Members of the Trust committee held a brief meeting on Wednesday night to further discuss plans for the forthcoming sesason.
The primary focus of the meeting was fundraising. The Trust have committed to help the club with the funding for the Study Centre project – a scheme that will allow the club to develop an Elite Development Squad by forming links with Hopwood Hall college.
Keith Hicks will be hosting his usual 5-a-side tournament later this year (possibly November). This raised £330 last season, and it is hoped that something similar can be raised this time round. We’ll be bringing details of this very shortly.
As anyone with legs still hurting from that trip to Accrington will testify to, sponsored walks have always been good money raisers for the Trust. Looking at the fixture list, the two closest fixtures of Oldham and Bury are probably a little too close, so in a moment of stupidity it was decided that this season we would host a sponsored walk to Bradford. It’s approximately 25 miles, but at least the last part of it will be downhill. More details on this will appear later in the year.
The Trust have purchased a set of Football Cards to be used in the Dale Bar and Ratcliffe Suite before the game. Usual story on these, there’ll be fifty team names (Dale aren’t one of them unfortunately), and for a £1 a go you guess which team is hidden behind the scratch off surface. £25 to the winner and £25 to the Study Centre fund. These will commence at the next home game, and it is hoped that this can raise approximately £500 over the remainder of the season.
We are looking into the possibility of purchasing a number of metal badges. One of our members ran something similar at a rugby club that he is involved in raising over £400, and it is hoped we can go that bit further and raise £500 for the Study Centre through these. We are in the process of contacting manufacturers and obtaining quotes.
Further down the line, the Trust are looking into the possibility of hosting a Legends game at Spotland, where supporters can bid to play against their Dale heroes. A similar fixture was held about eight years ago and was considered a success. We are currently looking into the availability of the pitch at Spotland and the feasibility of putting a legends team together.
Other possible fundraising events we are looking into the possibility of running include a Cabaret Night, a Race Night, a golf day and a special event called “There’s only one Peter Vincenti”.
Aside from the fundraising, other things discussed included the need to arrange a presentation with Springhill Hospice to hand over a cheque for £750. The Hospice was the Trust’s chosen charity last season. This year’s chosen Trust charity – Moorland Children’s Home – will be contacted again later this week to establish a relationship between the Trust and the charity.
The success of the matchday surveys was discussed, with the large number of replies they are receiving. They are proving to be very useful, and it is hoped to offer some feedback to supporters from these surveys before the end of the month.
If you would like to be involved with the organisation of any of these events, please use the form below
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