Steve Riches: Work of Trust so important to Cobblers
NTFC Supporters' Ltd had another cracking car boot on Sunday, raising £1,337 from sellers, buyers car-park donations, and catering.
Despite the change of name, the group is still referred to as 'The Trust' and I think we should revert to it.
When a season goes as bad as this, it's the Trust that gets unwarranted criticism on the message boards, and that puts enormous strain on volunteers who give hours of their time to run the organisation.
Generally, the moaners are the ones who don't get up early on a Sunday morning to help at a car boot, or who refuse to use the open and democratic procedures of the Trust to effect the changes they say must be made.
I would not be surprised to see key officers taking a rest from all of this.
Vince and Trina Smith have done wonderful things for the Trust, while Ant Collett has performed sterling work as fans' director, he listens to suggestions and relays them to the board.
Few people would be prepared to give as much time.
The groundbreaking 250 north-stand season ticket idea went through him and was put into effect.
We are regularly represented at Supporters Direct nationally, open forums are held to allow information to flow between club and supporters, and money raised finds its way into the club as shares, which makes it VAT-free.
If we're not careful, these great servants will sling their hook and we'll all be losers.
Financially in the last year the Trust has paid in 11,000 to the football club as supporters' shares, also 500 to upkeep the fixture board for passing trade, and 2,515 to Football in the Community and the Multi-disabled team.
When the storm against Northampton Borough Council became strident, the Trust organised a public meeting at the Guildhall on behalf of fans, this was filled to capacity and helped raise public awareness of the problems, but it steered wisely away from becoming embroiled in party political issues.
You'd think match officials knew how to stick to rules, but at a recent game the referee was given a numbered ticket, 222, for his west- car-park place, and then proceeded to stick his car in the wrong slot, causing confusion!
Paula Kane tells me that there have been so many complaints from our travel clubs about our coaches being charged to park at away grounds that we now do the same to them. Good!
Next week's column is the last for this season, your thoughts to cobblersteve@hotmail.com
Finally, if you're as nervy as me about Saturday, you have my sympathy. If we avoid relegation I'll be having the most massive celebration ever. C'mon!
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Friday 10 February 2012
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