STAR - Support The Altrincham Robins
a Supporters' Trust
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29 June 2003
CENTENARY
For a report on the Open Meeting and STAR Fans' Forum on 28 June, click here.12 March 2003
TRUST LAUNCHED
The STAR supporters' trust for Altrincham fans was launched today at 2pm in the Cresta Court Hotel. About 200 fans, former players and current club officials heard a presentation by Bob Peters, Mark Harris, Jacqui Forster and Supporters' Direct managing director, Brian Lomax. Local MP Graham Brady was also in attendance and wished the venture well. The former players in the audience included the legendary Jackie Swindells (seen, right) whose team-mate Neil Dewar as well as more recent heroes including Paul Rowlands, a now blond Ricky Harris, Neill Hardy and Chris Sharratt were also to be seen. For more on Jackie see the Legends section.
The STAR logo was unveiled and an award was made to its designer, Michael Ward of Sale Grammar School, (seen, left). For more pictures of the STAR see Alan Johnson's website (link above). The STAR website has been launched this afternoon (see link above) where you can find details of membership. Basic membership is £10 for adults and £5 for concessions, with all donations above this going to the Club. Altrincham FC Chairman Geoff Goodwin endorsed STAR, whose aim now is to raise £10,000 for the Club by May 2004.
25 February 2003
STAR NEWS RELEASE
STAR shoots into Altrincham Town Centre.
Members of the newly formed Altrincham FC Supporters’ Trust, known as STAR, will be publicising the Launch of the Supporters’ Trust in Stamford Square in Altrincham Town Centre on two forthcoming Saturdays.
The events will take place in the Square between 10AM and 2PM on Saturday 1st March and Saturday 8th March, and Altrincham’s budding young footballers will have the opportunity to meet Rocky Robin and take part in a children’s mini penalty shoot out competition. The prize for taking part in the competition will be a free voucher to Altrincham’s home game against Worksop on the 1st March or against Unibond League leaders Accrington Stanley on March 8th.
Leading members of STAR, the Supporters’ Trust, will be present to distribute publicity regarding the Trust and its Official Launch, as well as to answer questions and provide information about the Trust to anyone interested in finding out more.
The Official Launch of the Trust will take place at the Cresta Court Hotel in Altrincham on Sunday 9th March at 2PM (doors open 1pm). There will be a presentation by STAR and a question and answer session as well as a display of Altrincham FC memorabilia, including photographs and other material. Also present will be a large number of former players including some great Alty legends, and leading members of the local community. The Launch of the Trust is open to everyone, and is free entry.
The Supporters’ Trust plans to acquire shares by donation in the Football Club, giving its members a real involvement and voice in the Club’s future, and all the different sectors of the community, including the commercial and education sectors, as well as individual supporters, are encouraged to join the Trust and get involved. The Trust aims to raise considerable funds for the Club to ensure its survival to bring it further success on and off the pitch in the future.
Anyone unable to attend the Town Centre events or the Official Launch, but who would like further information about the Trust should contact Jon Stack on 01827 64471, or to receive a membership application pack please either telephone or e-mail Jon Stack or write to STAR c/o Altrincham Football Club, Moss Lane, Altrincham, Cheshire WA15 8AP.
Altrincham FC Supporters' Trust Working Group.
16 February 2003
STAR PRESS RELEASE
Thanks to Mark Harris for the following:
YOU ARE INVITED TO WITNESS A PIECE OF FOOTBALL HISTORY
At a time when football clubs at every level are facing imminent collapse, the ordinary fan is finding that, for the first time, he or she can now make a real difference to whether their club thrives, just survives - or dies.
Supporters' Trusts at both professional and semi-pro levels in football are one of the fastest developing parts of the social economy. 76 Supporters' Trusts have been established nationwide since September 2000 by people who wish to play a responsible part in the life of the football club they support. Trusts provide an unprecedented opportunity not only for supporters to gain a voice in their club, but a chance to increase community influence through the ownership of shares and/or representation on the club's board. A Supporters Trust strengthen the bonds between the Club and the community it serves and to represent the interests of the community in the running of the Club.
From 2.00pm on Sunday March 9th at the Cresta Court Hotel in Altrincham, the supporters of one of non-league football's most famous names will become the latest Supporters' Trust to launch in front of a packed audience of supporters, players, ex-players and people who just care about The Robins.
STAR (Support The Altrincham Robins) has a strategy in place, and the committed individuals to implement it. This plan is geared towards helping the directors and management at the club to keep the name of Altrincham F.C. alive by working in partnership instead of terrace protest.
