Newsletter Issue 49 March 2019

Connecting Club and Community

Safeguarding the future of Peterborough United by ensuring all fans have a voice

Chair's Notes

It’s been a very active time at Posh during the 6 months since our last newsletter publication. In October the Supporters Trust was proud to assist Peter Lane with the official launch of the “Posh Hall of Fame” at the ABAX Stadium. Many of the inductees, or family representatives were in attendance, for an evening of nostalgic memories and stories to honour the 32 members. In excess of £1,200 was raised on the night and donated to Jada-Lea Quow, the daughter of one of the legends we honoured, Trevor Quow. The Trust also held our 16th Annual General Meeting on 22nd November. Ray Cole, John Lawrence and Frank Harburn stepped down from the board at the AGM and we thank them for their excellent contribution to the Trust in recent years. On the pitch with no less than 18 new enthusiastic players seeking to impress and make the first team, Posh were off to a flying start to the season. By the end of September, Posh played 10 league games scoring 26 goals, with 7 wins and 2 draws. Since then, whilst Posh have maintained a play-off position, too many draws, conceding goals and inconsistent performances led to a change of management at the end of January. The Trust welcome Darren Ferguson and Gavin Strachan back to the club and wish Steve Evans and Paul Raynor all the best for the future. At the “Posh Hall of Fame” launch, it was announced that the football club and the City Council had signed a memorandum of understanding for the club to buy back the ABAX stadium. This news was eagerly received by everyone as we all want to see the club reunited with its ground. The Trust was keen to find out more about the sale, as our mission is to be alert to anything that could affect the future of our football club and its existence in the community, to that end you will find details of our findings inside this newsletter. In February we were pleased to read the statement from Jason Neale, of the 10- year plan for the football club. It is a very good vision for the future. The Trust is equally excited to see the club`s plans come to fruition, and as you would expect, we will of course continue to be alert to the risks of any club plans, to safeguard the interest of future generation Posh fans.

Keep it Posh! Fingers Crossed for the Championship! Barry

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The 16th Posh Supporters Trust AGM

The 16th Posh Supporters Trust AGM was held at the Yard of Ale public house on Thursday, 22nd November 2018. The full minutes from the AGM, can be found on our website at www.theposhtrust.co.uk Otherwise, here is a brief summary of the AGM. Outgoing Chairman, Ray Cole read out his annual report. The points covered included: • We have attended and promoted the PST at Posh's kit launch and open training day events. • We have sponsored Posh Ladies by providing the 1st team with training tops, as well as sponsoring a player, Keir Perkins. • Helped in the organisation of the club's Hall of Fame event. • Promoted the trusts' achievement via Supporters Direct as a celebration of our 15-year anniversary. • Continued to add to and update our Posh on-line museum. • Signed a partnership agreement with the online betting company Fansbet who give back 50% of their net profit to supporter`s groups. • This season, we have provided 15 people with SMILE treats. • Supported petitions asking for Premier League and Championship clubs to be allowed to have safe-standing at their stadiums. • Sadly we had to give up our stall in the Family Stand at the ABAX as the club wanted the space back to alleviate queues for drinks at half time in the South Stand.

The Treasurer`s report for the year to 30th June 2018, which were examined by an independent financial assessor, showed: • Income of £8,347 for the financial year • Expenditure of £3,842 for the financial year • Yearly excess of £4,505 for the financial year • Current Assets of £149,864

The Secretary`s report included: • The Trust shareholding in PUFC remained the same as last year, 1410 shares. • A Trust representative attended each of the club’s monthly meetings with Bob Symns, PISA and Forever Posh. • Two newsletters were sent out to members. Local councillors and MPs were also sent copies of each newsletter. Board members Ray Cole, John Lawrence and Franks Harburn have stepped down from their roles, while Dene Butler, Sue Butler and Marco Graziano were elected as co-opted members of the board and Barry Bennett was appointed acting Chairman for the next 12 months. There are several vacant positions on the Board and new members are urgently needed to bring fresh ideas and skills to the board. To obtain a nomination form, 0r if you would like to know out more about being a board member of the Trust, email us [email protected]

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The View of the Posh Supporters Trust’s Board, re: The Future of the ABAX Stadium.

First of all, we would like to clarify that the Trust will not be making a bid to buy the stadium. Whilst we had a right to bid with the Asset of Community Value (ACV), it was never our intention to exercise that option. The ACV itself has provided us with more time to further understand details of proposed sale of the stadium. When the Leader of Peterborough City Council (PCC), PUFC directors and owners announced on 18th October that there was a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) issued by the Council for the sale of the football ground to the club, the Trust was very keen to know more details. Why? Because the Trust board had consistently said that it supported the club and ground being re-united, as it was the separation of the ground from the club in 2003 that caused so many problems down the line for the football club, Darragh MacAnthony and for PCC. That ultimately lead to the Council being put in a position that it felt it had to buy the ground back from Peterborough United Holdings Limited (PUHL) who then owned it. Following meetings with both the club and PCC, and at a recent public meeting, it has emerged that the preferred option is not that the football club buys the stadium, but that an investment group, comprising the three main PUFC owners and possibly other investors does so. This may seem to amount to the same thing. It doesn’t. Why does the Trust say this? If the ground was being bought by PUFC Ltd. which is the legal entity that owns the club then it is more certain that the club and its ground will stay together in the longer term, and that the club itself would be the main beneficiary of any development of the stadium. If the club is bought by the separate company owned by the three club directors themselves then there is more chance, not necessarily now but in the longer term, that any stadium development benefits could slip away from the club and a forced move away from London Road could happen in the future possibly when the club has changed hands. There could also be significant rent to pay as there is now to the current owner, PCC. So, the best protection in our opinion is that the club has the stadium in its ownership and that development takes place once that has happened. With the club’s three owners being in control through the club, the development can hopefully restart, including the commercial element that will bring revenue to the club and to its owners. Everyone can see that the ground development has been very slow to take place under different club and stadium owners. Is there any reason that the deal can’t be structured that way? There may be some, but they are not obvious. The current club owners who are intending to put up the money to buy the stadium, could buy it through the club’s company PUFC Ltd. as they already control it, owning more than 99% of the shares between them. Why are these things so important? Because, as we saw with the PUHL’s planning application to build flats at Moys End in 2006, the site is a very valuable one for property development. PCC planning department rejected the PUHL plans, PUHL took it to the national authority and the tribunal that resulted overturned the PCC decision. Although the flats were never built, the land now had planning permission with valuable residential development potential. The Asset of Community Value (ACV) status that the Trust applied for in 2014 was put in place on the stadium by PCC has proved very good for helping Posh fans to know what is going on as regards the sale, and preventing the sort of secret and complicated deal that caused so much damage in 2003. The PST has had a meeting with PCC, and it is planned to have a further meeting in the New Year. Having asked questions of PCC and had some answers, the Trust is encouraging PCC to

4 retain a strong covenant over the playing surface at London Rd., to retain a right to buy back the stadium under certain circumstances, and to seek assurances from any new owners of the stadium that the football club will be the main beneficiary of the stadium developments. The stadium is a valuable community asset, which PCC has itself demonstrated by buying it from PUHL, then we are asking that PCC puts these safeguards into any sale agreement to protect football in its current City Centre location. Is the Posh Supporters’ Trust against the sale to the three investors at any price or any terms? No, not at all! We have met with the club, who outlined their vision to create a much bigger stadium suitable for sustained Championship football, either at London Road or if this cannot be achieved, potentially a purpose-built stadium in the close proximity. This same vision was also shared publicly by the club at Ebeneezer’s (home of PISA) on the same day. The fans are often told to trust the owners, but it’s not just about trust, and it’s worth remembering that the owners are business people looking to promote their investments as well as enjoying owning a football club. Fans and the city as a whole have a stake in this too and the reason Assets of Community Value were set up was to exactly reflect those interests of the local community and give them some rights. Structured as an investment group purchase could be a good deal for the club and for fans, but the risks are higher for the long term therefore more protection is required. We know negotiations are still taking place between the club and PCC which is why the Trust thinks it is only right for more details of what is planned by the new owners to be made more transparent, and allow the stakeholders to share the vision for our club`s future. One of those ACV rights is to know what is planned for certain iconic land and buildings so, in this case, fans can have their say and try to have an influence if they think the wrong things are being done or there is no transparency. That is the sole mission of the Posh Supporter’s Trust, refined in our questions to PCC and to the prospective new owners of the stadium. Finally, the Trust’s questions and concerns are sometimes portrayed as hostility towards the owners. They are not. Its actions are only to look out for the long-term interests of the club. The Trust has been a big supporter of Darragh MacAnthony from the time he arrived at the club. Its many public statements have praised his commitment to the club and his knowledge and funding of the purchase and sale of players which have helped keep the club competitive financially, and in football terms, in League 1 and the Championship. No chairman in the Football League has a better record of facilitating the buying and developing of young talented players, many of who have gone on to grace the Premier League or Championship for many seasons and continue to do so. The Posh Supporters Trust Board.

Since this statement was published, a Stadium Sub-committee, consisting of Barry Bennett, Marco Graziano and Peter Lloyd has had a further meeting with PCC, on 18th February 2019.

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Smile Ticket Scheme in partnership with Fansbet

The Trust has been able to give out many more Smile Scheme Treat Tickets this season than ever before, thanks to our partnership with the online betting company Fansbet. Fansbet is a bookmakers with a difference, as it gives back 50% of its net profit to supporters groups, such as the PST. The PST advocates responsible gambling, so we don't wish to encourage people to start betting if they don't already do so, but if you do already enjoy a flutter, then why not use Fansbet instead of your usual online betting service. It offers all the same betting markets as the other online services and offers special enhanced odds offers exclusively aimed at Posh fans. You can find Fansbet at www.fansbet.com

Since our last newsletter we have given Smile Ticket Treats to 15 year old Owen Simmonds who has Asperger`s Syndrome. Then we gave our free tickets to Pearl Beeby and Albert Johnson, two residents of Peterborough Care Homes.

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Bernard Robinson and his family were our next Smile treat recipients, Bernard used to be a steward at Posh, but was laid-off at the beginning of last season and is no longer able to afford to watch The Posh. Paul Richardson from Yaxley, who lost a leg in works accident and now finds parking at the ground a problem was accompanied on his Smile Treat by Preston, his partner`s grandson, who was attending his first Posh match.

Martin and Sam, who are residents of an Axiom Housing Association hostel and Alan and Rosie, another two residents of Peterborough Care Homes all also received free Smile Tickets.

Stephen Holland was able to take his children Lexie and Kieran to a game and Gemma Wells, who was nominated for her work for the charity Gemma`s Hearts, which raises funds for public access defibrillators in North West Cambridgeshire, took her sons Bradley and Ben to the recent Charlton Athletic match. “Four Generations of Posh” The PST are looking to give away 4 free Smile Tickets to a “Posh” family. If you have four generations of Posh fans in your family, we would like to treat you all to a game of your choice, at one of the remaining matches this season. Contact Sue at [email protected] with details of your Posh family.

The Smile Scheme is also still open to any other deserving cases, if you would like to nominate someone to receive a free Smile ticket please contact Sue at [email protected] 7

Posh Hall of Fame Official Launch Night.

Several Posh legends from the Posh Hall of Fame joined fans for the Official Launch Night on 18th October 2018, in the Caroline Hand Executive Suite. Those Posh greats from the past included Roy Banham, Jim Walker, Ray Smith and Peter McNamee from the 1960/61 Division Four title- winning team, Jeff Lee, Mick Jones and John Cozens from the 1973/74 Division Four title-winning team, plus David Farrell, Tony Adcock, Noel Luke, Peter Deakin, Trevor Quow and current “Mr Posh” Mick Jones. Several of the players, who are sadly no longer with us were represented by members of their family, including Noel Cantwell`s daughter, sons of George Hair, Keith Ripley, Dennis Emery and Billy Hails, plus daughters of Terry Bly and Andy Donaldson, Ellis Stafford`s wife Eileen and Chris Turner was represented by two of his nephews. Also in attendance on the evening, were club owners Darragh MacAnthony, Stewart Thompson and Jason Neale. The event, organised by Club Historian Peter Lane with the help of his wife Sandee and the Posh Supporters Trust, was compered by BBC Radio Cambridgeshire`s Sam Edwards and included interviews with some of the ex- players present on the evening, a quiz compiled by Club Statistician Mick Robinson, a DVD showcasing all the Hall of Fame inductees and a raffle and auction, the proceeds of which, together with profit from ticket sales, totaling over £1,200 was raised for Posh Legend and Hall of Fame member Trevor Quow, whose daughter Jada-Lea suffers from a rare medical condition, with the money going towards the fundraising campaign to buy equipment to make Jada-Lea`s life more comfortable. The main sponsors of the event were a former Posh director, Mike Lewin and his wife Trish, together with Kelgary Sports and Darragh MacAnthony.

