PROGRAMME NOTES STRATFORD TOWN 3rd JANUARY

 

Dear Supporter

Happy New Year to everyone.  We hope you had a peaceful Christmas spent with loved ones.  This is the time of year that we tend to reflect on the year just passed particularly remembering those we have lost.  We have lost some Poppies fans during 2025 - our condolences go to their friends and families.

From a footballing perspective, the yearly stats for 2025 make for decidedly mixed reading.  If 2024 was the year of winning runs, topping of tables and the unforgettable FA Cup success at Sixfields, 2025 was always going to struggle to match-up but that's sport for you and despite the loss in the play-off final, we would all have taken that over the previous season of fighting off relegation (maybe!).

But 2025 hasn't been all bad.  We seem to have hit upon a Manager who, given time, might well fashion a team worth watching for pleasure rather than out of habit!  So far, we've pretty much held on to a lot of our support.  Our facilities on and off the pitch have continued to slowly develop.  The Club 1872 facility must be the best Hospitality offering at this level so please pay it a visit on a match day.  It will be worth every penny!

And we've still got half a season to go.  Who's to say we can't be that team to have THAT run?  The team that has a storming second half to the season and bursts into the play-offs high on form and confidence.  Why can't it be our turn?  We are sure that Liam and the players will give it a damn good go.

So what has the Trust done in the last year we hear you ask?!

• Donated £2.5k to help with the onoing improvements to the Clubhouse toilets

• Had the Summer Cash draw (formerly known as the 300 Club)

• Organised and ran the golf day on behalf of the Club

• Organised 2 foodbank collections - many thanks to all those who donated

• Run the highly successful monthly Sunday bingo sessions at the Club which started up again in September

• Organised the collection of presents and arranged the Christmas visit by the players to the children's ward at KGH - again, many thanks to all those who donated

• Ran the Christmas raffle which raised a fantastic amount.  Thank you to everyone who donated prizes and bought tickets.  It is really appreciated.

• And finally, organised the Kids Christmas Party which was enjoyed by all those junior Poppies fans!

A big shout out to Martin Bellamy and Billy Welland (both Trust Board members) who are the lynchpins of the fund-raising arm of the Trust.  They have done a brilliant job this last year.  Thanks to the rest of the Trust Board for lending their support with the above initiatives - we are all volunteers but do what we do with the Club at heart.

Finally, thanks to all Poppies supporters for supporting all these initiatives.  Have a great 2026!

Supporters Trust

KETTERING TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB – PART OF OUR COMMUNITY!

ktfctrust30.blogspot.com

enquiries@poppiestrust.co.uk

Facebook: Kettering Town 'Poppies' Supporters Trust;

Twitter: @poppiestrust

Trust Board Members:  Karen Spencer-Lewis (Chair), Mark Severn (Treasurer),

Richard Atkinson (Vice Chairman), Bill Pringle, Martin Bellamy, Dave Tailby, Ed Palmer, Billy Welland,

Chris Bright, Lee Wright and Mark Hope

PROGRAMME NOTES STAMFORD 23rd SEPTEMBER 2025

 

Dear Supporter

We welcome Stamford to Latimer Park tonight who find themselves, unusually, at the bottom end of the table.  Long way to go yet and we should take nothing for granted but three points please Poppies!

Over the last couple of programme notes we have talked about Trust membership and the discounts we are offering.  We have also discussed why you might consider joining the Trust.  A lot of the “older” fans will know the history of the Trust and what we have achieved for the Club over the years.  Newer fans to the Club may not be so au fait with us, our history and what we are looking to achieve.  Ideally, a voice for the fans within in the Club which is one of our aims and objectives:

·       To strengthen the bonds between Kettering Town Football Club and the community and to represent the interests of the community in the running of the Club

·       To encourage the Club to take proper account of the interests of its supporters and of the community it serves in its decisions

·       To encourage and promote the principle of supporter representation on the Board of the Club and ultimately to be the vehicle for democratic elections to the Board

·       To raise money and donate in such a way to promote the aims and objectives of the Trust and to the benefit of the local community and the supporters of the Club.

·       To benefit present and future members of the community served by the Club by promoting, encouraging and furthering the game of football as a recreational facility, sporting activity and focus for community involvement.

·       To maximise the potential, future success and stability of Kettering Town Football Club.

We are currently talking to George about point 3 – he has offered us a possible place on the Club’s management committee and we are pursuing this with him.  Watch this space.

So, who are the Trust Board members we hear you ask?!  You can find a list of names below but let’s take a look at the individuals:

Richard Atkinson is our vice-chairman.  He first started watching the Poppies in 1989, when he joined the thousands heading to Selhurst Park to watch Kettering Town take on Charlton Athletic in the 4^th round of the FA Cup.  Favourite moments over the years (not all losses for the Poppies!) include Blackburn Rovers in 1992, the 2-1 win against Diamonds at Nene Park in 1999, and the 2-1 win over Notts County at Rockingham Road in 2008.  Outside of football, Richard works as a professional musician, often to be found touring the country as Musical Director of musicals including Hairspray, Shrek and Priscilla Queen of the Desert.  Who knew we had such a talented person amongst the Trust Board!

