The introduction of a new UEFA licensing requirement from season 2012/13 for all clubs to have an operating Supporter Liaison Officer (SLO) marks an important new chapter in club to supporter relations and emphasizes how important this relationship is considered. Under Article 35 of the new UEFA Club Licensing and Financial Fair Play regulations, clubs will have the obligation to appoint an SLO to ensure a proper and constructive dialogue between a club and its fans. The move is the result of close cooperation between European football's governing body and Supporters Direct - the body which provides guidance and backing to fan groups in 17 countries throughout Europe. The SLO concept which has been under consideration for some time, has gained full support from the national associations represented in the UEFA club licensing committee and has been drawn up with the strong cooperation of Supporters Direct.

The concept, aimed at building a consensual and harmonious relationship with supporters, was presented and discussed at the European Football Fans' Congress in Barcelona last weekend organised by FSE. This event, the third of its kind, was attended by hundreds of fan representatives from around Europe who were provided an opening address by William Gaillard, the personal advisor to the UEFA President, before a series of workshops where thoughts were exchanged between supporters and UEFA on a number of important projects including Financial Fair Play and SLO's. What is an SLO? Supporter Liaison Officers at clubs already exist in a limited number of European countries and primarily help improve the dialogue between the fans and the clubs they support. Most importantly, SLOs must be credible with fans, and therefore should have experience with and contacts to the networks in the fanbase at the club. They inform the fans about relevant decisions made by the club management board and, in the other direction, communicate the needs of the fans to the board, as well as building relationships - not just with various fan groups and initiatives, but with the police and security officers,

They will also engage with fan liaison officers of other clubs before matches to ensure that the fans behave in accordance with security guidelines. To implement the new requirements, a network of SLO project contacts from each national governing body across Europe will be created and work together with the UEFA club licensing team and Supporters Direct to assist clubs and supporter groups improve communication in each of the 53 UEFA member associations. This year more than 600 clubs applied for a UEFA licence with many more applying for domestic licences based on the same or similar principles. Hence, the broad scope and significance of the SLO project. Like the licensing system itself, the implementation and development of supporter liaison officers will be a tool to raise minimum standards; a dynamic system changing over time, and focussing on developing and improving the dialogue between the fans and the clubs. Further information For further information on the Supporter Liaison Officer project please contact Antonia Hagemann and in relation to the UEFA club licensing regulations, Sefton Perry.

2009/2010 proved a record year for the Trust and its support for the club. In total the club has benefited by over £12,500 due to the activities of the Trust. The figure consists of £5000 cash donations made over the course of the season, £2,500 from the Trust shop account and over £5,000 worth of stock handed over to the club. The latter figures come from the formal handing over of the merchandising activities at Shielfield, run by the Trust over the last five years, back to the football club. Although the shop sums are a one off, we will continue next season with the £5000 cash support.

Gordon Dickson, Treasurer

Greetings all We are delighted to make available to you the results of our members survey that you may recall completing some time ago. Trust board member Eric Deighton has worked tirelessly to produce these final results and hopefully you'll agree it makes fascinating reading and will be an invaluable tool for us on your board to use to coordinate our future projects and enable us to target effectively where to put our resources. You can feel some satisfaction in having taken part in something which is unique to our football club and we intend to make it available to our partners across the club as I'm sure they will find it equally informative and useful in the work they are doing. Click here for the results

If you have any questions relative to the survey drop me a line and we can discuss it Colin Pike, Chairman

Hi Colin,

As you may have heard I have been released by the football club. Due to financial constraints I was told there was no position for me there as a coach which is extremely disappointing but that’s life sometimes.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank yourself and the rest of the Supporters Trust for your great support over the last 6 years and best wishes for the future.

Take Care.

Robbie Horn.

When John Bell and myself (Colin Pike, Chairman) delivered a workshop at a Supporters Direct event at Stirling University last year Henry McLeish was one of the guest speakers. He was at that stage working on a review of Scottish football. Supporters Direct in Scotland have now issued the following.

SFA Review and Fans' Survey
With part one of Henry McLeish's review of Scottish Football having been published there are now two issues for supporters to consider. Firstly the work has started within the SFA to act on the recommendations in the report, and secondly, work has started on the next stage of the review. Over the next few weeks up to and beyond the conference we hope to report on the authorities progress and create opportunities for supporters to influence the direction and results of each issue.

The SD Fans' Survey report was published a little over a week ago and it contains many more results beyond the headlines on league structure and fan involvement. For instance two-thirds of respondents believed that TV channels should have less influence over the game and 83% of fans want a robust club licensing scheme with 91% believing financial stability should be a key criteria.

We hope that you will help us to pass the survey results on to the widest range of supporters by writing about it on your website and emailing your members. If you previously helped us to get fans to fill the survey in by posting the link on message boards now would be an ideal time to post the results so that those people who responded feel that their time was well spent.

A copy of the report can be found on the Supporters Direct website.

As we on your trust board have just completed our own survey, you'll be getting the results soon, its interesting to see that another survey has been carried out by Supporters Direct.

Football fans in Scotland have given their biggest thumbs down to the product they are currently seeing in a survey conducted by Supporters Direct, the collective voice of supporters' trusts in Scotland.

Over 1,300 fans of clubs at all levels of the senior game answered an on-line computer survey and the findings revealed that a hugely significant number of supporters are fed-up with the current league structure and they want to have a greater say in the running of the game. Have a look yourself here

At our committee meeting last Saturday, 24th April, we authorised the payment of £1700 to the Football Club. This was the final instalment in the sum promised for season 2009/10 totalling £5000.

You may also be aware that the Shielfield Park pitch requires remedial work on the drainage system, work that will be carried out this closed season. We shall also be making a payment to the Football Club to part fund this project, you will be advised of the details in due course.

We on the Trust committee hope you agree this is good and appropriate use of funds, funds which you the members pay on a monthly basis.

The Trust is saddened to hear of the death on Saturday of George Christie who was part of the famous 1967 team which beat Glasgow Rangers. Our condolences go out to his family and friends.

George played for the club from 1966-68 having signed from East Fife. He was of course a centre forward and scored an impressive 16 goals in 38 appearances.
He is one of a small group of Berwick Rangers players whom we can truly call "legends"

As promised at the recent AGM, the Trust Board, under the direction of Board member Eric Deighton, has compiled a survey which will be posted over the next couple of days to all Trust members.

The purpose of the survey is to obtain feedback on a number of key issues, including:
• improving communications
• what the Trust does well/needs to improve
• future aims and objectives
• the role of the Trust
• how the Board should work

Please complete and return your quesionnaire using the stamped addressed envelope provided. Your input is of vital importance in helping the Board to decide the Trust's priorities for the next couple of years and beyond. Berwick Rangers Football Club,like virtually every other team in Scotland, faces some major challenges - such as the possibility of league restructuring, a tough financial climate, the growing need for a new stadium and how to generate more interest in the club amongst local people and young people in particular.

By completing the questionnaire - and feel free to criticise,because we need to know from our membership what works and what does'nt - you will help us to ensure that the Trust's resources are used in a way that reflects the wishes of our members.

Thanks in antcipation of you completing the questionnaire.

David Cook, Vice-Chair

The new Trust Board for the coming year met for the first time on Wednesday (24th).

The Board elected a new Chair for the coming year. Colin Pike, who had been Vice Chair, took over the reigns, while David Cook, who has been a past Secretary, was elected to Vice Chair, with the rest of the Board remaining the same. Taking up his position, Colin thanked John for his hard work over the past years, through sometimes difficult times, and welcomed his continued input, as he remains a Director and Trust rep on the Board of the Football Club.

The Board has been joined by new faces. Along with returning member, Keith Hall, were newbie’s, Callie Denholm and Gemma Law, and it was evident straight away that they are going to bring a fresh perspective and ideas to the Trust. The girls came armed with proposals for a ladies night, proving their eagerness to get stuck in and do their bit. Other ideas were also suggested, so watch this space for some fun nights with the ladies in mind!!

