher. Add butter gradually and mix in until fully combined. Season to taste. Chill in fridge. 2. Mix all the burger ingredients together in a bowl. Chill in fridge. 3. When mash is cold and firm, assemble the burgers. Take enough mix for half a burger and shape into a pattie. Make a well as wide as possible without breaking the sides. 4. Take a spoonful of mash and place in the well.

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BUILDING THE BUSINESS – WEDDINGS

The wedding planner With COVID-19 forcing the cancellation of many wedding ceremonies over a 14 month period, there’s a huge demand for licensed venues as couples reschedule their happy day. Is your club on their list?

survey conducted by Confetti and the National Wedding Show has found that 98% of the 4,500 people they surveyed have had to postpone their 2020 wedding. Furthermore, and of interest to clubs, the same survey found that nearly 40% of couples (39.3%) are rescheduling their wedding for a weekday due to weekends booking up rapidly in the rush to reschedule the celebrations. It also seems that some couples have re-evaluated the costs associated with the event, with weekdays being more affordable. Whether it’s providing the wedding breakfast, the dinner or the ceremony itself, weddings represent a valuable service for those looking for more cost-effective solutions – all good news for those clubs willing and able to step into the brink. Since the 1994 Marriage Act declared that licensed venues could hold weddings, the opportunity to provide all aspects of the event – from hen and stag do’s to the reception and the wedding

form the backbone of regulations across England, Wales and Scotland. (https://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/ registration/getting-married-in-scotland.) The application is, of course, only part of the process. Is your club geared up to leading the bride and groom effortlessly up the aisle, or is it more a question of up the garden path? Can you have your wedding-cake and eat it?

itself – has proved an attractive prospect for club revenue streams. FEES, FORMS AND APPLICATIONS License fees vary across the country, as you’d expect, and there are numerous regional variations. Rules laid down by the Registrar General, however,

THE WEDDING LIST The following list poses questions that the wedding planners will be asking when they visit their venues of choice. Obvious as the questions may seem, your visitors will be reassured when you have the answers at your finger tips, or presented in a professionallooking Wedding Pack. FOOD AND DRINK • What is the maximum amount of guests allowed?

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BUILDING THE BUSINESS – WEDDINGS • Do they need to bring in their own caterer? • Can they bring in their own wine/champagne? If so, is there a corkage charge? • What time can the club stay open until? • How many staff would be needed on the day? • Is there a single point of contact at the club who will take responsibility for the event? VENUE DETAILS • Will they have exclusive use of the venue? • Is there a safe place for storing presents? • Is there a room the bride can use to get changed? • Confirmation of public liability insurance. • Is there the opportunity to see how the venue looks dressed up for another wedding first? • Are candles allowed? • Is there a reasonable rain-proof smoking area outside? OTHER SERVICES • Can you recommend/book a cake specialist? • Can you recommend/book a photographer? • Can you recommend/book a car hire service? • Can you recommend/book flowers? • Can you recommend/ book a registrar (if needed/ appropriate)? • Can you recommend/book entertainment/band etc for the afternoon/evening festivities? • Can you recommend/book a toastmaster/ Master of Ceremonies if required? ACCOMMODATION • Can you organise any special rates with local hotels? GENERAL • Are the parking facilities adequate? • Can people leave cars overnight? • Can children be catered for? FINANCE AND WHAT’S INCLUDED • Is VAT included in prices quoted? • Are staff included in the costs? • What is the policy on postponement/ cancellation? Another interesting Confetti and the National Wedding Show survey result shows that 44% of wedding planning couples are aiming to have an additional, bigger celebration after their actual ceremony – another window of opportunity for Clubland.

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TOP PICKS FOR THE FIRST DANCE Most popular choices for that all important first dance include... A Groovy Kind Of Love - Phil Collins Amazed - Lonestar A Moment Like This - Leona Lewis Angels - Robbie Williams Can’t Take My Eyes Off You - Andy Williams Can You Feel The Love Tonight - Elton John Close To You - Carpenters Come What May - Nicola Kidman & Ewan McGregor Crazy For You - Madonna Dream A Little Dream of Me - The Beautiful South

Love and Marriage - Frank Sinatra

Endless Love - Diana Ross and Lionel Ritchie

Love Is All Around - Wet Wet Wet

Eternal Flame - The Bangles

More Than Words - Extreme

Evergreen - Will Young

My Girl - The Temptations

Everything I Do - Bryan Adams

She - Elvis Costello

Fly Me To The Moon - Frank Sinatra

She’s The One - Robbie Williams

From This Moment On - Shania Twain

Show Me Heaven - Maria McKee

Get Here - Oleta Adams

Take My Breath Away - Berlin

Have I Told You Lately? - Rod Stewart

The Scientist - Coldplay

Hero - Enrique Iglesias

The Way You Look Tonight - Frank Sinatra

How Deep Is Your Love - Take That

Three Times A Lady - Commodores

How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - James Taylor

Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Garden

I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing - Aerosmith

Unforgettable - Nat King Cole

It Had To Be You - Harry Connick Jr I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston

