Seagulls Future Trust - Press Release

Alan Kelly on hand to launch Seagulls Future Trust

Irish football legend Alan Kelly was on hand earlier this week to officially launch the Seagulls Future Trust.

The Seagulls Future Trust a new charity initiative set up independently from Bray Wanderers Football Club and from the official supporters clubs with the ultimate objective of fundraising for Bray Wanderers FC and to most importantly help improve the facilities within the Carlisle Grounds.

The Seagulls Future Trust is the brainchild of a number of Bray Wanderers fans that came together at the end of the 2009 season with the idea of helping drive the club forward. Following 5 years of competing in the Premier Division, Bray Wanderers were relegated to the 1st Division and with it, an obvious drop in income – Vital income that helps Bray Wanderers survive. Something had to be done. The Seagulls Future Trust was set up to help with 1st Division life. Now that Bray Wanderers are back in the Premier Division, this should put the Trust in an even stronger position to help club and community both prosper.

The Seagulls Future Trust was set up by supporters for supporters and will ensure that Bray Wanderers and the Carlisle Grounds will prosper in the years to come both on and off the field. As a collective unit the members of the Trust can have a big input and say into the security of Bray Wanderers Football Club, by providing funding both on and off the pitch.

Following months of research and discussions with a number of various trusts throughout Ireland and the UK, it was decided that this was the best way possible to play our part in helping Bray Wanderers grow within our community.

There are a few differences between what we will be doing and what other trusts are doing. Yes we will be raising funds for Bray Wanderers, but it will be our members who decide on how it will be spent. We will also be acting as a community developer with all of the underage teams within our area. No funds raised will go to the operating costs of the club, we will be concentrating on the upgrade and development of the Carlisle Grounds, community projects and if the team manager approaches us the possible purchase of players to help the club on the field.

*The Seagulls Future Trust is registered in Ireland with the Registrar of friendly societies and is bound by Irish company law. A yearly financial report will be released to members, and it our members and our members alone who will de who will have voting rights on all aspects of the Society's business.

Football in Ireland over the years has struggled to live with it more illustrious cousins in the UK and on main land Europe and we have several clubs have all come very close to going out of business for one reason or another, while more than one club has gone out of business because of off the field activities.

The Seagulls Future Trust is here for the long run and wants to build stable foundations and integrate itself into helping Bray Wanderers have a bright future both on and off the field.

Speaking at the Launch Alan Kelly Junior, who has over 50 international caps for the Republic of Ireland and has been installed as the Seagulls Future Trust Hon. Life President, stated that he was absolutely delighted to be associated with such a fantastic charity initiative. He said “The Seagulls Future Trust is a fantastic idea, it really gives the local community of Bray Wanderers Football Club a real say in the club, it’s the first time in the clubs history anything like this has been done and I would urge anybody who has an interest in sport and helping develop your community to sign up today”

Several companies have joined forces with the Seagulls Future Trust and it’s members. All members who sign up will receive a Membership Pack that includes an Official Membership Card, an EastCoast FM VIP card that offers over 20 discounts and special offers within selected companies within Wicklow, a €100.00 voucher from American Holidays and a chance to win up to €10,000 in the weekly lotto.

Also speaking at the launch was Anthony Rooney, He said “we are thrilled Alan has decided to come on board with us, it lends real weight to what we are trying to achieve. For anyone wishing to sign up they can do so straight away via our pal pay account or even cheque, you can even just make a small donation instead of signing up to the full year. We will have our €7.00 per week standing order scheme open very shortly which make it even easier for people to sign up.

For details on how to sign up to the Seagulls Future Trust and for a full set of *society rules and regulations please see www.seagullsfuturetrust.ie or call Darren 0876816550 on OR Ken on 0861690093.