Community Team Update

The Community Team has remained active over the winter months and has confirmed a few projects for Merthyr Tydfil FC;

John Hartson Foundation - following the testicular cancer awareness day at Penydarren Park for our youth team players we are happy to advise that Martyrs to the Cause have signed up to run at the FAW Dragon Ball Run on 21st March in Bute Park on behalf of both club and the John Hartson Foundation. We're looking for more volunteers to run, every runner is encouraged to wear his own club shirt so let's see the black & white of Merthyr celebrating in Cardiff Castle on that Sunday.

Caedraw School - we continue to collect empty plastic 2 litre bottles for an environment project at the local school, any donations should be handed into either Club Shop or Holveys Tea Bar.

Arts Project - The Community Team have meetings during January to confirm the Arts Project, hopefully we will see the results all around the Candac Suite in forthcoming matches.

Museum/Mobile Exhibition - We continue to research funding for a mobile exhibition to educate primary school children as to the history of professional sport in our town. Our thanks go to Cyfarthfa Castle Museum for their help in sourcing the display information for our bid.

Academy - An update to advise that we are looking at a funding stream to help with the finances of our excellent academy structure. On this point - don't forget to support out Future Martyrs as they represent us in matches for the remainder of the season.

Minithon 2010 - we have agreed to undertake a Minithon during 2010 following the success of the FC United of Manchester event this year. It has been very encouraging to see the input for hosting a 5km event in Merthyr Tydfil, but don't forget that you can RUN, WALK or CRAWL the event so no excuses for not taking part and raising money for our club to survive. More details to follow soon.

Poppy Day - despite the appalling weather conditions we managed to collect £51.32 on the day. The Royal British Legion has contacted the club to express its gratitude.

Christmas Collection - As you are aware the collection on behalf of PHAB was postponed from Boxing Day, please be assured that the Community Team will make the buckt collection at the next available Saturday home match.


Thank you once again for your anticipated co-operation.

Annual Merthyr ex-players' day 2010

The Supporters' Trust is happy to confirm that this year's Players' Reunion will be on Easter Monday (5th April) for the visit of Stourbridge to Penydarren Park.

All former players are advised to contact Mark Evans on wolvesy@yahoo.co.uk for further details.

Away Supporters Guide to Merthyr Tydfil

The Supporters' Trust has produced the following e-booklet to advertise the benefits of visiting our famous football ground, why not stay overnight in the town to experience a Merthyr night out?

http://content.yudu.com/Library/A1gx7w/MTFCAwaySupportersGu/resources/index.htm

Fans Forum information

A reminder that the Supporters' Trust will host a Fans Forum at the Candac Suite on Thursday 21st January 2010.

It is vital that all Merthyr fans attend this meeting to discuss the future of our famous club.

Once again, a "Sheppy" New Year from all at the Trust to every supporter of Merthyr Tydfil FC.

News from the Community Team

A short update from the Martyrs to the Cause Community Team;

The link with the Tidy Towns project at Merthyr Council was a success, the area at the Pontmorlais end of the ground was cleared by the volunteers as part of our link with the Town & Park Ward Communities First partnership. The area has been improved for both supporters and local residents.

The Club is continuing to investigate the idea of setting up a mobile exhibition to portray the history of football within our borough, in effect a museum detailing the early years of the sport from the local league to the Football League membership of the 1920s and onwards through the 1950s glory team and finally modern times. The Trust has collected items for display including Sonny Gibbons's Welsh League medal from 1927 and a Merthyr League handbook from 1936. The community team will be discussing possible funding options with Communities First before proceeding further.

The collection of items for the Welsh Guards serving in Afghanistan continues, we have already delivered one box of goods to the organisers and urge all supporters to drop any items into the Club Shop on matchday.

The annual Let's Kick Racism Day will be on October 24th for the visit of Didcot Town, both teams will be invited to take part in the day's events which include a link with the Portuguese community in the borough. The evening will finish with Welsh language bands in the Candac Suite.

The club will be hosting an arts project with the local community in November, youngsters in the area will be encouraged to take part in a painting project depicting iconic pictures from Merthyr football history, the pictures will be displayed throughout the town and of course at Penydarren Park. Funding issues are currently being pursued with our local business community partners.

For further information please contact us at community.team@themartyrs.com

Welcome to Blue & Gold Supporters Society

A big welcome to the Trust family from Martyrs to the Cause to our friends at Kings Lynn who have registered their Supporters' Trust called the Blue & Gold Supporters' Society.

20th Anniversary edition

It was August 1989 and two Merthyr supporters are carrying a box around Old Road, Briton Ferry during a pre-season friendly in the sunshine (can you remember when we had a pre-season and it was sunny?), the majority of the crowd that day bought a copy of the new fanzine Dial M For Merthyr, probably most of them thought it was the programme (in the early days we were always asked "Is this the programme?", we'd say yes, sell one and then hope they didn't realise until we were safe in Strikers drinking the profits!) but it was the start of the Dial M For Merthyr fanzine.

The late 80s had spawned a new generation of publications dedicated to raising the profile of the ordinary supporter on the terraces, the early pioneers being When Saturday Comes, The City Gent (Bradford City), The Pie (Notts County), Orientear (Leyton Orient) and Watch the Bluebirds Fly (Cardiff City), it was a post-Hillsborough landscape with the fight against ID cards being led by the fledgling Football Supporters Association from its Liverpool headquarters, fences around the pitches, crumbling terraces and a wagonwheel was the best food you could get. The fanzines were a constant antidote to the patronising and out of touch coverage of the established media in the UK who failed to see the real issues relevant to all supporters, the fanzines weren't always welcome (the Merthyr Express expressed its caution in welcoming us after one of our early issues) but they remained vibrant until the establishment began to absorb the better elements into the mainstream, mainstay publications like Shoot were soon overtaken by more fanzinesque editions like FourFourTwo who relied heavily on journalists who had cut their teeth on the fanzine scene.

