MST

The past year has been positive for the Motherwell FC Supporters’ Trust. Thanks to a number of excellent events and initiatives, our membership base has grown for the first time since 2003. Our ‘Meet the Manager’ event attracted over 150 Motherwell fans to hear the thoughts and opinions of Jim Gannon, Mark Hately, Chris McCart and Craig Brown. In February, we staged the first Motherwell Supporters’ Trust Poker Tournament at Daniels Bar. We also organised the Stars and Stripes Night in Fir Park which brought Motherwell fans together to watch the World Cup. More recently, 16 teams took part in the Motherwell Supporters’ Trust Sixes competition at Fir Park.. During the 2009/2010 season, money raised by the Trust has helped to make improvements to the disabled facilities in and around Fir Park. We’ve supported youth development and continue to oversee the process which will lead to a permanent fans memorial to Phil O’Donnell. However, we know we can do more. Over the last few months, the Trust have been working hard on a new mission statement which sets out what Motherwell fans want from the Trust in 2010. We’ve done this by speaking to our members, the club, local community groups and those who have in the past said that they wouldn’t consider joining the Trust. Today we launch our commitments for the Motherwell Supporters’ Trust for the next five years and with this our specific actions for the season ahead across our three key focus areas. Our Community matters: We will make a worthwhile contribution to the local community and strengthen the ties between it and our club. In order to support this aim over the coming 12 months: - We will commit a minimum of 25% of our annual income to community projects. - We will introduce a local schools competition encouraging 1st and 2nd year pupils to lead a more active lifestyle and become engaged with the club. - We will actively pursue opportunities to secure funding grants for Motherwell FC in the Community and Motherwell FC Youth Development from external sources - We will create a skills database of Motherwell supporters which can be used to aid local groups and the club Our Support matters: We will ensure our members feel appreciated with exciting events and regular communication whilst actively seeking the thoughts of the wider Motherwell support. Our specific commitments for the season ahead include: - We will launch a new membership benefit scheme including a revamped membership card system - We will communicate with our members by email each month and quarterly by introducing a newsletter. - We will organise a minimum of six events which will appeal to a wide section of our support over the course of the coming season. - We will undertake a survey of all Motherwell fans to find areas where we and the club can serve them better. Our Club matters: We will support the club and effectively influence the important decisions which affect the support. Over the first year of our new plan we aim to take the following actions: - We will commit a minimum 25% of our annual income to both youth development and a facilities improvement project fund. - We will re-introduce the standing order led “Pitch In” fund to top up our financial support to the club. - We will communicate to the club the concerns of our members and offer our assistance to make tangible improvements. - We will continue the pursuit of a supporters’ representative on the Club board We firmly believe that this is what the Motherwell support, the club and wider community want for our Supporters’ Trust. However, to do all this we need now, more than ever, to encourage Motherwell supporters to step up to support the Trust. You can play a key role in developing the Trust and ensuring that we meet our new commitments. In order to deliver our actions for this season we need Motherwell supporters who can commit just two to three hours per month to an organisation which can make a real difference to our club and community. We would invite anyone who is interested in joining the board to email members@mstonline.net. We are aware that the Trust has not fully delivered what we have promised in the past. We believe that with the new ambitious commitments that we have made we can become the best Supporters Trust in Scotland. To undertake the work that is required to achieve this goal we need a fully functioning board of 12 individuals or more. In the unlikely event that the Trust is unable to recruit the new board members required to drive the organisation forward then consideration will be given to what form the Trust will take going forward.

The Trust met with Leanne Dempster last week. However, more importantly a number of those affected by the changes have been talking with the club to get the best possible outcome for the users of the disabled enclosure. As I understand it these individuals are also talking to an organisation backed by UEFA to see if additional funding can be secured to make further improvements to the facilities on offer, the Trust are committed to supporting those who are making these moves. The Trust did donate £7000 to the club last year to make improvements to disabled facilities at Fir Park. The vast majority of this work has already been completed. We'll have an update on what's happening next week, hopefully with pictures, to give everyone an understanding of what progress has been made.

Room for a couple of more teams, keep the entries coming.

Please note that all members who have provided an email address should have received an electronic newsletter update earlier today. If you have not received this please email members@mstonline.net.

Motherwell fans have the chance to view their favourite stadium from an unusual angle and help a good cause at the same time. Clic Sargent is the UK's leading children's cancer charity and it is the beneficiary of a sponsored abseil event at Fir Park on Sunday June 13. Clic is an acronym for Cancer and Leukeamia In Children. The charity is keen for lots of participants to make the day a success and those taking part are guaranteed an unforgettable time and the chance to take in a unique view of the new pitch. The South Stand at Fir Park will act as an excellent host for such an activity. This amazing venue offers fans the chance to view the stadium from a unique perspective while enjoying the thrill of the abseil. Standing at approximately 100 feet, participants will abseil from the gantry down to the pitch side. Motherwell fans are invited to join in on what will be an excellent event all in aid of a great cause. Further details are available from organiser Agnes Banks, for more details or to register drop her an email at agnes.banks@clicsargent.org.uk. Whilst there is a £10 registion fee, the Trust will pay the £10 registration fee for any MST member who takes part as long as they raise the £100 sponsorship threshold set by Clic. On the day you’ll join Gordon Young, Stevie Kirk and other Motherwell staff as they take a leap from the roof.

Motherwell FC Supporters' Trust are delighted to announce the return of their popular football tournament this July. This tournament has became a regular fixture in the Trust's fundraising calendar over the years. More importantly the event is eagerly awaited by enthusiastic players from all over Lanarkshire. No matter what your skill level orthe chances of your team winning, it's an opportunity for Motherwell fans to meet up, enjoy the occasion and directly contribute to a cause that holds the club's best interests at its heart. Preparations for our 2010 event are warming up nicely and we can now confirm that this will take place on the afternoon of Saturday 3rd July. The tournament returns to the Fir Park's astroturf pitch with an anticipated kick off at 12.30pm. Meanwhile, over in the Millennium Suite we'll be showing the day's big World Cup Quarter Final matches on the big screen with some legendary visitors to boot. Squads of between six and eight players are now invited to enter the competition with the entry fee of just £30 per team, while teams with two or more Trust members benefit from a further £5 discount. Your fee includes changing and shower facilities, professional referees, a buffet at the final whistle and an afternoon of football action. For the winners of the tournament, the standard trophy but also the opportunity to take on a team of Motherwell legends in the final match of the day. This is your chance to lock horns with Brian Martin, Dougie Arnott, Rab McKinnon and Stevie Kirk. Register your team now to avoid disappointment by emailing sixes@mstonline.net. We're also delighted to hear from you if you don't have a team but would like to take part in the tournament, we'll do all we can to accomodate you.

The Motherwell Supporters' Trust will be hosting a "Stars & Stripes" evening on Saturday 12th June to coincide with the USA verses England match at the World Cup. Bob Bradley’s men take on the Auld enemy in Rustenburg with both teams looking for a win to progress from Group C. Taking place in Fir Park's Millennium Lounge, doors open at 6.45pm, giving plenty time to get in and settled for the 7.30 kick off. Promo American beers will be on hand, along with some American snacks to get everyone in the mood for the match. The Trust will also be taking late entries to our ever popular World Cup Predictor competition. For further information on the Motherwell Supporters Trust, visit their website –www.mstonline.net.

All quiet on this for a wee while. We are now moving to play the tournament on Saturday 3rd July 2010. Full details very soon.

