Inaugural Meetings
Thursday 27th November 2003

Chairman's Comment

For those who were unable to attend last night’s inaugural public meeting we were able to inform supporters of our proposals and recommendations for the setting up of the trust fund for Newport Rugby Football Club.

The attendance figure varies depending on who you ask, but my own estimate was that this figure was in excess of 150 supporters. Considering all of the turmoil surrounding rugby in our area, which has on occasions directly affected our club, I think that we can be well satisfied with that turn out. On behalf of the trust fund committee and myself I would therefore like to thank those supporters who attended last night.

The good news, which I am absolutely delighted to be able to give you, is that we secured a unanimous mandate to push ahead with the launch of the trust fund and for the current committee to continue in their current posts. I am sure that those people who know me and/or who have followed Gareth Davies and my campaign to bring this trust fund about, will appreciate that this is an extremely proud and special moment for us both. I said at the outset that I would oversee the setting up of a trust fund that was worthy of our great club and their supporters. From the feedback that I received following last night’s meeting, I believe that we have convinced supporters that we can achieve that and so we will all continue to work hard to make sure that it does happen.

Can I place on record my thanks to and pride in my committee colleagues for all that they have achieved over the past few weeks. I can tell you from first hand experience that they have all worked extremely hard on behalf of the supporters to bring this milestone about. I believe that yesterday’s meeting and its unanimous, positive outcome is yet another historic achievement for this great club and its supporters. Members of the committee should therefore, take great pride in their part in that achievement.

We hope to move on now towards the launch of the trust fund some time early in the New Year. Unlike last night’s public meeting it is my intention that the launch should be a celebration of the trust fund’s birth and of the magnificent supporters of Newport Rugby Football Club. All will be welcome. We will give out further details once a date for the launch is set.

Andrew Cox
Chairman
Friday, 28th November, 2003