Dial M For Merthyr has continued over the 20 years to cover the fortunes of our club whether through joint fanzines with Cardiff City, testimonial issues for Chris Holvey or anti-racism booklets for the annual Let's Kick Racism Out of Football. We may not be able to match both Cardiff City and Swansea City for the number of fans but we have shown constantly that we have enough talent to maintain a famous fanzine brand which continues to be admired in terrace culture.

Twenty years after that first issue copied in Merthyr Law Courts and side stapled by hand, we look to bring out an anniversary issue celebrating 20 years of Merthyr Tydfil FC fan culture so whether its the poncho you wore to Woking, the music you listened to as you drove to Sutton Coldfield or the article that changed your view on football please forward your memories on both fanzine and Merthyr Tydfil to us for inclusion in the next issue. Deadline will be around 28th September.

Please forward all articles, one liners, poems, ideas for articles, dodgy photos of MTFC fans in various grounds to us at wolvesy@yahoo.co.uk

NEITHER CARDIFF NOR SWANSEA BUT INTERNATIONAL MERTHYRISM

Can you feel the difference?

The first month of the season is almost over, and to be honest it's been enjoyable once again to be a Merthyr fan, I've actually spent my time discussing the team with fellow Martyrs fans (usually in Tesco where of course anyone who is anyone meet these days, usually in front of the dog food for some reason), the lack of a comprehensive pre-season calendar has obviously hampered Shep's preparations but in all three home matches so far (unbeaten as we type this article!) we have finished the stronger of the two teams so physically we continue to compete right until the last whistle but I think the lack of match practice means we haven't really gelled in front of goal, yesterday's goalless draw against a very unambitious Bedford team being a prime example. The return of Cortez Belle surprised a few, this scribe included, but so far I have to say that I have been impressed, a determination to take on the defence will produce the goods soon surely. So on the pitch we seem to have continued from last season but it is off the pitch that has provided the platform for the stability on the field of play. The Trust has continued its work from the close season with the main activities thankfully turning from legal arguments to stadium renovation and commercial income; Penydarren Park is slowly returning to its full use but its going to be a long haul with the main issue being security to prevent the constant vandalism on the site, new fences coupled with a new community vision will hopefully reduce the problem. Commercially it's been a vast improvement on recent seasons; local businesses seem happy to work with the supporters to provide both services and money to help turn around the fortunes of our famous club, it's a never-ending search for funds as the main issue of the club being in administration will need to be tackled sooner than later but if the club continues as a going-concern then at least we buy ourselves a chance in keeping the biggest football club in the Valleys alive, there's plenty more big decisions to come though so no-one should sit back and think the job is done. The Trust movement in the UK, governed and backed by Supporters Direct, believes that supporters can make a difference in the running of their clubs and this is being proved correct at Merthyr Tydfil FC, it is the supporters who are making the difference and that is obvious by the renewed enthusiasm evident at the Lyn Jones Gates where a few "old faces" are returning once again to see their heroes in black & white, people are definitely enjoying the new season, there's a long way to go and every club event needs to be supported to maintain the resources to keep the dream alive but together we have acheived so much and united we can deliver more.

Keep on, keepin' on!

Administration update

Mark Evans, Meurig Price and I (John Strand) met with the Administrator at Penydarren Park for one and a half hours at 8am this morning, to show him around and to give him as much background to the club as he required.

The immediate action taken by the administrator was to lock the gates of the ground.

Nobody will be admitted to the ground without the administrator’s permission.

The administrator will now seek to find a buyer for the business, his main objective being to seek the best outcome he can for the creditors.

Although there may be other potential purchasers of the business, the Trust Board will continue to develop its plans to bid for the business and to maintain football at PP.

Clearly another potential purchaser could outbid the Trust. The Trust Board would then do its best to support and work with any new owner, whilst maintaining the objectives as stated in its rules.

The Save the Martyrs Campaign needs your support more than ever as we continue to build our finances to ensure Southern League football for Merthyr Tydfil FC. Please support the Season Ticket offers and please contact your local business to enquire whether they would be happy to help us commercially.

Important news for all supporters of Merthyr Tydfil FC

Dear Supporter of Merthyr Tydfil Football Club

Public Meeting on Thursday May 14th at the Penydarren Social Club 7.30pm Start

I am writing to inform you that the Trust, along with members of the OSC and other active supporters, are holding a Public Meeting to look for support for a campaign to save Merthyr Football Club from extinction.

On Wednesday 6th May her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs were seeking to wind up the club, because of non payment of £7000 in tax. The Trust employed legal representation to arrange a 28 day adjournment of the case.

The lawyers are now looking for alternative ways of going forward to save the club, and if possible, to gain control of the club by the supporters. It has always been the Trust’s intention to be a vehicle to arrive at a club run by the supporters on a democratic basis.

If we, the supporters, are to be successful in our bid, we are going to have show complete commitment and it will be necessary to raise significant funds.

I urge you therefore to attend the meeting on Thursday 14th May, if at all possible, to demonstrate that you want the club to survive.

Please pass this email to anyone you think might be interested in ensuring a successful future for Merthyr Tydfil Football Club.

Yours sincerely

John Strand
Secretary Merthyr Tydfil FC Supporters Society

Soccalot 5th May 2009

Tonight's numbers were 06, 14, 20 and 24.

No claims, draw undertaken by Steve Anderson.

Next week's draw to be £1,500.

Thanks for your support, don't forget to support the Trust in acheiving a Supporters' run football club at Penydarren Park by taking out a standing order to ensure that you are in the Soccalot draw every week.

Goals = Funds

Thanks to everyone who took part in this year's Sponsor A Goal fund, the lads did us proud this year with 79 goals and when all the monies are received we should benefit to the tune of nearly £500 which is much needed at the moment as we continue to search for a lifeline for our historic club.

Thanks once again!

Soccalot Result

There were no winners tonight. The draw was pulled out by Rob Morgan and the numbers were;

05, 07, 11 & 13

Next week the prize fund willbe £1,250.