 

Supporters Trust

KETTERING TOWN FOOTBALL CLUB – PART OF OUR COMMUNITY!

ktfctrust30.blogspot.com

enquiries@poppiestrust.co.uk

Facebook: Kettering Town 'Poppies' Supporters Trust;

Twitter: @poppiestrust

Trust Board Members:  Karen Spencer-Lewis (Chair), Mark Severn (Treasurer),

Richard Atkinson (Vice Chairman), Bill Pringle, Martin Bellamy, Dave Tailby, Ed Palmer, Billy Welland,

Chris Bright, Lee Wright and Mark Hope

PROGRAMME NOTES BISHOP'S STORTFORD 20th SEPTEMBER 2025

 

 

Dear Supporter

This year Trust membership comes with several member discounts – as well as the eateries mentioned in the last home programme notes, we also have the following:

 

10% DISCOUNT AVAILABLE FOR TRUST MEMBERS

 

Forest Gate Corby

10% Discount availability includes car servicing, MOT’s and general repairs.

Whittle Road, Phoenix Parkway, Corby, NN17 5DX

Sales, Service & Parts:- 01536 356000.

Car Dealer | Northamptonshire & Leicestershire | Forest Gate Group

 info@forest-gate.co.uk

Opening Hours: - Monday to Friday 8:30 – 1800. Saturday 8:30 – 17:00. Sunday Closed.

10% discount provides even more Affordable Plumbing and Heating Services provided in Kettering and all surrounding areas.

Miller Close, Kettering, United Kingdom

07540 220886

enquiries@ghplumbingandheating.info

DISCOUNT EXCLUDES MATERIAL COSTS.

24 HOURS AVAILABILITY

Serving Northamptonshire and beyond.

Bespoke wrought ironwork in Kettering

60 years of experience

Give your property an elegant look with the help of Regent Wrought Iron Ltd which specialise in wrought ironwork, including gates and railings.

We have a great team who can make bespoke gates, railings and letterboxes for homes and commercial organisations, working across Northamptonshire. You are welcome to visit our workshop in Kettering to look at some examples of the metal work we have available.

180-186 Regent Street, Kettering, Northamptonshire, NN16 8QH

01536 485892

https://www.regentiron.com/

ian@regentiron.co.uk  

Opening Hours: - Monday - Saturday: 9:00 – 6:00

 

A reminder of the eateries – these are:

 

In the meantime, we have secured the following 10% discounts for our members at local eateries: 

 

DOVECOTE FARM & BUTTERY

POPPIES TRUST 10% DISCOUNT ON BREAKFAST ONLY

 

 

BODRUM TURKISH CUISINE

POPPIES TRUST 10% DISCOUNT ON FOOD ONLY

 

 

 CAFÉ AMORE

POPPIES TRUST 10% DISCOUNT ON FOOD ONLY

 

 

 

No1 SMASH & GRAB

10% off

 

 

 

 

ORSINO BISTRO

10% Discount available on Daytime Food Only between 9am - 5pm.

 

 

Why join the Trust we hear you ask?  A good question.  A lot of “older” fans know the history of the Trust and our role in helping save us from extinction back in 1992.  The Club has had one or two close runs since then and the Trust has been on hand to help it through the bad times.  We have also raised thousands of pounds towards projects both at Rockingham Road and Latimer Park for the benefit of the Club and fans along with community initiatives etc etc etc.  Ultimately, we have tried and succeeded in some instances to be involved in the Club at a higher level.  Previously, we have had Trust Chairmen involved on the Board under Peter Mallinger and Imraan Ladak albeit it quite briefly!  We still endeavour to obtain a place at that level so that the fans have a voice in how the Club may be run.  We are currently talking to George about this – he has offered us a possible place on the Club’s management committee and we are pursuing this with him.  Watch this space.

Talking of community projects, the Trust has teamed up with the Club today to collect food for the Kettering and District Foodbank.  We are sure Poppies fans have shown their generosity for this good cause.

Today we welcome Bishop Stortford to Latimer Park.  Like us, The Blues got off to a very good start to the season.  Both teams are still in the mix at this early stage of the season so will be looking to stay in touch with the current leaders with 3 points today. 

Albeit our exit from the FA Cup was very disappointing, most of us have been around long enough to know that back to back FA Cup runs are rare particularly for us!  Last season is filed away in that Poppies memory box and we have to crack on with this season and making an impact in the League.  Looking forward to the Trophy run though…….!!

 

Supporters Trust

Kettering Town (Poppies) Supporters Trust, PO Box 6492, Kettering, NN16 0YT

ktfctrust30.blogspot.com

enquiries@poppiestrust.co.uk

Facebook: Kettering Town 'Poppies' Supporters Trust;

Twitter: @poppiestrust

Trust Board Members:  Karen Spencer-Lewis (Chair), Mark Severn (Treasurer),

Richard Atkinson (Vice Chairman), Bill Pringle, Martin Bellamy, Dave Tailby, Ed Palmer, Billy Welland,

Chris Bright, Lee Wright and Mark Hope