Looking ahead t o 2023. Plus: r e v ewing Clubland in all its glor y

Welcome to this special Club Awards winners issue where those of you who couldn’t join us, or watch our live-streaming, can experience it in all its glory. From football clubs to rugby clubs and social clubs to community clubs, the breadth and extent of the UK’s Clubland was showcased in style at the glittering evening. The clubs which came together under that one roof on that one night represented the best of the best and rightly take their place in Club Mirror’s Hall of Fame.

New for the Awards was the Diversity Club of the Year category, underlining the inclusivity of Clubland, as well as people-focussed recognition awards for Long Service, Community Heroes and Young Ambassadors. We also celebrated clubs who’d reached their centennial by enrolling them into the 100 Club, and commended clubs for their outstanding community values, from welcoming those new comers fleeing their homeland to acting as a foodbank for those in need

As always entertainment remains a key factor in bringing in members, and sport continues to provide a unifying bond with action both on and off the pitch pulling in the crowds Business initiatives were also high in the pecking order with the ingenuity of clubs being praised by the judges. Charity remained a priority, and the dedication of Managers, Stewards and Committees was recognised and applauded

In short, much to celebrate – and we did it in style, with live performances from our very good friends at Phoenix Arts Club who opened the event with a show-stopping rendition from The Greatest Showman, complete with fire-eaters and sword-swallowers.

Thanks to every club who entered, to all of our judges, our guests, our presenters, our association colleagues and of course our wonderful club-supporting sponsors.

A big shout out to the Lord Mayor of Leicester for welcoming us all to his city, to John Inverdale for hosting – now very much part of the club family! – and to BT Sport and Dransfields for their unstinting support of clubs and the Club Awards across many years. And an extra thanks goes to Dransfields for an exceptionally fun afternoon at Leicester’s Nottingham Oddfellows Club – see pages 56-57 – as well as a fun round of Bee Bop Bingo during the evening event A great big Club Mirror thank you also goes out to sponsors Club Control, Club Insure, Higos, HQ Building the Business, Layloo, Pukka Pies, Pure Purchasing and Studio 44

Awards apart, in this issue you’ll also find sound advice from experts keen to help Clubland stay at its very own cutting edge HQ Building the Business examines the art of managing change, food trends and enhancing the member experience via online membership platforms, while our Ask the Experts section mulls over the importance of training, highlights energy saving tips and explores the invaluable art of negotiating

Finally, congratulations to each and every club reading this for always being there for your members and your communities And here’s to all the unsung heroes across the land You may not yet be getting all the plaudits you deserve but we ’ re campaigning to change that

Watch this space!

Caroline Scoular Editor, Club Mirror

Justin

Editor Caroline Scoular

Design David Foster

Events Jill Slingsby, Karen Foreman, Guy Brennan

Display Adver tising Margaret Doher ty

Sales and Marketing Manager Leigh-Ann Ogilvie

Circulation Jon Hardy

Accounts Andrew Soles

Publishing Director Sean Ferris

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