Up Where We Belong - Joe Cocker & Jennifer Warnes

Let There Be Love - Frank Sinatra

We’ve Only Just Begun - Carpenters

CLUB ACT OF THE YEAR

Singing their praises – club acts take a bow! Club Football and its sister title Club Mirror continue to search for the best club acts in the country and we’re asking for your help. Just nominate your favourite acts and you could be on your way to winning £500. Time to take a bow.

oubling up as a nation-wide membership drive as normality returns, the Club Act of the Year is set to become a showcase for club entertainment across the UK. This award aims to raise the profile of clubs and their live entertainment throughout the UK, and to provide a platform for acts who have been thriving on the club scene. Have a look at your entertainments schedule and tell us who you’d like to shine a spotlight on. Which comedians will members always flock to see? Which bands always got an encore? And which singers consistently drew in the crowds? From comedy acts to, bands, duos and soloists, we’ll be announcing finalists by category and then category winners. Finally comes the ultimate accolade – Club Act of the Year. The winning act will perform live at the prestigious Club Mirror Awards in 2022, and the nominating club will be invited to attend. The club will also receive £500. How to nominate your favourite acts Just complete the form opposite OR email us with the relevant details. We’ll do the rest. So let’s get this party started! Good luck!

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“

Doubling up as a UK-wide membership drive, the Club Act of the Year is set to become a showcase for clubs and club entertainment across the country.

”

CLUB ACT OF THE YEAR NOMINATIONS To nominate your act/acts: Complete this coupon and post to the address below. Better still, email the details to caroline@alchemymedia.co.uk using the subject line ‘Club Act nominations’. I would like to nominate the following act/acts. Please include contact details of the acts. This could be their email address, facebook page, web address or agent. We will advise them of your nomination. Deadline for nominations: October 15, 2021 1. __________________________________________________________ Act contact details: _____________________________________________ 2. _________________________________________________________ Act contact details: _____________________________________________ 3. _________________________________________________________

“

Act contact details: _____________________________________________

Your Name: __________________________________________________

Nominate your favourite acts and you could be on your way to winning £500 for the club.

Club:

__________________________________________________

Address:

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________

Email:

__________________________________________________

Mob/Tel:

__________________________________________________

Fill in this form and send to: Club Act of the Year, Alchemy Contract Publishing, 59-60 Thames Street, Windsor SL4 1TX.

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WHIRLWIND TOUR

Clubnews

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Here sister title Club Mirror shares just some of its social media activity, past, present and future, providing a window to the Club Awards and a preview of the upcoming Festival of Clubs.

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WHIRLWIND TOUR

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HOSPITALITY SOCIAL MEDIA AWARDS

Clubland celebrates social media Celebrating the power of social media across Clubland. From tweeters to Instagram addicts, and from web wizards to Facebook fanatics, social media has more than proved its worth during lockdown and beyond.

he Hospitality Social Media Awards (HoSMA) are the only pan- industry awards designed to celebrate licensed outlets of all types and sizes who are using social media to great effect. Social media has been a lifeline for clubs, members and communities during lockdown and the pandemic, and we’ll be recognising clubs for their social media activities during the Festival of Clubs in Doncaster on 25 November, 2021. If you couldn’t be at the last Awards then head over to www.facebook.com/HSMAwards for a flavour of the event, and to see 2019’s finalists then it’s www.hsma.biz/news. And don’t forget our twitter handle – twitter.com/HSMAwards.

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2019 winners

Club Insure’s Jason Cook (left) presents Leicestershire County Cricket Club with the opening category of the 2019 Hospitality Social Media Awards, Sports Club of the Year.

Golf Club of the Year goes to the impressive Formby Golf Club, presented by Bob Williams (centre), Chief Executive of the Golf Club Managers Association.

BT Sport’s Ed Cracknell (centre) presents worthy winners South Shields FC with the 2019 Football Club of the Year trophy.

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS

Canterbury Rugby Club’s Ian Lloyd (right) collects the Rugby Club of the Year trophy from Club Control’s Chris McNally.

Dransfields’ Trevor Roberts (left) congratulates Northern FC on becoming joint winner of the 2019 Community Club of the Year Award.

SUPPORTED BY Wortley Men’s Club celebrate their joint win of Community Club of the Year, collecting their trophy from Trevor Roberts, Dransfields (centre).