Sponsor A Goal

Please note that the invoices for the Sponsor A Goal Fund will be sent out during week commencing 27th April to all supporters who have backed the project. It is much appreciated.

All monies raised will once again go towards the Youth/Academy teams' budget.

Centenary shirts

The Merthyr Town shirts specially made by The Old Fashioned Football Shirts Company (TOFFS) for Martyrs to the Cause have arrived. The shirt is based on the design of the 1909/10 season with the Town's first badge, the Prince of Wales feathers, incorporated on to the Red & Green striped shirts.

Both Gary Shephard and Danny Carter were delighted with the quality of the shirts and confirmed that the players would wear them for the Halesowen Town match as part of the celebrations marking the centenary of football at Penydarren Park.

Following the match, the shirts will be returned to the Trust to be sold to supporters. The cost per shirt is £39.99 for a unique item; cash or cheque (payable to Martyrs to the Cause) to reserve one via the Club Shop or Trust, first come first served while stocks last.

Up the Town!

Quiz Night

The next Martyrs to the Cause Quiz Night will be held on Thursday 30th April at the Cefn Club from 7.30pm. All proceeds will go to the Players' Travel Fund.

Entry is £10 for a four person team, the winning team will receive 50% of the entry monies.

Come along and enjoy a night with fellow Merthyr fans and test your brains whilst raising much needed funds.

See you there!

Leaflet drop

Martyrs to the Cause undertook another leaflet drop on Good Friday to advertise the next day's match with Oxford City, the target area for this drop was lower Twynyrodyn.

The next leaflet drop will be on Friday 24th April, prior to the Halesowen Town match, volunteers are requested to contact the Trust for this event.

Quiz Night

A big thank you

Martyrs to the Cause would like to thank all the other Supporters Trusts & Clubs who have contacted us with messages of support and especially those football fans who have become members over the past week or so. It is much appreciated.

Quiz night

Martyrs to the Cause will be hosting the first of its monthly quiz nights in the Cefn Club on Thursday 19th March, all teams are welcome with the night's takings being split 50/50 between the winning ensemble and the Trust. More details to follow.

20th February 2009

Statement from the Board of Martyrs to the Cause

The Board of Martyrs to the Cause met last night with officers of Supporters Direct, our accountants and the leader of Merthyr Tydfil Borough Council, Mr Jeff Edwards.
From the meeting, we have confirmed our intended structure for running Merthyr Tydfil Football Club FC and are confident that when the time comes for the ownership of the club to pass to the Supporters of the club, we are in a strong position to deliver a democratically run club, inclusive of all Merthyr supporters which will be financially focused, with open and transparent governance.

We have made our intention that we wish to take over the ownership of the club clear to the owner of the club and are waiting on his response.
END OF STATEMENT

Statement from the Board

18th February 2009

Statement from the Board of Martyrs to the Cause

With reports of spiraling debts, staff being unpaid, the threat of games being unplayed and removal of utility services at Merthyr Tydfil FC, the board of Merthyr Tydfil FC Supporters Society Ltd (Martyrs to the Cause) have today issued the following statement.

The Board of Martyrs to the Cause are 100% committed to preserving football at it's current standard at Merthyr Tydfil FC. The Society however is unwilling to do service pressing debts for the current owner of the club at present for the following reasons;

1) The club has failed to supply or submit accounts since those filed to August 2006.

2) The club is unable to present the Society with levels of income, expenditure or debt.

3) The club has been unable to present a case to show that they have any plan to make the club work as a viable business in the short or long term.

We have re-affirmed our ambition to take on the ownership of the club and change it's constitution to that of a Community Club and to that means we have informed the club that the offer made to the club in a meeting on August 17th 2008 remains open to them. In that meeting, we presented an outline offer to the club, following initial discussions with our legal representatives, the key points of which were as follows:

Firstly Martyrs to the Cause would loan the Club the money (on an unsecured basis but via a legal agreement) needed immediately to meet pressing creditors.

Wyn Holloway’s shares in Merthyr Tydfil Football Club Limited would be immediately transferred to Martyrs to the Cause for no consideration, however we would be prepared to consider the transfer of a controlling stake in the company only, with certain guarantees – to be agreed.

All of this would take place with the simultaneous resignation of the existing directors (without compensation) with a new board appointed by the Trust, which it is expected would be the current board of the trust.

The new board would meet the Club's ongoing debts and commitments.Under the terms of the deal, what we believed to be substantial existing loans and credit from a number of sources, would continue to be guaranteed by the existing directors (as they are now). And as a sign of our intention to ensure eventual repayment of those loans, we proposed that the new board would make monthly goodwill payments in order to assist in the ongoing maintenance of those loans.

We also proposed that annual reviews of this arrangement would be factored in so progress can be monitored by all parties to their satisfaction.However, all of this was contingent on due diligence of the club’s most recent accounts. Martyrs to the Cause offered to assist – financially or otherwise – in releasing these accounts, and would also be willing to discuss providing assistance as part of any deal.We believe that this deal represents an opportunity for Wyn Holloway and the other directors of Merthyr Tydfil Football Club Ltd to be released from their current over-burdening commitments, which must cause significant stress to all of them.

In operating the club, we would be doing so as a team, alongside the fans as owners. We would also be advised by Supporters Direct, which has a great deal of expertise in this area, and which has already assisted with fifteen supporters trusts in taking over or restarting their clubs, four of which are in the Football League. The involvement of the supporters is critical to the future of this football club, and we believe that now is the time for us all to step up to the plate and return our club to its former glories. The board of Martyrs to the Cause is committed to our great club having a future, and that future being under the ownership and control of the supporters of Merthyr Tydfil Football Club.

END OF STATEMENT

John Toshack Night

A big thank you to everyone who made our John Toshack night on Thursday such a huge success, the Cefn Club was full of football fans from all clubs for the visit of the Wales team manager. Mr. Toshack was excellent and spoke for 90 minutes on a range of subjects from Wales to Madrid to South Wales Switchgear.

A big thank you to our hosts at the Cefn Club for making the evening run so smoothly.

