Trust News

Sharing experience with Supporters Direct

Tim Hartley, Chair of CCST with Mark Evans (Merthyr Tydfil Trust)

The Trust attended this year’s Supporters Direct conference in Chester. SD is the umbrella organisation for all sports trusts in Britain and the conference allows us to swap ideas with other football trusts and to discuss the way ahead for the movement. The breaking news from the conference was that the Premier League funding on which SD depends has been reinstated after a threat to withdraw it.

Much of the discussion centred on how we can ensure community ownership of clubs. Now while that might not be possible for us at Cardiff it is great to see lower and non-league clubs taking up the challenge and actually getting their hands on the club itself.  I can’t wait for the FA Cup draw to throw up MK Dons versus AFC Wimbledon! What we have seen at Merthyr, Swansea and hopefully at Wrexham shows that fans can take control of clubs and that is surely a good thing.

During last year’s election campaign all major parties made manifesto commitments to reform football. The coalition government’s programme also talks about co-operative ownership of clubs and we await the parliamentary report following the MPs inquiry into football governance to which we as Trust gave evidence.  Football is not like any other business and clubs deserve special status as vital parts of the community. We must modernise the way they are owned, have transparency of ownership, establish a proper licensing system and have independent scrutiny of how clubs are financed. Did you know that 52 of the 92 league clubs have suffered insolvency since 1992? Something must be done!

Cardiff City was singled out at the conference for particular praise by Mark Bradley who runs the Fan Experience Company. He told delegates that the efforts the club has made to ensure going down the City is a good family experience, treating visiting fans with respect and the more relaxed attitude to standing in certain sections of the Stadium, have all been recognisedby the footballing authorities. Equally important is that those steps should act a catalyst for further fan friendly changes and help shake off the bad image that we as a club have suffered from.

It was good to meet fans from all over the country and reassuring that they have similar problems and issues to us. Chester FC and Stockport County spoke of the need for supporters groups to come together every so often and I am glad that we at Cardiff have such a good relationship with the Supporters Club. There was much talk of the new demand on clubs to appoint a designated Supporters Liaison Officer and we wait to see how this one works with our club. If you want to discuss any of these issues further we can go through them at the next Trust open meeting.

Here’s looking forward to a brilliant new season.  Let’s get behind Malky and the boys!

Tim Hartley

Chair

The Guardian has reported that Supporters Direct has had its funding restored by the Premier League.

Thanks to everyone that lobbied for its re-instatement, including Welsh MPs.

For more information see https://tinyurl.com/6y9qz67

As fans will know the club is donating £1 from every adult ticket sold for the match on Saturday, July 30^th.

The club has invited us to hold a bucket collection on the day. The appeal committee has accepted their kind offer.

So we are looking once again for your support

Can you shake a bucket between 1.30pm until just before kick off? If so, contact statue project manager David Craig on fundraising@ccfctrust.org to register.

Thanks once again to fans for their wonderful support since we launched the appeal in April 2010. We would not have reached the £51,000 collected and pledged so far, without your fantastic help – just £34,000 needed!

Can you help us persuade the Welsh Government to make a contribution to the Fred Keenor Statue Appeal?

We’d like to appeal to Cardiff and Wales fans to write to their Assembly Members to ask them to lobby the Minister for Sport Huw Lewis, the Merthyr & Rhymney AM, to support not just a Cardiff icon but also a Welsh legend. Fans can also write direct to the Minister.

We know public funds are tight but we believe it is important that a true working class hero is recognised. Fred. as many of you know. fought and was badly injured in the appalling Battle of the Somme, the 90^th anniversary of which is being commemorated this year.

We have drafted specimen letters for fans to send to Assembly Members and the Minister which we can supply to supporters, or obviously, you can write your own letter. If you want a copy of the specimen letters or want to know who your constituency Assembly Member is please email fundraising@ccfctrust.org.

Last Friday saw new talent on the Welsh stand-up circuit give it their all for the Trust at the Duke of Clarence in Canton, Cardiff.It raised £236.10 and we signed up four new Trust members, all while having a good laugh.
Those that gave use access to their jokes books for free were Andy Wooding compare, Iestyn Jones, Paul Cornish, Jordan Brookes, Leroy Brito, Chris Chopping and Patrick Harries.
Many thanks also to Iestyn Jones and Peredur Emlyn for managing the event and to Tom Berwyn Price for manning the door.My favourite one goes like this – Two fish in a tank and one says to the other, ‘How do you drive this thing?’ The other fish goes, ‘My God, a fish that can talk!’ No? That’s why I kept it to myself…

Pictured are comedians Chris Chopping, Andy Wooding, Iestyn Jones and Patrick Harries. Trust member Beverley Dickson won the star prize in the raffle – a signed City shirt from the 2010-11 season.

Tim Hartley, Chair