Dear Member
You may think that you have already had your news “fix” from BST for August ; but such is the pace of business that we easily have enough news for another newsletter this month.
What have BST been doing for you?
Another busy period has seen us :
• secure a player sponsorship for the 2023/24 season (more below)
• have a number of meetings with the club on a variety of topics
• continue to implement the mascot programme with three more lucky winners notified this week
• fly the BST flag at the national level
We start with one highly topical piece of news and a great opportunity for our members as follows :
Open Day
The club have today confirmed an Open Day for supporters will be held on Sunday 3rd September at Bloomfield Road.
For details of the event visit https://www.blackpoolfc.co.uk/news/2023/august/24/open-day-confirmed-for-sunday-3-september/
As Blackpool Supporters Trust is a Fan Player Sponsor, we have a ‘meet and greet opportunity’ on the day prior to the Open Training session with our sponsored player.
We are offering the chance to one lucky member and their guest to join the players for Breakfast and then have a photo opportunity with Callum Connolly, who BST have sponsored this season.
• from 9.45am Arrival at Hotel Reception
• 10am Make your way to Heineken Lounge for breakfast
• enjoy a breakfast buffet with the 1st team squad
• meet and greet and photo opportunity with your player and shirt
• 11am Access the stadium to watch open training session
If you would like to nominate yourself for a members ballot for this event please contact our treasurer on;
all entries must be received by 5pm on Monday 28th August
Mascots
The winners of our second mascot draw of the season are as follows :
• Wigan 2nd September is Lenny Jackson (member Peter Platt)
• Reading 23rd September is Stanley Singleton (member Andrew Singleton)
• Derby County 3rd October is Jamie Cross (member Tracie Cross)
Thanks to all our other entrants for taking part.
If you are a BST Member who wants to nominate a child aged up to 11 years old to be a mascot at future games, look out for future newsletters or simply contact the BST Secretary at the email address below :
even better - why not treat your child to a Junior membership ? At a current annual cost of £2 it is readily affordable and helps commit them to the tangerine cause for life.
Meetings with the club
This last week or so has seen two notable meetings with the club :
a) on 22 August our Chair Andy Higgins had an introductory meeting with senior officials including the club’s new CEO Julian Winter. It was very helpful to get his thoughts on a range of issues including communication, possible opportunities for joint working and the unique appeal of our club and how we can take advantage of it. Welcome to the seaside, Julian!
b) as many of you will already know, on 24 August the club also hosted a meeting with a variety of supporter groups, following up on an earlier discussion on crowd behaviour and the club’s current issues with the Football Association. Two members of the BST Committee attended this.
The meeting discussed the predicament we are all in with the authorities and stressed the importance of all fans following the rules, especially at the Wigan game, when observers from the FA and Blackpool Council will be watching closely.
We fully support the club in the actions they are taking. It will be important that we put our best foot forward at this and indeed every other game this season and we know that you fully understand this.
Player Sponsorship
We are delighted to confirm that Callum Connolly is the latest in an illustrious line of players to be sponsored by BST. We are delighted to be associated with Callum, and congratulate him and his partner on the recent arrival of their new baby daughter.
More election success for BST
We are delighted to tell you that Christine Seddon has been elected to serve a three year term on the Board of the Football Supporters Association (FSA).
Christine topped the poll, again demonstrating the widespread respect she enjoys across the game in England. We are sure you will join us in congratulating her on her success. She joins Tony Wilkinson on the Board ; both are also serving terms on the FSA National Council. We are proud that BST continues to be a strong influence on the way that the national body approaches the job of representing the interests of ALL fans - Trust Members or not.
BST Sweepstake
The reason we are able to afford mascots for every game this season is because of the generosity of our fans who are already supporting the 1953 Sweepstake.
This is, as far as we know, the only lottery of its kind that raises money exclusively for Blackpool FC, its fans and the local community. Remember:
• it costs from just £5 per month to enter
• 40% of what we earn is paid out in monthly prizes
• the remaining 60% is allocated to all the various initiatives we undertake
• we run the scheme in-house so there are NO overheads
The more support we have from you and other ‘Pool fans - the more we can do.
Please support us if you can, as every entry helps. You can sign up to the Sweepstake here:
BST Memberships
Now is a good time to enrol a child in your family so that they can take part in those draws - all they have to be is aged 11 or under.
But why stop there? Older children and adults are equally welcome in the BST family; why not donate an annual Membership as a birthday or Christmas present and give them the tangerine habit early in life. Joining is easy and can be done at the address below:
BST Committee
