Please read this piece on the Trust site, and please help
http://bit.ly/TrustNeedsYou" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Trust needs you, if it is to survive
Moderators: Admin, Ralph, asl, Robin
Supporters trusts have the power to play a valuable role representing supporters. We are fortunate that the trust's role so far has not been too involved thanks to the fact that we have never faced any serious crises on the level of Bury, Bolton etc etc. If the trust goes to the wall then we may not miss their presence now but if the day comes when the club is in peril then we will wish they were around.
I fully admire the efforts of all at the trust and their commitment over the last 14 years. My own view is that they have not done enough to stay relevant and truly connect with fans. The money put in to the club has mostly come from one significant donation from Bryan Jacobs who passed away and left his house to the trust (I believe). This is further reason that we should not allow the trust to die as it would disrespect his memory.
The press release would be more helpful if it explained more about what the role of a board member or volunteer would encompass and specifically who/what you are looking for. I would be interested in becoming a board member as I feel I have something to add but only if it is right for the trust. At this stage in my life I live overseas, run my own business and have a young family so my ability to commit much time and be physically present is lacking (we've all got our excuses!).
I have plenty of ideas to improve the way the trust engages and makes a difference but we all know that ideas are cheap and it is action that makes a difference. I hope the trust can find new blood from other areas of our broad fanbase which extends further than the paddock and the supporters bar and become more representative of our supporters.
I fully admire the efforts of all at the trust and their commitment over the last 14 years. My own view is that they have not done enough to stay relevant and truly connect with fans. The money put in to the club has mostly come from one significant donation from Bryan Jacobs who passed away and left his house to the trust (I believe). This is further reason that we should not allow the trust to die as it would disrespect his memory.
The press release would be more helpful if it explained more about what the role of a board member or volunteer would encompass and specifically who/what you are looking for. I would be interested in becoming a board member as I feel I have something to add but only if it is right for the trust. At this stage in my life I live overseas, run my own business and have a young family so my ability to commit much time and be physically present is lacking (we've all got our excuses!).
I have plenty of ideas to improve the way the trust engages and makes a difference but we all know that ideas are cheap and it is action that makes a difference. I hope the trust can find new blood from other areas of our broad fanbase which extends further than the paddock and the supporters bar and become more representative of our supporters.
Thanks for your comments, DWx3. I hope you do not mind me replying openly, as it places your ideas and mine in front of more people
First these comments from our chairman, James Young
Thanks for your message and for raising some incredibly valid points about statying relevant and truly connecting with fans.
It is a problem that I/we are only too aware of, but have probably lacked the necessary skills, ideas and expertise to overcome.
Sometimes when you're swimming hard to stay afloat you lose sight of where you are going - I can personally atest to that being the case and failing in getting the message out.
Your points about Bryan are especially pertinent. It's something that has probably kept me involved in the Trust long after I should have walked away myself.
What Bryan did for fans of our club was amazing and we are trying so hard to honour that memory. However, we have and are falling short.
Today's plea was aimed at getting the story out. We will follow up with more detailed explanations of how people can help between now and November 28.
We are receiving some expert advice from the Football Supporters Assocation (the almagamted organisation that was the Football Supporters Federation and Supporters Direct) and they are continuing to offer help and advice.
The current plan is to get our AGM out of the way as that is a legal necessity and then refocus early in the new year, with new ideas and new targets.
Deborah Dillworth from the FSA has agreed to come to Cheltenham and attend a Trust meeeting where we hope to have as many new faces as possible attend, so we can talk frankly and informally about what to do next.
We will look at ways at making that technologically inclusive via Skype or Zoom to allow expats to have their say.
The good news is that we've already had two other expressions of interest which I will be following up with in the next day or say (have to do alongside the day job).
So it appears the appeal is working.
In the meantime, please don't hesitate to contact us through the contact form on the Trust website if you want more information.
Cheers
James Young
From my point of view, I am also outside the country, and have a young boy to raise, so I know your feeling. I attend most Trust meetings by web conferencing. You can do the same.
You state you have plenty of ideas to improve the way the trust engages and makes a difference. We want to hear those ideas, whether you join the board or not.
Your position may mean that like myself, you cannot carry out all the ideas. We desperately need help in ths regard. Ideally we should have a volunteer force (which do not have to be board members) of at least 12 people for Saturday matches - we would then rotate them so as they only had to help on alternate games. Apart from more raffle sales, we would like to have people who are just recognisable as trust contacts, to talk on any matters with the supporters at a game.
Bryan Jacobs' contribution was magnificent, and pushed the trust to being the fourth biggest shareholder in the club. His legacy provided the majority of the money, but there is also a considerable amount from the trust's fund raising efforts over the years. I cannot give an exact figure, but would add up to about 25% of our shareholding. We hope that we have enough interest to commit to continuing in this way.
