It’s pretty common knowledge today that dwindling, or at least aging, memberships are a real and genuine concern for a large number of clubs in the UK & Ireland. The challenge facing many is to promote junior members into full members, convert other nomadic club members into static club members, and satisfy the existing membership while attracting enough visitors to balance the books. It’s a permanent fixture on the agenda of club committee meetings up and down the country.
The Clubhouse delivers value to a member, not only in a social sense but a financial one, too. Most clubs provide a substantial discount to members in the bar, and the atmosphere in your own clubhouse can provide a real sense of belonging. Life doesn’t afford many opportunities for meeting new people in an easier environment than your clubhouse, and you set it against the feeling of walking in as a visitor, the advantage is self-evident the familiar atmosphere, recognised faces and cheaper prices are significant benefits.
You can also feel comfortable using the club as a place to relax, be it before a game of snooker, after a game, or simply as a social club. That’s not to suggest that most clubs don’t welcome visitors warmly, far from it, but it’s fair to say that as a club member you have a sense of belonging, whereas as a visitor there can be a feeling of intrusion. What follows is a brief list of what we here at The Railway Club Sport & Social Club, Lancaster branch of the London Midland Railway Clubs Association (L.M.R.C.A.) aim to provide to you.
So, if you’re won over by the true value of a membership, how do you decide where to join? Of Course you have to consider where your friends are members, what’s local and where you’ll find the right kind of atmosphere. We hope we can meet all these needs so why not join us to day?
(Link to application form)
As our club has a strong family element to our membership and in this security vigilant era our application requires Photo ID. Please help us to help protect you.
Thank you for wishing to join us and we hope we can process your application quickly.
Firstly either Download or Collect a copy of the application form directly from the Railway Sport & Social Club.
Complete all questions in a clear print format.
Please note that at least one of the proposing fully paid up members must have held The Railway clubs membership for a minimum of two years and can vouch for your respectability.
The Applicant must submit their application personally and come with Photo ID. Upon submission of the application your Photo ID must be verified by either the Bar Staff or a Committee Member and your application counter signed by them proving you are who you say you are. Then please ask the bar staff for a brown envelope and insert your £15.00 registration fee which includes your membership up to 01-01-2018 and your fully completed application form and seal it, address it to the Membership Secretary and hand it back to the Bar staff member or committee member who will then make sure it is delivered correctly.
Upon receiving your application form the membership secretary will post your name up on the relevant noticeboards within the clubhouse for a minimum of 48 hrs (you are kindly requested not to enter the club during this period) this gives our current membership the opportunity to raise any issues should they have any with the membership committee.
After 48 hours your name is taken down and your application will be submitted to the membership committee to discuss and vote on at their earliest convenience (Currently the committee meets every alternative Monday)
After the meeting you shall be contacted regarding your membership outcome there at present three options firstly you could be called into the club for a face to face application interview with the committee this normally is to your benefit to clarify any issue before a final decision is made. Stage two is acceptance (Many congratulations, and Welcome to the family) stage three is your application is declined the committee reserves the right not to disclose their reason to decline your application and your application fee will be returned to you, Sorry you are also advised not to reapply.
Should your application be declined you will not be allowed to be signed into the Lancaster Railway Sports & Social Club as a guest of an event or visitor or allowed in as a visiting sport team player from another venue.
Regrettably The Railway Sport & Social Club does not have an application appeal process.
Subscriptions become payable at 00.01am on the 01 January 2018 these can be paid via cash or card over the bar, NO over the telephone payments can be accepted.
Membership cards must be submitted with your fee to be updated by the Membership Secretary any membership card that is not forth coming there will be an admin charge of an extra £5.00 to be added.
Membership cards and full payments must reach our Membership Secretary NO LATER THAN 11.59pm 31st January 2018. An exception to 14th February 2018 will only be available for exceptional circumstances and soly at the discretion of our Membership Secretary. From the 15th February 2018 members who have not paid become ex members and should re apply and include the current fee of £15.00. Ex General members will automatically return to associate member status on re application for another 5 years. Any ex member who does not reapply during February/ March will be unable to sign in or enter the club for six months.
Non-Voting Associate Member……………………………£7.00
Full Voting General Member……………………………….£14.00
Non – Voting Member Over 60s……………………………£4.50
Full Voting Member Over 60s………………………………£ 14.00
Yearly Fees are set by the Committee in the preceding December each and every year.
Associate members currently can only apply to increase their Membership/subscription to voting General member status after 5 years consecutive service and only if they have not been suspended for any time period over 3 months from the club during that time.
Any member having be been suspended from the Club by the committee over 3 months shall loose and not able to reapply for general member status.
The Law of the land that dictates most of our Children’s policy.
