UNITED WE STAND WITH THE BEES. How YOU can help Brentford FC survive. Produced by the Brentford Football Community Society Ltd (Bees United)

Transcription

1 UNITED WE STAND WITH THE BEES How YOU can help Brentford FC survive Produced by the Brentford Football Community Society Ltd (Bees United)

2 Football. Our National Game Football can be traced back to Ancient China, Greece and Rome. It s thought that the game as we know it matured in England in the fourteenth century. Farm boys and apprentices played it in the fields and streets and it soon became the people s game. The game grew and grew but it wasn t until 1863 that a governing body was formed the Football Association. Brentford FC was founded in 1889, with the first game being played on 23rd November 1889 at the Clifden House ground located directly behind the Brook Road end of Griffin Park. The players used the Griffin Public House as a changing room. For the next few years, the club played its matches at a number of sites in and around Brentford before moving to the purpose-built Griffin Park in September Since then the Club has seen many successes but in the last few years has been in decline. The competition in West London for supporters is immense and crowds have declined over the years until now, the average Brentford crowd is around 5,000. The game can be viewed daily from the comfort of the armchair on TV with most of the proceeds going to the Premiership and to a lesser extent the First Division Clubs. The game is no longer only for local supporters as clubs like Manchester United have demonstrated. The Bosman Rule (where players can move to other clubs at the end of their contracts with no transfer fee going to the club which has trained them and made them saleable ) has also made life difficult. It s therefore easy to see that balancing the books for a football club in the Second or Third Divisions is becoming more and more difficult. What is Bees United Trying to Achieve? Brentford Football Community Society Ltd or Bees United for short has been set up under the Government s Supporters Direct initiative. The aim, quite simply, is to encourage supporters to become more involved in the running of their club, and for the football club to take into account the views of their supporters and the local community before making fundamental decisions. Essentially, we want to help Brentford FC to once again become the local people s club. The Society is established for the benefit of the local Community; Members and Officers are volunteers and do not profit from the Society and any profit or surplus can only be used to further the Society s objectives. If the Society ceases to exist or is dissolved by the membership, any assets remaining after payment of all debts and liabilities will be transferred to a sporting charity or charities operating for the benefit of the Community in the area, or as directed by the membership. The main aims and objectives of Bees United are to raise funds for investment, and to gain at least one place on the board of directors of Brentford FC. Indeed, in January 2002, this aim was agreed to by the Club when they offered John McGlashan (Bees United s Chairman), a seat on the Board of Brentford FC. The Club s majority shareholder has also agreed to Bees United taking over their stake in the club and spearheading the planning application for Griffin Park. In taking this step, Bees United must also take responsibility for the Club s overdraft and loans. Equally important is our aim of bringing the football club and the community closer together as this benefits everyone. A football club's community typically extends well beyond the boundaries of the town or city in which it is situated and Brentford is no exception, drawing its support from a wide area of Middlesex, North Surrey and parts of Berks & Bucks.

3 "I will always be grateful to Jack Gibbons and Brentford FC for signing a soldier (2 year conscript) and not only giving him a chance to enjoy 12 wonderful years as a professional player, but also to play a part in changing football history. Elephants never forget, so it is said, and neither do footballers with long chins and memories. I watch the Bees results regularly, as I do also those of Fulham, Coventry and Charlton, because they have in different ways been so much part of a very happy life. Good luck to the club!!" Jimmy Hill "To everyone at the Brentford Supporters` Trust, I hope you are as successful in your venture as the Bees currently are on the field". Ray Lewington Our aims and aspirations are supported by the current Board of Directors of Brentford FC under the Chairmanship of Ron Noades. Indeed, by raising money for the Club, Bees United will be able to nominate further Director/s to the Board in order that the current supporters views are taken into consideration. What is the money needed for? Basically, the Chairman has said that he is prepared to fund Brentford FC until the end of the 2001/2 Season. If the Club is to survive, it must find the money to reduce the current overdraft and to implement a viable business plan, which acknowledges the needs of a football club in the 21st Century. Central to such a plan should be the recognition that football supporters entrance fees alone can no longer sustain a club. We must face the fact that further income can be derived from sponsorship deals and local initiatives. However, the present facilities at Griffin Park cannot cope with these extra demands. We can learn from those Clubs which have built or developed new stadia, where the new needs are fully catered for. Of course, as we primarily draw our support from the local area we want to ensure that the new home for Brentford FC remains close to its current home. The Trust would not condone the sale of Griffin Park until new land has been purchased which is suitable for both a modern footballing stadium and to further the clubs related commercial activities. The land should be owned by the club and preferably be within the Brentford area. Any ground share in the meantime should be in the Hounslow Borough or adjoining areas. It goes without saying that if Griffin Park itself could be developed to allow more revenue-earning activities, this would be the preferred option. So, Bees United is dedicated to helping Brentford FC meet the challenges of running the Club profitably and in the best interests of its current supporters as well as building up a much stronger fan base. Money raised by the Bees United will be used to invest in Brentford FC (either through the purchase of shares or providing secured loans to the Club).

