I.T.F.C. North of England Supporters AGM 2008
12.00 Noon,Saturday, 19th January 2008
Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool
The ITFC North of England Supporters
Club’s AGM and a buffet was held at Blackpool on January 19th and seventy+
joined in, including representatives from ITFC, the Supporters Club, and West
Anglia, Midlands & Northern Ireland Branches. After the game
thirty-seven attended an ITFC video presentation followed by dinner in the
evening. They then adjourned with other members and supporters who had stayed for
the weekend to test the delights of a blustery Blackpool into the small hours.
Kevin Beattie was the guest of
honour and was on great form as he joined the members throughout the day (and
night). Those of you who travelled
to Blackpool will have seen that ‘the Beat’ joined the fans on the terraces
for the match. The day was captured on video, which was featured on Anglia
TV.
It was the end of an era with
Jon Craig a founder member of the former North West Branch stepping down as
Chairman following his move back south. He along
with Colin Foster, the retiring Treasurer, were treated to well deserved
praise and thanks, and signed ITFC shirts, in appreciation of the work they had
put into developing the Branch.
Jordan
Rhodes is sponsored by the Branch and a signed shirt of his raised £340 in a
raffle, helping to ensure that they will continue to sponsor an Academy player
next season. Providing support to
the Academy is one of the main aims of the membership. An annual subscription from their ninety-five adult members
and other fund raising activities have enabled the Branch to graduate from being
‘a friend of the Academy’ to providing player sponsorship during the past
five seasons.
The
Blues Foundation provides another valuable contribution to the Academy and Tony
Freitas spoke on how joining this gives members the opportunity to win a massive
£18,780 super jackpot and many other ITFC related prizes throughout the season.
For branches that work with Tony in encouraging members to join the
Foundation there is a signing up fee to help bolster their development funds.
Kevin
Beattie brought along a shirt signed by Bobby Robson and himself, and an England
baseball cap signed by Mills, Crawford and himself and these along with sales of
CD’s raised over £250 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Kevin was also kind enough to autograph cards for the twenty-two junior
members and provide signed merchandise for future events.
During
the AGM, Liz Edwards let it slip that she used to ‘stalk’ Kevin Beattie at
the training ground in her younger days and had a perm to match his.
As Kevin said, his perm has long gone but he has never been averse to
being stalked by young women.
Liz
described how in her new role as Chairperson, the Supporters Club was being
developed further. Branches in
Serbia and Italy have recently been set-up and she encouraged closer,
strengthened links between individual branches in order that each could learn
from one another on how to develop stronger ties with supporters in their areas.
The success of the day
prompted Liz to call for an away day next season to be organised in the
north to which members of all ITFC Supporters Clubs can be invited to
participate and the Branch has every intention of making that just as great a
day out as was had by all in Blackpool.
The Branch represents ITFC exiles living in the North of
England. Members of all ages and
levels of support are catered for; from those who attend every game to those who
just like to keep in touch with fellow Ipswich Town supporters from ‘up
north’. Details of how to join
can be found at www.itfc and by contacting
secretary@itfcnorth.co.uk
