Board members present: Martin, Bill, Colin, Noel, Alan, Rob.

 

1. Minutes of last meeting and matters arising

Noel attended a Supporters Direct meeting last month at FC United of Manchester on the topic of fundraising. Information was provided in relation to lottery and heritage funding, and the Trust was invited to discuss with FC United the bar which is operated at Broadhurst Park.

 

2. Treasurer’s report

The Trust’s net funds available currently stand at £11,763.98 with no outstanding monies owed.

The Trust has now received a share certificate for 20,686 shares in the club in return for the Trust’s contribution to the floodlights project.

 

3. Memberships

Memberships currently stand at 207.

 

4. Coach travel

The Trust is unable to run a coach to the match at Torquay United as only 11 bookings were received. The coach to Altrincham on Easter Monday is almost full.

The coach to the match at Boreham Wood on April 4 will be advertised at the reduced rate of £20 members and £25 non-members. Coach travel this season has made a profit of around £200, which will be used to run this coach for the cheaper fare.

5. Match updates

There was a discussion regarding the match updates service following recent issues in relation to the service.

Although the Trust is pleased to have been associated with this service for a number of years and believes there have been many benefits to the Trust and supporters, the board appreciates that the match updates belong to the club, who also have overall responsibility for the service.

Martin has been in contact with Haydn Preece at the club and will contact him again. The board agreed that the Trust will continue to have its name on the service until the end of the season, after which the situation will be reviewed again.

 

6. Report of meeting with the club on March 5

Representatives from the Trust board met with Charlie Clapham, Sam Shrouder and Haydn Preece before the match against Halifax Town on March 5.

The meeting focussed on potential future projects. The club will be looking to improve the disabled toilet facilities during the summer. The Trust is keen to support this, so long as it is part of a wider project to improve disabled facilities.

In particular, the Trust wants to improve the viewing facilities for disabled supporters. The club was receptive to this idea and Martin and Howard will meet with Haydn Preece in the coming weeks to explore this further.

The proposed bar behind the Jack Carr Stand was also discussed but work on these plans is currently ongoing and the Trust would only want to formally present this to be considered once the plans are complete.

The club may be looking to add cover on the Popular Side at some time in the future but these ideas are still at a formative stage. The Trust obviously supports the principal of this and looks forward to hearing more details of the scheme.

 

7. Events

Thanks to Alan, Noel, Howard and Bill for their work with the recent reunion to celebrate the 1965-66 FA Cup run. There were also a number of people who contributed from outside the Trust board, in particular Geoff Wilde and Colin Alty.

The winning design in the ten-year badge competition was selected by supporters from a shortlist of four and a presentation was made to the winner, Harriet James-Hodges, before the recent match against Braintree Town. Thanks to Premier Bowl at Ocean Plaza for donating one of the prizes.

The Trust has recently supported the Sign For Life campaign run by NHS Blood and Transplant. This initiative was backed by several football clubs throughout the country and Supporters Direct.

The end of season presentation will take place after the final match of the season against Kidderminster Harriers. They Think It’s All A Question Of Sport and the Fifa night are now likely to take place next season as it has not been possible to schedule them before the end of the current season.

The visit to the Parker Brewery is likely to take place during the summer and a cricket match against Churchtown CC will be held at the Rookery on June 26.

 

8. Next match signs

The next match signs will continue in their current format until the end of the season. The viability of the signs will be reviewed in the summer and the Trust will look into a more cost-effective way of organising the signs. The Trust will also look to make more use of its notice board at Southport station.

 

9. Any other business

The plaque for Phil Carder has been delivered but unfortunately contains a typographical error and so has been returned.

 

10. Next meeting

April 13 (members).

1 Apologies for absence

Rob English

 

2 Taking of Minutes

As agreed at the last meeting the taking of minutes will be done on rotation.

 

3 Minutes of last meeting and matters arising

The minutes of the last meeting were agreed and any matters arising will be covered later in the meeting.

 

4 Treasurer's Report

Current Account - £953.58, Savings Account - £10,489.23, PayPal - £67.30, Cash - £69.57 Total funds available - £11,579.68.

