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Trust chair Tim Hartley received this email from Jon Darch, Rail Seating Project Manager, Bristol Sport

It was a shame you were unable to attend the unveiling of the rail seats at Ashton Gate.

A good fifty or so, plus perhaps 30 media, did attend and got to see the rail seats first hand and hear from Bristol Sport chairman Martin Griffiths, John Leech MP and others about the benefits that we believe this new form of spectator accommodation will bring. The rail seats will be in situ now for the next 18 months, so if during that time you or any colleagues would like to come to Bristol to see them, please just get in touch and we can agree a date and time: that’s what they’re there for – to educate and inform.

In the meantime, please find several pictures of the small block of 33 rail seats in this album:

https://tinyurl.com/ch7zzmx

If you want to explain to anyone how the seats were installed, then please also share this video freely:

https://youtu.be/uiZAZwG7_jQ

A five-minute version with real-time shots and a narrative explaining what is going on will be available shortly.

We still have one or two regulatory hoops to jump through before we can definitely confirm that the rail seats will be installed in the redeveloped Ashton Gate, but we are very hopeful that we will be able to do so, thus providing the option to offer standing accommodation or to operate in all-seater configuration, as required by the rules and regulations for the respective sport/event being staged.

All being well, therefore, the first areas of rail seats for actual use rather than just for demonstration purposes should open at the ground in August 2015.

Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust has agreed to sponsor one of the competitions in this summer’s Unity Cup for male and female LGBT teams which is hosted by Cardiff Dragons FC.

The tournament is being held to tie in with Cardiff’s year as European Capital of Sport, with the games being played at Pontcanna Fields on June 13 and 14.

It is being supported by Sport Cardiff, Sport Wales and the Welsh Football Trust.

The Trust has agreed to provide a cup and medals for one of the tournaments following a request by Ali Mahoney, Chairperson of Cardiff Dragons FC.

Trust board member John Isaacson, who has met Ali Mahoney over sponsorship, said: “The Trust is very pleased to support one of the competitions in the Unity Cup and we hope it will attract LGBT players from across Europe.

“We’re delighted that Cardiff is the European Capital of Sport because sport has played and continues to play such an important part in the life of the city.

“The Millennium Stadium is known across the world while Cardiff City is in the Premier League, Glamorgan hosts top Test cricket and we have many great individual stars like gold medalist Geraint Thomas.”

A tournament website (www.ecs2014cardiff.com) and a Facebook page (httpss://www.facebook.com/pages/ECS2014Cardiff/160844714123797) has been established to generate interest in the European and UK LGBT football community.

The Trust responded to a request for a statement on the more than 15% hike in season ticket prices for some Cardiff City fans.

This is what Trust chair Tim Hartley said:

“While season ticket prices for many fans have been frozen for a final fifth year, some supporters will face steep increases, particularly at a time when wage increases are being held down and inflation is now under 2%. Clubs need to ensure they do not price ordinary supporters out of football.

“Fans are being asked to guarantee their seats by the end of February when we don’t even know what league we will be playing. Some supporters may feel they could bear the increase if we retained our Premier League status while it might be considered expensive in the Championship, even with four more games.

“The season ticket offer for next season for those wishing to pay on the finance deal is also not as good as last season where the club guaranteed the application. This season they are not doing so fans who are turned down for credit might not be able to afford a season ticket. This will also lose the club potential income.

“The fans are the bedrock of the club and we need a full stadium.”

The Trust will be holding its annual elections to the board in the spring – and there are five vacancies.

Trust chair Tim Hartley said: “This is an opportunity for members to play an active role in the running of the Trust. We have a board with a range of skills but would welcome new  input from members.

“Given the uncertainty at the club over the last few months, the voice of the fans through the Trust is more important than ever.

“If members want to know more about what the role of board member means then please initially contact members@ccfctrust.org and we’ll talk them through what it involves.”

If there are more than five candidates an election will be held in April with the annual meeting taking place at Llandaff Institute in Cardiff on Thursday, May 22^nd.

The volunteers hear about the project

 The Trust and the Cardiff Story Museum have launched an oral history project to record memories of fans going down the City over the ages.

Sixteen volunteers attended the first session at the Old Library and a series of themes to be recorded were discussed including traditions, songs and chants, fashion, attending matches for the first time, working lives and diverse communities.

By the summer it is hoped the volunteers will have recorded a body of history on what the club means to the community of Cardiff and South Wales. The idea is to celebrate the history of Cardiff City and the impact the club has had on people’s lives and across different generations.

Trust Chair Tim Hartley, who attended the session along with vice-chair, David Craig, said: “This is an exciting project and it was great to see so many volunteers at the launch event.

“Supporters will be interviewed about their stories on what the Bluebirds means to them and it will be great to have fans’ memories recorded for enjoyment by future generations.”

The Cardiff Story will train and support the group of volunteers with a view to the helpers passing on their knowledge and skills to future volunteers ensuring it becomes an ongoing project.