SUPPORTERS TRUST REVIEW 2008/09

To paraphrase the immortal words of Monty Python`s Life Of Brian,

What have the Supporters Trust ever done for us?

Hopefully this review of the year will answer that question and encourage you to stay involved with the Trust.

First of all, an apology!

Half of our members have email addresses so we have been able to keep in touch during this season, also there have been frequent updates in the Match Day Programme and on our website. However, some members either don`t have email addresses, or we have taken them down incorrectly and our communications are bounced back to us, so, if you have received this by `slo-mail` (post!) and you do have an email address please could you confirm the email address to Lesley. To those of you who don`t have access to an email address we do apologise if we haven`t kept you as up to date as we would have liked to have done, but the cost of postage etc would mean that we would be donating most of your fees to the Royal Mail.

Onward and upwards,

The Trust was officially launched on 29th April 2008, just over a year ago with over 200 members. Graham Wood (congrats to Gateshead for their promotion to Blue Square Premier) handed over his 26% shareholding to the Trust for the princely sum of £1 ( and a curry!).

During the summer the Trust attended a number of local events representing the Football Club in the community at large..

Richmond May Fair

Hampton Carnival & Teddington Fete

At these events we ran a `Beat the Goalie` stall, which proved very popular with youngsters. But we also saw it as an opportunity to bring to the attention of different area of the Richmond Borough the fact that we have a very successful football club in our midst. The Trust sold tickets for the West Ham game, gave out leaflets about the club, advertised the forthcoming friendlies, gave out season ticket forms and also took orders for shirts etc. And, we did a lot of talking to passers by, selling the Club and the Trust.

SOCCER SCHOOLS

Summer Holiday
October Half Term
Easter Half Term

The Trust, with the help of a grant from the Richmond Borough Initiatives fund, to purchase equipment, and, latterly. Broad Lane Garage has run a total of 4 weekly holiday Soccer Schools to date. The first one, held during two weeks of August 2008, was free of charge to 100 youngsters. The other two courses have been well supported at a cost of £10 per day for each participant. The coaching is professionally provided by qualified coaches, including our own Shaun McAuley, and at the end of the week the boys and girls each get a certificate, medal, t-shirt etc as well as trophies for most improved, sportsman, best player.

The Trust also re-introduced the Saturday Morning Mini-Soccer sessions which have regular attendances of over 30. The Trust makes a regular donation to the football club for the use of the top pitch.

FUND RAISING FOR INJURED PLAYERS

During the season the Trust were instrumental in raising money to assist several players who needed operations, Rob Paris (£1,000) and Craig Tanner (£540). We also held a raffle at the Chelmsford game, part of the proceeds going to assist Ian Hodges`operation (however since he was still playing `hurt` we couldn`t advertise the fact, as the opposition would have found out!).

SOCIAL EVENTS

During the year a number of events were held. Quiz nights prove to be very popular as did the three performances by Sandy McLlelland`s group `The River`. The Trust also arranged for Father Christmas to make an appearance at the kids Christmas Party.

COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES

Towards the end of the season, the Trust purchased a number of pages in the Match day programme from the Football Club and these will be used to publicise the Trust and its activities until the end of season 2009/10. The Trust will be funding the purchase of pages in the programme by obtaining advertising from local businesses and to that end Phil Weller is working closely with Peter Turpin, the Football Club`s Commercial Director, to coordinate the activities of the Trust and the Football Club to the benefit of both parties. If you have any leads, Phil, will follow them up.

PROMOTING THE FOOTBALL CLUB

A very important aspect of the Trust is, of course, to promote the Football Club. As such, the Trust has been front and centre, especially of late. The Trust Gazebo/Table is visible at most home games and recently has been heavily involved in, amongst other things

Selling tickets for the AFC game,
Promoting seat sponsorships for the new stand,
Encouraging season ticket renewals
Selling `I`d rather be a Beaver than a ……..` t-shirts!
And of course, our match day volunteers, including recruiting (or should that be `dragooning`) extra turnstile operators for the recent big games that we have had.

The Trust is also responsible for making the arrangements for the Football Club`s Annual Presentation Evening, this year being held at the Hotel Antoinette on Friday 22nd May.

SUMMERTIME

The Trust has already `done` this year`s Richmond May Fair (Saturday 9th May) at which over 1500 penalties were struck. It was very noticeable this time round that more passers by HAD heard of Hampton & Richmond Borough FC and were asking how we had got on in the play offs. We may also have made some useful contacts on behalf of the Football Club.

The next Soccer School is to be held during the May Half Term, May 26th – 29th and we will, again, be running two weekly ones during the Summer School Holidays, dates yet to be confirmed. Application forms can be obtained from Les.

We may also be contacting you in respect of working parties at the ground during the close season.

NEXT STEPS

The Financial year for the Trust does not end until 31st August 2009 (so we won`t be chasing you for membership renewals until nearer then!).

It remains the firm intention of the Supporters Trust to assist and promote the Football Club wherever possible through organising volunteers, involvement in the local community and wherever possible assisting the club financially, especially using our `non for profit` status to attract grant funding.

The Trust is in this for the long haul, we hope that you will be too.

If you need any further information on the Trust`s activities, membership, season ticket forms, seat sponsorship forms, soccer schools – or if you would like us to make an appearance at a school fete (we`ll do our best to accommodate you) please contact any of the below mentioned.

USEFUL CONTACT DETAILS

Larry DANN, Chairman

Les RANCE
33, The Alders, Hanworth, Middx, TW13 6NU
(mob) 07732 122 850

Lesley RANCE
address as above.

Tony NASH
76a Gloucester Road, Hampton, Middx, TW12 2UJ

Paul ROBINSON
email ; paul@plegal.fsnet.co.uk

Russell CLARK

Phil WELLER (Commercial)
(mob) 07768 448 851

And, finally, Pre-Season home friendlies arranged to date,
v Watford, Saturday 18th July, 3pm
v Fulham, Tuesday 21st July, 7.45pm
v Wycombe Wanderers, 28th July, 7.45pm

Les Rance 12th May 2009