All invoices have been paid.

 

5 Membership Secretary's Report

218 current members. Several reminders have been sent recently so we are hopeful this number will increase.

 

6a Disabled Facilities

A number of companies have been contacted and several options are being considered. The Club are planning to improve the disabled toilet facilities and as a Trust we may be prepared to help with these but only as part of an overall package to improve all disabled facilities.

 

6b Bar behind the Jack Carr Stand

Measurements have been taken for the site of a bar and several offers of help have come in. A sub-committee has been formed to look at the options available and will present these options as soon as they have been fully explored.

If agreement is reached with the club and Trust members for such a scheme, ways of raising specific funding will be considered.

 

6c Meeting with the Club.

Martin to contact Charlie Clapham to fix a date for a meeting to consider the disabled facilities.

 

7 Coach Travel

Following incidents at Chester the Trust will robustly enforce the NO ALCOHOL rule on the coach. This isn't just the Trust's feelings it is the law. All future promotions will mention NO ALCOHOL and it is assumed that travellers agree to this rule when booking.

Sadly the Torquay trip has been cancelled as only 11 bookings were received. Bookings are being taken for Lincoln and Grimsby.

 

8 Events

1965/66 Reunion after the Braintree game on Saturday, 13 February, 2016. Of 11 players who started the FA Cup tie against Cardiff City, the seven surviving players will be in attendance and another four players from the squad will also attend. The Trust would like to thank Geoff Wilde for his considerable help in the planning of this event. The winner opf the badge competition has been selected. Harriet James-Hodges will be presented with Premier Bowling tickets at the Braintree game, the badge will be used throughout the forthcoming year. Thanks to Alan for all his work in organising this very successful competition In order to maximise numbers aty the proposed Questio of Sport event, this is pencilled in for after the final game of the season along with the Presentation night. The FIFA night is provisionally scheduled for 2nd April 2016. The brewery trip is t o be arranged in the close season. Fan of the Year n ominations will be accepted and the winner will be decided by the Board.

 

9 Any Other Business

We have Phil's plaque and will arrange with his family when it will be unveilled. The website will be updated soon with profiles of current Board members. Churchtown CC are keen for a cricket match this summer and will sort of all the arrangements and advise us when complete. Noel will represent the Trust at the Supporters Direct meeting on Wednesday. Next match signs are regularly changed and a new design has been agreed for next season.

 

10 Next meetings

The next members’ meeting to be arranged to coincide with the proposed Meet the Manager Evening. Next board meeting to be arranged after that date is confirmed.

Proposed Weekend Trip.

Unfortunately the Trust has been forced to cancel its proposed weekend trip this year. By the deadline for booking for the Torquay trip we had received far fewer bookings than we needed to make it viable. We thank those people who did book for their support and hope this gives them enough time to make alternative arrangements.

 

COACH TRAVEL IN FEBRUARY.

 

Following our great recent form the coaches to both Wrexham and Chester were full

So to guarantee your place on any of the following trips please book early.

We are sure you will agree that the prices we are offering are very competitive.

 

Saturday, 6th February.   TRANMERE ROVERS

£8 for all members and £11 for non-members.    The coach leaves the MCS at 12.45 pm.

 

Saturday, 20th February.   LINCOLN CITY.

£16 for members, £13 for under 16 members and £21 for non-members  

The coach leaves the MCS at 10.00 am.

 

Saturday, 27th February.   GRIMSBY TOWN.

 

£16 for members, £13 for under 16 members and £21 for non-members  

The coach leaves the MCS at 10.00 am.

 

The prices for Lincoln and Grimsby represent a reduction of one third on what we were able to offer last year.

 

Places can be booked in the Trust Office or by texting Bill Sloan on 07861 416859 or Colin Aindow on 07861 416859

Apologies

Rob

 

1. Minutes of last meeting and matters arising.

The official switch-on of the new floodlights took place before the recent home match against Wrexham. Among those representing the Trust were Colin, Martin and members of the families of Phil Carder and Sally Devine.

The Trust has been in contact with Champion reporter Ron Ellis following the recent withdrawal of his press pass by the club.

