CGSSC in the news again

Wednesday, 13th February 2008

Once again the success of the Club has reached the local newspaper, the Luton News.

Below is the article published on 13th February - read on . . .

Anyone visiting Crawley Green Sports & Social Club today - with its classy clubhouse, fabulous facilities and tip top playing fields - would never believe that its future was far from assured only 20 years ago.
In November 1988 the pavilion was burnt to the ground in an arson attack. At one stage, the club’s bank balance stood at a paltry £17.
But its members didn’t want their dreams to die in the flames and they were determined to see their club rise Phoenix-like from the ashes.
Secretary Ian Freeman - who’s recently been honoured by the mayor with a Citizenship award and who has just stood down after 19 years in office - said: “We leafletted every house in the neighbourhood. We invited people to become life members for £100 - even though there was nothing to offer them. We put a business plan together.

Club Chairman Tony Talbot with former Secretary Ian Freeman
“Our first mortgage was £60,000 and the bank turned us down. They didn’t think we’d make a go of it. But we did.”
Chairman Tony Talbot said: “We had people who were prepared to stand as trustees and guarantors when there was nothing but a shell to look at.”
He added: “We all have our memories of those early days but the ones I particularly remember are of Ian and Clive Bowler almost getting arrested after a suspicious neighbour rang the police as they were installing lighting at midnight, the many volunteers who helped us clear away rubble one fine Sunday morning before building could begin and Ian Banks, a former player and solicitor who guided us through all the legal minefields.”
From day one Crawley Green Sports & Social Club has been a family mecca, a place where members could come with their children. There’s only one rule - no bad behaviour. And there’s been surprisingly little trouble, considering there are now nearly 2,000 on the books.
And from those initial shaky financial footings, the club has built strong foundations and gone from strength to strength.
Over the years there have been grants from the Football Foundation totalling more than a quarter of a million pounds. The club has met all its community guidelines, providing competent coaching, passing police checks and forging a partnership with Luton Town. It attained the coveted Football Association Charter Mark Deveopment Club status in (check) and subsequently won the prestigious Club in the Community Award - the highest accolade a local football club can attain.
The club complex, with its airconditioned function room, three giant screens, four 42” plasma screens, state-of-the-art changing rooms and all-weather pitches is the envy of professional outfits across the county. It is also rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the most charity-conscious organisations in town, raising thousands of pounds for local causes - a Ladies’ Night this weekend made more than £4,000 for The Pasque Charity’s adult and children’s hospices.
The CGSSC, which is next door to Ashcroft High and shares its facilities with the school , fields no less than 32 teams, including four ladies’ teams. It is particularly keen on fostering young talent and has an ambitious youth development programme and well-attended nursery section. Several club members have gone on to national acclaim, including Dean Brill.
Originally comprising Stopsley Harriers, Wyvern Members and Ramridge Rangers football clubs, CGSSC now has two teams in the Saturday South Midlands Football League, two in the North Home Counties Sunday League and one in the South Beds SFL.
There are also two cricket clubs and thriving darts, pool and dominoes sections.
The club kitchen does a roaring trade catering for functions as well as banquets and there are various activities - such as bingo - in addition to training and matches. Ladies’ Nights and Gentlemen’s Guest Speaker Evenings are sold out weeks in advance. Once a month the Club holds adult only evenings, no children and top-class cabaret is provided.
Assistant Club Steward Maureen Bowler organises cabaret evenings and generally keeps an eye on proceedings, including older members who pop in for a hot meal and some company and conversation.
The club is about to embark on another ambitious round of improvements and extensions which includes an enclosed floodlit grass pitch, complete internal redecoratiion, a new dance floor and state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems.
As Ian said: “It’s a really great club, the top amateur operation in Luton.” Not bad for an annual subscription of £10.
- For more information ring secretary Malcolm Bunker on 01582 453619 or visit www.cgssc.co.uk Ian Freeman 01438 866234.

Article courtesey of the Luton News