Just posting onto Club Chat for added exposure, who's in? Saturday 12th June 2010 MST Supporters' Sixes 2010 The Trust are now taking provisional entries for this year's Supporters' Sixes tournament which will take place on the afternoon of Saturday 12th June 2010 on the astroturf at Fir Park. Teams of up to 8 are asked to register their interest now by emailing sixes@mstonline.net. The cost per team will be just £30, while teams with 2 or more Trust members pay only £25. Please note that the teams who are pre-registered will have the first opportunity to take part in the tournament. Interest last time around was very high, heres hoping for the same this time around.

I heard the refereeing was that bad that folk decided to emigrate. No seriously, the guys in the field did an excellent job with the occasional gaffe last time around - notable exception for Group D who got landed with Fraz and I. Let me suggest that the teams should have given the refs an easier ride. It is only a kickabout in the sun after all. For this year, we've asked the Youth Development team to assist us, as I understand it even Youngy is getting involved. All proceeds are naturally heading towards his budget for next season. A worthy cause I'm sure we'll all agree. We undertook a big feedback exercise last time around and have as a result sorted the pitch sizes. As for those who complained about the buffet being served after the final, I can only suggest that you play better this time around! What I would say is that the responses were overwhelmingly positive about 2008, I'm sure that will be the same in 2010.

Saturday 12th June 2010 MST Supporters' Sixes 2010 The Trust are now taking provisional entries for this year's Supporters' Sixes tournament which will take place on the afternoon of Saturday 12th June 2010 on the astroturf at Fir Park. Teams of up to 8 are asked to register their interest now by emailing sixes@mstonline.net. The cost per team will be just £30, while teams with 2 or more Trust members pay only £25. Please note that the teams who are pre-registered will have the first opportunity to take part in the tournament. Interest last time around was very high, heres hoping for the same this time around.

For Trust members only: We have two sets of two tickets, a prize worth £60. If you are available to attend the Sponsors' event, which takes place tomorrow evening at Fir Park, please send an email with your name and contact details to members@mstonline.net by 10am on Sunday 9th May 2010. Our lucky winners will be informed by lunchtime tomorrow. Good luck

Your thoughts, opinions and ideas are welcome as we draw up our agenda for the Trust's second meeting of the year. This takes place on Monday 8th February 2010 at the Fir Park Club. Minutes of the meeting will be made available at mstonline.net.

Members should have received a mailshot from the Trust over the last few days. All part of our continued commitment to improve our communication in 2010. Didn't receive it? Please send us a PM, twitter us @mstlatest or send an email to members(at)mstonline.net. We appreciate your feedback, so what do you want to see in our next postal update due April 2010?

Motherwell FC Supporters Trust has today announced that they will halve the cost of annual membership for 2009/10, from £10 to £5, with immediate effect. Commenting on the move, Trust Chairman Joe Smith said; "After positive discussions with the Club on a range of issues, we have reached agreement whereby for every supporter who pays £5 to join the Trust this year, Motherwell FC will match their contribution, helping to fund the Trust’s key projects in the coming year. "Along with my fellow Trust board members, we want to show Motherwell fans that MST is changing, and the new board are keen to reinvigorate our membership and attract Motherwell fans who previously may not have considered joining us. The more members we gain, the more credibility the Trust will have with the Club." The news comes hot on the heels of the Trust’s £7,000 donation to the Club to upgrade the disabled facilities at Fir Park. The Trust also made significant donations to youth development in recent months. In addition to reduced membership fees, MST are pleased to report, after feedback from their membership that all events run by the organisation will contain differential pricing for members and non-members. Fans who choose to join the Trust and attend even one or two events, will find that the cost of their membership is more than covered for the year from these savings. Current Trust members will also benefit from the changes and they will be contacted over the coming weeks to arrange their refund The new-look Trust board are working over the festive period on an exciting events calendar for 2010, which will see the return of the popular Trust Five-a-sides, a Fan’s Forum night, quiz, race night, battle of the bands and a poker evening, amongst others. Anyone interested in finding out more can log on to the MST website at www.mstonline.net, where there is now a facility to take membership fees online. Simply click on the ‘become a member’ banner and follow the instructions. New members can also sign up at all official Trust events, the first of which is planned for December 2009. More news of that event will follow shortly.

