Trust news update – 5 11 2009

Update of news from shrewsTRUST – the fastest growing supporters group at Shrewsbury Town!

Membership reaches 150

ShrewsTRUST membership has now passed the 150 mark. The 150^th member is Lol Evans who helps co-ordinate the Supporters Coach from The Grapes at Bicton Heath…which leads nicely into…

Supporters Bus running this Saturday

All Supporters Buses are scheduled to run this Saturday, including the The Beacon, Copthorne sponsored, and shrewsTRUST run Bicton Heath (The Grapes), Longden Road (The Red Barn) and Copthorne Road (The Beacon) bus. Please see website for details

Xmas Party (including Snail Racing and Hello Cleveland ‘Live!’)

Saturday 12^th December is the date. Time from 6 p.m. The venue – The Brooklands – Meole Brace, Shrewsbury. More details coming soon.      

Alfie’s Answers

He came second in the all time list of Shrewsbury Town players but for some Alf Wood is the ultimate Shrewsbury Town legend. See the website for Alfie’s Answers to questions put to him by Town fans.

Kick Racism out of Football

The Trust along with teams from the Football Club, and other local groups took party in a Football tournament at Shrewsbury’s Sports Village to highlight Racism and Community Involvement. A good time was had by all, but one our two of ours players are now staying in permanent retirement.

Poker Night

Steve Elmo Roberts won a highly competitive Poker Night, held by the Trust at the Brooklands recently. Well done to all that attended.

Trust attends Telford Tigers Open Meeting

Mike Davies and Adrian Plimmer attended the Open Meeting to establish the working party to form a Supporters Trust at Telford Tigers Ice Hockey. A good attendance of over 100 people voted in favour of setting up a Trust, the first in UK Ice Hockey. Both Mike and Ade spoke at the meeting giving their insight into how Trust’s work. They were joined at the event by Telford United Trust chairman, Dave Embrey and Paul Kalinauckas from Co-operative WM.

Supporters Direct National Conference

ShrewsTRUST sent five delegates to the recent National Conference at the NEC in Birmingham, and we were actually the most represented club.

The Conference started with the AGM where Trusts voted to extend the Supporters Direct board from 9 to 12. This we feel is a good move, as it will allow Trusts at non-crisis clubs like Shrewsbury (god willing), to have more of say in the direction the movement takes going forward.

There were the usual seminars and workshops. Ranging from ‘saving and running your club’, ‘the future of supporters ownership’, ‘better engagement between Trusts and the fan base’, ‘Board Member Development’, ‘membership building’, and ‘how not to be a supporter director’.

Two workshops/ seminars that really motivated me were the excellent Andy Walsh, General Manager of FC United of Manchester who workshop titled ‘ Campaigning’ even for a hardened activist like myself of SUFAN and A Large Scotch fame brought a very business like approach, and I learned a lot.

Then in the closing speeches, Lander Unzueta, the Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer, of FC Barcelona, the biggest and ultimately the best supporter owned and run club in the world, describing the vision of ‘More than a club’. Truly inspirational and for a club who have increased their membership by 60,000 in 10 years, and profits to match, says an awful lot. But for them it’s not just about money, but corporate responsibility, about amateur teams playing all sports, being part of ‘One Barcelona’.

Speeches from the Head of UEFA’s Professional Football Services (Alex Phillips) and Ian Whatmore, CEO of the FA, rounded off a good event, and we headed off for some liquid reflection, mingling and making contacts with other Trusts from around the country and different sports. As we did so, thoughts turned to do what as a Trust can we do, to share those values and work together with all stakeholders to help take Shrewsbury Town forward.

Want to get involved in shrewsTRUST?

We at shrewsTRUST are always looking for volunteers. Your time can help us no matter how small. Get in touch with us, and if your not a member. Why not? £5 for a year, and kids go free. Email membership@shrewstrust.co.uk