Dear Supporter
The Trust is 33 years old - 34 later this year. It is a testament to all those previous members/members of the committee/current members etc that it continues to survive. There is a important distinction between a supporters club and a supporters trust - Trusts are independent organisations and were generally born out of trouble and strife occurring at their Club. The Poppies Trust was the second one to be formed behind the Cobblers Trust. Brian Lomax, Cobblers fan, came up with the idea of Supporters Trusts when Cobblers were in serious financial trouble and their owner put them into administration. The administrators came into the Club, appointed a new Board and this included two members of the recently formed Cobblers Trust. Wrexham were Trust run until their famous owners came along. Currently, Exeter City is a Trust/fan run Club. Swansea, Reading and Blackpool have active Trusts influencing club direction.
When Mark English came to the Club back in the very early 90s, it soon became clear that he did not have the Club's best interests at heart. Brian Lomax and Phil Frost from the Cobblers Trust came over to Kettering to offer us support and advice and the Poppies Trust was born - only the second one in the country at the time. Of course, the Club went into administration, and the Trust, along with the administrators, kept the Club alive in that interim period (also a massive thanks to the judge who ruled in our favour and did not shut us down) until Peter Mallinger came along.
Fundamentally, fans recognised the need for an independent, democratic and not for profit organisation to provide a voice for the supporters and protect the interests of the fans whilst also being supportive of the best interests of the Club. This has been our core motivation and something we believe we have successfully and effectively carried out all these years!
The Trust is bound by its constitution and its 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
Look out for lots of "did you knows" in the coming weeks.
As for today, let's hope the game is on. We have not played at home since the week before Christmas! This has a massive impact on the finances of the Club. As well has getting 3 points, getting some finance into the Club's coffers is a priority.
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