Apologies: Alan S, Paul I, Martyn O.
1. Minutes of previous meeting and matters arising
None
2. Treasurer’s Report
The current balance stands at £21,991.34, which has recently been boosted by the commission from a number of winners of the club’s Goalden Lottery. £714 is held for future coach trips, including the weekend visit to York City, with net funds available at £21,278.01.
3. Memberships
Current memberships stand at 229, with only a small number of renewals due before the end of the season.
4. Sponsored run to Grimsby
The board was joined by Colin Aindow, who explained that sponsorships are now starting to come in ahead of his run to Grimsby Town on the final day of the season. A sponsorship drive is still needed and the Trust will look to produce flyers to distribute at home matches and make contact with a number of local businesses.
As part of his preparations, Colin is due to complete the Blackpool Marathon in the next fortnight. Contact has been made with the majority of Non-League clubs which Colin is due to call in at on his way, but it has proved more difficult to get a response from the Football League and Premier League clubs.
5. Brochure to celebrate away wins
The Trust will be producing a 36-page A4 brochure to mark the club’s record-breaking eight straight away wins this season. It was agreed that the brochure will be sold for £6 with a print run of 500. Most of the content has been compiled and it should be available in time for the final few home matches of the season.
The brochure will include a tribute to Sally Devine, which the Trust is pleased to be publishing. All profits raised from the sale of the brochure will go to the MacMillan Nurses in memory of Sally.
6. Coach trips including York City
As the weekend trip to Braintree Town was cancelled and the match eventually postponed, the Trust will now be looking to arrange a similar event for the game at York City on 24 March. Monies held from the Braintree trip will be carried over.
No coach will run to the match at Ebbsfleet United. The Trust board is aware of recent comments made in relation to the running of coaches but the current policy is to ensure coach travel breaks even.
A profit has been made on trips during the season so far and it has already been decided that this will be used to subsidise the coach to Grimsby Town on the final day. Phil C will draft an article for the website and programme to clarify the Trust’s pricing policy on coach travel.
7. Floodlights project
The Trust recently received a response from Charlie Clapham, who has said that he hopes the club’s application for a Football Foundation grant will be considered by the relevant committee in April. It was agreed that the meeting requested with the club should take place once the application has been submitted.
8. Other fundraising / events
It is hoped that the cricket match on 22 July can be held at Ainsdale Cricket Club. The Trust will be looking to hold an event similar to last year’s ‘They Think it’s all a Question of Sport’ night to tie in with the club’s Player of the Season awards. Enquiries have been made about holding a programme fair and it was agreed that a quiz night should take place later in the year.
9. Reunion DVD / sponsorship of the “Southport Football Show”
Media students from Edge Hill University have produced a DVD from the former players’ reunion organised by the Trust last October. An initial run of 130 will be ordered, selling at £5 each, of which £1 will go to the students to cover their costs.
The same students had produced a highlights package from a number of first team matches before Christmas which were published on the club’s website as the “Southport Football Show”. The students have now finished their project but are currently looking for a sponsor so they can film the upcoming games against Kettering Town and Stockport County at £100 a match. It was agreed that the Trust would sponsor the students so they can film these two games.
10. Stockport County supporters’ sponsored bike ride
So far 48 people are due to complete the bike ride organised by the Stockport County supporters’ co-operative to the match on 17 March. The Trust will look into a way of welcoming the participants when they arrive at Haig Avenue.
11. Constitution / rule change
The Trust is required to give all members the opportunity to consider the proposed constitution and rule changes before they are adopted. All members will be notified of these changes as part of the paperwork sent out ahead of this year’s AGM.
12. AOB
The Trust has been contacted by supporter Mark Iddon, who is producing a brochure on the club’s 1905/06 season. Mark has kindly said he will donate £1 from every sale to the Trust.
13. Next meeting
22 March (members).
