The Bradford City Trust

[jimmy]

Most of you will be thinking not that old chestnut, but after having a boring moment of thinking about dull, laborious, cretinous, crap i got to thinking about the trust.

Most will have heard about this trust, but what do we actually know about their goals and what they have achieved since their formation?

The trust was self proclaimed, by a group of supporters who decided they would be the voice of the fans and be the driving force in trying to save the club.A very noble thing to do and most supporters were fully behind the Trust in its beginning, however there were fans who started to question their motives and goals, thus my own queries into the trust.

From my own point of view in their 6/7 years of existence, they have not done a great deal, but know doubt there are one or two on here, who will tell me exactly what they have done.

The Bradford City Supporters Trust, should be exactly what it says on the tin, but is it?

A football trust should in my opinion
1. Liaise with the club about raising funds.
2. Voice the opinions and concerns from supporters, regardless of their membership within the trust.
3. Ask the fans for their ideas.
4. Raise money for the club to buy a player, spruce up the ground, try to encourage young people who are not fans, through fun days etc.
5. Get involved with independent travel clubs, internet forums and promote their aims and events.
6. Bring fans together and not have a closed door policy.
7. All fans should be one, with no feeling of outsiders looking in.
8. The trust should not be seen as getting any benefits, privileges or perks, what so ever from their positions.
9. The trust board should be elected by the fans for the fans.
10. It should promote all things, fan related.

Now tell me what the trust have done?
As far as i can see, all the trust has done is
1. Jump on the band wagon initially.
2. Help raise some money through the Save our City appeal.
3. Set up a website.
4. Hold a handful of events ( thats being generous )
5. Meet the chairman, with no outcome or revelations.
6. Done nothing to bring the fans together.
7. Done nothing to repair rifts, which they seem to have brought on their selfs.
8. Not publicized what it has achieved, if anything.
9. Not come up with any eyebrow raising ideas.
10. Alienated its self, irrecoverably to the point, the trust is know longer a viable option for the supporters to be involved with.

After looking at the situation with the supporters trust in detail and seeing that they are not a viable option for the majority of supporters of our club, i have come to the decision i am willing to help set up a supporters organization.
I do not want to be one of the hierarchy, but i would like to promote my ideas
on what could be achieved, with some hard work and bringing together of all Bradford City supporters.

In fact, lets set up a supporters community group, from members on here and then cast the net out and involve every Bradford City supporter young and old.

Any volunteers to help set up and run this will be very much appreciated, as i have ideas that will certainly raise a few eyebrows and get people thinking about what can be achieved, when you unite the fans.

[beerbantam]

Does a football team need a supporters trust? Do Bradford City need one?

After all a Football club is a business and is there to make money - and most do!

[king billy]

A few of us have been there and done it mate - and it requires a lot of hard work and commitment, much more than most folk realise - my personal experience is that our club is too apathetic to ever get anything like this off the ground - the Shippers idea i had was sound in that we didn't have a supporters group that ran coaches and provided a day out - beyond that, once you start getting involved in the politics of the club - forget it!!
Ask Ernie, or Chuckle, or Wisey - or Parader, Normancorner etc etc.....we had a wealth of ideas, and initially a great desire to make things happen - its amazing how dissalusioned you become when you see hardly any end result from lots of hard work - the problem you have then is that it takes away some of the love you have for the club, my advice is to stick to being a "normal fan"....
The Trust doesn't work - even with the enormous backing they recieve from SD, FSF and the other Trusts - if they can't get any support - anyone without that sort of backing hasn't a chance!!...
Our club doesn't need one and doesn't want one - they're akin to a bunch of socialist fans who believe that people power will change the face of football - it aint gonna happen, at least our fans (unlike other fans who've been duped by their trusts) have seen through them for what they are....

No personal offence meant superfat.....;)

[Mallorcabantam]

The idea is good and a lot can come from the fans -- its the fans that keep the club in business -- Maybe it is the word TRUST that is wrong

[king billy]

The rhetoric you'll get from Superfat and others is - "there's nothing wrong with the trust model, if you don't like it - join, and help change it"....

Bet you owt....:flame:

[jimmy]

It would not be a trust, it would be a group of supporters who want to help promote the club, get the fans involved with fund raising events for the club and charities. Try to get young people who are not fans to become fans using fun days etc.