More serious items were, of course discussed, and the Board are keen to work in a more coordinated way following the encouraging words from both the Club and Supporters Club at the AGM earlier in the month. Planning is underway to firm up our budget for the next season, made easier by the dialogue that exists between the groups.

We are also starting to set the calendar of events for the year, this, of course, is not exclusive to Board members, and any ideas or offers of events from Trust members are always welcome! Contact us at the Trust e-mail address: trust@berwickrangers.co.uk

Picture: New board members Gemma Law and Callie Denholm

Six in a row: Trust holds its 2010 Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Berwick Rangers Supporters Trust held another successful AGM in the Black & Gold Social Club on Saturday, 13th February.

The meeting, attended by thirty Trust members and prospective members,featured a trio of excellent guest speakers in BRFC Chairman Brian Porteous,Manager Jimmy Crease and Director & Supporters Club Chairman Bill Parkin. In stark contrast to the prickly,"how dare you ask that?" attitude of the previous regime,our guest speakers gave a frank and honest appraisal of the progress made at the football club in the last 12 months,set out their objectives for maintaining that progress,and expressed their satisfaction with the now harmonious working relations between the Football Club,Trust and Supporters Club.

A precis of the meeting is set out below,though Trust Secretary Karen Thorburn will be producing a formal minute of the meeting in due course:

1) Appointment of the Trust Board for the period from 13/2/10 to 13/2/12

The Trust board will comprise the following people who have been validly appointed to the Board for the above period:

John Bell; David Cook; Eric Deighton; Callie Denholm; Gordon Dickson; Keith Hall; Ron Kirk; Gemma Law; Colin Pike; Bill Purvis; Derek Purvis; Stephen Scott; Davie Spence (13)

This means that there are two remaining vacancies on the Trust Board. If you are a Trust member and are interested in joining the Board,then please get in touch with any of the Board members listed above. We'd also like to welcome two new faces and one not so new face to the Board - Callie Denholm and Gemma Law will help offset the male-dominated Board and bring a welcome female perspective to our business,and Keith Hall returns after stepping down some time ago due to business commitments. We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank George Thompson,who has stepped down from the Board,for his substantial contribution to the work of the Trust over the last few years.

2) Appointment of office holders

The Board will appoint to the following positions at the first meeting of the newly-appointed Board,which will take place @ 19.00 on Wednesday,24th February 2010 at The Pilot Inn: Chairman (John Bell will be standing down having served as Chairman of the Trust since its inception in 2003); Vice-Chairman; Treasurer; Membership Secretary; & Secretary. All Trust members are welcome to attend.

3) Business to be transacted

Business to be transacted at the first meeting will include:
• setting a calendar of future meetings
• appointment of working groups
• carrying out a survey of the Trust membership to help establish future priorities/review aims and objectives
• financial planning
• reviewing communication and contracting arrangements
• planning fundraising
• examine ways of developing working relations with BRFC and the Supporters Club
• membership retention/target for increase

4) Summary of key points made by guest speakers

a) Brian Porteous, BRFC Chairman
• club progressing well,on and off the field,despite a difficult financial climate
• FC Board now working well with supporters organisations - no conflict now - repalced by a real sense of partnership working
• Drainage of pitch at Shielfield a major problem; system last underwent a major upgrade in 1981 and needs to be replaced to prevent problems which have affected the pitch this season becoming worse next season. Bill Parkin spoke in more detail about this later in the meeting - see below
• BRFC close to achieving full SFA/SL licensed status - one of a handful of clubs in the lower leagues to do so
• Finances - BRFC lost approx £3000 in the financial year ending 31/5/09 - detailed report to be made at the club AGM on 31/3/10
• announced that the club had received a £30,000 grant for the upgrade of home and away dressing rooms at Shielfield

