The new season is now underway, and it’s already been great to see some exciting matches taking place. There’s also been plenty happening behind the scenes, so I thought I’d give you a quick update on what’s been going on.

First up, trophies. We’ve now developed a missing trophy form which will soon be handed out to clubs that are holding them. We’ve had problems in the past with trophies going missing, so this should help us keep track of where everything is. On that note, the Nicholson Shield – which disappeared before COVID sand was replaced with a cup – is finally being updated. A new shield is being engraved, and the cup that was used as a substitute will now be converted into the Second Division trophy that went missing. With the cup returning, the plate being introduced in Division One, and the number of tournaments growing, there are more trophies than ever to keep on top of.

In terms of venues, Castell Nedd's Junior Club has now moved over to Aberdulais Community Centre, thanks to the increase in its size. Just to be clear though, league matches are still being held at Catwg Church Hall – so don’t get mixed up! That’s also the place to be for any adults looking to join.

We’ve also started our hunt for funding. Jack Mason, our funding officer, now has a list of potential sponsors to contact. The aim is to raise money for the league as it grows, rather than leaning too heavily on members’ fees. With more trophies and bigger tournaments, outside support is becoming more important. Sponsors will likely get a mention on our Facebook page and website, so hopefully we’ll be able to attract some good partners. Have any ideas? Give us a shout.

A quick note for team captains: old captains who no longer hold the role on the website and will find they can’t access match cards anymore, as permissions were updated today. At the same time, we’d like to welcome the new captains – Tony Goodchild, Jack Mason, Alan Young, Malcolm Probert, Jonathan Baker, Gareth Harper and Dale Westcott – who now have access to the online match card system. It’s always encouraging to see players stepping up to take on these voluntary positions that help keep our league running smoothly.

The yearbook has also been finalised. There was a slight delay due to some updates needed from Morrison Chess Club, but it’s now ready and will be arriving in the next couple of days. You can also find the latest version online in the documents section, and this year’s fixtures are included as well. You’ll notice that officer emails are now non-personalised addresses – for example, you can reach me at chairman@westwheches.org. This gives a bit more privacy to those running the tournaments and league operations, while keeping communication clear.

Another change is that Moss has now fully taken on the role of treasurer. The keys and access have been handed over, so he’ll be able to manage all duties online – especially handy at the start of the season with membership fees coming in! From now on, please send any treasurer messages directly to him.

On the website side of things, we’ve begun catching up with obituaries for members we’ve sadly lost in recent years. These will be added gradually so we can properly pay our respects to those who contributed to the league over the years.

Finally, a quick reminder about rules and deadlines for the season.

• Club registrations are due by 1st September, with penalties applying after 31st October.
• If you’re registering a new player, their details need to be with the grading officer and secretary at least 24 hours before their second game – though if you can manage it before their first, it makes life easier for everyone.
• Within 48 hours after a match, the controller, treasurer, and grading officer all need to be updated so membership, grades, and records can stay on track.
• If the online match card you'll still need to send it to the division controller and grading officer.
• Make sure your club nominations are in three days before any teams first match. Most teams have now completed this but there still are a couple to go.

That’s everything for now – thanks again to everyone who’s putting in time and effort, whether it’s behind the scenes or on the board. It’s shaping up to be another great season for the West Wales Chess League.