As for football clubs making money roflmao: There are 92 football league clubs and last year only seventeen broke even or made a profit, the rest made a loss.

[Superfatbantam]

None taken.

I believe in it, if others don't then fair play. No, beer, the Club doesn't necessarily need a Trust.

Jimmy, if you think it is worthwhile go for it. I think the OMB regulars are trying to do something similar. Quite often though these things are mooted by people with great ideas but there is insufficient will or people to get it off the ground. Matt et al did a great job - i just wish that apathy and poor handling by the club had not led to the ISC folding.

A lot of people see the Trust as a negative. Their choice, but I don't have to agree. I also believe it is easy to be critical without actually doing anything to try make things different.

[Superfatbantam]

The rhetoric you'll get from Superfat and others is - "there's nothing wrong with the trust model, if you don't like it - join, and help change it"....

Bet you owt....:flame:

And have you ever? No, ah I see!

:chick:

[beerbantam]

As for football clubs making money roflmao: There are 92 football league clubs and last year only seventeen broke even or made a profit, the rest made a loss.

Fair play, they generate money though. Why would you want to organise events ect at no return to yourself & then hand over wads of cash to a football club who pay players wagers way above the average & have chairman who are involved in football because their finantial position means 'they can'!

[jimmy]

Fair play, they generate money though. Why would you want to organise events ect at no return to yourself & then hand over wads of cash to a football club who pay players wagers way above the average & have chairman who are involved in football because their finantial position means 'they can'!

OK, fuck it, i cant be arsed doing jack shit, some good points there. Or maybe im not as shallow as some people who think money and profit are the be all and end all. You know the type, they bury their heads in the sand ,whilst people are being killed and the country is being systematically dismantled, but those same people will raise their heads when there cozy little lifes get wrecked in the forthcoming financial melt down and say why didnt anyone tell us the truth about what was happening.

[Superfatbantam]

OK, fuck it, i cant be arsed doing jack shit, some good points there. Or maybe im not as shallow as some people who think money and profit are the be all and end all. You know the type, they bury their heads in the sand ,whilst people are being killed and the country is being systematically dismantled, but those same people will raise their heads when there cozy little lifes get wrecked in the forthcoming financial melt down and say why didnt anyone stop it happening.

Go on then, stop it happening. It's that easy......

[Dr Wisey]

You can go round and round and round until you are fekin dizzy with opinions on all of this - The Trust to me is almost dead in the water - I would have renewed membership but never heard anything - and if the organisation is crap at that level then it does not fill you with confidence that they could organise much else bar sweet tallking with councillors and local community groups (who most supporters do not want to embrace).
The problem they have is they lost the stalwarts who were there at the beginning like SFB (I know you have been co-opted or press ganged back in but you get my drift i hope), who had a real link to the majority of supporters.

I would be interested in helping out Jimmy, I am still a member of Shippers and what they have done the last few years is what it's all about - The BCISC failed because of supporter apathy and club politics, plus the various supporter groups unwilling to become a central voice as it started to infringe on finances and could have caused problems with their own membership.

A reet minefield to get through then lol!

[jimmy]

You can go round and round and round until you are fekin dizzy with opinions on all of this - The Trust to me is almost dead in the water - I would have renewed membership but never heard anything - and if the organisation is crap at that level then it does not fill you with confidence that they could organise much else bar sweet tallking with councillors and local community groups (who most supporters do not want to embrace).
The problem they have is they lost the stalwarts who were there at the beginning like SFB (I know you have been co-opted or press ganged back in but you get my drift i hope), who had a real link to the majority of supporters.

I would be interested in helping out Jimmy, I am still a member of Shippers and what they have done the last few years is what it's all about - The BCISC failed because of supporter apathy and club politics, plus the various supporter groups unwilling to become a central voice as it started to infringe on finances and could have caused problems with their own membership.

A reet minefield to get through then lol!

I am willing to be apart of it, but i wouldnt say i had the knowledge or experience to run it, but what i do have is ideas and i think they are viable and would be a success.

[Superfatbantam]

I am willing to be apart of it, but i wouldnt say i had the knowledge or experience to run it, but what i do have is ideas and i think they are viable and would be a success.

So who is going to be the catalyst? Who will be the driving force then? We can all have ideas but there are few who will stand up and do it.

