Southport supporter Ben Highton will be running the Southport half-marathon this summer to raise funds for Trust in Yellow.

Ben will be competing in the 13.1-mile race around the town on Sunday July 5 and has very kindly agreed to donate his sponsorship money to the Trust.

Having started running two years ago, this will be Ben's first organised race and he is set to be one of the youngest participants involved.

A Southport supporter since season 2002/03, Ben is a programme seller at home matches and travels the length and breadth of the country to support Southport at the vast majority of away games.

Recently, Ben has increased his training runs up to ten miles and his target is to complete the half-marathon within two hours.

Starting at 9am, the route begins in Victoria Park before heading south along the Coastal Road, returning along Marine Drive and into Fairway along the Promenade.

The race then moves around the back of the Southport Theatre & Convention Centre, under the pier and through Kings Gardens. It goes around the Marine Lake and under the pier again before returning to Marine Drive and the pier once more before going left at the Weld Road roundabout to return for a finish in Victoria Park.

Ben has been a supporter of the Trust from the start and we are very grateful to him for generously pledging his sponsorship money to us.

Please support Ben as he prepares for the half-marathon by making a donation. You can e-mail fans@trustinyellow.com or donate through PayPal by clicking on donate above and entering Ben's name in the comments box.

1. Apologies for absence

Katrina, Bill

2. Minutes of last meeting and matters arising

The recent awards evening was a great success and was very well received by both the club and supporters. A special thanks go to MC Noel and to Rob Urwin for co-ordinating the evening. It is hoped that this will be the start of improved relations between the Trust and the club.

3. Treasurer's Report

The Trust’s current available funds stands at £28,728.87. Membership of Supporters Direct for 2015 will be renewed at a cost of £100 and all outstanding monies have now been paid to Diabetes UK. Entry to play in the Fans’ Team at the Reunion has raised £555 to date.

4. Membership

There have been two new adult members and one new junior member join since the last meeting in what is a quiet time of the year for memberships.

5. Future Trust Events

The 04/05 Reunion will go ahead on Sunday 2nd August with a 2pm kickoff. James Treadwell of Moore & Smalley has very kindly agreed to sponsor the event which will include a buffet and a quiz in the Grandstand Bar after the game. A ticket for the buffet & quiz will cost £5 with family tickets also being available. A DVD and programme will also be produced. Most players from the 04/05 squad have confirmed attendance and the manager's position will be auctioned off. The fans' team will be managed by Richard Brodie and with over half not being Trust members it was agreed to offer some sort of incentive to encourage them to join.

The cricket match against Churchtown CC in memory of Phil will take place on Sunday July 26th starting at 1.30pm at The Rookery. Richard Brodie will play for the supporters' team with Churchtown happy to mix the teams if necessary.

The Trust's 10th anniversary celebrations will include a competition to design a new badge aimed at all schools in the area.

6. Other Trust activities

A complete review of coach travel will take place at the next meeting with all members encouraged to attend and put forward their opinions of how things can be improved. Loss on the coaches from 31st January 2015 is estimated to be £700-£750 which is completely unsustainable. It was agreed that the pricing structure will be simplified next season with a set price being set rather than 'in advance,' 'on the day' etc.

Next match signs for the season just gone cost around £600 and ways to improve their effectiveness were discussed. It was agreed that they do need to be bigger and perhaps a poster would be a better option. The club will be contacted to assess the value they put in the signs.

The Memorial wall will include bricks commemorating both Phil and Sally Devine when it is constructed. A piece is being put together about Ben Highton running the Southport Half Marathon which will be promoted on all media platforms.

7. Relations with the club

A series of questions will be compiled to ask at the club's AGM. It is hoped that the installation of the new floodlights will be imminent.

8. Any other business

The Supporters Direct Members Day takes place on Friday 17th July. Southport Fans team are planning a match against Chester Fans team and have very kindly offered to donate all proceeds to the Trust. The Webshop made £116 to the end of the year.

9. Next meetings

Tuesday 9th June – Members

Tuesday 23rd June - Board

As most supporters know Southport FC and Churchtown Cricket Club both held a special place in Phil's heart. It has therefore been decided to hold a match in his memory between Churchtown CC and a Southport Fans' Team (featuring Richard Brodie).

The match will take place on Sunday 26th July commencing at 1.30pm at The Rookery.

If you would like to sign up for the Fans' Team please e-mail andrew.kelly199@btinternet.com or fans@trustinyellow.com

Following late drama that went right down to the final day Michael Hopkins has won the 2014/15 Prediction League, claiming the £88 cash prize plus the much coveted Prediction League Trophy.

A big thanks to Rob Urwin for running the competition as always.

Fancy your chances of winning next season?

Details of how you can enter 2015/16's competition will be online in due course.

1. Apologies for absence

Katrina

2. Minutes of last meeting and matters arising

Luke George will be presented with his honorary membership at the Presentation Evening. In total around £1200 was raised with £900 of this going to Diabetes UK. All those who had paid for the Bristol weekend have now been refunded.

3. Phil Carder

The closing date for the Phil Carder Goal of the Season award is on Friday 17th April and there has been an excellent response so far. Churchtown Cricket Club will be in contact about a possible date for a cricket match in the summer. Bill will look into a plaque for the office and has also ordered a replacement trophy for the Goal of the Season award. Progress with the celebration wall is ongoing.

4. Finances Report

Steady progress is being made and it is hoped that full access to the bank account for the new signatories will be granted in the next week. Thanks to Colin's efforts the FCA have been kept in touch with the changed at the Trust and all creditors have now been paid. The £15,000 in the Cambridge & Counties 30 day notice account will be left where it is for now.

5. Membership

There has been very little change in what is a slow time of the year for membership. The Trust were, however pleased to welcome its first Polish member last week.

6. End of season Awards and Presentation Evening

The evening will start at around 5.30pm following the Grimsby match to allow the players to get changed etc. Noel will sort out the sound system with James and Nicola. A running order will be organised once the awards to be presented have been finalised. The Trust have received reassurances from the club that there should be no issues with regards to the extraordinary away following expected from Grimsby.

7. Other Trust Activities including outline of programme of events for next season

The 04/05 reunion will hopefully take place on one of the first couple of Sundays in August. This will be publicised at least 2 months in advance allowing proper arrangements to be made. The programme of events for next season will be launched at the Presentation Evening and dates will be booked as soon as next season's fixtures have been released. There will be a special event next Spring to celebrate the Trust’s 10th birthday.

8. Relations with the club

As usual the level of communication received from the club has been very poor. The issue of safety with the current floodlights was raised with over 2000 fans expected from Grimsby next week. It was agreed that because of the difficulties with the floodlights project, in the future the Trust would only want to be involved in projects over which it had control.

9. Coach Travel

A coach will definitely be running to Bristol but whether one runs to Welling will almost certainly depend on the importance of the match. For next season an acceptable level of tolerance for losses will be agreed to ensure that expenses don't get out of control. The coach to Altrincham ran at a small profit. Martin will send out for the usual quotes from coach companies for next season's fixtures.

10. Any other business

Ben Highton is running the Southport Half Marathon on Sunday 5th July and is very kindly donating all sponsorship monies to the Trust. Forms will be available in the Trust office.

11. Next meetings

Tuesday 5th May - Board