February Meeting

Although the turnout at our February meeting was one of the lowest we have seen for a couple of years, we did welcome 3 new members along to their first ever London Hibs gathering.  Paul Angelosanto and John Wilson who have been members of the club for a few months, but haven�t been able to make a meeting and �new� new member Dave Stevenson from Watford were all introduced to the meeting and bought a customary welcome pint by the Chairman.

Following the AGM last June I pointed out in the newsletter that London Hibs had had a record breaking 12 months with a significant increase in its membership, an increase in our turnover by over �2,000, two very good social events and of course the football team finished in a very respectable 4^th place in the APFSCIL 1^st Division.  In addition, we had sold a record amount of merchandise, produced 2 fanzines and set up a very impressive Web site.  All in all a very good year but despite our success, the committee was determined to improve on things this year, which was always going to be a difficult task!

However........ it looks like we will exceed all these records this season as we have already have over 160 paid up members, our two main social events have been the most successful we have held to date and the football team is sitting 1 point clear of London Rangers at the top of the APFSCIL premier league AND are in the semi finals of the APFSCIL cup.  Thanks to some great commitment by Mike Inglis, the quality of our web site gets better (and an increasing number of visits) each day and we have purchased and sold a vast amount of new London Hibs merchandise, although we still have a bit more to sell.  The only downside to the season so far is that we have failed to produce a fanzine, but hopefully this will be rectified over the next few weeks in time for the Hearts game!

In summary, not a bad season so far for our �wee supporters club�, but with help from our membership, we look forward to even more success over the next few months which will set us up nicely for our 10 year anniversary season which starts with the planned trip to Ireland in August.

Burns Night

I know I say this after almost every function, but the Burns Night Supper in January was by far the most enjoyable and successful that we have held over the years.  With just over 130 very lively guests attending the evening in Kavanagh�s Irish bar in South Kensington, the function broke all previous records with both the attendance and money generated through club funds. The new venue also proved extremely popular with everyone.

Despite the evening costing an extra �2.50 per head (mainly on food and drinks � Kensington prices) and the cost of tickets to members being sold for �2 less than they were last year, we somehow managed to break even on the evening.  This was thanks mainly to a significant increase in ticket sales and a very successful raffle which raised over �600 and included a trip to Edinburgh for 2 as the first prize.

My sincere thanks to everyone who helped make the evening such a success, but in particular to: 

�         Those members/friends who were unable to attend the evening, but who purchased raffle tickets.  We sold over �250 worth of tickets to non-attendees.

�         Mike Prior - for donating the smart t-shirts, which we had made into Eddie Turnbull Legends shirts and were worn by the bar staff.

�         Mike Inglis - for donating a raffle prize and for doing such a brilliant job updating our web pages with pictures and sound files for Hibs fans all over the world to view/listen to. 

�         Scott Miller - for selling 24 tickets to his friends and his work colleagues.

�         Martin and Lesley Longland - for doing a great job on the night selling raffle tickets

�         Andrew Murray for his idea on the raffle.

�         Rose McEwan � for donating a raffle prize, selling raffle tickets and of course doing a strip tease half way through the evening!  If you don�t believe me, then click here!

�         To everyone who purchased tickets and turned up to make the evening a great success.

�         And finally, to Eddie Turnbull who, like Joe Baker and Pat Stanton in previous years, was a fantastic Guest of Honour

You can see these pictures and many more here.  For those members who do not have Internet access, but may have a PC at home or in the office, then Mike Inglis has produced a CD which includes all the photographs and sound files from the evening which will allow you to hear the speeches from the chairman and Eddie Turnbull as well as John Leslie hosting the raffle.  The CD will cost �5, which covers the cost of production, material and postage.

The only downside to the evening was that a few of our members ordered tickets for the function, but were unable to attend due to last minute commitments.  As it was necessary for us to give final numbers for food to Kavanagh�s, 4 days before the supper, it was necessary to charge these members for the cost of food, which was �7 a head.  Our sincere apologies to those members who this affected but as our finances were so very tight, the club would have had to subsidize the event by �150 had we not passed this cost back to you.

Games on SKY

Don�t forget that the Hibs Vs Celtic game this Sunday will be live on SKY SPORTS.  For the benefit of those members who will not be travelling to Edinburgh for the game, then you are reminded that we have an increasing number of venues where you will be able to watch the match in good Hibby company.

Phone numbers for the above members can be found on the membership list.

If you know of another venue to watch televised Hibs games and would like to encourage other members to join you, then please contact me on the above number and I will promote it in our monthly newsletter.  Alternatively, you can always contact members direct using the address list, which was distributed with our last newsletter.

You are reminded that Alex Lindsay is the travel coordinator for the club so if you are looking for a lift up to Edinburgh for one of the few remaining home games of the season, or if you have space in your car that another member could use, then please give Alex a call to let him know.

Tickets to the Hearts game

If you are planning to be in Edinburgh on Saturday 18^th March for the Hearts game and would like some help purchasing tickets, then can you please give Tony Connor a call before 8 March.  Tony is the member responsible for coordinating our tickets for big games so when we get to the Scottish Cup Final at the end of May, then Tony could be the main man so make a note of his numbers (available on the membership list)!!

Merchandise

 There�s only One Sale � There�s only one London Hibs!

I�m sure old Al Fayed has more things to worry about at the moment than us stealing his slogan!

Until the end of March there is a special deal for members purchasing London Hibs Merchandise!  If you order a Brazil style London Hibs V Neck T Shirt or adult/children�s Coach Jacket before 31 March, not only will your postage (normal cost (�1 per item) be free, but you will also receive a London Hibs key ring or Lapel Badge worth �3.00 each.

With the Spring drizzly season only a few weeks away, what better way to protect your kids and your partner from getting soaking wet than buying them a smart black coach jacket with the London Hibs logo on the left breast.  These jackets come in 3 sizes for children.  5-6 years, 7-9 years and 10-12 years and are in medium and large for adults.  The children�s jackets cost only �10 each and the adult jackets a real bargain at �14 each.

We also have a number of Brazil style London Hibs T shirts to sell in Medium, Large and Extra Large. These shirts, which again have the London Hibs logo on the left breast, are fantastic quality, look very smart for casual wear and cost only �8 each or, if you buy two, then �7.50 each.  

Order Form in RTF Format

Order Form in Text Format

Click above for an order form. Please send in your order and payment without delay to Mike McSherry, Hibernian House, 149 Easthampstead Road, WOKINGHAM, RG40 2JB and indicate whether you want a London Hibs keyring or lapel badge with your order.

Season Tickets

Over the next 4 weeks, the club�s two season tickets will be used as follows:

5^th March against Celtic                      Pat and Rose McKinney

11^th March against Falkirk                      Brian and Barry Rogan 

18^th March against Hearts                      Mike McSherry and Dean Day

1 April against Dundee United                Dave Smith and Brunhilde McCullough

Tickets should be collected from the club shop prior to the game and returned immediately afterwards. These tickets also give members access to the Almond suite before and after the game.

March Meeting

And finally, don�t forget that our next meeting will take place in the William Wallace on Tuesday 14 March starting at 8pm.  Look forward to seeing you all there.