I'm not doing it down, but you can't just say I have an idea and then not actually put it in motion. You don't have to be the public image for it (dread the thought :D) but you can certainly put the legwork in, I know I did before I ended up in at the deep end!

[jimmy]

None taken.

I believe in it, if others don't then fair play. No, beer, the Club doesn't necessarily need a Trust.

Jimmy, if you think it is worthwhile go for it. I think the OMB regulars are trying to do something similar. Quite often though these things are mooted by people with great ideas but there is insufficient will or people to get it off the ground. Matt et al did a great job - i just wish that apathy and poor handling by the club had not led to the ISC folding.

A lot of people see the Trust as a negative. Their choice, but I don't have to agree. I also believe it is easy to be critical without actually doing anything to try make things different.

SFB, right, im not having a go at you in any way shape or form, but what the fuck did or have the trust done?

They have done absolutely nothing compared to what they should have or should be doing.

[jimmy]

So who is going to be the catalyst? Who will be the driving force then? We can all have ideas but there are few who will stand up and do it.

I'm not doing it down, but you can't just say I have an idea and then not actually put it in motion. You don't have to be the public image for it (dread the thought :D) but you can certainly put the legwork in, I know I did before I ended up in at the deep end!


Looks like Dr Wisey has volunteered himself and i, second it :D

[Superfatbantam]

I'm deliberately not trying to debate what the Trust has or hasn't achieved, it isn't for me to judge. And it depends on what you are measuring them against!

But why if you have an idea do you come forward and criticise the Trust before mooting what you think is the way forward for supporter representation.

Personally I am glad we had a Trust the second time around, if nothing else it lent some focus to the fundraising at least in the early stages.

[jimmy]

I'm deliberately not trying to debate what the Trust has or hasn't achieved, it isn't for me to judge. And it depends on what you are measuring them against!

But why if you have an idea do you come forward and criticise the Trust before mooting what you think is the way forward for supporter representation.

Personally I am glad we had a Trust the second time around, if nothing else it lent some focus to the fundraising at least in the early stages.

Look, i have criticized the Trust because they have been a complete failure in fan representation and not being a voice of the fan. They have done their own little thing for their own little gain and done bugger all to raise money for the club, charities or for supporters groups.

If they had been successful and achieved things for the fans then there would not be the disdain flying about from all corners.

Prime example of failure from the Trust.
1. Morecambe Bay Burns unit appeal set up by the Shipley Bantams after an idea from Morecambe Bantam, why have the trust never come up with anything like that in 6/7 years?

2. Bradford City fun day, set up by a a couple of lads off the OMB and which was a great success, why have the Trust never come up with anything like that in 6/7 years ?

I will tell you why, because they do not and will not, ever represent the supporters of Bradford City Football Club, they represent their own goals and not those who they should be , the fans.

[Superfatbantam]

Look, i have criticized the Trust because they have been a complete failure in fan representation and not being a voice of the fan. They have done their own little thing for their own little gain and done bugger all to raise money for the club, charities or for supporters groups.

If they had been successful and achieved things for the fans then there would not be the disdain flying about from all corners.

Prime example of failure from the Trust.
1. Morecambe Bay Burns unit appeal set up by the Shipley Bantams after an idea from Morecambe Bantam, why have the trust never come up with anything like that in 6/7 years?

2. Bradford City fun day, set up by a a couple of lads off the OMB and which was a great success, why have the Trust never come up with anything like that in 6/7 years ?

I will tell you why, because they do not and will not, ever represent the supporters of Bradford City Football Club, they represent their own goals and not those who they should be , the fans.


jimmy, I come across as the defensive twat here when we have these discussions.

The end-of-season collection raised £1,347.84 for the Burns Unit, Trust do the bucket collection every year in conjunction with the Club.

£1500+ raised as part of commitment to youth development.

Supporters Trust represented at Bradford Community Fun Day.

Supporters Trust never invited to Bradford City Open Day as organised by the internet fans from the OMB.

My only real point is though that I do not believe the fans should simply be a fundraising vehicle for a privately owned club that can effectively do what it pleases and say tough shit to the fans.

Tell you what, you swap places with me and see if you have the time or energy to try and build bridges, make a difference, ask the difficult questions........