You can hear and see for yourself how the tide is changing in football, and how the people that really matter - the supporters - are the ones taking positive steps to tackle the problems facing the beautiful game. The chair of the STAR committee will be available for one to one interviews on the day, and a full media briefing kit will be distributed.
Press-persons are asked to confirm their attendance to Mark Harris (Launch Co-ordinator) or ring 07850 072166.
A RESUME OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES LEADING UP TO THE FORMATION OF THE ALTRINCHAM SUPPORTERS TRUST IS AVAILABLE ON REQUEST.
2 February 2003
STAR MEETING
The following are brief notes and NOT the official minutes.
About 30 supporters attended the STAR (Supporters' Trust) meeting after Saturday's Aylesbury match. After agreeing the minutes of the meeting on 4 January, acting chairman Bob Peters indicated that the Trust would be fully registered in about a week's time and that a bank account would also be open by then. He confirmed that the STAR Launch will now be on 9 March (NOT 2 March as previously planned).
Subscription rates to STAR: Bob indicated that these were likely to be as follows:
There would also be Corporate Membership and three tiers of "add-on" personal membership to be styled Bronze, Silver and Gold STAR membership.
Intending members of STAR can now give their names to Phil Taylor, who will send them a membership form when these are available.
Logo: The entries had been judged and the new STAR logo will be unveiled at the Launch event.
Website: Alan Johnson called for volunteers to help with the STAR website.
Launch: Jacqui Forster indicated that the event would start at 2pm prompt at The Cresta Court on Sunday, 9th March. Doors will open at 1pm and the plan is to deck the room with Alty regalia - anyone able to lend flags, etc would be welcomed.
Marketing: Volunteers were sought to help with distributing a STAR questionnaire next Saturday (8th). A database of companies was also being created by STAR. Ideas for fundraising events and schemes were solicited from all supporters.
Travel: In response to a question from Alan Gorrill, Rob Muir confirmed that the next SAFE AGM would have to decide whether to wind-up SAFE (the existing supporters' association) or not. Rob also indicated that the away-match coach travel, currently run by SAFE, was expected to continue in any case. Jacqui Forster confirmed that Mark Eckersall had agreed to continue to run this successful scheme. Grahame Rowley asked about STAR's plan for the purchase of AFC shares and Bob Peters replied that STAR would not now be seeking to buy shares but to obtain these by gift.
Next meeting: Saturday 22 March 2003, after the Hucknall game.
6 January 2003
TRUST MEETING
About 35 supporters attended the open meeting on Saturday evening (4th) to take forward the establishment of STAR (Support The Altrincham Robins), the supporters' trust for Altrincham fans. After introducing the acting committee (details of whom are to be found on Alan Johnson'sA Trust "launch" event was discussed, with the Cresta Court Hotelbeing a potential location, possibly on Sunday 2nd March in the afternoon or early evening. There may also be a celebrity football match, or even a two-leg match between Alty players and Northwich Vics, as the Vics are also setting up a Trust. Past players and possibly celebrities would be involved in such a game or games.
It was confirmed that the annual SAFE Prize Draw had been deferred until such time as the Trust was established and was able to apply to the Council for the necessary licence. Comments from the floor included concern that the Trust's aim of approaching businesses for support might conflict with the Club's own commercial initiatives. The acting Trust committee confirmed that they would not approach the same firms as the Club without consultation.Concern was also expressed that the funds raised by the Trust might be used to buy shares from the existing holders and therefore the Club would lose the income raised by the Trust. After some discussion it wasconfirmed that the Trust would initially gain its shares by donation and that the aim was to raise at least as much money for the club as SAFE had done, so consistently, over the years. Indeed, Alty Director Grahame Rowley thanked SAFE for its magnificent fundraising efforts to date. BobPeters underlined that the main goals of the Trust included having "an influence" at the club and bringing about more "transparency" as regards its financial activities. It was felt that the current financial problems owed at least something to a lack of such transparency from previous Boardroom regimes. After a vote, it was decided that the next STAR openmeeting would again be held at Moss Lane after a home Saturday match, probably in early February, depending on fixtures. For more on the originsof STAR, see here.
26 November 2002
STAR NEWS RELEASE
The following "News Release" has been issued by the STAR Working Group.