CLUB FOOTBALL 47

29TH CIU BEER & TRADES EXHIBITORS’ SHOWCASE

Best deals, best service, best choice Make more money with Drans elds – your local partner in pro t Choose from the UK’s biggest range of machines, available now and ready for immediate delivery. We have all the latest digital and reel-based machines from all the leading manufacturers. FANTASTIC INSTALLATIoN DEALS: • B4 machines • B3A machines • Pull tab products • Multi-game quiz machines • Jukeboxes • Pool tables • Family entertainment The next generation, premium 3-screen digital cabinet, packed with the latest smart technology

DRANSFIELDS MARkET-LEADING LUCky DIP PULL TABS

Earn DransCash Points with every box of tickets you purchase – redeemable for fantastic gifts for your club!

Give more choice to your customers with Drans elds

For general enquiries call 0345 644 9414

GU rapidARANTE E se respo D locarvice fro nse l en m whE gineers R E v yoU E ARE R !

www.drans elds.com Recommended supplier to: Club and Institute Union, Association of Conservative Clubs, Alliance of British Clubs, National Union of Labour & Socialist Clubs, National Association of Railway Clubs, Association of Independent Clubs.

T THREE Complete Taable S Service S Solutio ns. D gned specifically for Desig f the Social Club sector. 1

QUICK IN NSTTA ALL BESPOK KE DESIGN & CONFIGURA ATTION FULL ON NLINE SUPPOR RT & TRAINING

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TThe Club Control Hybrrid system o offers the practicalityy of a till and t flexibility of a tab the blet.

• Offers longevity and a value • Solves the COVID problem NOW • For use both behiind the bar and for table service • Fully integrated in nto the EPOS control system HYBRID TILL/TTA ABLLET

0330 058 0411

48 CLUB FOOTBALL

clubcontrol.co.ukk

SERVIN NG CLUBS NATIONALL T Y info@clubcontrol.co.uk

29TH CIU BEER & TRADES EXHIBITORS’ SHOWCASE

Get ba in e game

the perfect solution for feeding fans, players & staff

Pie heater pa age COOKS PIESD OR LE FROM CHIL& KEEPS FROZEN ARM W THEM

£349 plus VAT comes with 120 pies worth £360 FREE!!!!

CLUB FOOTBALL 49

29TH CIU BEER & TRADES EXHIBITORS’ SHOWCASE

MAKE THE SMART SWITCH OFFERING A WIDE RANGE OF BAR SNACKS & CLEANING PRODUCTS CRISPS | SNACKS | NUTS CONFECTIONARY | CLEANING PRODUCTS

WANT TO REDUCE YOUR BEER, CIDER, WATER AND CO2 WASTE BY 87.5%?* FROM 1-TAP TO MULTI-TAP SYSTEMS, SMARTDISPENSE™ HAS THE SOLUTION FOR YOUR BAR’S NEEDS. “IT’S MADE A MASSIVE IMPACT ON SALES” “Complaints around the quality of our pints used to be a daily issue. So, we decided to completely change our offering and install SmartDispense™. Members now comment on the quality, and we’ve seen a 50% sales increase in the past two years.” ALAN NELSON – NEWTON AYCLIFFE WORKING MEN’S CLUB

INCLUDING

OUR OWN RANGE OF FAMOUS PORK SNACKS

RACHAEL SCOLLEN – THE GUN

CRUNCHY & SEASONED PORK SCRA AT TCHINGS LIGHT AND CRISPY GOLDEN PORK CRUNCH

SERVE CONSISTENTLY GREAT QUALITY GREENER PINTS AND BE PART OF THE NEXT MILLION PINTS OF WATER SAVED. CONTACT YOUR HEINEKEN SALES MANAGER OR VISIT SMARTDISPENSE.HEINEKEN.CO.UK

01274 670044 www.mrscratchings.co.uk enquiries@mrrscratchings.co.uk

50 CLUB FOOTBALL

PROUD TO SERVE GREAT QUALITY BEER AND CIDER

*Based on 8-week cleaning cycle

Best deals, best service, best choice 29TH CIU BEER & TRADES EXHIBITORS’ SHOWCASE

Make more money with Drans elds – your local partner in pro t Choose from the UK’s biggest range of machines, available now and ready for immediate delivery. We have all the latest digital and reel-based machines from all the leading manufacturers. FANTASTIC INSTALLATIoN DEALS: • B4 machines • B3A machines • Pull tab products • Multi-game quiz machines • Jukeboxes • Pool tables • Family entertainment The next generation, premium 3-screen digital cabinet, packed with the latest smart technology

DRANSFIELDS MARkET-LEADING LUCky DIP PULL TABS

Earn DransCash Points with every box of tickets you purchase – redeemable for fantastic gifts for your club!