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Gold Bond Scheme

The Gold Bond Weekly Draw is a vital part of the Posh Supporters` Trust fund-raising effort and it also gives members a chance to win one of 176 weekly cash prizes up to £1,800.

You could win one of the following Weekly Guaranteed Prizes: 1 x £1,800 1x £250 1 x £100 1 x £50 2 x £25 100 x £10 70 x £5

Entry is just £1 per week, which gives you 7 numbers in the draw, so 7 chances to win a prize of anything from £5 to £1,800.

You can also get FREE membership of the Posh Supporters` Trust when you subscribe to the Gold Bond Scheme by Standing Order. One entry (7 numbers) costs just £4.33 per calendar month.

Winning numbers can be checked on our website, www.theposhtrust.co.uk you don’t need to claim, as prizes will be sent automatically.

The money raised by the Trust helps to support local community activities and to create a reserve, to hopefully help the club survive in the event of a crisis, at any time in the future.

If you are interested in joining the Trust for free, via the Gold Bond Scheme, you can download a Standing Order mandate at www.theposhtrust.co.uk or if you would like to know more about joining either the PST or the Gold Bond Scheme you can drop an email to [email protected]

We also have several Gold Bond agents in the area, who collect Gold Bond funds on our behalf and those agents have had several winners recently, with Ellingham`s Stores of March having a 1st Prize winner of £1800 in October and a 3rd Prize winner of £100 in November. Winners at Hitchborn`s Newsagents, our agent in Dogsthorpe, were a 2nd Prize winner of £250 in December and a 4th Prize winner of £50 in January.

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50 Posh Years for “Sir Tommy”

The Trust were happy to present a special book to our patron, Tommy Robson to mark his 50-year association with The Posh. The book, which contained many photographs of Tommy`s playing career, all the Posh squads that he played in and other memories from his time at London Road, was gratefully received by “Sir” Tommy. It was compiled by the Trust and given on behalf of all Posh fans, in thanks and appreciation of the service he has given to Peterborough United and the many great memories he has given us over the past 50 years.

In Memory of Peter Boizot

Former Posh Chairman, Peter Boizot passed away at his home in Peterborough, at the age of 89, on 5th December 2018. Born in Peterborough in 1929, he founded the Pizza Express restaurant chain in 1965 and was awarded an MBE in 1986. In 1997, he bought Peterborough United and invested heavily in the club. A private funeral was held on 17th December 2018 and a memorial service was held at Peterborough Cathedral, on Friday 8th February 2019.

Since our last newsletter the Trust has also been saddened to learn of the passing of the following former Posh players:

On Saturday 17th November 2018, former Posh player-manager Jim Iley passed away at the age of 82. Jim joined Posh in 1969 and made 79 appearances, scoring 5 goals. He managed Posh 182 times before being sacked in 1972, when he was replaced by Noel Cantwell.

Former Posh player Des Farrow, who was part of two Midland league title-winning Posh squads and made 33 appearances between 1955 and 1957, scoring one goal, sadly passed away in January 2019 at the age of 92.

On 9th February 2019, former Posh defender Ian Ross passed away at the age of 72. Between 1976 and 1979, Ian played 131 times for Posh and scored one goal.

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On Town Bridge

Trust Members’ Exclusive At Charters Every Posh Home Match 2 Hours before and after the Game!

On presentation of your Trust Membership / Discount Card you will receive:

*30p off a pint normal price of • Bishops Farewell • Citra • JHB • Inferno

Discounts available on Match Days Only 2 hours before and after Kick Off!

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Visit our Website : www.theposhtrust.co.uk E-Mail us : [email protected]

The Posh Supporters Trust. Is registered as a Society under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014. Registration No. 29533R with the Financial Conduct Authority

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