Feel free to PM me or to send a message via the official trust web site. All ideas and offers of help will be gratefully received
First these comments from our chairman, James Young
Thanks for your message and for raising some incredibly valid points about statying relevant and truly connecting with fans.
It is a problem that I/we are only too aware of, but have probably lacked the necessary skills, ideas and expertise to overcome.
Sometimes when you're swimming hard to stay afloat you lose sight of where you are going - I can personally atest to that being the case and failing in getting the message out.
Your points about Bryan are especially pertinent. It's something that has probably kept me involved in the Trust long after I should have walked away myself.
What Bryan did for fans of our club was amazing and we are trying so hard to honour that memory. However, we have and are falling short.
Today's plea was aimed at getting the story out. We will follow up with more detailed explanations of how people can help between now and November 28.
We are receiving some expert advice from the Football Supporters Assocation (the almagamted organisation that was the Football Supporters Federation and Supporters Direct) and they are continuing to offer help and advice.
The current plan is to get our AGM out of the way as that is a legal necessity and then refocus early in the new year, with new ideas and new targets.
Deborah Dillworth from the FSA has agreed to come to Cheltenham and attend a Trust meeeting where we hope to have as many new faces as possible attend, so we can talk frankly and informally about what to do next.
We will look at ways at making that technologically inclusive via Skype or Zoom to allow expats to have their say.
The good news is that we've already had two other expressions of interest which I will be following up with in the next day or say (have to do alongside the day job).
So it appears the appeal is working.
In the meantime, please don't hesitate to contact us through the contact form on the Trust website if you want more information.
Cheers
James Young
From my point of view, I am also outside the country, and have a young boy to raise, so I know your feeling. I attend most Trust meetings by web conferencing. You can do the same.
You state you have plenty of ideas to improve the way the trust engages and makes a difference. We want to hear those ideas, whether you join the board or not.
Your position may mean that like myself, you cannot carry out all the ideas. We desperately need help in ths regard. Ideally we should have a volunteer force (which do not have to be board members) of at least 12 people for Saturday matches - we would then rotate them so as they only had to help on alternate games. Apart from more raffle sales, we would like to have people who are just recognisable as trust contacts, to talk on any matters with the supporters at a game.
Bryan Jacobs' contribution was magnificent, and pushed the trust to being the fourth biggest shareholder in the club. His legacy provided the majority of the money, but there is also a considerable amount from the trust's fund raising efforts over the years. I cannot give an exact figure, but would add up to about 25% of our shareholding. We hope that we have enough interest to commit to continuing in this way.
Feel free to PM me or to send a message via the official trust web site. All ideas and offers of help will be gratefully received
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Dave Beesley
- Posts: 249
- Joined: 22 Dec 2009, 12:36
Hey all,andgarod wrote:I understand that the official trust web messaging is not working , but that may just be my oul spectrum playing up!
This is a bug I am hoping to find time to fix. The messages are getting through as we have had two today, but for some reason it then responds to the user that it failed.
We can also be contacted via info@robinstrust.org which forwards to our Trust Secretary, or fed@robinstrust.org which forwards to me. The website form sends to both.
Thanks all for your great feedback so far. This is exactly the response we had hoped for, advice and criticism will be accepted in totally good spirits, it is the only way we will improve and grow.
DWx3. I have sent you a PM. We would like to get your e-mail address so as you can be included in mailings to those who have expressed a will to help out.
We have received a good response to our appeal so far - but we are still open to those who can help out, either on the board or as volunteers to help with events.
We have received a good response to our appeal so far - but we are still open to those who can help out, either on the board or as volunteers to help with events.
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RegencyCheltenhamSpa
- Posts: 29817
- Joined: 21 Nov 2009, 03:27
How many of the 1887 Red Army are involved in the Trust? Are the two linked?
In terms of Twitter, the 1887 Red Army have a more active presence, Tweeting over 1,200 times in seven months since April 2019 compared to the Trust who have Tweeted just over 2,000 times in ten years and seven months since March 2009.
The 1887 Red Army are also on Instagram with good match day atmosphere photos.
The 1887 Red Army are also obviously active away from the stadium, for example via the above two social media channels I have seen them advertising their charity sleep out on Friday 22nd with Colchester fans, to raise money for homeless charities. So they clearly have the drive and commitment to organise and raise money.
I will go as far to say that if someone new the club was searching social media for a supporters groups it will be the 1887 Red Army which is more easily found and looks more active.
