Trust Newsletter - June 2007

Nene Park
Diamond Way
Irthlingborough
Northamptonshire
NN9 5QF

Trust Office Tel: 01933 652000
Ticket Office Tel: 01933 652936

15th June 2007

Dear Members,

First of all may I take this opportunity on behalf of the Trust to thank you for your support as a Trust Member during the last year and to many of you for renewing your membership for the new season. Your continued support is valued very highly and is crucial for our future success. As you will be aware this has been a very important year in the life of our football club and has required a great deal of support from all supporters of the Club, but most importantly from you and your fellow Trust members. At the time of writing some of you may not yet have renewed your membership for the coming season, so I have taken the liberty of including a renewal form in the hope that you will take up the opportunity to renew your membership and continue to provide that much needed support to the Trust and the Club going forward. If you have already renewed please pass it on to anyone else you may know who maybe interested in joining.

Whilst many of you have had the opportunity to take advantage of the reduced season ticket prices, I am pleased to confirm that you will continue to receive 10% discount off all purchases from the newly refurbished Club shop which reopens later this month. Just bring along your Trust card to confirm your membership. This discount is only available to Trust Members and is valid throughout your membership. In addition Keith Cousins has agreed to negotiate additional benefits from future club sponsors and hopes to be able to confirm special discounts from Haart, our shirt sponsors, in the near future.

In terms of the future arrangements for the Trust I am able to confirm that the final confirmation regarding the new Trust is expected shortly from the Financial Services Authority and we would expect to transfer all members to the new Trust in September. This will allow one simple transfer to take place and minimise the disruption for all members. Currently approaching 600 members have renewed their membership for the coming season, which is slightly ahead of last year. Once the transfer of members has happened we will be able to begin the process of elections for the Trust Board in accordance with the rules and procedures that the Trust has to operate. Whilst it will be up to the individual current Board members to decide whether they would wish to stand for re-election it is clear that fresh faces are needed now more than ever to take the Trust forward into its next phase. Perhaps this is would appeal to you? Remember, that playing a part in the future direction of the Club and the Trust is only open to Trust Members.

We have given some thought to how the future arrangements may be best carried out and enclosed with this letter is the structure we propose to operate until at least the first elections. As you will see three committees support the main Trust Board – Fundraising, Volunteer Co-ordination and Diamond Minors – and we propose that the chairs of each committee will automatically join the main board. In addition, to improve the level of communication with Trust members a special group, including the three Chairs of committees, would be formed to issue and receive regular and relevant communication about matters affecting the Trust. If you would like to offer your help in any of these areas, or would simply like to have more information about the roles and what is involved please do not hesitate to contact myself, Glenis Haynes at the club, email trustoffice@rdst.co.uk or telephone 01933 652000/07870332606. This is a great opportunity to get involved before the elections for the new Board is conducted to see how it suits you so why not give it a go?

Of course, regardless of the improving financial position of the club we still need to do everything we can to support the club with a whole range of volunteering roles. This is a key part of our success at the club, whether it is during match days or during the close season. We really do need your help in a range of activities so please get in touch if you can spare a few hours -- its certainly gratifying work and greatly appreciated.

Moving forward the club has confirmed its pre season games; including Northampton Town (Maunsell Cup) Nottingham Forest, Luton Town, Ipswich Town XI, Tottenham Hotspurs XI and Brackley Town with its new manager Roger Ashby and ex Diamonds captain Dave Savage. It’s not long then until our new team takes to the field in our first game of the season on 14 July!!

In the meantime the Trust will continue to fundraise at a number of local events. We will be attending the Wellingborough Carnival on July 7th followed by Rushden’s Party in the Park on 14 July. Diamond Minors will be holding their “Meet the Players Evenings” in July -full details will be available on the club website shortly, but remember, children can only attend if they are members of Diamond Minors.

Travel arrangements for home matches for the coming season have been reviewed, as the coaches run last season required over £3000 worth of support from the Trust. It has therefore been decided that we will run one coach and one minibus on the existing Rushden, Higham Ferrers route, but will no longer be operating a coach on the Wellingborough, Finedon route. As well as the excellent public bus service to Nene Park anyone requiring transport from Wellingborough or Finedon can contact the Trust Office, as alternative arrangements may be possible. The fare on the Rushden route will be a flat rate £4.00 return, however a new bus season ticket will available from the Club Ticket Office from the 25th June for all home League, FA Cup and Trophy matches which will offer a substantial saving at only £90.00. (Minimum of 26 matches) Ticket Office Tel No: 01933 652936. We hope that as many supporters as possible will help the environment and avoid the traffic queues by using the coach service.

The new season looks like being another exciting part of our future development as we aim to return to league football. We have a strong and positive new owner in Keith; he’s rebuilding the club’s financial position, bringing in new players, and old favourites! We’ve got new sponsors and together with new caterers and a dedicated, loyal fan base we really are looking forward to July.

Thank you for your support.

Yours very sincerely

Glenis Haynes
Secretary