ALL SYSTEMS GO FOR ALTRINCHAM FC SUPPORTERS' TRUST
A packed Sponsors' Lounge at Altrincham Football Club witnessed the the birth of a "STAR" on Saturday 23rd November, as the Altrincham FC Supporters' Trust took a giant step forward, with many key issues being agreed by the supporters present. Chaired by former Club Director Bob Peters, the meeting gave supporters the chance to put themselves forward as volunteers, to offer their opinions, or simply to hear about progress made so far by the working group. Some major decisions were also taken, the most significant being agreement to adopt the name 'Support The Altrincham Robins' (or S*T*A*R* for short), and supporters hope that STAR will help to shoot the Club back to footballing prominence and financial security. To achieve this, the Trust is particularly keen to involve not just individual supporters, but also local schools and businesses and other organisations, and it is anticipated that the chance to have a say in the running of the football club, and a stake in its future, will prove a big incentive to anyone wishing to get involved.
The objects and aims of the Trust were also agreed after modifications from the supporters, with key objectives being to strengthen the bonds between the Club, its supporters and the local community, to work for the financial and footballing success of the Club, and of course to raise money for further investment in the Club. The working party can now move ahead with the task of registering the Trust and opening a bank account. This will mean the Trust will be up and running and ready for business well in time for the Launch Date of 1st March, which was also agreed at the meeting.
A welcome participant at the meeting was Grahame Rowley, a Director of the Club, who made several helpful contributions, and as the Trust's intention is to work closely with the Altrincham board in the future, Grahame's attendance was much appreciated. Another significant issue raised at the meeting related to how the Trust intended to acquire the shares which it believes necessary, in order to maximise the benefits it can offer to the Football Club. The Trust working group pointed out that the intention was to receive shares by donation from existing shareholders so that any money raised by the Trust would continue to go straight to the club, and several shareholders have already kindly agreed to donate shares as a result.
The next open meeting of STAR is scheduled for 4th January (further announcements to be made) where ideas for the Launch will be discussed and a full report on progress will be made. It is hoped the Launch will be a spectacular event that will include former players and celebrities. The date for the launch will be 1st March 2003, coinciding with the supporters' association (SAFE) annual draw, and also a home fixture against Worksop Town, and a bumper crowd is anticipated.
In the meantime, the STAR Working Group is pressing ahead with the formalities. Many more supporters stepped forward offering help at the meeting, but the Group is still short of a Secretary and a Treasurer. Anyone who is interested in helping with either of these positions or in more general terms should use the contact given below. Any local business people who have financial, legal or IT expertise, particularly anyone who can help with the setting up of a Trust website would also be welcomed with open arms. While existing websites already have news about the Trust, a dedicated Trust website is required.
For anyone interested in helping to launch STAR or simply seeking more information, please contact Bob Peters on 01226 767120 or write to Bob Peters, STAR, c/o 20/20 Research, 2-4 Bridge Street, Penistone, Sheffield S36 6AJ.
STAR Working Group
26/11/2002
25 November 2002
STAR - SUPPORT THE ALTRINCHAM ROBINS
An open meeting attended by more than fifty people, held at Moss Lane on Saturday (23rd), approved the draft objectives of a Football Supporters' Trust for followers of Altrincham F.C.. Supporters' Trusts have already been established at more than 60 clubs ranging from the Premiership to non-league and are established under the umbrella of Supporters Direct, a government approved body. The meeting at Moss Lane had the helpful presence of Supporters Direct's Lee Shailer as Bob Peters and fellow members of the Altrincham Supporters' Trust Working Party took the audience through the aims and objectives of the Trust. It was agreed to set March 1st 2003 as a target date for a launch of the Trust and that its future base would be c/o Altrincham Football Club at Moss Lane.After some debate the acronym STAR was chosen as the name of the new Trust, which is to stand for Support the Altrincham Robins. There was some concern expressed that the desire of the new Trust to obtain shares might lead to a dilution of the fundraising for the club which had been the hallmark of the existing supporters' association, SAFE, which had raised some £60,000 for the club in its seven-year existence. However, Bob, Jacqui Forster and Alan Johnson assured the meeting that this would certainly not be the case, not least because it was hoped to acquire shares by donation rather than by purchase. SAFE itself may be disbanded during the 2003 close season if the Trust is up and running then.
There was some discussion of how communication with supporters should best be handled, especially for those without internet or e-mail access. Although a new "professional" website would be established for STAR, more traditional media would also be employed. The Sale and Altrincham Messenger newspaper, represented at the meeting by Mike Crockett, undertook to help to publicise STAR.
There is still a lot of work to do to establish the Trust so anyone who wishes to volunteer to help in any capacity is urged to contact the Working Party by e-mailing Bob Peters via his 20/20 Research company or by phoning him on 01226 767120 or by writing to him at: AFC Trust, c/o 20/20 Research, 2-4 Bridge Street, Penistone, Sheffield S36 6AJ. A follow-up meeting is provisonally set for 4 January 2003.
23 November 2002