The following TUST programme notes appeared in the programme for the game Vs Rochdale - 10.04.2010
UP HILL AND DOWN DALE
Over the last few weeks within the TUST programme notes we have been looking at some of the issues which face a number of clubs, and in doing so, hopefully we have given you, the readers, a little bit of an insight into what the trust movement is all about inasmuch as these are the issues which need addressing in football.
Some might say that we have been in bra-burning form with the tirades which have rained down onto these pages, but today the once-flaming bra is merely smouldering a little.
As Torquay United prepare to face table-topping Rochdale today, we thought that this would be a very salient opportunity to have a closer look at the problems that the Lancashire club themselves are facing. Rochdale's situation hasn't really been all widely discussed or publicised, which is quite odd given their runaway success this season, but the problems are very much there.
On the whole we're sure that supporters of the 'Dale have been delighted to see their club doing so well over the duration of the season and to see them on the verge of only their second promotion in the club's history must be very exciting. But we're also sure that those that really understand the issues are rightly concerned about the financial situation which looms over Spotland.
Surely no football supporter in the land would say that Rochdale don't deserve some success after an incredible 36 consecutive years in the bottom tier of the football league in its various guises, and we would like to wish them all the very best here right now - although clearly we hope that Torquay beat them today.
It is vital to stress that Rochdale have conducted themselves with the utmost clarity and they have operated a system of good housekeeping in a correct and proper manner over the years. We are not for one moment suggesting that they have been in any way remiss in their dealing over the years, in fact they have been frugal and diligent and above all, extremely patient.
In fact the parallels which can be drawn between Torquay and Rochdale are numerous. Both are small clubs which have to fight hard to get above 2,500 supporters to home games. In the last two years Rochdale have made the play-offs only to be defeated, and it's a fact that they have had their promotion hopes undermined due to the sale of key players. Of course, it's a fact of life at this level and for a club with such tight resources that when a player attracts the attention of a club which is better resourced the writing is usually on the wall.
Even 'Dale's chairman, Chris Dunphy - a lifelong supporter - admitted back in December that the sale of players was a real possibility despite the club's desire to gain that long-awaited promotion. With a wonderfully succinct Lancastrian manner, Dunphy said: "That's just a fact of life in League Two football."
Even though they're top of the table, Rochdale's average attendance this season has been only 2,311, so clearly the fact that the club is doing well on the pitch doesn't necessarily equate to significant financial gain for them in terms revenue from gate money. So sustaining the promotion push and their probable place in League One next season isn't that simple, and the sale of players is always a good way of generating much-needed cashflow. It's a financial tightrope that they need to negotiate with extreme caution.
Supporters Direct, the umbrella organisation which oversees and advises supporters trusts throughout England, Scotland and Wales has stressed that any form of stable, financially prudent ownership under a flawed regulatory structure doesn't address the game's ills and over the years many clubs have shown that that is a fact.
Rochdale are a recent a case in point. As we've said, they're top of League Two and it's highly likely that they will be promoted for only the second time in their history, with a place in League One awaiting them, and yet they've had something like three winding up orders in a relatively short space of time. Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) lodged one for about £200,000.
It would be understandable if the powers that be at Rochdale got rightly sick of prudence and being sensible as they have been for so many years, when everyone else - or a lot of others - are quite content to cheat. And there must have been concern that Dale's success would be sacrificed at the altar of financial stability once more. It would have been tempting to urge the club, just this once, to take a gamble, but of course that would have been irresponsible. Let's just hope Rochdale can pull off the unlikely double act of prudence and promotion.
EASTER COMES WITH LOADS OF SMILES
As we try and do every year, TUST made a few phone calls, twisted a few arms and finally manager to secure around 300 Easter eggs for distribution to children and young people in and around Torbay and South Devon.
This is in fact the third year we have completed what we now rather imaginatively refer to as the 'Easter egg project', which, at the very least we hope brings a smile to those who receive the Easter eggs and spreads a little Easter cheer around the area at the same time.
EGGS ALOFT: Dean Edwards, left, and the trust's vice chairman, John Mowl, right, deliver Easter eggs to the pupils of Bidwell Brook School at Shinners Bridge in Dartington.
Okay, so it's not the most original idea in some ways, but importantly it allows the trust, the board and it members to engage with other organisations in the area and link up with some great groups that really do some fantastic work for the young people who live in our area.
Forging these relationships is very much part of what the trust wants to do, and we are delighted to offer something, howsoever small to the members, volunteers and staff of these groups. We also firmly believe that it benefits everyone who is involved and we will try as hard as we can to maintain these links and engender the relationships we have established.
