At our COXA committee in November last year a subcommittee was tasked in examining the future of the clubhouse and grounds. In the expectation the Association will shrink in the next to ten to fifteen years it would be sensible to take a view of our lease over the grounds and premises at County Road.

Since the end of last September there has been no usage of the pitch (for which we have a licence to play) and the clubroom. Both our 1st XI and Vets XI now enjoy excellent facilities at their new ground in Beddington. In effect we currently take no benefit from the site. However, the realisation that retaining the lease the COXA Sports and Social Club will continue to be responsible for all outgoings and security.

Financially we continue to make small profits from the occupation of our tenant in the old groundsman’s bungalow, the nursery in the clubhouse and use of the bar by the Pigeon club during the summer months. There are ongoing general repairs and maintenance, statutory compliance in fire safety regulations and general utility payments.

The subcommittee reported back to the main COXA committee earlier this month with the following recommendation:

“As part of the long-term winding down of COXA we recommend that we withdraw from Norbury by Summer 2025. Should the committee agree, exact dates would be suggested which would be determined by the dates at which occupancy of the Nursery and the Tenant cease. Unmanaged loss of either of these will make Norbury an overhead for COXA. If we wish to match to the last date of occupancy by the Nursery we would need to give notice in January, to coincide with our financial year end then 28th February would be the date of notice.”

The Recommendation was approved by your committee on 16th January without any objections against surrender of our lease. The Archdiocese of Southwark has now been given six months’ notice making 31st August 2025 our last day of occupancy. All interested parties have now been advised of our withdrawal from the site in line with the agreed notice period in the respective contractual agreements.

Eddie O’Brien
COXA Secretary
27th January 2025

Frank Barretta