It’s still in beta format but the idea of the Sports Club Hub got off to a flying start in Cork City last night when 35 clubs from across 13 different sporting codes gathered to hear ways in which they can be more efficient and financially stronger in 2015.
Presentations on commercial partnerships and fundraising from Rob Hartnett of Sport for Business; Mike McGrath of Arvo on cost savings that can be achieved through smart procurement and Warren Healy from My Club Finances on how technology is making club management easier and more effective were warmly received at the evening session in UCC.
Attendees came from Gaelic Games, Soccer, American Football, Gymnastics, Rowing, Disability Sport, Golf, Cricket, Martial Arts, Fitness and more and are keen to see the collaborative approach develop further.
“We had great help from champions within the Cork sports media and organisations, as well as from the Cork Sports Partnership who helped to spread the word and draw an audience that are united by far more in terms of similar hurdles to overcome than many might have believed,” said Sport for Business founder and initiator of the Sports Club Hub Rob Hartnett.
“We decided last night that we would be rolling the idea out to Galway and Limerick early in the New Year, then to Dublin and to every county where there is a desire to learn about the often common sense improvements to ‘the way things have always been done.'”
“We will be looking at bringing in experts in grant applications, crowdfunding and other areas to provide solid advice where people can learn from experts and be inspired by each other.”
A vibrant Q and A session after the presentations produced news of a smartphone app developed in house by Blackrock Camogie Club which has already been downloaded by half the membership and is taking over as the primary means of communication already.
“Ireland has a greater passion for sport at local and community level than anywhere in the world,” added Hartnett.
“It’s driven by volunteers who are time pressed and often frustrated by having to do so much of the less glamorous parts of running the club by themselves.”
“This was a chance for them to come together, across sporting codes as diverse as you could imagine, and to learn from us and from each other that there are a wealth of ideas and initiatives that can help. They just need to look up.”
“I’m leaving here fired up to stop talking and start doing the things that can get our club motoring again,” said one of the delegates.
The Sports Club Hub will launch in Spring 2015 as an online and touring centre of excellence for sports clubs from all codes across Ireland. If you would like to be part of it’s early stage development simply fill out the one minute registration form below and we will be in touch.
