Manly Rugby Club President David Begg and Manly’s Club and USA Tour Captain, Anthony Bergelin

by Jim Davis –

Manly Rugby Club will hold its Annual General Meeting tonight and Club President David Begg is set to announce a stunning financial result for the year 2012. Rugby News has been told a profit of around $200,000.00 has been achieved.

Coming into 2012 the club faced an inherited minus equity position of well into six figures. After a tight year with a dedicated policy of austerity, the Manly Marlins are now well ‘in the black’.

How was such a massive turnaround achieved?

“The Manly Rugby Club is fortunate to have a very large pool of volunteer administrative people who have contributed their vast expertise and skills.

“Our highly qualified treasurer Russ Lewis ensured a rigid adherence to strict budgetary practices. You can’t spend money you haven’t got and the reins were pulled very tight in 2012.” David Begg replied in answer to the question.

“The application of financial diligence was in force throughout the club. A significant positive gap between income and expense was created. And at this early stage our sponsorship income for 2013 is up on 2012. Going into 2013 financially, the club is in excellent shape.”

A project that Begg emphasised for the Marlins is the creation of the Manly Rugby Foundation, to be registered with the Australian Sports Foundation. The purpose of the Foundation is to provide an alternate income source for the Manly Rugby community, and to look at long term rugby projects which will also benefit the community.

Steve Williams and Bill Calcraft have already indicated their preparedness to sit as trustees to the Foundation.

It is also Begg’s intention to re-launch the Manly Rugby Academy for elite rugby players in the 15-17 age group in the 2013 season.

Ed Gower playing in the centres? It could only happen in the USA

And the club’s strong focus on Colts and developing young talented players from within the club will continue after a very successful year.

Plus, Tim Lane will be confirmed to continue as First Grade coach.

Another big success for the Manly Rugby club in 2012 was their end of season tour to the USA. A lot of detailed hard work and time was injected into arranging this tour by Club Captain, Anthony Bergelin.

Some fantastic stories have come out (some have not) about their visits to Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Aspen and New York to name a few and the three rugby matches – all won, with the final game a runaway 52-10 hammering of the West Point Military Academy side.

It is 30 years since Manly toured the USA and played West Point. It was the stories from that trip that set the scene for the 2012 tour which was funded outside the club’s working budget.

What is this we hear about Ed Gower playing in the centres? Next we’ll be told try-scoring prop Dane Maraki played on the wing.

One thing’s for certain…the tour party of 30 plus can’t stop talking about the trip.

A little bit like David Begg espousing on 2013. And he had the final say, “There is still a lot of hard work ahead.”

CLICK BELOW TO HEAR THE ABC GRANDSTAND POST USA TOUR INTERVIEW WITH ANTHONY BERGELIN.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-29/the-clubhouse/4339628