|
January 10, 2013, 09:26:00 pm
Print
Back in November it was announced Doncaster Rovers were joining an ever-growing list which includes Aston Villa, Brentford, Bristol City, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Derby County, Hull City, Peterborough United, Watford, AFC Wimbledon and the Scottish Premier League by announcing it's support for the FSF's Safe Standing Campaign. Gavin Baldwin, chief executive of Doncaster Rovers, said: "During the 2006/07 season Doncaster Rovers moved into an all-seater stadium and since that time the club have implemented a no standing policy at home games. After continued dialogue with supporters through our fan engagement programme, In Rovers We Trust, it has become clear that a selection of supporters do wish to stand at matches. "The club believe that the creation of a safe standing area at the ground would allow these supporters to stand in a safe, controlled environment and allow them to have a match day experience that suits their needs. The club believe the creation of a safe standing area would also be of benefit to other fans at the ground who do not wish to stand, but sometimes are compelled at games due to having their view restricted due to people in front of them who attempt to. "We lend our support to the Football Supporters' Federation in their request for trials for safe standing systems."
The Safe Standing Roadshow visited the recent Fans Forum at the Keepmoat, and owners John Ryan, Dick Watson and Terry Brammall, along with Chief Exec Gavin Baldwin, were impressed with the rail system on show. Both DRFC and the VSC can't wait for systems such as these to be put on trial in the UK, hopefully in the not too distant future.
07 Jan 2013 - Walk The 92 Project
January 07, 2013, 11:24:00 pm
Print
Scott Mclachlan and the Walk The 92 Project is due to arrive in Doncaster on Sunday 13th January, and the VSC would like to invite as many Doncaster Rovers fans as possible to show their support for Scott on his quest to raise as much money as possible for Prostate Cancer UK. He is due to leave Scunthorpe, bound for Doncaster, on Thursday 10th January, arrive in Doncaster on 13th January, the on to Barnsley and arrive there on Tuesday 15th January. Anyone who would like to walk with Scott, buy him breakfast/lunch/dinner, or even put him up for the night are welcome to contact him via email at walkthe92project@gmail.com or his twitter account @Walkthe9T2. Full details on the Walk The 92 Project can be found at www.walkthe92.co.uk and on the facebook page.
Visit www.justgiving.com/Walkthe92 to make a donation and help Scott reach his target of £92,000.
09 Dec 2012 - VSC News: Ian DuerdenSome of you will be aware that one of the Rovers legends from the Conference years, Ian Duerden, is currently in the process of setting up a foundation for his son Oliver, who has an extremely rare genetic disorder. The VSC have invited Ian and his family to join us for a match in the future and they have accepted this offer, and we will release further details of this closer to the date. On the day we will be looking to increase awareness of Oliver's condition and raise some much needed funds for his foundation. I'm sure you will all agree this is an excellent cause and I know Ian will have your full support on the day.
We are also looking to set up a partnership with the Rovers official charity this season, Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice, which should hopefully see some of the families there attend a Rovers match in the future. That is just a brief outline of some of the things we are currently trying to do in increasing our work in the community, something we think the VSC may have slipped away from in recent years. We are essentially a Community Trust and it is important we are seen as this, rather than just as an extension of the Football Club. If you can think of anyone who might benefit from a great day out at the Rovers, or have any other ideas on how the VSC can increase our presence in the Community, then please feel free to email dave.burkitt@drfc-vsc.co.uk with your suggestions. Finally, I'd just like to point out that we cannot do any of this without our members. If you have not already done so, please consider becoming a member of the VSC by clicking on the Join VSC link at the top. You will not only be becoming part of an organisation that is a significant shareholder in the club you support, you will also be helping us to serve the local community.
