A short word from the Chair - February 2026

It’s now just over seven months since I was elected Chair. So with a few more grey hairs, a slightly faster heartbeat, and many more friends along the way.

Much of what the OWA does happens quietly in the background, but it all exists for one reason: to support our members, our sections, and the shared home we all value. Some of this work is ongoing, and some is deliberately phased. This update reflects where we are now.

This newsletter is about openness and community: what we’ve been working on, why it matters, and how together we can keep building a club that feels welcoming, well run, and genuinely special.

At a glance 

• £12,000 invested in pitch and ground improvements to improve playability and reduce flooding

• Grounds rest periods agreed in principle to protect pitch quality

• FA and RFU pitch maintenance funding approved for the next six years (subject to final confirmation)

• £30,000 Merton Council S106 funding application progressing for girls’ rugby and Sparks

• New Events Committee formed, with February events confirmed

• Members’ survey coming soon to shape events and communications

• Volunteers always welcome and all contributions make a big difference

What the OWA has been working on (behind the scenes)

Over the past few months, the focus has been on planning properly, coordinating better across sections, and putting foundations in place that make life easier for everyone.

That includes:

• closer working with section chairs,

• clearer forward planning (especially around events), and

• improving how we communicate as one club, not just as separate parts.

The aim is simple: A club that runs smoothly because people aren’t carrying things alone.

Facilities & clubhouse

Protecting and improving the grounds

Looking after the pitches through the winter months makes it far easier to prepare them properly for the summer and cricket season, and ultimately for the start of the football and rugby season.

As a Committee, and in principle with the sections, we’ve agreed that the grounds should be rested twice each year:

•  once before the cricket season begins, and

•  once before the football and rugby season starts.

Exact dates will be finalised by the OWA, with the backing of the sections, and planned around fixtures.

Pitch investment & flooding

Avoiding games being called off due to flooding or poor pitch conditions was one of the first priorities I was targeted to as Chair, because it affects every section and the reputation of the club as a whole.

From late summer through to Christmas 2025, the OWA, with the backing of the sections, invested approximately £12,000 in pitch and ground improvement works across the OWA grounds.

This included re-seeding, top-dressing and fertilisation, alongside verti-draining across multiple areas of the wider site. These works were carried out in partnership with Donhead, who completed complementary fertilisation works on their areas as well.

In January, specialist contractors Dynamic Drainage will attend site to carry out testing across both the OWA and Donhead areas. This will help us understand whether larger-scale drainage works are needed. We’ve also identified that a blocked council-owned culvert is contributing to water backing up onto our land and flooding parts of the grounds, and we’re engaging with the council on this issue. Our shared aim is straightforward: grounds that all sections are proud to play on, and that visitors recognise as well cared for and well run.

Summer preparation & irrigation

We’re also exploring watering and irrigation options for the summer months. Dry pitches increase preparation costs and make autumn recovery harder. Better moisture control now will pay dividends later.

Finance – getting the basics right

The OWA is developing a proper budget for the clubhouse, based on real data rather than assumptions.

This includes:

• a full review of the clubhouse, changing room and grounds costs (staffing, utilities, suppliers, maintenance and compliance), and

• understanding how income varies across the week and seasons.
  
  

This work allows us to plan better, manage costs fairly, and make sensible decisions.

Funding, grants & investment

Sections Affiliated Bodies

The OWA and sections have worked together to apply for pitch maintenance grants from both the FA and the RFU. We’ve been notified that funding has been approved for the next six years, subject to final confirmation.

Before funds are released, a small number of colleagues need to complete approved pitch-maintenance training.

A big thank you and good luck to Keith Malone, Richard Turner, Sam

Shethran and Phil Topley for stepping up.

In December, we also met with a cricket body to discuss potential support for the cricket outfield and wider club facilities. The OWA and the Cricket Section are now working together on the most appropriate application, with a target submission date of end February 2026.

Merton Council S106 funding

We’ve submitted a full draw-down application to Merton Council for the release of £30,000 of Section 106 funding already allocated to support girls’ rugby and Southwest London Sparks.

The application includes governance, safeguarding, facilities improvements and monitoring plans. This process is ongoing, but we are close, and we’ll update members once we are successful with the application we presented.

Looking ahead – planning responsibly

Clubhouse development (early stage)

Keith Malone and Gero Buttacci are working with Indrawn Architects to explore early ideas and indicative costs for potential future clubhouse improvements.

This is very much exploratory — about understanding what might be possible in the future and what it could cost. No decisions have been taken, and anything meaningful would always be shared with members well in advance.

Strong foundations

Alongside this, we’ve:

• asked a firm of accountants to review our accounting structure, and

• asked a local firm of solicitors to outline alternative legal structures that could benefit the club in the future.

This work helps ensure the club is well governed, compliant and well positioned for future funding and investment.

Schools & community

We’ve strengthened links with local primary schools, with the aim of encouraging more children and families into our junior sections.

This is about the long term — building pathways, welcoming new families, and ensuring the club continues to thrive for years to come.

A new Events Committee has been formed and has already met, with a strong focus on better planning and shared responsibility.

A club-wide members’ survey will follow shortly.

We’re doing this so that events, communications and priorities are shaped by what our members want, rather than guesswork.

Please do take a few minutes to complete it.

Can you help make the club even better?

The OWA runs entirely on volunteers — and when more people get involved, everything gets easier. Jobs get smaller, pressure reduces, and the club runs better for everyone.

Ways you could help:

Events & promotion

Helping plan, promote or support club events — from quizzes and dinners to family days. This could be sharing information, helping on the day, or contributing ideas.

Patio & garden team

A small group to keep outdoor patio areas tidy and welcoming year-round — light gardening, planting and general upkeep.

Green fingers come on down!

Grounds clear-up weekend (late March)

A once-a-year working weekend where all sections come together to clear rubbish around the clubhouse and pitches. One weekend, lots of impact. With a drink and burger to round things off!

Ongoing club-wide roles:

Website lead

Helping keep the OWA website clear, accurate and easy to use.

Communications lead

Helping coordinate club-wide updates, so members know what’s happening across the whole club.

Where possible, we aim to have two people per role — so no one carries the load alone and the club keeps moving when someone’s away.

Every bit of help is genuinely appreciated, and if you step forward, you really will make a difference.

07971 165990

chairman@oldwimbledonians.com

I’m always happy to meet for an herbal tea and talk it through!

Thank you

Thank you to the Section Chairs — Ben, Matt, Zeki and Richard and their committees.

Thank you to the OWA Committee — Sam, Andrew, Ross, Paul, Phil, Tim SF, Matt, and Zeki.

Thank you to the Events Committee — Fiona, Aran, Andrew, Issy, Richard and Willie.

And thank you to every volunteer, coach and team manager across all sections, from juniors through to senior teams.

Finally, thank you to those who keep the club running day to day. What I call our service providers, the catering team led by Amal, the bar team, and Charlotte (Events). Their work underpins everything that happens at the club.

Leading this club alongside such a committed group of people is a real pleasure. There’s no “I” in team — and it’s the collective effort of our members that makes the Old Wimbledonians Association what it is, and what it can become.

Gregory Martis

Chair, Old Wimbledonians Association

Remembrance Page Now Available

Check out the  Remembrance Page which remembers those from the College who died in the First and Second World Wars.

We have also updated the Notable Alumni page