Norwich City Supporters Trust Annual Report for the year ending 31st July 2009
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
What a year that was! Last year’s report was written in the aftermath of Peter Grant leaving the club and this year end (31st July 2009) had already said a less than fond farewell to Glenn Roeder, a mixed but overall welcome return of some Norwich City legends, relegation to Division 3, followed by a complete first team overhaul.
It is impossible not to comment on the subsequent demise of Bryan Gunn and his team, a decision which at the time left me literally open mouthed and incredulous.
The Norwich City Supporters Trust has a policy to restrict comments to the governance of NCFC rather than the playing side, so we will ignore the demerits of the loan policy on team performance, suffice to say that the effects financially were, and probably still are, undermining the existence of our football club.
Of course the whole sorry saga was reflecting decisions made off the field in the Carrow Road Boardroom and which culminated in the resignation of the Chairman and the CEO.
Oh, to have been a fly on the wall in those board meetings!
Why be just a fly on the wall though? It has long been a mantra of the Supporters Trust movement that a democratically, fan-elected board representative should sit on their football club’s board and Norwich City should be no exception. It was a time when the Club’s board was hardly a quorum and the remaining Directors (Michael Wynn Jones, Delia Smith and Michael Foulger) asked, for the first time ever, if they could attend and address our last AGM. We felt that finally there was genuine hope that the legal standing of the Supporters Trust would be of use to Norwich City Football Club in overcoming very real fears for its survival, potentially as a way to channel investment into the club without damaging controlling interests whilst boosting those of the grass-roots fans who can only gain if we extend our trust shareholding.
The trio left our AGM following a number of constructive and mutually supportive (of the club) initiatives. It can be disappointing when these initiatives fall foul of a combination of technical roadblocks and communication difficulties with the club. We felt our offer to provide fans an alternative option of donating season ticket rebates via the trust may have encouraged more fans to participate if the club had cooperated more fully. In the close season a new Chief Executive (David McNally), a new Chairman (Alan Bowkett) and an additional Board Member (Stephan Phillips) were announced and three matches into the new season the old football management team were replaced.
In all likelihood, a fan elected board member would not have drastically altered events and given the decisiveness of David McNally, effectiveness of Paul Lambert and our current league position (third as I write this), few can complain. However, to know fans had a spokesperson directly involved in decision making would probably have given most fans, more confidence in the club at a time when funds were urgently needed. Fans were understandably upset over events of the summer and some openly revolted. We will face difficult decisions again and to have a constant fan representative at board level with relevant skills to make a positive contribution would, in my view make Norwich City Football Club an even more united one.
The year saw a number of changes in the membership of NCST. Following the Trust’s AGM of 2008/9 the board size increased to accommodate new and capable bodies into the ranks. Membership also increased during the club’s turmoil with the aid of the increasingly informative website www.ncst.org.uk to stand at well over 600. Subscriptions and Norfolk Show Fundraising has enabled a further purchase of shares during 2009.
So what does the following year hold for Norwich City Supporters Trust? Our success in owning a higher percentage of shares depends on subscriptions from our loyal members. However as a body we need to represent the myriad of opinions of Norwich City supporters and ensure all supporters, whether currently members or not, know exactly what we are representing and feel sufficiently engaged to remain involved. The Trust also encourages representation on its board of other supporter bodies and welcomed the Club’s initiative to bring representatives of all supporter bodies together at least once a year in a forum to meet directors. There are numerous supporter groups that contribute to Norwich City, the Trust certainly feels the security of the way those funds are utilised would be better served if backed up by a purchase of shares.
The Trust issued a number of press releases during the year, including support of the new CEO, support of the season ticket rebate cash matching scheme and welcomed the addition of local businessmen as NCFC directors. The releases accompanied by various letter to the press sparked a level of press debate, also helping clarify confusion between NCST and NISA.
New membership software will make us more efficient with administration and enable more regular and personal contact with existing and prospective members.
Our goal will continue to contribute to the club financially, build a closer understanding of the issues the club faces through contact with the new regime and campaign for fans themselves to become an integral part of the board.