The night was a great fund raiser for the Trust and we would hope to repeat such an evening as soon as possible.

Match of the Week - Tamworth v Telford

http://www.twohundredpercent.net/?p=1202

News from Lewes

http://www.theargus.co.uk/sport/4123205.Threat_of_administration_grows_at_Lewes/

Come Back to Merthyr Day 3

Well the weather outside is frightful .....

Don't despair we will have a home game soon. So remind that friend, workmate or complete stranger that we still want them up at Penydarren Park on 24th of January for the visit of Yate Town.

The players are doing the business on the pitch let's get a crowd to echo that on the terraces.

Come Back to Merthyr Day, take 3.

What next from mother nature? We're due a tornado!

Come back to Merthyr Day 2

So the great Welsh weather scuppers our New Year's Day at the football, the team set to go top, the biggest crowd of the season expected and the big chill arrives, just typical I suppose.

Today's project to get as many ex-fans (and new faces) into our ground will now be moved to 10th January for the visit of Cambridge City to Penydarren Park, although the principle of the day could be taken for any home match, just bring someone to see the current team as they are worth watching.

Finally, here's to a Happy New Year for all Martyrs fans from your Supporters' Trust.

M2TC Mugs on sale

To buy a Mug - price £6 please e-mail us at;
mike@themartyrs.com

Come Back to Merthyr day

POSTER BELOW

http://www.themartyrs.com/cb2m-poster.pdf

Dorchester Town

Congratulations to the supporters of Dorchester Town who have registered their Trust with Supporters Direct, welcome to the family!

It’s Goals that Count

Martyrs to the Cause, your Supporter’s Trust at Penydarren Park, are continuing to fund the Youth Teams with their Sponsor-A-Goal scheme. Each 1st team goal to be sponsored, a minimum amount of 20p can be pledged, and with the lads playing so well at the moment it should be a bumper season for the scheme. Forms can be collected from the Club Shop or directly from the Trust. We’ve hit the back of the net 45 times (as of 4th December) so far so why not help the Future Martyrs by raising much needed funds each time we celebrate a goal? You don’t have to sponsor the goal scorers, why not pledge a £1 for every clean sheet or a £5 for a penalty save? All pledges are as always gratefully received. An invoice is sent out at the end of the season so there’s nothing to pay until then!

MARTYRS TO THE CAUSE
TRUST BOARD MEETING
27th November 2008
Cefn Social Club 7pm

Present: Mark Evans Chair
Geoff Chinnock
Phil Evans
John Strand
Joanna Williams
Christopher Williams
Ian Howells
Len Sankey
Meurig Price
Huw Thomas
Derek Dowling

1. Apologies
: Mike Donovan Vice Chair

2. Minutes of the previous meeting:
The board approved the minutes dated 30th October and 13th November.

3. Matters arising not on the agenda:
· The Chair welcomed Ian Howells to the meeting
· John Strand will contact Huw Lewis to arrange a meeting
· The away shirts will be on sale at the club shop from 28th November 2008
· Martin Hayes and Colin Bodenham have agreed to be subcommittee members
· John Strand sent a letter of thanks to Dave and Joanne Webb
· Meurig Price is unable to attend the Official Supporters Club meeting on Monday.1st December 2008. The board will be represented by Chris Williams and Ian Howells

4. Financial update
4.1 Mark Evans contacted Cooperative Bank with regards to accessing account information and changing signatories. These will now be Mark Evans, Mike Donovan and Phil Evans who is now Treasurer.

4.2 It was agreed that the current accountants will complete the preparation and auditing of the accounts, but that quotes will be sought for next year.

4.3 The board confirmed that the £300.00 weekly payment of player wages would continue until further notice.

5. Events – Initial planning

5.1 LATCH Collection
The event has now been advertised in the Merthyr Express and the board are seeking as much help on the day as possible. Volunteers included John Strand, Derek Dowling, Joanna Williams and Mark Evans. Phil Evans would help if possible due to his role with 50/50 sales and Ian Howells offered to announce the event over the tannoy.
Action Point: John Strand to contact LATCH for promotional equipment.
Action Point: John Strand to contact MTCBC for permission to collect in the town centre.

5.2 Junior Martyrs Christmas Party
Holding the event at Strikers on a Sunday afternoon near Christmas was suggested. The event would include providing a buffet and selection boxes for the JM’s.

Action Point: Chris Williams and Meurig Price to check hall availability.
Action Point: Mark Evans to ask Nigel Hulbert to be Santa Claus

5.3 Sponsor a Goal – Youth Team
It was confirmed that 11 forms were completed at the OSC meeting 24th November 2008.

5.4 Six – a – side Tournament
This has been arranged for the 30th May 2009 – FA Cup final day. It was proposed that teams be invited from Gloucester and other local sides in the league.

5.5 Player of the Year 2008-09
It was revealed that no arrangements have been made for this event for the first team by the club.
Action Point: Chris Williams to provisionally book the hall for the evening of the last home game of the season.
Action Point : Mike Donovan to arrange the event for the youth teams.

5.6 Leaflet Drop
The board decided that the leaflet promotion be held sometime in the new year after the “Come Back to Merthyr” event on New Year’s Day. John Strand volunteered to design the leaflets and Town and Park wards would be the first area chosen.
Action Point: Publicity subcommittee to focus on leaflet drop at next meeting
Action Point: Chris Williams to raise leaflet drop and ‘CBTM’ event at OSC meeting 1st December 2008

5.7 Player of the Month Award
A £20 Boots voucher will be awarded to the winner of the poll conducted by John Strand. This would be based on home games only.

5.8 Free Kids Entry
Vouchers will be distributed to Boys and Girls Clubs in the local areas, with the highest attending club given an opportunity to train with the first team and receive a signed Wales football. It is hoped this will be piloted at the Farnborough game in March 2009. John Strand offered to print the vouchers.

5.9 Pantomime
Action Point: Mark Evans to look into running a trip to Aberdare Coliseum over the Christmas period


5.10 Events planned by the Club/OSC
· 21st December 2008 – Supporters Disco
· 31st December 2008 – New Year Party
· 24th April 2009 - Centenary Celebration – Garry Shephard has apparently suggested the team wear the centenary kit on this day. Discussions arose regarding sponsorship for the kits possibly in the form of an auction prior to or after the game.
Action Point: Chris Williams to discuss this point with Perry Johnson at the OSC meeting 1st December 2008
Action Point: Mark Evans to source the cost of providing the kit.
· Shirt sponsorship – The option for an additional £50 to be sponsored on a player’s shirt is open to the Trust.


6. Publicity and marketing – Initial planning
These were listed as:
Ø Leaflets
Ø Merthyr Express column
Ø Matchday programme
Ø MTTC Website
Action Point: Mike Donovan to set up members of publicity subcommittee as users on the website.
Ø Town centre mailshot
Ø Promotional items such as beer mats
Action Point: John Strand to contact Rhymney Brewery to investigate promotional items

7. Any other business
It was agreed to investigate the possibility of resurrecting the Golden Goal competition as a replacement to the 50/50 draw to potentially raise more on a match days.
Action Point: Chris Williams to raise this at the OSC meeting on 1st December 2008

8. Date and time of next meeting
Thursday 11th December 2008 7pm at Cefn Social Club.

Another non-league club joins the Supporters Direct family

A big welcome to the Supporters Trust at Lewes Football Club who had their launch party on 14th November.

Board Meeting October 30th 2008

MARTYRS TO THE CAUSE
TRUST BOARD MEETING
30th October 2008

Attended : Phil Evans, John Strand, Dave Webb, Joanne Webb, Meurig Price, Mike Donovan, Geoff Chinnock, Len Sankey, Chris Williams, Huw Thomas, Derek Dowling, Mark Evans


Matters arising
Huw Lewis AM was invited to tonight’s meeting, but could not attend. John Strand will write offering alternative dates.

Trust has provided funding to the Club Shop in order that the Team away shirt be available to the supporters? The shirt willhave a commemorative Centenary Badge included.

The Let’s Kick Racism out of Football went well. Suggested that this be publicised in paper. JGS to get permission to use photo from official website.

JGS to contact LATCH to arrange a bucket collection.

Election of officers
The following officers were elected for the coming year.
Chair Mark Evans
Vic Chair Mike Donovan
Treasurer Joanne Webb
Secretary John Strand

Sub committees
It was agreed that the following sub committees be created;

· Co-ordination with the Official Supporters Club
Chris Williams and Meurig Price will approach the Official Supporters Club with a view to setting up regular meetings with Official Supporters Club representatives to discuss finances and other matters of co-operation.

· Fundraising and Events organisation
This will include Mark Evans, Phil Evans, Len Sankey, Geoff Chinnock, Huw Thomas

· Marketing & Publicity
This group will consist of Mike Donovan, Dai Webb, John Strand, Meurig Price

· Finance
Officers of the Board

· Administration and Internal Communications
John Strand, Huw Thomas, Chris Williams, Joanna Williams (co-opted member)

· Liaison with Supporters Direct
Dai Webb

· Disabled Supporters Liaison
Derek Dowling

Sub Committees will meet on second Thursday of each month. The main Board will continue to meet on the last Thursday of the month.

John Strand will prepare a proposed schedule of meetings for the coming year.

Future Strategy
This discussion included a report on expenses that the Trust incurs throughout the year as a warning that the Trust may not be able to continue to afford to pay £300 per week without dipping into reserves, unless increased sources of income are found.

It was agreed that the Finance sub committee would report to the Board with a detailed plan of expenditure and income for the coming year, based on current trends.

In the meanwhile the Trust will continue to pay £300 per week to the players’ budget while this report is being prepared.

Publicity
It was agreed that the new sub committee would consider ways of publicising Trust events more frequently and effectively.

SOCCALOT
It was agreed that the sub committee for Co-ordination meet with the Official Supporters Club to consider ways of improving lottery profits together. In the meanwhile, as already agreed the trust will continue to pay £300 towards players’ wages.

Other Business
Mr Dai Webb and Mr Phil Evans recently attended the national conference of Supporters Direct, our umbrella organisation. Mr Webb reported on the following discussions at the conference.

A discussion was held with Northwich Victoria Trust.

The need to maintain prudent cash reserves in the Trust.

Consider the need for surveys in the town.

The need for a business plan and strategy.

Possibility of developing internal Intranet for members.

Consider taking advantage of government sponsoring opportunities.

Consider links with commercial enterprises who might offer reductions for members – such as Pizza Hut Mr Webb to follow up.

Mr Evans reported that he is making an application to set up a small museum for the club in the club shop

KICK IT OUT

This Saturday will see Merthyr Tydfil FC join the 92 league clubs in showing their support for the One Game, One Community matchday events taking place across the country. Merthyr and Chippenham players will warm up in One Game, One Community T-shirts and Martyrs to the Cause volunteers will hand out Stickers, keyring and magzines highlighting the event.

Chelsea's Frank Lampard supporting the event.

Look out for specific events taking place at all televised Premier League games. BBC's Football Focus and Match Of The Day along with Setanta and Sky Sports will all be featuring the One Game, One Community weeks of action, with high-profile stars explaining what the campaign means to them.

Merthyr are usually the only non league club in Wales to participate in this event. The event is being organised by Martyrs to the Cause.

SOCCALOT - WON

October 13th 2008

No.s 02, 04, 10 & 23
Drawn by Stuart Cartlidge.
The winning numbers were matched by D. Thomas. The £6,450 was claimed.

Next week's jacpot will be £1,000.

Martyrs to the Cause - AGM Report

The Trust held its AGM at the Cefn Coed Club on Thursday 9th October.

The minutes of the Trust are below this post.

The meeting was much better attended than previous AGMs, with around 30 people. There were the usual annual reports from the Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary.

The elections to the Board, in which over 90% of members voted, saw a return of the five members previously serving on the Board, to join the seven current members whose period of tenure continues into the next year.