4 So how can you help? Basically, we need money in order to help the club. We aim to raise funds from supporters as well as corporate sponsors. Ways you can help us are set out below. Application forms are included with this brochure: additional forms may be obtained from Bees United, Griffin Park, Braemar Road, Brentford, Middx, TW8 0NT or downloaded from our website Bees United Membership First and foremost, if you have not already done so, become a member of Bees United. Membership is only 15 a year for adults, 5 a year for seniors, and 2 a year for juniors under 16. The first 1 of your first annual membership (except for junior members) buys you a share in the Society, which is retained in your name for as long as your subscriptions are kept up to date. This share entitles you to attend general meetings of Bees United, vote for officers of the Society, and stand for election to the Society Board. Most importantly, it gives you a voice in the future of Brentford Football Club, all for the price of a matchday ticket. And remember, the more members we have, the greater our influence both with the Club and the local authority. Bees United Donors Funds raised from membership subscriptions are welcome, but are not in themselves sufficient to fulfill the Society's aims. We welcome additional donations, either as one-off gifts or as regular standing order donations. Standing order donations are particularly welcome as, by ensuring a regular source of income, they enable the Society to plan and budget its activities. The Bees United Loan Capital Fund Launched in February 2002, the Bees United Loan Capital Fund is a key part of our fundraising efforts. Open only to Bees United members (including corporate members), we are issuing Loan Notes, the proceeds of which will be used to invest in Brentford Football Club, either through the acquisition of its share capital or the provision of secured loan finance, or a combination of both. In the hope of raising the maximum amount of funds, the minimum level of subscription to the Loan Note scheme is 1,000; larger subscriptions (in multiples of 1,000) are also of course very welcome. Funds raised from the issue of Loan Notes will initially be held in a separate bank account until opportunities to invest in the Club become available. Such investment will only be made if a majority of Loan Note holders approve in general meeting. For the purposes of this meeting, a Noteholder will have one vote for a holding of 1,000 or more Loan Notes; two votes for a holding of 5,000 or more; three votes for a holding of 10,000 or more; four votes for a holding of 50,000 or more; or five votes for a holding of 100,000 or more. It should be noted that no interest will be paid on the Loan Notes. Once the funds generated by the Loan Fund scheme have been invested in Brentford Football Club, there will be procedures whereby the Loans can be repaid in future. However, the number that can be redeemed will be severely limited and will be dependent on the Society having sufficient funds to do so. In any event, the Society will never be obliged to repay any Loans. If we go ahead and invest in the Club, the likelihood is that you will be unable to get your investment back, at least for the foreseeable future. While 1,000 is the minimum figure, we hope that many fans will contribute more than this to the Loan Fund. The best incentive, of course, is the more you contribute the bigger investment we, the fans, can have in our football club. If you can afford to

5 contribute more than 1,000, we urge you to do so. If you do not have the funds immediately available, why not consider the Loan for a Loan scheme from The Co-Operative Bank, details of which are set out overleaf. Alternatively you can club together with others to raise 1,000, although only one person can be registered as the Loan Noteholder. Full details of the Loan Fund terms and conditions are available on request, and can be viewed on our website. A copy of the terms and conditions will be sent to each Loan Note subscriber, together with their Loan Note certificate. It is vital that the money is raised quickly. Please do not delay in purchasing your Loan Note: your coming forward will help persuade others to do the same and it is crucial that we will build up an early momentum in the fund-raising. The aim is to raise the bulk of our funds within the first few months. The Co-Operative Bank Loan for a Loan Scheme We have organised with The Co-Operative Bank a scheme whereby Bees United members can borrow from The Bank funds to invest in the Loan Note Scheme (or, indeed, for any other purpose), and repay the loan in monthly instalments. Full details of this offer are set out in the advertisement on page 6. For every loan taken out, The Co-Operative Bank will donate a minimum of 15 per 1,000: please ensure you quote our unique reference number 791/1535. Donations of shares Are you a shareholder in either Brentford Football Club Limited or Griffin Park Stadium Ltd?. If so, and you wish to consider donating or bequeathing your shares to the Society, please contact us. Alternatively, if you wish to continue as a shareholder, you can still assign your voting rights to Bees United: combining the votes of individual shareholders in this way will give us a bigger say in the running of the Club. Corporate Sponsorship We welcome any financial donations that local businesses can offer. We have negotiated a number of exciting opportunities with Brentford FC to recognise corporate donations to the Trust. These include: Group entrance fees to home matches for employees Showcase in Stripes Bar Your company logo on the Bees United Corporate Sponsors Poster Sites visible in each stand at Griffin Park Your Company logo included in the Bees United Home Programme section PA Announcement during the pre-match and half-time entertainment Inclusion of limited promotional material in our mailings to existing and potential members A banner ad on the Bees United web site Mention of your company at the beginning, half-time and the end of the League games web cast commentary heard around the world from the Brentford web site Possible sponsorship of the Brentford Supporters Away Coaches The Club has additional areas that are available for Sponsorship such as The Football in the Community Office and the Centre of Excellence scheme. There is an opportunity to support both Bees United and Brentford Football Club in sponsoring these areas. Above all, depending on the level of the corporate donation received, you have an influence on the future direction of the Club through any Bees United member who is voted on to the Board of Brentford FC. For more information on Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities with Bees United, contact john.mcglasham@beesunited.org.uk or phone

