So who are the “Friends of Slough Town”?

[Nathan]

As published here

 

Quote:

So who are the “Friends of Slough Town”?

 

The only answers you will get to this question come from occasional mentions in the Slough Express. No one else seems to have had contact with them---least of all the club or the Supporters Trust.

 

In an article in the Express on 17th December, the 3 members of the “action group” are mentioned as Bryce Martin (Express Journalist), Bob Breen (Former Chief executive of Slough Town FC under Alan Thorne), and John Gower (former secretary of the pre 1992 members club).

 

Their stated aim is to try to help get the club a home back in the borough, and have met on 3 occasions with council officials, Mr Stokes and an unnamed councillor.

 

They are quoted as saying “We are trying to define the council’s responsibilities and get a commitment to a solution. We are re-examining all the previous proposals together with some new ones, which might lead to finding the club a permanent home in Slough. This includes looking at whether the club could return to Wexham Park.

 

We have offered to try to facilitate a meeting between the council and the Thorne’s to discover whether there is anything at all to negotiate. If the answer is no, then there is a need for alternatives.

 

We have made it clear that the problem is the councils and that they must come up with a solution. This means that some sort of proposal must be offered to the Thorne family to discuss. They may not be interested, in which case we should waste no more time on it and that may be the end of the involvement of the Friends of Slough Town”

 

RebelsOnline strongly doubts that a return to Wexham Park is feasible, and wonders if it’s a case of putting all their eggs in one basket. Nevertheless, we wish them success, but wish they would forge some contacts with the supporters trust, as if they don’t, their motives will continue to be doubted.

 

[Burnham Lad]

Nathan,

 

Thanks for posting this - very interesting!

 

Does anybody know any of these guys or anything about them? It seems strange that two of them have obviously had good links with the club in the past, but do not seem to have anything to do with the club now - do any of them come and watch games for instance? Not making contact with even the Trust seems odd as well as one would think they would be looking for some kind of support for anything that they try to do.

 

It is not clear what would happen even if they found some solution - supposing they found another ground or even, and it is most unlikely, persuaded the Thornes to do a deal, how would they manage to persuade the owners to go along with it, when the FRUS Board apparently have no idea what is going on, or any part in it?

 

And whatever happened to Rebel Yell or Rebel Moan or whatever his name was - anything to do with this group? Who knows!

 

You make the point that they have not contacted "us" - does anybody think it is worth us contacting them, since they appear to be able to have a conversation with the esteemed Stokes?

 

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[Ian]

I wrote Cllr Stokes a letter the other day suggesting he might like to get the Friends of Slough group to talk to both the club and the supporters seems as they think they're working in our best interests. I haven't had a reply yet.

[Bernie Gogan]

I know Bob Breen, an Old Paludian (Slough Grammar) and former Slough Town player. I played football with him at Old Pals, but haven't seen him for years, pretty much since he moved to Ireland to take over a similar role at a club there. I wasn't aware he was back.

 

I haven't seen John Gower at games for years.

 

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[SteveDelaney]

Talking to John Tebitt on coach coming back from Eastleigh and he informed me that John Gower now lives in Maidenhead can remember him from the seventies did a lot of work as the supporters secretary was a big fan of the Rebels then moved away from Berkshire have'nt seen him at a game for years this also goes for the other two.

All three have a lot of knowledge of local football as well as knowledge of SLOUGH TOWN.

As with all clubs there is a lot of politics going on between different factions in and around it, which is beyond the regular fan who just goes to support his/her team.

All parties should be working together and not against each other for the best interests of the club and its future, and not for there own interests.

[GarySTFC]

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All parties should be working together and not against each other for the best interests of the club and its future, and not for there own interests.

Agree totally Steve, but why haven't the FOS been in contact with the body elected to represent the supporters? If we're all pulling in the same direction, how on earth can they know what we want from the long term if they don't speak to us?

[Burnham Lad]

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Quote:

All parties should be working together and not against each other for the best interests of the club and its future, and not for there own interests.

Agree totally Steve, but why haven't the FOS been in contact with the body elected to represent the supporters? If we're all pulling in the same direction, how on earth can they know what we want from the long term if they don't speak to us?

Sounds like the "Friends of Slough" are just being used by Stokes and Co to make it look as if they are doing something. I cannot believe that three guys with the STFC records that these apparently have, if they had the interests of the club at heart, would be in a position where nobody has seen sight nor sound of them for years. I would have expected that their interest would at least be known to people who know them.

So all Stokes plans to do is sit tight and pretend - in 18 months time we REALLY have no ground and Mr Deaner's guarantee of three years rent runs out...... What then? I can hear him shouting "RESULT" already!

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[Barry Scott]

I believe Bob Breen is the commercial director of Waterford United in the Irish Premier league (just for the record)

[Martin]

Quote:

Sounds like the "Friends of Slough" are just being used by Stokes and Co to make it look as if they are doing something.

Exactly, it is so he has a neat answer to the question - what have you been doing to help Slough Town. What he will not add to that response is that the FOS do not own the club, have no current direct connection to the club, as far as I am aware they have not approached the club and finally they have not approached the supporters or the Trust.

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

Forget FOS, the only way forward is though the trust and the fans controling the club.

 

The Thornes and Deaner have only had links to the club for finacial gain - the Thornes have got Wexham park for a knock down price and are waiting for planning permision. Martyn has been less sucsessful as he has not "yet" got a site for the ground and HOTEL.

 

With the trust owning the team and ground all the money can stay in the club and the direction of the club is secured.

 

The only problem with the trust owning the club it MONEY, somthing which is in short supply.

 

The figure of £150,000 has been quoted as how much Martyn puts into the club each year, how acurate this is is debatable - however if the fans had to cough up this amount each year you could assume that 150 core fans would each have to find £1000 each - currently a season ticket is no more than £100, so there is quite a difference!

 

I am not sure that I would be able to make that commitment each year, so the only other way to fund the club is through commercial ventures.

 

Did any one win the lottery at the weekend?

[A Rebel and a Saint]

Sorry no!

Have you thought of doing a syndicate as a group of Slough fans though? That could produce some good money - just put any winnings straight into the club. How does that sound? A pound or two a week from all the die hard fans i think?

[brighton_rebel]

I agree with Staines. I would love the Trust to have the money to run the club, but we would seriously have to get fundraising.

I know we are a lot smaller, but look how Exeter fans have turned it around at their club thanks to a brillant Trust.

Maybe i'll start doing the lottery.

 

brighton rebel

[Guest]

I too, don't see what the FOS can do that has not been tried before, do we want to return to Wexham Park with all its associated problems ?? (NO) thanks...until the site could be owned either by the council or by the supporters !

 

Its a scame that Stokes is using to deflect the missed opportunity that we had including the people of Britwell.... even this week cllr wright claims nothing is happening for the people and kids of Britwell again ! Janick think's by putting up a few fences crime has halfed !he lives in cloud cockoo land .... and proves this every week !

 

If we get a new piece of land, we could work hard to obtain grants etc etc off our own and help with the football foundation , supporters direct and govenment departments for sport !

 

I spoke with David Mac Issac again last week ! telling him that we need help and working together we can acheive something to shout about for the town ! if they fail to respond , it will be at their peril at the ballot box next time round, because the people of Slough have finally relised what a shambles they are ! and votes will be lost....and they will be out....

 

cheers chris s