30 Nov 2012 - Tomorrow's Rovers; Building a Better Future
On Saturday 24th of November, before our clash with
Scunthorpe United Lee Croft and Andy Audsley (VSC Directors) presented to James
Husband (on behalf of DRFC) a big cheque of £5,000. This donation comes on the
back of the VSC's Tomorrow's Rovers fundraising campaign. This development of local young players is, in the view of
the VSC Board, vital to the future of the club - a steady stream of players
developed in the Doncaster Rovers way, who understand the way we play because
that is the way they have been taught, and are able to come into the first team
and be comfortable, prepared and excel. 
or email nathan.batchelor@drfc-vsc.co.uk if
you would like to donate via an alternative method.
27 Nov 2012 - Oldham Athletic Programme Notes
What is the VSC?
The VSC is a registered Community Benefit Society (more commonly known as Industrial and Provident Societies) and as such are regulated by the Financial Services Authority and we have our own set of Rules which dictate what we can and can't do. A copy of the Rules which can be downloaded from http://www.drfc-vsc.co.uk/files/VSC-Rules-2012.doc Some of the rules you need to remember: The VSC is independent from DRFC and for the benefit of the Community it serves and not its members. Your share only remains your property so long as you remain paying your subscription. If you don't pay your subscription your share automatically becomes the property of the society The VSC is to conduct its business in a fair, open and democratic manner and encour- ages the club to do the same. The VSC: "A Model Trust" Following the In Rovers We Trust Project, the VSC has been recognised outside of Doncaster, being called a "Model Trust" by Supporters Direct and this recog- nition was acknowledged in the 2012 Fans Weekend between Supporters Direct and the Football supporters Federation. VSC Success: *Improved the VSC website and forum for the benefit of all DRFC supporters *The first 'Supporters Trust' in the country to incorporate the new Supporters Direct rules *Successfully introduced the 'fan engagement' concept to DRFC which became the DRFC 'In Rovers We Trust' campaign to significantly improve the relationship between the club and its core supporters. We are seeing the success of In Rovers We Trust now, such as pay on the gate trials at home cup fixtures *We have a Board member on the National Council of the Football Supporters Federation * We have a Board member on the Doncaster Football Partnership *Created our Community Panel to create opportunities for charitable work * A close working relationship with the Community Foundation team which resulted in the introduction of the Fit Fans Initiative and we assisted by donating a hospitality box for a Rovers game for the participants *Negotiated with the club on Season Ticket and match day prices plus encouraged the elimination of match categories. *Assisted with the creation of add-ons for Season Ticket holders *The behind the scenes work to ensure the Keepmoat Stadium was retained as a community benefit for the local community but especially DRFC supporters * We contributed to the 'Rovers Promise' and assisted with updating the clubs charter * Renaming of the Lakeside Bar to the Belle Vue Bar * Donated memorabilia to brighten up the Belle Vue Bar and launched a campaign for fans to be able to donate their memorabilia to display too. * Raised funds and donated VSC memorabilia to Billy Sharp's LJS Foundation * Sponsored children's football activities at the Keepmoat * Met with SYPTE and DRFC officials to resolve the post-match public transport issues. The VSC Board The VSC consists of a Board of 12 directors, each elected for a 2 year term by the VSC Membership. These directors donate their free time and expertise on your behalf to make decisions about the VSC, set the direction of the Society within the club and the community. The VSC Board meets once a month to ensure that they can deal with issues when they arise effectively and efficiently. All of the VSC Board Meetings are minuted and published in the VSC Members only section of the Forum. Chairman: Nathan Batchelor (nathan.batchelor@drfc-vsc.co.uk) Secretary:Martin O'Hara ( martin.ohara@drfc-vsc.co.uk) Treasurer: Mark Lister (mark.lister@drfc-vsc.co.uk) Vice Treasurer: Andy Audsley (andrew.audsley@drfc-vsc.co.uk) Membership Officer: Lee Croft (lee.croft@drfc-vsc.co.uk) Press/Communications Officer: Mike Follows (mike.follows@drfc-vsc.co.uk) Community Officer: Dave Burkitt (dave.burkitt@drfc-vsc.co.uk) Commercial Officer : Kevin Twell (kevin.twell@drfc-vsc.co.uk ) IT/Website Officer: Rob Willliams (rob.williams@drfc-vsc.co.uk) Board Members without portfolio: Glyn Wigley (glyn.wigley@drfc-vsc.co.uk), Martyn Bentley (martyn.bentley@drfc-vsc.co.uk), Rob Clark (rob.clark@drfc-vsc.co.uk) The VSC works hard to be the critical friend to the club, helping the club improve and meet the expectations of supporters. If you have not already done so, please renew or join the VSC. Membership only costs £12 to join, and you can pay £1 a month. By becoming a member of the VSC you are part of an organisation that is a significant shareholder in the club. To become a member visit www.drfc-vsc.co.uk and click on the Join VSC link at the top.
27 Nov 2012 - £5k DonationIf any of you missed it on Saturday, Lee Croft and Andy Audsley (VSC Directors) presented to James Husband (on behalf of DRFC) a big cheque of £5,000. This donation comes on the back of the VSC's Tomorrow's Rovers fundraising campaign.
We asked to present it to James Husband because his story is one that we hope becomes a common one for players of the Youth Team in the future. This development of local young players is, in the view of the VSC Board, vital to the future of the club - a steady stream of players developed in the Doncaster Rovers way, who understand the way we play because that is the way they have been taught, and are able to come into the first team and be comfortable, prepared and excel. We hope that this is the first of many donations from our Tomorrow's Rovers fund, and as such we hope that you keep supporting our cause by donating to the fund. We know times are hard, but see this as a very worthy cause with a tangible payback. Many supporters tell us that seeing local lads come through and pull on the iconic red and white hoops gives them an enormous sense of pride. Please support this cause by donating via Paypal by visitinghttps://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=2G226X939DH5U or email nathan.batchelor@drfc-vsc.co.uk if you would like to donate via an alternative method. As little or as much as you can give will be gratefully received, and move us closer to a better future of Doncaster boys playing for their local team! The future is bright! It's Red and White!! Rovers Till I Die!!!
10 Nov 2012 - VSC Programme Notes: AFC BournemouthGood afternoon to the visiting supporters of Bournemouth.The Cherries will be another good test for Rovers this afternoon.
The VSC is supporting the Rock4Youth event which is taking place at the Doncaster Dome on November 24th, commencing at 6pm. Rock 4Youth is a live music event that aims to showcase local unsigned musicians as well as provide a safe venue for young people, promote sport and music as positive outlets and as well as all this it will raise funds for charities and community projects in Doncaster that provide safe housing for those in need and those coming out of care. This is a brand new, innovative event is being planned in partnership by a number of local groups with the aim of providing a platform for Doncaster's young musicians as well as tackling head on the issues of anti social behaviour and hate crime by giving our youth the opportunity to get involved and make a difference for themselves and others. A three way headliner from Pure Pearl Jam, Kings ov Leon and UK Foo Fighters - Three of the Uk's top tribute bands Supported by two fantastic local bands Jery at Controls and The Unicorn Hunters Plus a second stage filled with some of the very best local acoustic artists If you are interested, please email Nathan Batchelor (nathan.batchelor@drfc-vsc.co.uk) for tickets. All tickets cost £10 and any sold by the VSC will give a few quid to the Tomorrow's Rovers project that we have started. As you will have hopefully have read about before, the VSC have purchased two multi game tickets. Already we have had some wonderful ideas sent to us which charities we can invite for a match to use the tickets. Once such request we have received is to help former player Ian Duerden with some fundraising for his poorly son (http://www.thepfa.com/news/2012/10/21/olivers-story?fwcc=1&fwcl=1&fwl=1) and this is something we have already actioned. Keep your eyes out for more information about that in the coming weeks. Please keep send ideas to Dave Burkitt, the VSC Community Officer (dave.burkitt@drfc-vsc.co.uk) Supporters Direct Europe (SD Europe) is launching its first position paper, 'The Heart of the Game: Why Supporters are Vital to Improving Governance in Football', at an event at hosted by Ivo Belet MEP at the European Parliament in Brussels on November 7th 2012. SD Europe has produced this paper in order to set out our key policy positions, and provide evidence to public institutions and football governing bodies of how supporter ownership and involvement can help improve European football. Recommendations to public authorities and football governing bodies include: a revival of the members' association model of club ownership, expansion of existing national networks of organised supporters' groups, and the implementation of club licensing and financial fair play rules in all European leagues. Football's key stakeholders will be present at the meeting, including UEFA, national associations and leagues, and Members of the European Parliament, Council and Commission. The VSC works hard to be the critical friend to the club, helping the club improve and meet the expectations of supporters. If you have not already done so, please renew or join the VSC. Membership only costs £12 to join, and you can pay £1 a month. By becoming a member of the VSC you are part of an organisation that is a significant shareholder in the club. To become a member visit www.drfc-vsc.co.uk and click on the Join VSC link at the top. The VSC Board would like to congratulate Nathan and Lucy Batchelor on the birth of Tiberius on last Saturday. Tiberius was born at midday, which allowed Nathan enough time to come to watch Rovers in the afternoon.