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7 Bees United Donations and Standing Orders Full Name: Address: Contact telephone number (optional): address (optional): Post Code: Donations I wish to make a donation of to Bees United. Please enclose cheque or postal order, payable to Bees United, together with this form to: The Secretary, Bees United, Griffin Park, Braemar Road, Brentford, Middx, TW8 0NT. Signed: Date: Standing Order Donations I wish to make a regular standing order donation of per month. Please complete the form below and return it to: The Secretary, Bees United, Griffin Park, Braemar Road, Brentford, Middx, TW8 0NT. Signed: Date: Standing Order Mandate Form Section 1 (your banks name and address) Full Name: Address: Bank/Building society Section 2 (your details) Full Name: Address: Post Code: Section 3 (your account name and number) Please debit the account of: And pay to the account of: Bees United Bank: The Co-Operative Bank, Kings Valley, Yew Street, Stockport, Cheshire, SK4 2JU. Post Code: Account number: Account No: Sort Code: Section 4 (the amount you wish to donate) The sum of on the first day of each month, commencing (insert date) until further notice. Signed: Date:

8 The Bees United Loan Capital Fund Application Form The Bees United Loan Capital Fund is organised and issued by Brentford Football Community Society Ltd. For full details of the society, or for terms and conditions of the Loan Capital Fund, please contact our office or see our website at Full Name: Address: Post Code: Contact telephone number (optional): address (optional): I wish to apply for of Loan Notes (minimum of 1,000; multiples of 1,000 only) in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Bees United Loan Capital Fund. I understand that such Loan Notes pay no interest, and carry no guarantee of redemption. I confirm I am over eighteen years of age, and am a member of Bees United. Signed: Date: Please attach cheque, postal order or bankers draft payable to Bees Utd Loan Capital Fund for the value of Loan Notes applied for. Please note that it will take up to six weeks to process your application. Completed form and payment should be returned to: The Secretary, Bees United, Griffin Park, Braemar Road, Brentford, Middx, TW8 0NT. This application form expires 31st December If you wish to apply after this date please download a new application form from or write to: The Secretary, Bees United, Griffin Park, Braemar Road, Brentford, Middx, TW8 0NT.

9 Join Bees United Annual membership is available at the following rates: Adult: OAP/Student: 5.00 Junior (under 16): 2.00 Please tick the appropriate box. Full Name: Address: Post Code: Contact telephone number (optional): address (optional): Make cheques payable to BEES UNITED and send to: The Secretary, Bees United, Griffin Park, Braemar Road, Brentford, Middx, TW8 0NT. Signed: Date:

10 Bees United UNITED WE STAND WITH THE BEES Bees United Committee Chairman John McGlashan Secretary Bruce Powell Treasurer Stephen Callen Spokesman Geoff Buckingham Marketing Mike Lane Fundraising Alan Bird Supporters Rep Pete Johnston Legal Officer Andrew Wainwright Liaison Officer Jim Walsh Community Rep Nick Marriner Charities Advisor David Roe Help Brentford remain in the community Join Bees United now Help raise funds through the Loan Capital Fund Corporate sponsorship puts your company at the heart of the community Let your voice be heard Written and designed by LEC Advertising, Printed by Ideal Printers. Photos courtesy of BFC and Ian Stratton. Published March Bees United, Griffin Park, Braemar Road, Brentford, Middx, TW8 0NT. Telephone: Website: