In normal times one of the most popular Trust initiatives is director of the day, when a Trust member, drawn at random is invited, with a guest, to join the home and visiting directors for lunch and then on to the boardroom before watching the game in the directors’ area of the IP Office stand.
Sadly, Covid restrictions mean we are unable to do this at present so instead we have launched the Trust Match Day Thank You.
Three Trust members, again drawn at random, are contacted at the beginning of the week of a home fixture, in time to include their names in the match day programme. After the match we will send our winners the programme, a limited-edition Trust 20 2020 badge, and a car sticker. A modest thank you for your continuing support.
Rest assured, Director for the Day will be back as soon as Covid restrictions allow us to do it safely, but for now we catch up with some of those supporters who we have been delighted to thank ahead of this afternoon's game against Cheltenham Town.
Louis Short has been going to games since August 1945 when his Dad took him to his first game, home to Swindon Town and 6,301 saw a 1-1 draw. He remembers it well as it was raining throughout and the Cowshed was packed to capacity so he and his Dad stood at the top of the Bank under the trees. He then went to his second game, home to Reading when there was a 9,000 crowd to see a 5-1 win and that was that, he was hooked. His favourite player over the years Alan Banks, a real gentleman. His favourite game is split between the FA Cup replay, the 4-0 home win over Newcastle in 1981; and the League Cup game against Sheffield Wednesday in 1968, a 3-1 home win. Louis isn’t watching iFollow (although his son is) preferring the Radio Devon commentary who do a great job. Really likes the youngsters coming through, Collins, Page, Key, Jay etc.
Stuart Price has been going to games since October 1980, coincidentally also a home game versus Swindon when we lost 4-3 but at least the great Kellow scored two and unknowingly set their paths on a collision course over the next thirty years, with Stuart working for and then following in Kells in managing the Centre Spot (the Captain for Swindon that day was Chris Kamara). His favourite game was the win away at Oxford in the play-off final to take us to penalties and thus to Wembley for the first ever time in our history just as it reopened – shame about the result but at least we put it right the following season Favourite player is of course Tony Kellow. He’s watching iFollow, probably about 90% of games, home and away, he thinks the team are doing better than he thought they would and have done today with a great 4-0.
Jamie Withaker has been going to games since 1998 and his favourite player has progressed through the years from Darren Rowbotham on to Richard Logan then Ollie Watkins. His favourite game is the 3-3 against Yeovil on March 25, 2017, the atmosphere was fabulous and the match had everything finishing with goals from Wheeler 88’, Brown 91’, and then Reid 92’; amazing scenes in front of 5,492 supporters. Those who left early really missed out! He’s not able to watch iFollow due to two young children needing his attention making it not practical. Jamie thinks they are doing okay though a few disappointing results recently but a good bounce back to win 4-0 today.
Comments