Under Other Business there was a continuation of the ongoing discussion about the relationship of the Trust, the Football Club and the Supporters club, and the extent to which the Trust should support the club financially.

Varying views were expressed. Some felt that more of Soccalot profits should go to the club. Other were of the view that prudent reserves should be continue to be built up.

That facts are;
That the funds given by the trust to the club in the last year exceeded income by about £6000.
The amount already committed to the Academy and the club for the current season are more than 50% of projected income. The elected Trust Board will continue to review this question on a month to month basis.

Martyrs to the Cause
Minutes of Annual General Meeting
Held at Cefn Coed Social Club
Thursday, 9th October 2008
7.00pm

Agenda

Apologies
An apology was received from Mark Evans, who was unable to attend because of work commitments.

Chair’s Report
Chairman Mr Dave Webb gave a report of the years activities. The main points of the report covered the following;
The relationship between the Football Club, the Supporters Club and the Trust in the last year.
The Trust’s attempts to improve communications.
The rules governing the Trust, as a registered Trust under the Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1965 – 78.
Fundraising.
Community activities.
The Trusts relationship with Supporters direct.
Levels of Membership.

Treasurer’s Report
The Treasurer Mrs Joanne Webb reported that over the past year the Trusts Reserves had reduced in the past year, because donations to the Youth teams and the first team had exceeded income.
The balance at the beginning of the year was £37,500. The current balance after reserved Soccalot prize money and other commitments is £31,500.
Mrs Webb emphasised the need to maintain prudent reserves to enable the Trust to meet its long term objectives.

Secretary’s Report
Acting secretary John Strand reported the fact that Mr Mark Evans had resigned as secretary in the spring for business and personal reasons. Since then John Strand has informally carried out secretary’s duties – taking minutes, dealing with correspondence, dealing with membership matters and overseeing the recent election of Trust Board members.
Membership is currently 67, which is a reduction of about 20 from the highest point in the last year. Of those 67 members 62 took the trouble to post their vote in the recent election for the Trust Board.

Appointment of Auditors
It was proposed that the current auditors be re-appointed, but it was agreed that quotes be obtained from alternative sources.

Election Results
The election to the Board of the Merthyr Tydfil Supporters Society for 2008/2009 was overseen by returning officer Councillor Allan Jones. The results are as follows;

Voting slips received 62

Results of voting
Mike Donovan 48
David Druce 13
Mark Evans 56
Ian Howells 13
Matthew Randell 13 (withdrew after ballot papers issued)
John Strand 55
David Webb 37
Chris Williams 49

The Board members for the coming year are as follows (seven board members carry forward on the basis of elections in previous years in line with the constitution)

Mike Donovan Mark Evans John Strand David Webb Chris Williams Joanne Webb Phil Evans Derek Dowling Len Sankey Meurig Price Geoff Chinnock Huw Thomas

Aims & objectives in coming year
Mr Dave Webb the Chairman outlined aims of the coming year, which are as follows;
Establish sub committees to include non Board members to develop Trust activities.
To look for opportunities to develop community activities – similar to the Kick Out Racism Campaign.
To improve communications with public bodies – such as Welsh Assembly, which has recently announced its intention of working with Supporters direct to give Welsh sports fans a greater say in how their clubs are run.


Other Business
A discussion took place around the question of the relationship of the Trust with the Football Club and Supporters Club, and the extent to which the Trust should provide funds for First Team operations.

Some felt that the Trust should commit substantial funds to First Team costs. The view was expressed that some Soccalot sellers would like more of the money they raise to go towards First Team costs. Conversely some Soccalot sellers are keen for a substantial amount of their money raised to be kept by the Trust as reserves.

The current facts are that in recent months the Soccalot has raised approximately £300 per week (equivalent £15,000 per year). Other sources of income such as Friday night 50/50 and matchday 50/50 have been lost. During the last year funds paid to the club were at least £25,000. For the current season £7900 (about 50% of projected income in the next 12 months) is committed to supporting Academy and First team activities.

Annual General Meeting

The AGM will take place on Thursday 09th at Cefn Social Club at 7pm.

SOCCALOT - 06th October 08

No.s 15, 17, 20 & 23
Drawn by John Morgan.
No claims and next week's prize fund is an estimated £6,450.

SOCCALOT - 22nd September 08

No.s 02, 13, 17 & 20
Drawn by Rob Morgan.
No claims and next week's prize fund is an estimated £5,850.

SOCCALOT - 15th September 08

No.s 04, 11, 20 & 21
Drawn by Ian Lang.
No claims and next week's prize fund is an estimated £5550.

SOCCALOT - 8th September 08

No.s 06, 07, 13 & 14

Drawn by Jeanette Evans.

No claims and next week's prize fund is an estimated £5250.

Link to the Cardiff City Trust

http://www.ccfctrust.org/

IT’S A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME THANKS TO SUPPORTERS DIRECT

By Susan Press

Dave Boyle has two major passions in life. One is sport and the other is politics. Luckily he is able to combine the two as the new Chief Executive of Supporters Direct.For the past eight years, in a variety of roles including Deputy Chief Executive & Society Secretary, Dave has helped build the initiative from the beginning as a sporting curiosity to an increasingly major player with well over 100 clubs now signed up across the country.The big multi-million- pound hitters like Manchester Utd and Liverpool may have a formidable stranglehold over the game – but increasingly supporters have had enough of over-priced tickets and a world in which the ‘beautiful game’ has become a role-model for global capitalism and rank profiteering.Dave and his team at Supporters Direct believe there is another way – an ethical way. They help football fans create trusts to help them get a share in their club. And there are even clubs – like Stockport County – that are now fully owned by their fans.Dave, who originally hails from Rochdale and is now a keen Wimbledon supporter says ‘Supporters Direct has basically changed the way in which football is talked about and changed the language and most importantly shown that people can be involved and that they should be listened to. They are not just prisoners of loyalty’.Last year four trust run clubs won promotion – Stockport County, Exeter City, AFC Wimbledon and FC United of Manchester. ‘I think their success is something everyone in the trust movement can celebrate because at clubs where they are finding it tough to make an impact, it is a struggle’ says Dave. ‘There are 13 clubs that are owned or controlled by a supporters’ trust, and every time one of them wins a promotion or goes on a cup run, they put the issue of trusts in the limelight. But more importantly they show that there is another way and that this other way and that this other way doesn’t mean the end of a decent team’.Like many other co-op enterprises, supporters’ trusts tend to take over the reins in a less than perfect financial situation.‘Trusts have usually taken over in awful circumstances. As we know, the only people left standing when the sums look appalling are the people who aren’t looking at it from a financial point of view – the supporters. In many cases the club has been nose-diving, and relegation either immediately preceded trust-ownership or has swiftly followed’.As Dave points out, 40 clubs have gone into administration in the last 15 years, and Supporters Direct offers fans another, collective way forward in line with the best principles of the Co-operative Movement.‘Breaking that spell – that the only way to run a club is through a ‘benefactor’ – is absolutely essential to any trust achieving its goals in the longer term. And that’s why successes of trust-run clubs are to be celebrated’.Another plus is that Supporters Direct has good friends in Government. Its former Chair is Andy Burnham, Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport and previous CEO Philip French is his Special Advisor. Supporters Direct is set to commission some research on who joins trusts and why. Dave says: ‘We’ve consistently pointed out what is wrong in our sports, but we need to start pushing our ideas to make it right and focus on getting them implemented.’REFLECTAnother key task is reviewing the way in which trusts are set up.‘When the model rules were written, there were only three or four trusts in existence, and it’s time to revise them to bring them into line with what the 150-plus trusts are actually like. We’ll be advising trusts on what they might want to get rid of; what they need to keep in their rules and what they need to add to reflect the way things are.’Above all, Dave believes it is the ethic of Supporters Direct which makes it an increasingly attractive proposition for football fans. ‘We also need to be mindful that while we say we know what our values are and what that means for trusts; we can’t take it for granted. There are still a good many people who will be either delighted or unsurprised if a trust were to fail or to bring the Movement into disrepute.’In May, Supporters Direct launched a one-year sponsorship deal with Virgin Media to help fund its development.There are also plans to expand its Rugby League involvement and over the summer SD tested the water by working in Ireland. The Welsh Assembly government has also made a formal commitment to funding Supporters Direct and in Scotland the organisation is close to finalising a new three-year funding package. Even more exciting is the news that a UEFA-funded feasibility study to develop Supporters Direct in Europe has almost been completed.‘We make the case stronger everywhere that supporters’ trusts are not just there for the nasty times in a club’s life – they’re the future. In the years to come I would like to see more trusts and more household names getting involved and being at the forefront of the movement. It’s a different way of doing trade and a better way of doing it’‘When people think of Barcelona, for example, they don’t necessarily think it’s a co-op – they think what a great football team. But that’s the kind of thing we can offer in the future if we get the chance. And we owe a great debt of gratitude to the Co-operative Movement for helping us get started’.

Soccalot Draw - 01st September

Tonight's Soccalot was drawn by Wayne Turner. The numbers were;

12, 13, 18 & 20.

There were no winners and the prize fund will be £5,000.

Rules of the Society

As requested in tonight's open meeting, here is a link to the rules of the society.

http://www.themartyrs.com/Rules_for_Merthyr_Tydfil_FC_Supporters_Society_Limited.pdf

Welcome to the family

Martyrs to the Causes welcomes both Cardiff City and Nottingham Forest Supporters Trusts to the Supporters Direct family.

Soccalot Draw - 25th August

The numbers for Monday 25th August 2008 were
16, 17, 18 & 24
as drawn by Jo Williams.
There were no winning claims this week,next week's jackpot is an estimated £4750.

500 Club

The latest 500 Club draw was made by the Club's programme editor John Strand. The following winners were drawn out of the velvet bag.

June 08

1st - V.P.Baylis - £70

2nd - Peter Harman - £30

3rd - Philip Mack - £20

4th - Geoff Matsell - £10

5th - Alun Morgan - £10

July 08

1st - V.P.Baylis - £70

2nd - Wayne Hodgkins - £30

3rd - Graham Davies - £20

4th - Colin Bodenham - £10

5th - G&A Jones - £10

August 08

1st - Dial M For Merthyr - £70

2nd - Dai Delaney - £30

3rd - Allan Jones - £20

4th - Lyn Mittell - £10

5th - Emma Wathan - £10

Two Hundred Percent article

The following story has been taken directly from the football Blog - Two Hundred Percent
http://www.twohundredpercent.net/?p=1042

Merthyr Most Foul

Football club implosions can take several different forms, to the point that it is is probably fair to say that there is no one route to insolvency. Sometimes, mere spending beyond one’s means for a season is enough to have grim long-term ramifications, as happened to Bradford City, who are still paying the price for former chairman Geoffrey Richards and his “six weeks of madness” a decade ago. Sometimes, it’s trying to live in the fast lane and propping up the shortfall with more and more unsustainable (and unfathomable) loan agreements, as Leeds United experimented with so disastrously and Manchester City may be about to embark upon. Occasionally, however, insolvency creeps up on a club over a period of years - decades, even. It appears like rust, innocuous enough at first, but if it takes hold, it starts to corrode from within. You might not even notice it at first, but it’s there, eating away until, just occasionally, the whole edifice that it has invaded collapses.
So, then, to Merthyr Tydfil AFC. Merthyr Town were founded in 1909 and were voted into the Football League when it expanded to four divisions in 1920. They fiinshed eighth in the all-new Division Three (South) and lasted ten years in the League before dropping back into the Southern League, from whence they came, in 1930. They folded in 1934. Merthyr Tydfil AFC were founded in 1945, and were six times winners of the Southern League, getting promoted into the Football Conference in 1989. They spent six years at the top of the non-league game, finishing in ninth place twice before managing a best ever fourth place finish in 1992, before the Southern League came a-calling again two years later. They also, in the era during which Welsh clubs entering into English league competitions were allowed to enter it, won the Welsh Cup three times. After the last of these wins, they achieved possibly their best known result, beating Italian club Atalanta 2-1 in the European Cup Winners Cup First Round First Leg before losing the return match 2-0 and going out.
Since the mid-1990s, though, the rust has set in at Penydarren Park. A history of looking with optimism at being able to, maybe, secure a place in the Football League became a meagre subsistence existence, but at least their club was still there. Last season, they only narrowly avoided relegation from the Southern League Premier Division, but they made the Fourth Qualifying Round of the FA Cup before losing to Oxford United. However, the club has run up very high debts - £500,000 as of 2006 - which have threatened the club’s ongoing survival. The poisonous atmosphere within the club appears to have spread to those running the club. The club banned the chair of the Martyr’s Trust, David Webb, from Penydarren Park last year, and appears to have done so again in the light of recent events at the club.
The most recent crisis began with an announcement that HMRC had brought a winding up order against the club last week over an unpaid £20,000 tax bill. The Trust, which has been pouring money into the club for a couple of years, submitted an offer to take over the running of the club, but this immediately ran into problems. For one thing, this year’s accounts have not been submitted yet to Companies House, so it is impossible to gauge exactly what the extent of the club’s difficulties are. Rumours have varied the amount from in the region of £250,000 to over £500,000.
Secondly, the club appears to be openly antagonistic towards the Trust. Its reaction to the offer submitted by the trust was to return the envelope unopened and ban Webb from the ground again. The club stated the “proposal came as a complete shock to the Board of Directors of the club”. Having had the trust pay many bills for several years, they seem to want this arrangement to continue, with a supporters trust that has no confidence in the people running the club for no return. The Trust’s requirements in terms of shares had been increased from 25% to 51% upon legal advice (unsurprising, considering that part of the deal was for the new board to accept liability for the club’s debts), and Wyn Holloway, the owner, baulked at such a suggestion.
Once again, then, a power play is taking place with a trenchant board who seem to be more interested in keeping control of a rotting shell of a club than with acting in a positive way to reinvent the very club that they are supposed to represent. The Martyrs’ Trust wants to reinvent the club as a community club. As they said in a press release filled with barely suppressed rage:
It is time to end the culture of living hand to mouth, of only just getting by. The fans and community of Merthyr deserve better. When we look to the likes of AFC Telford United, in the hands of the fans and thriving, we know that it’s possible.
As things stand, it is likely that the immediate crisis can be staved off. The debt to HMRC is a comparatively tiny one, though the rumours that the club’s accounts haven’t been submitted because they couldn’t afford to pay the accountant to do it are worrying. On the pitch, a demoralised Merthyr side have lost their opening Southern League fixtures 4-0 and 4-1, but events on the pitch are the least of their concerns. If the Limited Company that owns the club is wound up, whether there will be a Merthyr team to support in a couple of weeks becomes a valid question. Wyn Holloway and his fellow directors should admit that they have, ultimately, failed Merthyr Tydfil AFC, and should pass the ownership of the club over to the Trust, so that they can rescue something from the ashes. The alternative might just turn out to be the end of senior football in the town for a second time.

16 August 2008 Statement

16 August 2008

Statement from the Board of Martyrs to the Cause.

This morning, the Board of Martyrs to the Cause met with Wyn Holloway, Perry Johnson, Martin Greenham and Leighton Davies of Merthyr Tydfil Football Club at Pendarren Park.In that meeting, we presented an outline offer to the club, following initial discussions with our legal representatives, the key points of which were as follows:

• Firstly Martyrs to the Cause would loan the Club the money (on an unsecured basis but via a legal agreement) needed immediately to meet pressing creditors.
• Wyn Holloway’s shares in Merthyr Tydfil Football Club Limited would be immediately transferred to Martyrs to the Cause for no consideration, however we would be prepared to consider the transfer of a controlling stake in the company only, with certain guarantees – to be agreed.
• All of this would take place with the simultaneous resignation of the existing directors (without compensation) with a new board appointed by the Trust, which it is expected would be the current board of the trust.
• The new board would meet the Club's ongoing debts and commitments.Under the terms of the deal, what we believe to be substantial existing loans and credit from a number of sources, would continue to be guaranteed by the existing directors (as they are now). And as a sign of our intention to ensure eventual repayment of those loans, we propose that the new board would make monthly goodwill payments in order to assist in the ongoing maintenance of those loans.
• We also propose that annual reviews of this arrangement would be factored in so progress can be monitored by all parties to their satisfaction.However, all of this is contingent on due diligence of the club’s most recent accounts.

However we note that these have not yet been filed with Companies House, although we also understand that they have been completed. If there is any way in which Martyrs to the Cause can assist – financially or otherwise – in releasing these accounts, we would also be willing to discuss providing assistance as part of any deal.

Sadly I have to tell you that Wyn Holloway and his fellow directors rejected this proposal out of hand. We are unsure as to where this now leaves us, however our door is always open for discussion, and we will leave this offer open, and are prepared to discuss this further.We believe that this deal represents an opportunity for Wyn Holloway and the other directors of Merthyr Tydfil Football Club Ltd to be released from their current over-burdening commitments, which must cause significant stress to all of them.

In operating the club, we would be doing so as a team, alongside the fans as owners. We would also be advised by Supporters Direct, which has a great deal of expertise in this area, and which has already assisted with fifteen supporters trusts in taking over or restarting their clubs, four of which are in the Football League.The involvement of the supporters is critical to the future of this football club, and we believe that now is the time for us all to step up to the plate and return our club to its former glories. The board of Martyrs to the Cause is committed to our great club having a future, and that future being under the ownership and control of the supporters of Merthyr Tydfil Football Club.

We will be making no further comment at this stage.

Welcome

Welcome to The Martyrs to the Cause Blog.

We will be using this space to keep all fans of Merthyr Tydfil FC informed on the activities of the Supporters Trust.

Martyrs to the Cause