A New Era Major Changes at Supporters Trust The Motherwell Supporters Trust is pleased to announce the appointment of a new Chairman, Joe Smith. Joe replaces Martin Rose who has held the position since the Trust's inception in 2003. Joining the new Chairman on the board will be David Fraser, Philip Speedie, David Tonner and Alan Burrows, who returns as club representative. At a board meeting on Monday 2nd November, the five new arrivals were co-opted onto the Trust board, heralding a new era for the organisation. Secretary Sandra Aird stepped down after six years service. Speaking after his appointment, Smith said, "I'm delighted return to the Trust board, and honoured to serve as Chairman. "We've got so much work to do now, and from our preliminary discussions I'm confident that the organisation will change dramatically. I've already received positive feedback from the club, which has been very encouraging, and with my fellow board members I hope to kick-off a new period of co-operation that will benefit everyone connected with Motherwell Football Club. "We will now sit down and think about what positive short term changes we can make and plan some more long-term strategies. It goes without saying that the needs of the Trust, and the club, are very different from when it was established six years ago. "To that end, we'll be considering a range of changes, whilst sending a call to all Motherwell fans to play a part in shaping what we aim to be an open, transparent and positive fans organisation. "We remain very keen for both new members and particularly for anyone interested in joining the board and offering a modest time and expertise commitment. There are a number of vacant positions remaining on the board that we would like to fill in the next twelve months, and suitable volunteers would be most welcome."” www.mstonline.net

There will be a report available on the Trust's new website, at mstonline.net, by the end of this week covering off what was discussed last night.

We're now just less than a week away from the Trust's public meeting. This event will give all Motherwell fans a say on the future of the Trust and gives the opportunity to question the board. The meeting takes place next Monday in the Cooper Suite starting at 7.30pm. All welcome

The Motherwell Supporters' Trust are throwing it's doors open to all Motherwell fans with an Open Meeting at Fir Park on Monday 9th March 2009.. The Cooper Suite is the venue for what is likely to be a popular night, with the bar opening before the evening gets underway at 7.30pm. All sections of the support will be made more than welcome as the Trust moves onto the next stage of developing its strategy to achieve its key aims in both the short and long term as well as attracting new members. The purpose of the open meeting is to hear direct from Motherwell fans about their views on how best the Trust’s Aims can be addressed which will allow the Trust to represent its members effectively and to exert meaningful and effective influence on the Board of Motherwell Football Club. The Trust’s Aims are summarised below along with bullet points outlining ways in which the Aims can be pursued. The main aims of the Motherwell F.C Supporters Trust are:-- to represent to Motherwell Football Club the views of Trust members on all matters affecting them; - to purchase or negotiate the transfer to the Trust of shares in Motherwell Football Club with a view to achieving representation on the Board; - to provide both financial and non-financial support to Motherwell Football Club; - to contribute to the development of sustainable links between the Club and the wider local community; and - to represent the views of the Trust’s members in the wider football community. These aims will be pursued by:- - regularly seeking the views of members by clear communication methods and providing feedback to members; - carrying out appropriate fundraising activities; - setting out clear policies on how support will be provided to the Club; - collaborating with the Youth Development Section of the Club in direct support of all of its activities; and through membership of Supporters Direct and any other related bodies through which the Trust can seek to influence the wider football community. The Open Meeting will seek to encourage discussion on how the Trust can best achieve these aims and to discuss specifically the identification of strategies for developing action in the following areas:- - sponsorship opportunities - effective Fundraising - refreshing the existing Supporters Charter - Participation in wider supporters issues through Supporters Direct Whether you are a current or former member of the Trust or someone who has not until now been interested in becoming a member then we would encourage you to come to the Open Meeting and play a part in developing a sustainable Supporters Trust which reflects and represents the broad cross-section of Motherwell supporters. mst Online