Give more choice to your customers with Drans elds

For general enquiries call 0345 644 9414

GU rapi ARANTE d E s e r e s po D locarvice fro nse l en m whE gineers yoU REvER ARE !

CLASSIFIED

CLUB SERVICES MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS

CATERING

Get ba in e game

the perfect solution for feeding fans, players & staff

Pie heater pa age £349 plus VAT

COOKS PIESD OR LE FROM CHIL& KEEPS FROZEN ARM W EM TH

INSURANCE

comes with 120 pies worth £360 FREE!!!!

ENTERTAINMENT

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52 CLUB FOOTBALL

CLASSIFIED

07789 870709

TO ADVERTISE PLEASE CALL REFURBISHMENT The curtain specialist for clubs, schools & theatres

ENERGY

ARE YOU SWITCHED ON WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR ENERGY BILLS? If you’re not switching, you’re not saving... Let Smarter Business do the hard work for you.

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For more information, contact us today and quote CLUB to arrange a free site visit to discuss your requirements.

Tel: 01354 677796 • Email: sales@cameocurtains.co.uk

Visit our website: www.cameocurtains.co.uk

We’ll compare quotes in minutes and ﬁnd your club the best energy deal, saving you up to 30% on your energy bills!

Get in touch with an energy expert today on:

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t: 01444 220060 e: info@smarterbusiness.co.uk w: www.smarterbusiness.co.uk

REFURBISHMENT

OUTDOOR EQUIPMENT W NE

WHAT The new Greensmaster® eTriFlex Series flagship electric riding greensmowers.

MATTERS Unparalleled, outstanding cut quality, quiet operation, and no onboard hydraulic fluids.

Greensmaster eTriFlex Engine/Generator

Greensmaster eTriFlex Lithium-Ion

MOST Routine compliments from members and improvements to your bottom line!

What Matters Most to You Matters Most to Us. The all-new Greensmaster eTriFlex Series riding greensmowers provide all the innovative features of the original TriFlex and more. The eTriFlex lineup includes a Lithium-Ion powered and an Engine Generator model, with no onboard hydraulic fluid. The new Radius Dependent Speed (RDS™) System, in combination with the Lift-In-Turn cutting unit leveling feature virtually eliminates the effect known as “Triplex-Ring”. This along with many new features provide added versatility, simplified service, and ultimately, more productivity.

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CLUB FOOTBALL 53

CLASSIFIED

CLUB SERVICES REFURBISHMENT

54 CLUB FOOTBALL

TO ADVERTISE PLEASE CALL

07789 870709

W NE

WHAT The new Greensmaster® eTriFlex Series flagship electric riding greensmowers.

MATTERS Unparalleled, outstanding cut quality, quiet operation, and no onboard hydraulic fluids.

Greensmaster eTriFlex Engine/Generator

Greensmaster eTriFlex Lithium-Ion

MOST Routine compliments from members and improvements to your bottom line!

Join the conversation

@ToroGolf

LEARN MORE AT TORO.COM

For sports & social clubs, it has to be Higos Welcome back businesses.

With many lockdown restrictions having already begun to ease over the past few weeks, we’re delighted to welcome you all back and rejoice in getting your clubs back to what they do best. At Higos we’re setting our sights firmly on getting to know each and every one of our clients. We love the fact that every one of our clients clubs are unique and we thrive on the challenges and idiosyncrasies of all your insurance needs, no matter how quirky or specialist your need may be.

Wouldn’t life be dull if everyone were the same?

With over 8000 membership organisations in the UK, from sports clubs, social clubs to scout groups, we’ve come to understand that no two businesses are ever exactly alike, so it makes perfect sense that no two insurance policies will be. That’s why we provide bespoke, in house CIU insurance cover that’s flexible and simple. Our knowledgeable, specialist team offer expert, independent advice using in-house underwriting to find cover that matches their precise needs. To make sure you’re not over or under insured, we’re offering our CIU clients a complimentary Rebuild Cost Assessment (RCA) service, so your commercial building is adequately protected.

Our bespoke sports and social clubs insurance includes: Public & Employers liability

Directors & Officers liability

Sports playing surfaces

Money in gaming machines

Legal expenses cover

Personal accident cover

Free rebuild cost assessment

Business Interruption

For independent advice contact our expert team

Call 01458 270 303

See us in branch

For independent advice or a quotation

Find your nearest branch on our website higos.co.uk

Email us

hospitality.portfolio@higos.co.uk

WE LOVE DIFFERENT / HIGOS.CO.UK Higos Insurance Services Ltd is part of Global Risk Partners Limited. Higos Insurance Services Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 302690)

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The road to St Petersburg

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