Today Gemma, Tom and Rebecca went to a committee training day at the union for some of next year’s committee members.

Things that came out of it that you guys need to know are:

1. You may be aware that all sports clubs within the athletics union are getting new social and playing kit next year; this is to improve the image and solidarity of the whole AU.

The Hoodies will be Purple and Polo shirts in white, we also have a pool side shirt which is black that we designed, there is more information about this on the website.

The major change to all sports club kit is that it will no longer have the university crest on it. The university and the students union are separate things and at present the university allow us the AU to ‘borrow’ the crest to put on out kit, with this comes the promise that we will respect the crest, therefore we aren’t allowed to put it on posters and sports prospectuses or get sponsorship from clubs and bars.

The AU has had a new logo/crest of our own designed to put on all kit, posters flyers anything to do with and promote uni sports. This also means we could get sponsorship from alcohol promoting companies! The Final design of this Logo is up to us, Clubs, committee and members of the AU. You can go and vote for which logo you want on you kit next year via: this link.

2. Just thought I’d let all members know that next Monday the new and old committee will be having a meeting to sort out next year’s budget and handing over of jobs etc!

3. Last couple of training sessions are coming up, it would be really nice to see everyone turning up and having a laugh, say goodbye before the end of the year and on a more serious note paying up any outstanding subs (sorry!!)and return any club kit you have

By the way, if you go to the UPSU.net and click on the sports clubs page an article that Hannah wrote about us at the Plymouth cup features on the main page at the moment!

Our social kit is changing next year, due to the whole of the AU getting new playing and social kit the same matching colours, this is to make the image of the AU stronger as a whole.

There will be a portsmouth purple hoodie with white stripes down the sleeves, a social shirt in white with purple stripes, and we have designed a black polo shirt with white stripes for pool side. Kit will have the uni crest on one side and Octopush in big letters across the back.

It is essential that you are a member of the National Union of Students if you are going on tour, it is also recommended that you become a member even if you are not going. Why? The NUS card provides you with a level of insurance while participating in sporting events organized by the Union.

Two types of NUS card are available: