|
|
 |
Latest Trust News
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Members Questions to Directors of RAFC
We recently held our regular meeting with the board at Spotland and as usual invited questions from fans for the Trust to ask on their behalf...
A question was received from Trust member N.F. who wanted to know what plans the board had for the money received for selling Chris O'Grady. The directors stated that this income was put towards the playing budget and that we were still looking to bring players to the club. As an aside it was mentioned that we has bids accepted for players in the summer, but unfortunately these deals fell through after fees had been agreed.
Dale fan P.O. followed up on a previous question to the board which asked why previous sponsors of things like players and goals hadn't been contacted about renewing their sponsorship. Despite hoping this would be rectified, P.O. wanted to highlight that the situation still existed. This was passed onto the club and they will again look into it.
One supporter, J.R., enquired about possible Trust representation on the board at the club citing how it has happened at other clubs to good effect. As our regular meetings with the directors illustrate, the Trust have a direct link with the club and although things may change in the future, this currently works very well. Also, as we all know, the Dale board is made up of Dale fans!
A question regarding the length of the management team's contracts was asked by D.S. While not going into specifics, the answer received was that the deal was in the best interests of both the club and the manager.
S.B. asked if the concession age at Spotland could be lowered to 60, an age used by other clubs. The club answered that all concessionary prices, at the younger end too, are reviewed each year before decisions are made on admission/season tickets. This will happen again before next season.
We'd like to again thank members for sending in questions, and if you haven't asked the board something before, get thinking of something for a future meeting!
14 November 2011
|
|
|
|
|
|
Factor 50 Campaign
Factor 50 has been heavily involved in recent months in pushing for NHS approval for a new melanoma drug. Ipilimumab, also known as Yervoy, has recently been licensed for patients with advanced melanoma. In trials people who were told they were terminal are still alive 4+ years later and counting. NICE, the NHS body that reviews and approves new treatments thinks, at around £70,000, it's too expensive and have provisionally declined to approve it for NHS use.
This decision is now under review, after a concerted campaign a group of MP's have tabled an Early Day Motion to get this debated in parliament www.parliament.gov.uk/edm/2010-12/2362
Factor 50 are trying to get people whose MP's are not signed up to contact them asking them to do it. If you don't know how to contact your MP here are the details www.findyourmp.parliament.uk . We had a meeting with Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham regarding this yesterday and are hopeful we can get enough support to make it happen.
Ipilimumab is the biggest step forward in treatment of melanoma in 40 years, it needs to be freely available to every patient. Any help any of you can be in pushing this would be greatly appreciated, if anyone needs any further info please contact Andy Worthington andyworthington.factor50@googlemail.com
Christmas Cards
As the festive season nears Factor 50 are also selling Christmas Cards. The family of a young melanoma sufferer contacted us earlier this year and have had 8,000 cards made which they have donated to us to use to fundraise. The cards are £6 per pack of 10 which includes p&p and can be purchased via a link on the front page of our website www.factor50.org.uk
Our fundraising now stands at around £130,000. The Dale trust have been valuable supporters of Factor 50 over the last 2 years with the joint golf day, as well as the football in the community team running 10k's and organising 5 a sides, your continued support is greatly appreciated. On behalf of Factor 50 can I wish all Dale fans a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
Andy Worthington
Factor 50
|
|
|
|
|
|
Members Ballot Results
Rochdale Supporters Trust can now announce the results of the recent members ballot to decide if the Bowlee funds can be used to help the club pay for new pitch covers at Spotland.
From the 304 adult members balloted, 215 were returned.
Therefore, the members have given the go ahead for the money to be put towards new pitch covers. Thankyou to every member who took the time to vote.
Dale Trust Chairman David Gartside said " We would like to thank our members for voting, and giving valuable feedback on this important issue. As you know, the Trust has been working closely with the Board of RAFC regarding the upgrading of pitch covers. However, I'd like to reiterate that now we have the green light, we still need to make absolutely sure that any purchases are the correct decision.
It's important for supporters to know that negotiations with various suppliers are ongoing, and although we would very much like to be ready to place an order, there are still questions to be answered before we are happy to commit such a large sum of money.
We are fully aware that Winter is approaching, but we need to make the correct choice...one that will serve the club well for many years. As always, we represent the views of all our members and are proud to do so."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joint Statement from RAFC and the Trust: Pitch Covers
Following the abandonment of the Oldham League games last season and subsequent postponements against Charlton Athletic, Notts County, Bristol Rovers and Southampton club officials were keen to try and find a pitch protection system that would greatly improve the chances of staging games on their scheduled dates during the winter months. Having experienced the work of the MacLeod cover in the lead up to the FA Cup game against FC United, Rochdale officials wanted to find a similar cover but at a price that was affordable and manageable as an investment.
Club and Trust officials have been in discussions since February of this year to try and find a potential alternative to invest the money originally raised by the Supporters Trust to develop the Bowlee training facilities.
£30,000 was raised by members with a view of upgrading the facilities at Bowlee. However this project did not go ahead and the first team squad currently trains at Manor Farm while the club looks for a permanent site. The Trust in partnership with the club has been looking at alternative ways to invest the cash.
One idea is to plough the money into upgrading the Spotland pitch covers in a bid to protect the pitch should we be hit with bad weather. This would come on the back of investment over the past two summers to upgrade the pitch itself.
Since February, the Supporters Trust and the club have been in discussions with three separate companies with regards purchasing new equipment. The favoured option is a dome shape cover which can keep rain and snow off the pitch, while at the same time allow for hot air to be blasted underneath in a bid to avoid a frozen pitch scenario. Therefore the task has been to find an affordable product that will do all of the above
In April Club representatives went out to Holland to view a product designed by a company known as Dutch Dome. Despite discussions, a decision has been taken not to pursue this model any further at this time. Discussions have also taken place and are still on-going with two further firms, Stuart Canvas and Match Saver, both based in the UK.
We are currently seeking more information on how their products can benefit Rochdale AFC, including arranging a demonstration on how their systems work. Until we are completely satisfied however no money will be spent.
Dave Gartside, Chairman of the Supporters Trust explained, “On behalf of Trust members we have been working with the club to look at the options for improved pitch protection covers for the Spotland pitch.
It has been an interesting and time-consuming project but it has also been quite frustrating at times in that one of the products has come through the development stage during the summer; a process that is still ongoing whilst the other product has still to be demonstrated to us to our complete satisfaction.”
Rochdale Chief Executive, Colin Garlick added “On behalf of the club I would like to thank the Trust for their help and support with this project, we enjoy an excellent relationship with the Trust and this has been demonstrated again with the work that we have done together on trying to find better protection for the pitch. Like our friends from the Trust we too have been frustrated at the slow pace of progress with finding the correct product as we had all hoped to have new pitch protection covers on site now as we head in to the winter. However both the Trust and ourselves recognize that this project will require a significant investment and we have to be absolutely sure that if and when we invest this money it will be on a product that we are completely confident in and one which will greatly increase the chances of putting matches on during the winter months. It is our intention to continue discussions with the two potential suppliers but no money will be spent until we are completely happy with the new product.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
Fans questions to directors (1 October 2011)
At our last meeting with the directors we received a number of questions from Trust members on various subjects, as ever we put these to the board and you can read the replies below:
A question from PD asked what the club are doing to boost attendances, and this is something many fans are interested in. In reply: the Think Tank project has recently got off the ground and a group has been set up involving individuals with various skills/contacts and attributes. From here the aim is to see attendances improve in the long run.
There was concern from a Trust member that the club were not doing enough to attract sponsorship for things like player and goal sponsors. This has led to some previous sponsors not being contacted to see if they wanted to continue this season. This was noted and would be looked into - supporters may have noticed the official website then posted an article on the subject giving interested fans contact details at the club.
We received an interesting request from IC asking if the Trust could reach out to potential members living outside the area, making more use of official website. This is something we look to do with providing Trust articles for the club site and also there will be improvements to our own site on the way. In the mean time, there is an exiles section of the Trust for anyone interested in joining.
A couple of years ago the club launched an initiative called 'Share the Dream' and supporter NW asked what had happened to incentives, such as a Chairman's dinner, for those who bought 500 shares as part of the scheme. The club realised this has yet to happen and the intention will be to follow up on this and contacting the supporters concerned.
Dale fans J and P R were interested to know if the Dale directors would look at amending the ages involved in concessionary pricing at Spotland. For example at Bury, the senior citizens age group starts at 62, with it being 65 at Dale. The cheaper prices at Gigg Lane are also available up to age 21, two years older than Rochdale. Again, this was something taken on board by the club officials - a review takes place before every season and it would be looked at again before announcing prices for the 2012-13 campaign.
Thanks a lot for all the questions received, we'll be emailing Trust members again before our next meeting with the directors, so get thinking what you might like to ask!
|
|
|
|
|
|
All Ticket Match benefit for Trust members (20 July 2011)
Dale Supporters Trust is delighted to announce that we have some good news for our members – something that is yet another benefit you will receive by joining us.
Following a request from the Trust, the directors of the football club have been speaking on our behalf to Greater Manchester Police. These discussions have been successful, and therefore we can announce that this season (and hopefully future seasons after this) Supporters Trust members will be able to purchase their ticket for a designated all-ticket game on the day of the game itself.
Last season saw the club, under instruction from GMP, having to introduce an all-ticket scheme for the matches expected to have larger than normal attendances and away followings – namely the games against Huddersfield, Oldham and Sheffield Wednesday. Fans will remember that for these games, non-season ticket holders had to buy their tickets before the day of the game – no tickets were sold on the actual day, and obviously this caused problems for those who found it difficult to get up to the ticket office during the week.
This season, there will be even more designated all-ticket games, against Huddersfield, Preston, Bury, Sheffield Wednesday, Oldham and Sheffield United. As with last season, this will not affect season ticket holders, but non season ticket holders will have to buy their ticket before the day of the match. That is, unless you are a Trust member. Members will be allowed to buy their ticket on the day. However, this is strictly limited to one ticket per member, and only upon production of a valid Trust membership card for this season.
We feel this is one of the best ever benefits we have been able to give our members, as it saves a great deal of potential hassle, and may even prevent fans from missing games. If you want to take advantage of this, as well as the many other perks of being a member, you can sign up to the Trust at any of our events, including the upcoming Fan’s Forum. You can also sign up at our desk in the Ratcliffe Suite before every home game, or join online here
|
|
|
|
|
|
2011/2012 Membership window open (20 July 2011)
Trust Membership for Season 2011/12
Dale Supporters Trust would like to welcome you to join us for what looks set to be another interesting and exciting season for the Dale. Last year, Trust membership reached a total of 515, which we were very pleased with as it showed the fans agreed that our decision to increase the membership fee to £10 still represented excellent value for money.
We are keeping the cost of joining at £10 this year too, and for that price you get some excellent benefits. You get reduced prices for tickets to our events, details of which will be released over the coming weeks and months, but we can tell you that there are a couple of new ideas in the pipeline which we think will prove to be very popular.
You will receive discounts from the many ‘Friends of the Trust’ in the local area, which include places to eat and drink, taxis, and many different companies that provide useful services (a full list can be found here ).And, potentially the biggest benefit this year to being a Trust member is the likelihood that the club will find a suitable venue(s) for a training ground, at which point it will be up to Trust members to vote on whether or not to release the money saved up for it, and indeed which venue to spend the money on. If you’re not a member, you will not have a say on how to spend the training ground fund, so don’t miss out on being involved in what could be one of the biggest decisions in Dale’s history, something that could well shape the future of the club.
There are a few ways to join the Trust. Membership forms will be handed out at the first home league game of the season, versus Huddersfield on Saturday 13th August. Forms will be available to fill out at every event we host, and at our Trust Desk which is in the Ratcliffe Suite before every home game. Alternatively, you can join online. If you go to our website, ‘Join Dale Trust’ is one of the first links at the top of the home page.
We look forward to welcoming members, new and old, and we hope that all Dale fans enjoy the coming season!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
