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When I look back at my time at Launceston, as well as the great times, I remember the huge campaign of misinformation driven by certain people. Clearly Colin Venton and John Fry didn't like the fact that when I became Chairman I told the annual general meeting what an awful condition they had left the club in.

It is amazing to think of the hectoring and rhetoric about "amateur rugby, a community club, working within fixed budgets, ensuring that the general committee is the decision making body of the club" when these same committee members actively participated and were responsible for many of the changes that faced the club in the transition from amateur, community rugby to the semi-professional and then ultimately the professional game.

The reality is that they, along with others were responsible for many of the ailments and hangovers that the club inherited. Had they embraced change in 2004 as openly as they appeared to embrace in the preceeding 15 years when they were at the helm, then many of the difficulties in recent times at Launceston RFC would have been overcome. However, it became a personal crusade to usurp the new regime and in the process they comfortably forgot how it was they who had played such a keen part of the movement away from local, community amateur rugby.

Below are some precise transcripts of what was decided at Committee meetings from 1991 - 2002 and what a vital part certain individuals played in moving Launceston RFC into the professional rugby era and with it some extreme financial hangovers.



Chairman, Dave Baker, Committee Members John & Rob Fry 1991-1992
November 1991, main bank account £10,800 overdrawn
January 1992, main bank account £12,000 overdrawn
March 1992, debt of £28,000 with an overdraft of £20,000
April 1992, Treasurer's report suggests that "the situation is not too healthy". Proposed, seconded and unanimously agreed that the overdraft be increased to £25,000.
August 1992, Overdraft £23,000, outstanding bills £13,000. Treasurer suggests that "spending must be severely controlled".


Chairman, Colin Venton, President David Baker, Committee Member John Fry 1994-1996
August 1994, Colin Venton stated, "money was extremely tight". Treasurer suggested that the overdraft was "in the region of £30,900"
January 1995, Chairman Colin Venton - it was proposed and agreed by members present that a coach should be made available for all away league games
February 1995, club takes out a £4000 loan from North Cornwall Sports Council, in addition to large overdraft.
September 1995, Chairman Colin Venton - it was proposed and agreed by members present that players lunches for league fixtures be met by the club.
September 1995, Chairman Colin Venton - physiotherapist starts treatment at the club to be paid for by the club.
October 1995, Chairman Colin Venton - proposed by J Fry and agreed by members present that £250 should be spent on beer for players, about 3 times a season
June 1996, Chairman Colin Venton - sub committee established to review reimbursement of players travelling expenses.


Committee including Colin Venton, John Fry, Dave Baker and Will Yeo 1999-2000
March 1999, Committee including Colin Venton, John Fry, Will Yeo and Rob Fry decide to establish a formal player pool.
March 1999, Committee including Colin Venton, John Fry, Will Yeo and Rob Fry decide to offer coach a basic salary
April 1999, Colin Venton involved in formal establishment of player pool and £100 win bonus payment agreed
April 1999, Finance Committee including Colin Venton, John Fry, Dave Baker and Will Yeo, discuss agreement to pay director of rugby £1200 per month and allow him sole and final word on selection. May 1999 general committee vote unanimously in favour.
June 1999, Finance Committee including Colin Venton, John Fry, Dave Baker and Will Yeo discuss player salary and promotion bonus fund of £16,500
June 1999, same Finance Committee discuss paying a player £500 per month plus a car
June 1999, General Committee agree to meet £2500 medical costs of a player.
August 1999, Finance Committee including Colin Venton, John Fry, Dave Baker and Will Yeo receive £4.5K into player pool from sponsors and agree to give it to coaches to distribute to players directly.
November 2000, New Zealander and other player arrive until end of season. Finance Committee including Colin Venton, John Fry, and Dave Baker agree to meet £3K costs plus car and accommodation.
April 2000, Finance Committee including Colin Venton, John Fry, Dave Baker and Will Yeo discuss new director of rugby contract paying £12,500 plus a £3K bonus on promotion plus expenses and another coach paying £3000. Also discuss offering a player a package of approx £20,000! Also discuss player win bonus of £60 and £100 beer money for the squad for away games.
May 2000 General Committee Meeting including Colin Venton, John Fry, Dave Baker and Will Yeo agree unanimously to continuation of Director of Rugby role and cede total control to him of all playing matters. Director of rugby however decides that the bonus they have offered isn't enough and committee agree to increase it to £8K!!!
May 2000 Finance Committee including Colin Venton, John Fry, Dave Baker and Will Yeo discuss playing budget of £40K. Colin Venton agrees to the proposal that anyone finding new sponsors should receive a percentage of the sponsorship revenue.
June 2000 General Committee including Colin Venton, John Fry, Dave Baker and Will Yeo voted by a majority that the finance / executive committee were to run the clubs affairs without direct reference to the general committee!!