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.