For safety reasons it is strongly advisable that any children on the clubs premises must be closely supervised by a parent or guardian at all times, Thank You.
Full children’s / Young person’s policy can be obtained from the club’s secretary during trading hours.
A full copy of all The Railway Sports & Social Club rules & regulations can be obtained from the Clubs secretary during Trading Hours
Sports Teams Representing / Using Lancaster Railway Sport and Social Club’s Private Members facilities.
a) What you would be required to do for the club. All Railway Club team players & representatives (Snooker, Pool, Quiz, Darts & Dominoes) including management (if not already members) must apply for membership. The Committee may review the first years administration cost for new members at their discretion as a token of good will.
b) Teams would be required to submit a full list of changes of team members who require membership at least 3 weeks prior to the start of their new season. All team players must be members by the first home match.
c) Any persons failed application past or present (we reserve the right not to give a reason) for membership would regrettably not be allowed on the premises. As a private members club therefore we have to respect and make a priority to all our private members including their family’s Safety and Security.
d) ALL Teams would be required to be fully financially self-supporting. Regrettably the club cannot help further financially at this time than stated under these terms & Conditions. This is due to our belief that every Representative team of the club, will be treated the same within the boundaries of the clubs current funding level with no exception.
e) The Relevant team Captain & Treasurer would be required to choose, arrange, including service equipment/Utensils from Suppliers and pay out of their teams Self-supporting Funds on delivery, all food to be consumed by themselves and their guests. Please source your Food offer from only Reputable and preferably EHO Registered suppliers.
f) FOOTBALL TEAMS. Who do not represent or are not sponsored by the LRSSC (Lancaster Railway sports & social Club) would only be allowed to use the clubs facilities upon completion of official local Matches. A team “on the day Steve Sibbett Memorial Concession Admission” (should the team not all be club members) , would be allowed only at the full discretion and authorisation of the Clubs Committee and/or the on duty Stewards of the club. Should a member of the football team or associate there off, wish to play the gaming machine he/she would be required either to be a full paid up member or be officially signed in prior to playing the machine? PROOF of membership would be required before any such winnings are paid out.
g) FOOTBALL TEAMS. Access to the LRSSC private members facilities at other times/occasions (Other than above, including private parties and the last Monday of the month Mayfield UTD team meetings) by team players, partners, wife’s and associates would be required to be fully paid up members or officially signed in by a fully paid up LRSSC member.
h) What would the club do for you: Should your team have followed their league rules and having been solvent for the full playing season, the club would refund £50 to cover league signing on costs as a good will gesture.
i) The ability to sell on the club’s premises Fundraising cards & raffle tickets (only Approved tickets by Railway club would be allowed) to boost the teams self-funding Pot.
j) Should your team win their participating League, (with all our many congratulations) the Lancaster Railway sports and social Club would also pay a prize fund of £50 to your teams following seasons self-funding Pot. This prize money would be on top of your league prize money if applicable, should your team be fortunate to be offered this by your league. (Not applicable to Non LRSSC represented/sponsored teams)
k) Should your team progress or wish to participate at a National level and upon application to the committee we would take all reasonable steps to look at the feasibility of financial support on case by case basis. (Not applicable to Non LRSSC represented/sponsored teams)
l) The LRSSC will provide your team with represented logo shirts of your relevant sport with the clubs compliments should you require. (Not applicable to Non LRSSC represented/sponsored teams)
Please Note: – Team Captains & Team Treasurer to choose, arrange, including service equipment/Utensils from Suppliers and pay out of Self-supporting Funds on delivery / evening. Please source your Food offer from only Reputable and if possible EHO Registered suppliers.
Fresh Cold Sandwiches (Source Supplier)
Fresh Stew & dumplings / Hot Pot, Red Cabbage etc. (Source Supplier)
Fresh Chunky Broth / Soups & Crispy Bread (Source Supplier)
Fresh Hot Sandwiches / Burgers / Hot Dogs (Source Supplier)
Pie, Peas & Gravy (Source Supplier)
Fresh Hot Roast Meat Baguettes (Source Supplier)
Fresh Pizza (Source Supplier)
Fresh Chips & Gravy / Curry sauce (Source Supplier)
Fresh Individual Chinese Snack Pot (Source Supplier) (Do a deal with Local Chinese)
KFC Bargin Bucket (2 x piece pr portion) (Source Supplier) (Do a Deal with Shop Manager)
Fresh Filled Baked Jacket Potatoes (Source Supplier)
Quiche / Sausage Rolls / Pasties (Source Supplier)
Cheese Board & Biscuits / Ploughman’s (Source Supplier)
A full copy of these Major Rules and Regulations can be obtained from the Clubs Secretary during Trading Hours.