[Superfatbantam]

How many ACTIVE members do you think you will have? Ho0w much time can they spare? Will it be internet exclusive or will fans who don't have internet be able to find out what your club are doing? How will the people running it be accountable to the members? What will you do to find out how much money the Club has, what they are spending it on and whether we are really truly debt-free?

[Dr Wisey]

How many live members does the Trust have?
What did they achieve from the Community Day? -(no fekkr seems to know or care!)
The Fans Open day was open to all - no red carpets for anyone - not even the Trust!
Why don't the Trust send out mebership renewals?
How can the Trust continue with dwindling funds and membership?
I remember the Trust not doing the bucket collection one year so the BCISC stepped in (or on toes?), BCISC did a fair few inc for Eathquake in Pakistan / Wrexham Survival Fund - where were the Trust that day when a few car loads of City fans went to their match V Donny along with dozens of other clubs fans (I went with GB and The Penguin lol)
Ahh questions questions questions.

[Superfatbantam]

Ahh questions questions questions.

Showing that we can all do it! It ends up becoming a personal criticism of the individuals involved. Simply because you could go to the Wrexham game doesn't mean I cared or did any less because I couldn't go. Shall we compare how much time we respectively put into each organisation? It isn't a competition but too often it ends up feeling like that.

I did what I did, I believe the Trust is still a useful organisation and does far more than it gets credit for. That it doesn't attract the energised volunteers like yourself and therefore have a very busy schedule of fundraising and PR events is something I don't have the answer to. In any event I seem to remember being slagged off because I was all over the press trying to advertise as much as possible the need to raise money to save the Club - media whore, was it?

The supporter representation is not an exclusive club - better to have many than none in my eyes. I'd even be interested in joining as long as you don't meet at the Gasworks - I doubt Max would let me past the front door!

[jimmy]

Showing that we can all do it! It ends up becoming a personal criticism of the individuals involved. Simply because you could go to the Wrexham game doesn't mean I cared or did any less because I couldn't go. Shall we compare how much time we respectively put into each organisation? It isn't a competition but too often it ends up feeling like that.

I did what I did, I believe the Trust is still a useful organisation and does far more than it gets credit for. That it doesn't attract the energised volunteers like yourself and therefore have a very busy schedule of Fundraising and PR eventsis something I don't have the answer to. In any event I seem to remember being slagged off because I was all over the press trying to advertise as much as possible the need to raise money to save the Club - media whore, was it?

The supporter representation is not an exclusive club - better to have many than none in my eyes. I'd even be interested in joining as long as you don't meet at the Gasworks - I doubt Max would let me past the front door!



Thats my point, what fund raising events? It just seems to me the trust are more interested in the PR and not the fans or fund raising.

Who is interested?

[Superfatbantam]

Jimmy, my point was the Trust has done some fundraising. In any event would you or others on here who do down the Trust attend if it had a fundraising event, last one was the race night, I don't recall masses of people from here going despite it having been advertised by the likes of me and even Dr Wisey!

When was the last time you saw massive amounts of PR from the Trust?

I just think it's easy to sit back and criticise. I wish you luck with whatever this venture may be. I'm sure Mr Lawn will welcome your commitment to raising loads o'money so they can fund McCall's warchest!

tup:

[beerbantam]

My only real point is though that I do not believe the fans should simply be a fundraising vehicle for a privately owned club that can effectively do what it pleases and say tough shit to the fans.

........

Thats my views on a 'trust' too & of course the club is well within its rights to do as it pleases as it is a business and its the directors who are the real 'cash cow' of a football club!

[Dr Wisey]

Aww Mark Baby I luvved it when you were a media magnet - a real face of the people and you carried it well lol - seriously, I know you went beyond what would be expected of anyone like a few others did (not on about me) - and in the end attracted the attention of a few vocal critics- not naming anyone as it's OLD OLD stuff and should not be taken to the grave (one Dude will though lol).

[TRB101]

Most of you will be thinking not that old chestnut, but after having a boring moment of thinking about dull, laborious, cretinous, crap i got to thinking about the trust.

Most will have heard about this trust, but what do we actually know about their goals and what they have achieved since their formation?

The trust was self proclaimed, by a group of supporters who decided they would be the voice of the fans and be the driving force in trying to save the club.A very noble thing to do and most supporters were fully behind the Trust in its beginning, however there were fans who started to question their motives and goals, thus my own queries into the trust.

From my own point of view in their 6/7 years of existence, they have not done a great deal, but know doubt there are one or two on here, who will tell me exactly what they have done.

The Bradford City Supporters Trust, should be exactly what it says on the tin, but is it?

A football trust should in my opinion
1. Liaise with the club about raising funds.
2. Voice the opinions and concerns from supporters, regardless of their membership within the trust.
3. Ask the fans for their ideas.
4. Raise money for the club to buy a player, spruce up the ground, try to encourage young people who are not fans, through fun days etc.
5. Get involved with independent travel clubs, internet forums and promote their aims and events.
6. Bring fans together and not have a closed door policy.
7. All fans should be one, with no feeling of outsiders looking in.
8. The trust should not be seen as getting any benefits, privileges or perks, what so ever from their positions.
9. The trust board should be elected by the fans for the fans.
10. It should promote all things, fan related.

Now tell me what the trust have done?
As far as i can see, all the trust has done is
1. Jump on the band wagon initially.
2. Help raise some money through the Save our City appeal.
3. Set up a website.
4. Hold a handful of events ( thats being generous )
5. Meet the chairman, with no outcome or revelations.
6. Done nothing to bring the fans together.
7. Done nothing to repair rifts, which they seem to have brought on their selfs.
8. Not publicized what it has achieved, if anything.
9. Not come up with any eyebrow raising ideas.
10. Alienated its self, irrecoverably to the point, the trust is know longer a viable option for the supporters to be involved with.

After looking at the situation with the supporters trust in detail and seeing that they are not a viable option for the majority of supporters of our club, i have come to the decision i am willing to help set up a supporters organization.
I do not want to be one of the hierarchy, but i would like to promote my ideas
on what could be achieved, with some hard work and bringing together of all Bradford City supporters.

In fact, lets set up a supporters community group, from members on here and then cast the net out and involve every Bradford City supporter young and old.

Any volunteers to help set up and run this will be very much appreciated, as i have ideas that will certainly raise a few eyebrows and get people thinking about what can be achieved, when you unite the fans.


I think you should go for it. You’re a man who clearly has his finger on the pulse and I don’t see how you can possibly fail.

I don’t want to actually join or bother attending meetings, but if it’s all the same to you I’ll direct operations from here.

Would it be ok if I don’t bother reading your website, but occasionally slag you off for not doing things you have done?

PS Supporter participation, not as third class citizens, but as genuine stakeholders IS THE FUTURE, (and in my view supporter ownership – perhaps in a variety forms).

PPS A colleague of mine was at supporter-owned Hertha Berlin to watch a Bundesliga match recently. For £13 he had a nice seat with a good view, waiter service, was served with huge jugs of good quality (cheap) beer (while watching the match!), good quality (cheap) food, a smoking area was provided for that large percentage of the population which smokes, and his match ticket covered the cost of using all local public transport for the day.

And do you know something really weird. Not one millionaire asked him to get out his fundraising bucket!

[Dr Wisey]

Cash Cows without the supporters would be rather pointless though - some must get a kick from having such an input, others work hard for the club they love.

[Dr Wisey]

TRB - I would be fully behind members owned clubs should they be in that format - that more than anything else would really galvanise support for years and years - I's sure you mentioned before that legislation at the moment would not allow this to become possible - but if it could then we could see VP become an asset again, rather than a rental liability.

[beerbantam]

Cash Cows without the supporters would be rather pointless though - .

Its all business Wisey, which ever way you look at it.

The product is the team and the fans are the consumer, no amount of 'family fun days' and 'bucket collections' will get more fans in VP - its a simple fact.
At the end of the day the club only moves forward when the men at the top put the financial investment in to get the best possible management and playing staff. When the products right on the pitch thats when the supporters multiply! Look at Chelsea, an extreme example but they prove my point. Before Roman appeared they averaged 21k in the early 90's, the team has since been transformed and the crowd has doubled!

[Dr Wisey]

I agree with that yes - our supportbase has increased from what it was in 1996 - remembering the sub 4,000 at VP when we beat Notts County was it 1-0? - kick off this season in the Division below should see maybe 13,000 there! - without the season ticket initative there would still be maybe 8,000.

[Gary1975]

Its all business Wisey, which ever way you look at it.