Given the need for the Club and Parklands to get on better terms, I wonder if Parklands would let the Trust set up a little food and merchandise stall in Parklands on match days. I am sure some of the 1887 Red Army could be brought on board to man the stall for an hour or so before kick off whilst drinking a pint or two.
In terms of Twitter, the 1887 Red Army have a more active presence, Tweeting over 1,200 times in seven months since April 2019 compared to the Trust who have Tweeted just over 2,000 times in ten years and seven months since March 2009.
The 1887 Red Army are also on Instagram with good match day atmosphere photos.
The 1887 Red Army are also obviously active away from the stadium, for example via the above two social media channels I have seen them advertising their charity sleep out on Friday 22nd with Colchester fans, to raise money for homeless charities. So they clearly have the drive and commitment to organise and raise money.
I will go as far to say that if someone new the club was searching social media for a supporters groups it will be the 1887 Red Army which is more easily found and looks more active.
Given the need for the Club and Parklands to get on better terms, I wonder if Parklands would let the Trust set up a little food and merchandise stall in Parklands on match days. I am sure some of the 1887 Red Army could be brought on board to man the stall for an hour or so before kick off whilst drinking a pint or two.
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RegencyCheltenhamSpa
- Posts: 29817
- Joined: 21 Nov 2009, 03:27
Well if they are young lads they are decent lads who are organising this: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/1887-red-army-sleep-out" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;Robin wrote:1887 Red Army are a group of young lads who get p1ssed in the Sudeley before a game and generate a vocal atmosphere at the games, unfair to compare them with the Trust who are largely older fans looking at the long term stability of the club.
That fundraiser being run by that young p1ssed lad Murry Toms, with two ex-CTFC Board members also attending (reported on other adverts for the event) - maybe they also just spend their time in the Sudeley.
Leo, Dave: I assume you would welcome younger members joining and getting involved in Trust and that Robin’s suggestion that the Trust is for old fans only is incorrect? I also assume that anyone considering helping the Trust and bringing forward ideas won’t face the attitude and response shown by Robin above, because if so then I will say now that not many people are going to help out for very long.
Robin, have a look at the 1887 Red Army Twitter and you will see they are promoting the Trust and that Dave Beesley is involved: https://mobile.twitter.com/1887RedArmy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The 1887 Red Army Twitter person is vastly more informative about the Club and Trust than the ‘CTFC Fans’ Twitter feed which just seems to post stills and memes from porn videos.
What an incredibly immature, snobbish, self-righteous, divisive thing to say. I don't know any of the 1887RA but I wouldn't judge them on their age of the fact that they like a drink. All I know about them if that they create atmosphere in an otherwise quiet stadium, they organised a flag to show support and compassion towards Leyton Orient after their manager passed away and their recent initiative helping the homeless.Robin wrote:1887 Red Army are a group of young lads who get p1ssed in the Sudeley before a game and generate a vocal atmosphere at the games, unfair to compare them with the Trust who are largely older fans looking at the long term stability of the club.
Football fans come from all walks of life and express their support in different ways. For the Trust to be relevant it should embrace this and have representation from all segments which is something I believe they are looking to achieve.
Your comments have added nothing of value to this discussion. Either say something constructive or keep your mouth shut.
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Dave Beesley
- Posts: 249
- Joined: 22 Dec 2009, 12:36
The 1887 Red Army are not directly affiliated with the Trust, but the Trust gladly supports their efforts in all the positive things they do.
We worked together on the Justin Edinburgh Foundation Crowdfunder, and the Trust fully supports the sleepout this Friday - we are two fan movements who compliment each other very well.
I totally agree with DWx3, to describe them as a group of young lads who just get pissed on Match Days is very reductive and disrespectful to everything they have achieved in the short space of time they have existed. These young fans have shown that with hard work, and the right attitude, football fans can be a driver for positive change in both the football community and their local community as a whole. We are proud to work with them.
Back to the Trust matters, there will be a further communication going out this week with our plans going forwards. We are looking for fans of any ages, along with all other persuasions, we need to be a broader church than we are perceived to be to better serve the fan base we hope to support and represent.
We worked together on the Justin Edinburgh Foundation Crowdfunder, and the Trust fully supports the sleepout this Friday - we are two fan movements who compliment each other very well.
I totally agree with DWx3, to describe them as a group of young lads who just get pissed on Match Days is very reductive and disrespectful to everything they have achieved in the short space of time they have existed. These young fans have shown that with hard work, and the right attitude, football fans can be a driver for positive change in both the football community and their local community as a whole. We are proud to work with them.
Back to the Trust matters, there will be a further communication going out this week with our plans going forwards. We are looking for fans of any ages, along with all other persuasions, we need to be a broader church than we are perceived to be to better serve the fan base we hope to support and represent.