09 Nov 2012 - VSC Programme Notes: Crewe
A warm welcome to tonight's fixture against Crewe. Games against Crewe tend to be memorable, losing 8-0 at Gresty Road in the LDV, despite the fact that we could have been 2-0 within a few minutes, staging a dramatic comeback in the JPT at the Keepmoat to take us to the Millenium Stadium.
At the recent FA Youth Cup fixture, members of the VSC collected money for the Tomorrow's Rovers project and with an attendance of 208, managed to collect £140. Thanks to everyone who was there who donated. I am please to report that Rob Williams (VSC IT Officer) misread the memo about Tomorrows Rovers, and decided to create his own little Rover, congratulations to Rob and Amanda on the birth of Jessica. The VSC doesn't sell to its members a product or service as such, but what we do offer is crucial to the future of our football club and its supporters; we offer supporters a voice. We meet regularly with club officials to discuss the issues that matter most to you. When we take an issue to the club we would like to think that this comes from the majority of Rovers Supporters and the only way to make us even more representable of the Rovers fan-base is by having as many Rovers fans as possible members of the VSC to make a real influence off the pitch. We do also get involved on the pitch as well: This season the VSC has sponsored midfield maestro James Harper and as such that sponsorship is the property of each and every member of the VSC. We also support the future of the club on and off the pitch; we have sponsored two youth academy teams this year and by doing so we are increasing the chances of a future DRFC team being full of players who have been brought up through the academy to play for our club. We have also donated in the past to a fund solely designated for the use of local youth teams in and around our community. Not only that but we also offer much to the Rovers Community; we advertise and allow local businesses to raise their profile amongst Rovers fans, we have engaged on a number of Community activities and donated to worthwhile local charities. The VSC Board is made up of individuals who donate their free time to benefit its members and the wider Rovers fan-base, and it is these people who need your support so that they can help the VSC grow even further. The VSC continues its great reputation of a good relationship with not just John Ryan but other club officials such as Shaun Lockwood and Gavin Baldwin so that we can go directly to the people we need to sort out issues of our supporters. This year the VSC Board took a very brave decision to slash the VSC Membership price by more than half, a dramatic decrease from £27 to £12 was undertaken and we now allow fans to pay £1 per month or £12 per year, whichever they find is easier, each year £1 of a new members subscription will be the cost of their share in the Society. Now the VSC needs to see as many fans as possible jumping on board with this great opportunity to not only increase our membership dramatically but increase the number of fans we represent as our members. The club will only continue to listen if our membership continues to grow and therefore it is very true that the bigger our membership the louder our voice! If you have not already done so, please renew or join the VSC. Membership only costs £12 to join, and you can pay £1 a month. By becoming a member of the VSC you are part of an organisation that is a significant shareholder in the club. To become a member visit www.drfc-vsc.co.uk and click on the Join VSC link at the top. Any problems email Lee Croft (Membership Officer) lee.croft@drfc-vsc.co.uk Thanks Nathan Batchelor (Chair)
09 Nov 2012 - VSC Programme Notes: Bradford PAJust in case you missed in today's VSC programme article Welcome to our guests from Bradford Park Avenue for today's FA Cup tie. It is a warm welcome to Mark Hume, Rob O"Brien and Martin Drury, who have all played first team games for Rovers. The latter two coming through the Rovers youth team, which ties in nicely for a plug for our Tomorrow's Rovers project. The development of local young players is, in the view of the VSC Board, vital to the future of the club - a steady stream of players developed in the Doncaster Rovers way, who understand the way we play because that is the way they have been taught, and