Trust In Yellow

Club statement Sunday morning June 22nd. We are now aware for the first time that Cambridge United have seemingly approached Gary Brabin directly. This contact appears to have taken place while Gary Brabin was on holiday abroad this week. We are now in discussions with Gary as to whether he is going to commit  as Southport Football Club manager and go forward or not. The timing of this approach to Gary Brabin could not be worse with just over a week before our pre season commences. But supporters should be assured the club  will manage this situation.  The club will speak to Gary Brabin  today as to whether he wants to commit to Southport Football Club. This situation is not in anyway of Southport FC 's making. The club are very unhappy with the alleged approach from Cambridge United to Gary Brabin without any contact to Southport Football Club.

In response to recent speculation in the Cambridge press and a number of enquiries from other sources, Southport Football Club can confirm that they have had no contact from Cambridge United regarding the services of Gary Brabin, who has recently signed a two year agreement to become full-time manager of Southport Football Club. Gary took charge of 7 games for the club at the end of last season and is aware that he faces a tough task in achieving promotion from the Blue Square North, a task that the club fully expect Gary to undertake. Gary has already begun building his backroom staff, bringing in player/assistant manager John Doolan and physio Danny Gabrielson, and has not spoken to anybody at the club regarding this matter.

The Port's pre season kicks off with a highly prestigious friendly against a Liverpool X1 on Sunday July 13th kick off 3pm. Chief Executive Haydn Preece said "It is fantastic that Liverpool have agreed to come to Haig Avenue. We have an excellent relationship with Liverpool who in two spells have played their reserve team fixtures here. We would like them back in the future. The pitch, thanks to our groundsman Sam Moran will be in excellent condition. We are looking to publicise the Liverpool match as prominently as possible so we can attract all the Liverpool supporters in the town. The  Liverpool line up will be determined by  all the Premier clubs commitments but you are assured we will see some stars of today or stars of tomorrow lining up from Anfield. It promises to be a great start to our pre season build up."

Admission prices are £8 adults £5 concessions-under 16's and senior citizens. All season ticket holders free. Secondary school aged pupils can buy a season ticket for just £50.

Trust in Yellow had a very well attended meeting last night in the Grandstand Bar. Rob Urwin will continue to be acting chairman until a new chairman is elected. Last night no one was nominated or volunteered. The Trust will be publicising it's tremendous achievements in the local press and will be planning future projects through membership consultation.

Southport FC attended an FA hearing at Manchester City's  Eastlands Stadium today relating to the incidents after the Redditch match at Haig Avenue last season. Southport FC demonstrated through dvd evidence, witness statements and player evidence that from the final whistle and during the minutes after that, everyone connected with the club behaved in a controlled and orderly manner despite the actions of the opposition. The match officials were also called as witnesses.

The FA  hearing concluded that Southport FC  were not to be charged with any offence. The hearing for Redditch was to be held later in the day. The scenes on the final whistle were not in keeping with Southport FC's philosophy of being a family club and everyone connected with the club  had never witnessed anything like this before nor never wish to again. The outcome for Southport puts closure to those events and next seasons fixtures with Redditch can be played in the spirit of the sport we all support.

Southport FC  would once again like to thank the match stewards on the day, people who produced witness statements and our supporters who on the day behaved impeccably.

We have had a real rush on player sponsorships for next season. Thank you to all our enthusiastic supporters. The latest is Jeff Cahn from Victoria, Australia. Jeff has jumped at the chance to sponsor our most recent signing John Doolan. Thank you Jeff for your long distance support.

Andy Mitchell of Plasma and LCD  Installations 01704 537971 has sponsored last seasons top scorer Tony Gray.

Tony Wareing has picked last seasons emphatic player of the season Kevin Lee. While Friends of Real Lancashire have sponsored manager Gary Brabin and goalkeeping coach Paul Moore. Michael Corcoran has chosen versatile defender Chris Lever.

To sponsor a Southport  player contact Haydn Preece on 07976555782. Price per player £150. Featured in each full colour match day programme.

Trust in Yellow are holding a meeting on Thursday night at 7:30pm. All Trust in Yellow members are urged to attend with the election of a new chairman the main part of the agenda.

Season tickets are on sale at discounted prices today and tomorrow (Wednesday) we have our late night sales up to 8pm. Secretary Ken Hilton reports season ticket sales have been very good with the same sales as last year at this stage.

Secondary school season tickets are just £50 which is a great price for our younger teenage supporters. Junior school aged pupils are admitted free to all Blue Square North matches accompanied by an adult.

Every Southport supporter has the chance to win up to £2,000 if they join the club's Goalden Lottery.  By paying just a £1 a week into the club's Goalden Lottery every Southport supporter can contribute to the club's development-on the pitch as Gary Brabin builds his squad and around the ground as Haig Avenue is both maintained and developed. Support the Port and add to Gary Brabin's player power. Join our Goalden Lottery and play your added part. Contact Haydn Preece on 07976555782 for further details. You can pay weekly via collection, quarter year, half year or by standing order. If you are a Southport supporter and work in an office, factory garage, school or college how about setting up your own round?

Highly experienced John Doolan is the club's new assistant manager after agreeing terms. John Doolan completed the formalities at Haig Avenue this morning joining Gary Brabin's backroom staff. With five hundred Football League appearances in his locker the experienced Doolan will be leading his new Port players on the pitch next season. Last season Doolan was part of the Rochdale squad that lost in the Coca Cola Division Two Wembley play off final to Stockport County. Gary Brabin said "John will add a great deal on the pitch and off it. We have our backroom staff together with Danny Gabrielson coming in as physio and Paul Moore as our goalkeeping coach. Paul worked really well with Steve Drench last season and that is very important. John Doolan has plenty of contacts and we are working very hard to bring in the quality to succeed.  The full time  is a massive bonus to us and we intend to make it count."

Season tickets are on sale at Haig Avenue today until 8pm.

Gary Brabin has announced this morning that Steve Drench has signed for the Sandgrounders. Gary Brabin said "Steve is a quality signing for us and it shows the standard of player I want here at Haig Avenue. Steve will really enjoy pre season here and he can have a settled season here now. Defensively I can build with the knowledge we have a top quality goalkeeper." Steve Drench came on loan last season from Morecambe impressing all the way to the Blue Square North play offs. Drench was Morecambe's player of the season when the Shrimps won promotion to the Football League. He has something of a jinx in play off semi finals missing out with Morecambe at Wembley having sustained an injured shoulder in the play off semi final and again this May Drench was concussed at the Bower Fold  in the Blue Square North semi final second leg and had to be substituted at half time.

The winning code this week is 0783 - Unissued. Three Members matched three numbers and win £133.33 - click more to see the winners. The £2000.00 Jackpot is now frozen

This week's new jackpot will be  

£1000.00

Secretary Ken Hilton, and Manager Gary Brabin are pleased to announce the following pre-season friendlies:-

Date
Team
K/O
Sunday 13th July Liverpool XI
3pm Tuesday 15th July Chester City
7.45pm Tuesday 22nd July Tranmere Rovers 7.30pm Thursday 24th July Formby (AWAY) 7.30pm Saturday 26th July Trafford (AWAY) 3pm Wednesday 30th July
Wigan Athletic XI 7.45pm Saturday 2nd August Rochdale
3pm