The product is the team and the fans are the consumer, no amount of 'family fun days' and 'bucket collections' will get more fans in VP - its a simple fact.
At the end of the day the club only moves forward when the men at the top put the financial investment in to get the best possible management and playing staff. When the products right on the pitch thats when the supporters multiply! Look at Chelsea, an extreme example but they prove my point. Before Roman appeared they averaged 21k in the early 90's, the team has since been transformed and the crowd has doubled!


That was wayyyyyyyy before Roman arrived.

The transformation of Chelsea started in the late 90's well before Roman arrived did it not ?

[thegeneral534]

i was suprised to find some of these comments on here. There are members of the SUpporters Trust who work very hard (without publicity) to promote the football club. They also dont get any recognition from anyone inside valley parade-who seem to think the football club is "theres" alone. Did any supporters take Mr Lawn up on his request at a recent forum to offer their services/skills to the club for nothing, in order for the club to save money?
It costs very little to join the Bradford City Supporters Trust, the aim of the trust is ALL Things to do with the Club, sometimes hard, cos the information that comes out isnt helpful. Please also remember that most of the money "in the club" is put there by supporters who have season tickets or attend games regularly, in addition to those who pay to use the facilities. whilst the writer of this article, i am replying to has raised some good points, clearly there is a limited knowledge of what The Trust actually does and what the aims are.
And-just so we are clear - The Trust members were those who at the last game of the season-were stood with buckets for the "burns Unit Appeal" - which generated less than £1 per attender at that game. There are clearly many fans in this club who care only about "themselves" and not about the club as a whole or even the importance of this Club in this City. Lets Stop slagging each other off-and work together as a Team for the Long Term Future of this Club.

[Garlic Breath]

This is like Groundhog day.:eek:...come back Sir Geoff all is forgiven.

[jimmy]

Its all business Wisey, which ever way you look at it.

The product is the team and the fans are the consumer, no amount of 'family fun days' and 'bucket collections' will get more fans in VP - its a simple fact.
At the end of the day the club only moves forward when the men at the top put the financial investment in to get the best possible management and playing staff. When the products right on the pitch thats when the supporters multiply! Look at Chelsea, an extreme example but they prove my point. Before Roman appeared they averaged 21k in the early 90's, the team has since been transformed and the crowd has doubled!

Wow, in your world of reality maybe, Bradford Bulls anyone?
3000 crowds, change of name promotions aimed at familys and children and hey presto, 15,000 crowds.............. Oh, dont tell me thats a different kettle of fish.

[jimmy]

I think you should go for it. You’re a man who clearly has his finger on the pulse and I don’t see how you can possibly fail.

I don’t want to actually join or bother attending meetings, but if it’s all the same to you I’ll direct operations from here.

Would it be ok if I don’t bother reading your website, but occasionally slag you off for not doing things you have done?

PS Supporter participation, not as third class citizens, but as genuine stakeholders IS THE FUTURE, (and in my view supporter ownership – perhaps in a variety forms).

PPS A colleague of mine was at supporter-owned Hertha Berlin to watch a Bundesliga match recently. For £13 he had a nice seat with a good view, waiter service, was served with huge jugs of good quality (cheap) beer (while watching the match!), good quality (cheap) food, a smoking area was provided for that large percentage of the population which smokes, and his match ticket covered the cost of using all local public transport for the day.

And do you know something really weird. Not one millionaire asked him to get out his fund raising bucket!

Read the post correctly you sanctimonious ***** what i said was '' I have ideas,but have no knowledge of how to run such a set up.'' I would be more than willing to get involved, attend meetings and help out where i could.

I have wrote my opinions on the Trust and now is the time for you or any member of the board of the trust, to tell me and other supporters of this club what you have actually done............... Its not rocket science, here is your chance, or are you and the rest of your board going to avoid the questions asked, which you always seem to do?

What the fcku have you done for the supporters of this club?


Was it not a member of the OMB that came up with the Morecambe Bay charity walk?

Did the Trust get involved?

Did the Shipley Bantams get involved?

Who came up with the Family fun day?

Who took it forward and made it a success?

Come on motor mouth, what have the Trust done?

Just for your information, do not as someone else tried to do and make out they do the Burns unit bucket collection and it was their idea. This was infact started along time before the Trust appeared and they just got involved with something which was already in operation.


PS.....Oh, and heres a thought for you, if the Trust are doing such hard work and a great job, then why are they held in such contempt from everyone outside the Trust?

