Those recording attendance were : Neil Chambers, Linda Chambers, Bob Jones, Sue Jones, Anthony Follows, John Reeves Jnr, John Reeves Snr, Scott Russon, Garry Hale, Lynne Hale, Mark James, Craig Wilkinson, Dave Steventon, Stan Jackson, George Hancocks, Gil Preece, Margaret Ensor, Michael Ensor, David Brookes, Dave Brookes, Paul Foster, Ade Steventon, Paul Bolton, Stephen Coyne, Luke Steventon, Doug James, Lyndon Parkes, Alex Boys, Wendy Collins, Robert Powell, Craig Davies, Sharon Felton, Paul Felton, Tony Highfield, Rose Burley, Keith Chambers, Betty Dixon, Reuben Dixon, Jim Owen, Nicola Waite, Anton Allen, David Price, Dorothy Williams, John Scott (Express and Star), Reg Kingston, Adam Hughes, Graham Lloyd, Brian Lloyd, R. Grigg, David Meakin, Colin Pritchard, Paul Harrison, George Price.

1. Introductions
Councillors Burley, James and Keith Chambers, Reg Kingston and John Scott (Express and Star) were introduced.

2. Background
NC opened the meeting by saying the club had resigned from the West Midlands Regional League (WMRL) for 2013/14 season although the continuing history of the club was preserved as an Associate Member of Birmingham County FA for 2013/14. The City Ground was being used for Sunday football but there would be no team representing Darlaston in Saturday Senior Football.
Following numerous requests NC had called the meeting to gauge interest and commitment in setting up a new club for 2014/15 playing at any ground and in any league.

3. Setting up a team/club
Attendees were asked for their views. Following contributions it was agreed that any new club should demonstrate good governance, have a transparent committee and have local support. The club was about fans and teams not the manager.
After a brief discussion the meeting unanimously agreed to set up a “new” club for 2014/15.

4. Finances
A handout showing a projected Income and Expenditure Account for 2014/15 was made available. It included numerous assumptions and was broadly based on running costs for a team in WMRL Division 2. This demonstrated setting up and running costs exceeding £8k.
Consequently setting up a “new” club would require at least £8k and the meeting was therefore demonstrating a commitment to raise the £8k needed.
Options of setting up a trust and affiliating with Wolverhampton and Walsall Universities were suggested. It was also suggested that the Club constitution would be critical in accessing funding. The meeting unanimously agreed its commitment to raise the funds.

5. Club Structure
Bob Jones used an FA document (available on FA website) “Club Structures” to discuss the various options. He gave an overview of the pros and cons of the main options viz Company Limited by Share Capital, Company Limited by Guarantee and Community Amateur Sports Club.
Following discussion it was suggested that Grant funding would not be available for a Company Limited by Share Capital and that funding opportunities would be maximised by setting up a Company Limited by Guarantee.
For a variety of reasons the meeting unanimously voted to set up a Company Limited by Guarantee (referred to in these minutes as Company).

6. Appointments
To set up a club and form a new Company the appointment of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, treasurer and Secretary would be required. Other Committee appointments were also needed e.g. Press Officer, WebMaster, Football Secretary, Commercial Manager etc.
It was suggested that rather than make individual appointments volunteers/ nominations could be made for committee members and the new committee could appoint from within. Another suggestion was to appoint into some positions but leave others open for the new committee to decide. Following discussion the following appointments were unanimously agreed –
Chairman – Neil Chambers – Proposed Rose Burley Seconded Gil Preece
Vice Chairman – Garry Hale - Proposed Stephen Coyne Seconded Rose Burley
Treasurer – Bob Jones - Proposed Gil Preece Seconded Ade Steventon
Commercial Manager – Sharon Felton - Proposed George Hancocks Seconded Stan Jackson
Web Master – Craig Davies - Proposed Rose Burley Seconded Robert Powell
Committee Members – Stan Jackson, George Hancocks, Derek Stevenson, Dave Steventon, Paul Foster, Gil Preece, Mark James, Craig Wilkinson, Nicola Waite, Keith Chambers, Rose Burley, Anton Allen.
Proposed Dave Steventon Seconded Anton Allen

7. Ground Options
A long and detailed discussion took place on potential ground options. It was agreed that every attempt should be made to ensure the ground had a Darlaston Post Code. The two main options were the current City Ground and The Recreation Ground (DCA).
Upon request Rose Burley (RB) gave the Council’s understanding of the current status of the City Ground. She said the lease (rent £450 p.a.) had expired, there was currently no signed lease and the current tenant effectively had a week to week tenancy which was accepted by the Council. Her understanding was that rent is currently not being paid. The advice given to her was that there was no covenant on the ground but this was subject to legal opinion within the Council.
Her understanding was that the current Chairman had telephoned an Officer at The Council in August 2013. In that call he said he would maintain the ground for 2013/14 and football would not be played on Saturdays but it would be used on Sundays, the club had not folded as such and that he hoped to have a team playing in WMRL Division 2 in 2014/15.
NC said that subsequent to that email he had met with the current Chairman. The meeting was amicable and reasonable and broadly confirmed what RB said. However as there was now a move to set up a new club the current chairman was unlikely to reform the Saturday team. He confirmed he still had the Interests of the Club at heart and would help and support the club as required.
Little was known about the current status of DCA. Further comments were made regarding different Ground Grading requirements and some pros and cons of each option, viz floodlights at City Ground but not at DCA and slope at City Ground but not DCA. It became clear that further work and discussions with the Council and other interested parties were needed and that the Ground Grading requirements of all possible options needed further research. It was agreed that this would be a priority for the new committee and progress would be reported back to the next meeting.

8. Conclusion
NC asked everyone present to complete the Questionnaire left on every table and to complete the (Club) Name Options form which would assist the Committee on deciding the new name.
A meeting of the Committee was arranged for Wednesday 11 September @7.30 at DAA and a further public meeting was also scheduled for Wednesday 9 October @ 7.30 at DAA.