b) Jimmy Crease, BRFC Manager
• described the club as "the happiest" he's seen it in his 20 years' involvement
• team on target to achieve pre-season objective of a finish in the play-off places,though he admitted to concern about current form and the impact of the absence of Alan Brazil
• described moves to strengthen the team's attacking options
• answered questions from the floor about a range of footballing issues - including the play offs
c) Bill Parkin, BRFC Director & Chairman of the Supporters Club
• looked forward to continuing to build an effective working relationship between the Supporters Club and the Trust
• pitch drainage - remedial works costed at £5000 and scheduled to start on 17th May; it was suggested that the Trust and the SC could examine how they could jointly fund this work
• outlined plans for fundraising events
• proposed regular joint meetings between Trust/Football Club/Supporters Club reps
• moves to look at revitalising the weekly ticket scheme
• acknowledged that Shielfield stadium is old and tired and increasingly expensive to maintain - and that we should now be examining ways of developing a new community stadium based around an artificial surface (as at Ochilview etc)
5) Other formal business carried out at the Trust AGM

a) Treasurers Report (Gordon Dickson) - see formal minutes of the meeting
b) Secretary's Report (Karen Thorburn) - Karen confirmed that all Trust business transacted during the previous two years had been conducted in accordance with the Trust's model rules
c) Membership Secretary's Report (Bill Purvis) - Bill reported that memnbership had acheived a net increase of 4 members (rising from 212 to 216) since the previous AGM.
d) Annual Audit (Gordon Dickson) - see formal minutes of the meeting
e) Question & Answer Session - good questions from the floor - including changing arrangements for people seeking to increase subscription payments; monthly tripartite communications bulletins from the FC/Trust/SC

Thanks to all who attended the AGM and contributed freely to a constructive and positive meeting.

David Cook, Trust Board Member

SUPPORTERS TRUST AGM 2010
13th January 2010

The 2010 Trust Annual General Meeting (AGM) has been rescheduled for an 11.00 start on Saturday,13th February (Rangers are at home in a top of the table clash against Forfar that afternoon). It was orginally intended to hold the AGM on Saturday 30th January,but the date has been put back a couple of weeks to accommodate problems caused by the inclement weather to printing deadlines.

The AGM will be held in the Main Function Room at the Black and Gold Social Club at Shielfield. All Trust members - and prospective members - are welcome to attend. It also hoped to have a couple of guest speakers,including Berwick Rangers Manager Jimmy Crease, while we're also waiting to hear whether a genuine Rangers legend can fit the meeting around his plans for a skiing holiday..............more to be revealed in due course.

The meeting agenda will consist of the following items:

1. Apologies for absence
2. Guest speaker slots
3. Chairman's report (John Bell)
4. Treasurer's report (Gordon Dickson)
5. Secretary's report (Karen Thorburn)
6. Membership Secretary's report (Bill Purvis)
7. Annual audit report (Gordon Dickson)
8. Appointments to the Society (Trust) Board for the period from 13/2/10 to 13/2/12 (and elections to the Board,if required) (David Cook)
9. Any other business
10. Question and answer session - where board members will answer questions from the floor

A pack containing the following items - AGM agenda & notes/Winter newsletter/2010 calendar/Chairman's letter - was posted to all Trust members on Friday 15th January.

If you're thinking about putting yourself forward for the Trust Board (and it would be great to see some new faces on it!), then your pack will contain information about the nomination process. Nomination papers and the regulations relating to appointment to the Board and elections can also be obtained by contacting the Trust Secretary, Karen Thorburn, at the following address:

Karen Thorburn
Secretary
Berwick Rangers Supporters Society Limited
10 Golden Square
Berwick-upon-Tweed
TD 15 1 BG
Tel: 01289 302649
Email: karen.thorburn@btinternet.com

Above: Supporters Trust board busy organising our latest mailshot!

From our Chairman John Bell...

May I wish all our members a very sincere 'Happy New Year'! I hope you've all had an enjoyable festive season, wherever in the world you are.

Unfortunately we're on a starvation diet as far as football's concerned, and the current cold spell shows no sign of going for the foreseeable future, with the Berwick area being very white and frozen just now.

However, we're in a great position to start the next chapter in the season, whenever that may be! Hopefully folks will be keen to gorge themselves on a Third Division feast and come along in their hundreds to Shielfield!

So much good health and happiness - lets hope we're celebrating in May!

JB