Sure, it's football that brings us all together, but there are other things we should consider. The football club is what draws us in, but as supporters we should be able to rely on one another to expand the influence of the club and its supporter base for the good of the local population and the local area. The club should be at the hub of the community and as supporters we then act as a satellite and radiate out into the community in which the club serves.
CHOCOLATE CHEER: The trust's vice chairman, John Mowl, presents Easter eggs to the children and staff of the Torbay Disability Group.
Anyway, we digress. Last year we distributed a similar amount of Easter eggs to children who acted as carers for either a parent, sibling or other family member. Nationally, 29% of carers are children caring for parents, and whilst it may be quite hard for us to put ourselves in their position, it is clearly a concerning statistic. We also gave Easter eggs to children who were in foster care in Torbay and a number of the child carers were also invited to attend Plainmoor under the TUST's Smile Tickets scheme.
Back in 2008 we gave around 300 Easter eggs to the children of Mayfield School, Coombe Pafford School and the children at the Louisa Carey Children's Ward at Torbay Hospital. In both of those previous years, the Easter eggs were kindly donated by Sainsbury's at The Willows in Torquay.
This year however we approached Torquay fanatic and trust member Darren Howlett who works in the Tesco store at Hele Roundabout. We approached him with the idea of Tescos donating a significant number of Easter eggs and Darren immediately spoke to his store manager, Ryan Goldthorpe. As a result Ryan kindly offered to donate 275 Easter eggs to the project. Once we got the green light we then set about distributing the Easter eggs to the following groups and organisations...
PHAB aims to promote and encourage children and young people aged between eight and 20 years with and without physical disabilities to come together on equal terms to achieve complete integration within the wider community, and the Torquay group is part of national network of PHAB clubs.
South Devon Disabled Sports Association is a sports association for disabled people with an age group of 10-years of age and upwards with a wide range of disabilities. They engage in a wide range of activities. The group cover most sports that are achievable by a disabled person which covers around 80 per cent of sports. The area they cover is Teignbridge, Torbay and the South Hams.
DownSouth - Down's Syndrome Support Group is a group formed by parents and carers to support families of children and adults with Down's Syndrome living in the Torbay, South Hams and Teignbridge areas of South Devon.
The group is affiliated to the National Down's Syndrome Association. Their aim is to inform, encourage and support parents, allowing them to grow in strength and knowledge so that they are better equipped to give the best possible help to their children.
The Torbay Disability Groupis a play scheme that offers opportunities for children between five and 17-years-of-age, who all have severe to profound physical and/or leaning disabilities.
The group operates each Saturday and every school holiday and offer a broad and wide range of activities such as surfing and archery. The group's mission is to ensure that each child or young person has as much fun and enjoyment as their peers and friends on the days that they attend. Those who attend need to get as much fun out of the experience as is possible.
Bidwell Brook School is an all age community special school situated in South Devon. The school caters for pupils with severe learning difficulties and those with profound and multiple needs.
Situated in a beautiful rural location at Shinners Bridge in Dartington, the school offers an attractive, stimulating environment where the outdoors becomes part of the learning experience.
Torbay Young Carers supports young carers and their families throughout Torbay by providing individual and group support, in-school support, regular drop-ins and respite activities during school holidays, as well as information and advice to families and to professionals working with young carers.
Young carers are children and young people under 18 who look after or help to look after someone who has a serious illness, disability, mental ill-health or is affected by drugs or alcohol, usually a parent, sibling or other family member.
ALL IN GOOD VOICE: TUST's John Mowl, left, welcomes members of the DownSouth Down's Syndrome Support Group who came to watch Torquay beat Shrewsbury Town at Plainmoor under the TUST's Smile Tickets initiative.
Seven teenagers from DownSouth - Down's Syndrome Support Group were also our guests for the game versus Shrewsbury Town last week, via the trust's Smile Tickets initiative.
Anyway, we would like to say a massive thank you to Ryan and all his staff at Tescos for supporting us with this year's Easter egg project and stress our extreme gratitude for their incredible support.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR VOTE
At the next home game versus Macclesfield the trust will be carrying out the traditional paper vote for the Player of the Season award.
Please take your opportunity to vote for your choice of player who you feel has given as much as possible to the cause of Torquay United in 2009-2010.
Once we have counted the paper votes, they will be added to the results of the online vote which will be carried out by the club via the club's official website.
So please put your mind to thinking of who you will vote for on April 24, and we will look forward to manning the ballot boxes on that day.