There are 11 calendars for 2016 still remaining of the 100 produced.

The issue of dangerous footballs during the warm-ups at home matches, which was raised at the Trust’s AGM, was passed on during the Trust’s recent meeting with the club.

The Trust had been contacted by a member offering to help with communications for the Trust and club. The Trust will use their help with the newsletter and their details have also been passed to the club.

 

2. Taking of minutes

The taking of minutes at Trust meetings will be rotated between board members.

 

3. Treasurer’s report

The Trust’s net funds available currently stand at £11,569.76.

£13,000 for the balance of the Trust’s contribution to the floodlights projects has been paid. The Trust is now waiting to receive the equivalent sum for the Trust’s full contribution in shares.

 

4. Memberships

Memberships currently stand at 214.

 

5. Report back on meeting with the club and future projects

Representatives from the Trust board met with Haydn Preece before the recent home match against Bromley. The club agrees with the Trust that there is a need to improve facilities for disabled supporters, particularly the allocated disabled area during matches and toilets. The Trust would want any project to include improvements in both of these areas.

The Trust has also been contacted recently by the group, Southport Access For Everyone. The Trust will meet with the club again in the coming weeks.

Howard has contacted a number of companies regarding a possible temporary disabled viewing structure.

The Trust has received further details from Jonathan O’Byrne regarding plans for the proposed bar behind the Jack Carr Stand. Colin, Howard, Rob and Jonathan will form a sub-committee to explore the project further.

 

6. Events

The Christmas part took place after the match against Bromley. A special thanks to Noel, Howard, Bill and Sarah Sloan for their work on the night and in preparation for the event. Thanks also to Ema Ryding from the Co-Op and John Wood from Mecca Bingo for their kind donations of food and items for the party.

Dino Maamria is keen to hold a Meet the Manager session with supporters but would prefer a midweek date for the event. This will be confirmed shortly.

A reunion to celebrate 50 years since Southport’s memorable FA Cup run to the fifth round under Billy Bingham will take place on February 13 after the home match against Braintree Town. Noel and Alan will meet with Geoff Wilde to finalise arrangements for the event.

Alan has written to local schools to invite their students to take part in a competition to design a special ten-year badge for the Trust. 144 entries have been received from four schools and these were narrowed down to a shortlist of 23. The final four designs were selected at the meeting and supporters will be asked to vote for the winner.

A special thanks for Stanley High School, Ainsdale St Johns CE, Kingsmeadow and St Phillips for taking part.

Colin will continue to liaise with the Parker Brewery so a date can be arranged for the brewery trip.

They Think It’s All A Question of Sport, arranged by Rob Urwin, will take place after the match against Halifax Town on March 5. Noel and Alan will meet with Rob to discuss plans for the event. The Fifa night has provisionally been arranged for April 2 after the game with Woking.

 

7. Coach travel and proposed weekend trip

The coach to the match at Chester on January 23 is fully booked. Bookings for a possible second coach are being taken but 20 names are needed for this to run.

The fare for the match at Tranmere Rovers will be £8 members, £11 non-members. The departure time will be confirmed.

After consulting with members, it was decided that Torquay would be the preferred destination for the proposed weekend trip.

The main issue is that this match, scheduled for March 19, clashes with the FA Trophy semi-final second leg and half of the full cost needs to be paid six weeks before trip. The Trust had asked for bookings by January 19. At the time of the meeting, both clubs remain in the FA Trophy. If neither club remains in the competition after the weekend, in which case the fixture will definitely go ahead, the deposit due of £100 will be paid so as to allow fans further time to book.

 

8. Next match signs

The current next match signs will be used until the end of the season.

The Trust board will look into longer-term changes to make the signs more visible and cost-effective.

 

9. Any other business

The plaque for the Trust office to remember Phil Carder has been re-ordered and will hopefully be ready shortly.

Board members will look into ways to improve and update the back pages on the Trust website.

Every board member is currently having a profile in the club’s matchday programme and Trust newsletter.

 

10. Next meeting

Members: TBC

Board: March 1