PPS.....Take a step back, take a deep breath and ask yourself '' What have we done for the supporters of the club and members of the Trust?

Answers on a postage stamp please.

[jimmy]

i was suprised to find some of these comments on here. There are members of the SUpporters Trust who work very hard (without publicity) to promote the football club. They also dont get any recognition from anyone inside valley parade-who seem to think the football club is "theres" alone. Did any supporters take Mr Lawn up on his request at a recent forum to offer their services/skills to the club for nothing, in order for the club to save money?
It costs very little to join the Bradford City Supporters Trust, the aim of the trust is ALL Things to do with the Club, sometimes hard, cos the information that comes out isnt helpful. Please also remember that most of the money "in the club" is put there by supporters who have season tickets or attend games regularly, in addition to those who pay to use the facilities. whilst the writer of this article, i am replying to has raised some good points, clearly there is a limited knowledge of what The Trust actually does and what the aims are.
And-just so we are clear - The Trust members were those who at the last game of the season-were stood with buckets for the "burns Unit Appeal" - which generated less than £1 per attender at that game. There are clearly many fans in this club who care only about "themselves" and not about the club as a whole or even the importance of this Club in this City. Lets Stop slagging each other off-and work together as a Team for the Long Term Future of this Club.

Like i have said '' The Trust got involved with the Burns Unit Bucket collection, however it was done long before the Trust appeared on the scene, so do not try and make out it was a Trust idea.


You say the the aim of the Trust is '' All things to do with the club. ''................
Sorry, but its called The Bradford City supporters Trust, now that says to me, all things to do with the supporters first and the club second. Yet it seems all the Trusts priority's, are to do with getting inside knowledge and feet under the boardroom desk.

Not on one occasion have the Trust got the supporters involved or come up with ideas to draw the supporters of this club together, their sole aim has been meetings with the powers that be.

A pure example of the contempt the Trust seem to hold the supporters of the club in, is the example of paying £5 to join the Trust, yet what have you given the supporters in return?

I will tell you, fcku all....................

[BantamLad89]

GOAL!

Jimmy 1-0 BCST

(Assist - Panther)



*waits for Wisey or someone to somehow make that seem dirty..*

[Yeadon Bantam]

i was suprised to find some of these comments on here. There are members of the SUpporters Trust who work very hard (without publicity) to promote the football club. They also dont get any recognition from anyone inside valley parade-who seem to think the football club is "theres" alone. Did any supporters take Mr Lawn up on his request at a recent forum to offer their services/skills to the club for nothing, in order for the club to save money?
It costs very little to join the Bradford City Supporters Trust, the aim of the trust is ALL Things to do with the Club, sometimes hard, cos the information that comes out isnt helpful. Please also remember that most of the money "in the club" is put there by supporters who have season tickets or attend games regularly, in addition to those who pay to use the facilities. whilst the writer of this article, i am replying to has raised some good points, clearly there is a limited knowledge of what The Trust actually does and what the aims are.
And-just so we are clear - The Trust members were those who at the last game of the season-were stood with buckets for the "burns Unit Appeal" - which generated less than £1 per attender at that game. There are clearly many fans in this club who care only about "themselves" and not about the club as a whole or even the importance of this Club in this City. Lets Stop slagging each other off-and work together as a Team for the Long Term Future of this Club.
i do that too. but dont shout about it. in fact so do a lot of city fans

[Yeadon Bantam]

and the trust havent always done the bucket! i know that for a fact

[Dr Wisey]

I said this thread would go on and on and on!

[Parrot]

I said this thread would go on and on and on!

Like Andrex shite roll? :)

[Dr Wisey]

The Trust are like politicians, selective with their answers / replies and must surely be shape shifters!

[TRB101]

Read the post correctly you sanctimonious ***** what i said was '' I have ideas,but have no knowledge of how to run such a set up.'' I would be more than willing to get involved, attend meetings and help out where i could.

I have wrote my opinions on the Trust and now is the time for you or any member of the board of the trust, to tell me and other supporters of this club what you have actually done............... Its not rocket science, here is your chance, or are you and the rest of your board going to avoid the questions asked, which you always seem to do?

What the fcku have you done for the supporters of this club?


Was it not a member of the OMB that came up with the Morecambe Bay charity walk?