are able to come into the first team and be comfortable, prepared and excel. We spoke with the club about barriers to the young players' development, and the resounding response was transport. The club need a dedicated minibus to take young players to away matches, training opportunities, development days, etc, and these are opportunities that some squads are missing out on, so we have decided to run a fundraising drive to sponsor a second youth team to assist the club in securing that minibus for the benefit of all the young players at the club. The Tomorrow's Rovers project gives us all a chance to invest in the future of our club and the future of Doncaster's talented young players. We know times are hard, but see this as a very worthy cause with a tangible payback. Many supporters tell us that seeing local lads come through and pull on the iconic red and white hoops gives them an enormous sense of pride. To make a donation please visit www.drfc-vsc.co.uk As you may already know Rob Clark has stepped down as Acting Chair of the VSC. Before the rumour mill starts going into overdrive with "something must have gone on" or "told you there would be a power struggle"-type conspiracy theories, can I just add that the truth is nowhere near as racey as that. Simply put, he had the backing of all the other Directors to continue as permanent Chair but his personal circumstances were going to prevent him from dedicating as much time as he would want to over the coming months so he decided to step aside to allow someone else to take up the reigns. Rob is not disappearing completely, more stepping in to the shadows for a bit, and he will still be around to support projects as they develop. The whole Board want to place on record their thanks and appreciation to Rob Clark for the work he has done as Chairman. The VSC has started work (key word is started) on some wonderful projects and In Rovers We Trust has only just begun and we are getting some wonderful results already on the back of it. Still a lot to be done, but I would like to think we are going in the right direction and that is down to Rob. The Board discussed on Thursday 25th October the officers that should be appointed and it was debated about what was needed in what areas to help the VSC progress. From there various officers were appointed by the Board which were all unanimously agreed: Chairman: Nathan Batchelor (nathan.batchelor@drfc-vsc.co.uk)
As the VSC is a Community Benefit Society the board acknowledged the importance of this and made an example of how sucessful the Community scheme is at DRFC. It was conversed that the VSC is better equiped at present to partner with DRFC in its community work until it had gathered enough momentum before doing its own campaign. The Board did agree that the VSC can however take part in small charitable work and a scenario about the VSC getting involved and helping out with local voluntary work, the example of pushing an appeal for volunteers to repaint a local park and help renovate a local park was given which was widely accepted by the Board. The commercial aspect of the Trust was discussed and this is an area the VSC should look to exploit to increase it's revenue stream and it's reputation amongst the businesses in the community. Can I take this opportunity to thank the Park Inn Hotel for allowing us the use of their large meeting room free of charge for our monthly Board meetings.
As you may have seen we have purchased two multi game tickets to use for worthy causes. Alongside our sponsorship of two youth teams and one player we are always looking for ideas that reflect our values as VSC people. If you would like to see us doing certain things in other areas then shout up, we'll listen to anything sensible. It's your money, so suggest how we can spend it. Please send ideas to Dave Burkitt, the VSC Community Officer (dave.burkitt@drfc-vsc.co.uk) The VSC works hard to be the critical friend to the club, helping the club improve and meet the expectations of supporters. If you have not already done so, please renew or join the VSC. Membership only costs £12 to join, and you can pay £1 a month. By becoming a member of the VSC you are part of an organisation that is a significant shareholder in the club. To become a member visit www.drfc-vsc.co.uk and click on the Join VSC link at the top.
|