OTBC
Paul Bond
Chairman
NORWICH CITY SUPPORTERS TRUST
President: Simon Thomas
Honorary Vice-Presidents: Galton Blackiston
Duncan Forbes,
Sandy Kennon,
Maurice Norman,
Tim Sheppard
Society Secretary
Phil Harris
12 Bernard Road Cromer Norfolk NR27 9AW email: PhilipAlanHarris@aol.com
NORWICH CITY SUPPORTERS TRUST OFFICERS
Chair: Paul Bond
Vice Chair: Myra Hawtree
Treasurer: John Easton
Board Secretary: Mike Reynolds
Membership Secretary: Richard Rymarz
Board Members:
Pamela Bassham
Ted Codling
Roger Durrant
David Harper
Chris Holmes
Said Inal
Mal Mortimer
Caroline Spinks
David Maidstone (NCISA)
The Trust has invited both the Shareholders Association and NCISA to provide co-opted members to join the Trust Board as detailed in the constitution.
The Trust formally met six times during the reporting period and twice informally to arrange the Annual General Meeting and the activities for the Royal Norfolk Show.
SHAREHOLDING
In the period since the Trust has been purchasing shares the cost of the shares has risen from £25 to £30 which has led to a disparity between the amount of money invested and the nominal “value” of the shares held.
DATE OF PURCHASE
COST OF SHARES
17TH July 2002
£500
19th September 2002
25th July 2003
£1,000
31st August 2003
£750 (donated)
27th November 2003
£2,250
7th January 2004
£5,000
11th January 2005
£3,000
14th October 2005
£2,000
18th October 2007
£5,100*
10th July 2008
£2,400
TOTAL
£22,500
* share price increase from £25 to £30
As the latest share purchase took the value of the Trust’s shareholding to over £25,000 the Trust applied for Associate Director status but this was refused by Neil Doncaster.
It is worth reiterating that these shares are held in perpetuity for all fans of Norwich City Football Club.
Trust members who are also shareholders also have the ability to retain their shares but pledge their voting rights to the Trust.
UPDATE: A further £2,550 worth of shares were purchased in September 2009
CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP
Norwich City Supporters Trust Corporate Pack was made available at various functions. Details of how to become a Corporate Member or to request a pack contact Roger Durrant,
roger@windylane.plus.com
MEMBERSHIP
Despite the recession, relegation to the third tier of football and changes in the management structure of the Football Club led to an increase in membership. There are currently 629 Trust shareholders (Members).
It remains the case that if the 50,000 or more individuals who profess an interest in Norwich City Football Club actually joined the Trust and completed a standing Order Form it could provide £500K per annum and help build a massive shareholding base providing a democratic voice for the fans and a regular income to the Football Club.
FUNDRAISING
Road Shows:
Norwich City Supporters Trust attended all the travelling road shows arranged by the Football Club. The Trust is pleased to use these events to meet supporters, existing members and new members.
NCFC Open Day:
The Trust attended and raised funds through our FA Cup "time of first goal" competition..
FA Cup Game:
The Trust operated an FA Cup game which proved a popular fund raiser.
Royal Norfolk Show 2009:
Once again the Trust accepted the kind offer of the Football Club to be part of their presence at the Royal Norfolk Show. Again the “mini-fete” was popular, and the return of the “Hook–a-Duck” game gave us a working profit of £935 from the two days.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Norwich City Football Club has an excellent record regarding its link with the community and for this reason the role of the Trust in this area has been limited.
The Trust donated a number of football related books to the Norwich City Study Centre.
“SUPPORTERS DIRECT”
A delegate from the Trust attended the Annual Supporters Direct Conference in Manchester.
Our advisory body “Supporters Direct” is funded by subscription plus an annual grant from Sport England for its office in London and from the Scottish Executive for its Glasgow office. Its aim is to help people "who wish to play a responsible part in the life of the football club they support" and it offers support, advice and information to groups of football supporters. For details of what it does and how many Trusts are in operation visit
www.supporters-direct.org