Did the Trust get involved?

Did the Shipley Bantams get involved?

Who came up with the Family fun day?

Who took it forward and made it a success?

Come on motor mouth, what have the Trust done?

Just for your information, do not as someone else tried to do and make out they do the Burns unit bucket collection and it was their idea. This was infact started along time before the Trust appeared and they just got involved with something which was already in operation.


PS.....Oh, and heres a thought for you, if the Trust are doing such hard work and a great job, then why are they held in such contempt from everyone outside the Trust?

PPS.....Take a step back, take a deep breath and ask yourself '' What have we done for the supporters of the club and members of the Trust?

Answers on a postage stamp please.

Folks this person isn't interested in the Trust, only in slagging it off. He's been doing it, off and on, for a number of years now and I'm sure will continue indefinately.

The answers to his questions are contained within our website http://www.bcst.co.uk which you are all very welcome to visit.

[TRB101]

How many live members does the Trust have?
I don't know. During the course of last season I believe quite a few new people joined. Our membership number will be included in the year end accounts.



What did they achieve from the Community Day? -(no fekkr seems to know or care!).

We don't know. We may never know. The idea was to bring local Asians into the ground, hopefully mixing with existing supporters and hopefully returning as new supporters. BCFC has been criticised in the past for not getting involved in the local community. Now we can say, some effort has genuinely been made.


The Fans Open day was open to all - no red carpets for anyone - not even the Trust!
Ok.



Why don't the Trust send out mebership renewals?
It does, and I'm very sorry if you haven't received yours. Later this year we'll be moving to an online system which will make if much easier to renew. If you wish, you'll even be able to renew online with plastic.


How can the Trust continue with dwindling funds and membership?
I'm not sure that funds or membership are dwindling.



I remember the Trust not doing the bucket collection one year so the BCISC stepped in (or on toes?), BCISC did a fair few inc for Eathquake in Pakistan / Wrexham Survival Fund - where were the Trust that day when a few car loads of City fans went to their match V Donny along with dozens of other clubs fans (I went with GB and The Penguin lol)
Ahh questions questions questions.
That's right. We asked about doing the burns unit collection and were told our services wouldn't be required that year as BCISC would be doing it instead. I don't know where we were for the other collections.

[Ed]

I tried joining the Trust in 2002, Paid £10 via paypal ... never heard feck all ... Postman on stike?

[TRB101]

I tried joining the Trust in 2002, Paid £10 via paypal ... never heard feck all ... Postman on stike?

That's a few years ago now and I'm afraid I can't say what happened. That was during Save our City (?) and we were all hellish busy with hundreds of paypal receipts, cheques, cash to bank, meetings and events to attend, new memberships to send out and media to deal with. In addition to that we were all attempting to hold down regular jobs. In fact Mike was fired from his, because of all the Trust work he was doing.

Paypal hadn't been specifically set up to deal with new memberships and people were sending, say, £20. In the narrative they'd put comments like "£10 appeal 10 membership". We'd sift throught those, first Mike was doing it, then me, and would fire off emails to the person dealing with membership. She would then send out membership cards as appropriate. Receipts we weren't sure about were all applied to Save our City. There was plenty of room for error and, as I've already said, we were incredibly busy at the time.

The beauty of our new system is it will cut out a lot of the work and make mistakes far less likely to happen. I haven't had chance to read the full specs, but I believe the system will automatically fire off renewal emails or generate letters at the appropriate time. Members will be able to log in and apply plastic payments themselves. The person dealing with membership will periodically be able to print off lists of new members or renewers and deal with them accordingly. Similar deal with cheque or cash receipts, where the Trust person dealing with them will be able to log in, apply the payment, go to the bank. The membership person will automatically pick up the renewal/new membership details when he or she prints off the appropriate list.

Sounds like a Godsend.

In the meantime there's still a lot of work to be done with learning how to use it properly, setting up draft letters and emails, inputting member details. At the same time we have our paying jobs to do, family and other commitments.

If you'd like to email your details to contact@bcst.co.uk I'll try and find out what happened with your membership payment.

[Dr Wisey]

Thanks for the replies TRB101 - maybe the Trust needs to look at a relaunch promotion of itself and it's aims.
The BCISC suffered as well from supporter apathy and ultimately that killed it off together with other negative factors.

Ed - don't take it to yer grave fella!