ONE year on from its re-launch and the Mariners Trust is thriving with more than 550 members. The organisation's chairman Chris Parker and secretary Dave Roberts give their thoughts following a busy 12 months.
Q- What are the challenges facing the Trust in the coming year?
A- CP: The main challenge is to build upon the strong foundations by securing a place on the board of the football club for the fans representative. We also need to attract more 'activists' willing to help with administration and events. As in the past year there will undoubtedly be challenges that arise which are unexpected and unforeseen.
DR: The challenge is to not only recruit more members but retain the ones we have. We have about 150 due for renewal in January/February and hopefully we have done enough in the first year for them to renew. Encouragingly the vast majority of those due to renew in November/December have done so. We also need to keep the momentum going in terms of events and fundraising . Now that we have the Trust bar as a standalone facility, we intend to run a number of smaller events in there alongside the three or four bigger events per year in McMenemy's.
Q - Why should fans sign up to the Trust?
A - CP:We want to build on the foundations we have set and improve upon the achievements so far. We need to increase our membership not just to the 750 to trigger the board place, but beyond. Fans have an opportunity for the first time in the club's history to have a representative on the board. We feel that seat is vital to assist the club in being a bigger part of the local community that it represents. We want the people of the area to feel that GTFC is their club and have pride in it. Simply we need people to sign up to help us develop lasting ties between the football club and the community. The football club needs the community and the community needs the football club. The Mariners Trust can help facilitate this!
For more questions and answers, see today's Grimsby Telegraph.
