Post by QPR Report on Jun 10, 2009 11:54:47 GMT
Football League - TRUST STAGES FIRST CONFERENCE
More than 200 representatives from Football League clubs, their community and youth development departments and partner organisations gathered at Doncaster Rovers' Keepmoat Stadium last week, for the first ever Football League Trust conference.
The conference gave delegates the opportunity to share ideas and best practice with their colleagues from other clubs, attend workshops on some of the key aspects of their work and hear presentations from invited guest speakers.
These included Culture Secretary Andy Burnham MP, on what proved to be his last day in the position before his move to the position of Secretary of State for Health in last week's cabinet re-shuffle.
Burnham took the opportunity to praise the work being done by clubs in their local communities since the formation of the Trust in 2008. "Football has a fantastic story to tell and we should all resolve to tell it locally and nationally, I pay tribute to The Football League Trust for the impact it has made," he said.
In looking back on the changes in the relationship between football clubs and government during the last decade Burnham said, "It's been a massive sea-change in ten years and confidence has built on both sides. Back in 1999 it was not an easy thing to convince any part of the statutory system to invest in a football club.
"The work we have been talking to Lord Mawhinney at The Football League about, regarding improving financial governance is an important part of that story. The more that Football League clubs show they are well-run, trustworthy partners then that government money, from whatever source, can continue to come."
The Minister also took the opportunity to outline the Government's vision for the role that Football League clubs can play in their local area.
He said, "Clubs are on a journey and are moving back towards their communities. I honestly believe that we could see football club community programmes becoming the main provider of sport in local authority areas.
"My department has an ambition to get two million more people active by the London Olympics in 2012. We all know it is football that has the extra reach to help make that happen."
In reflecting on a successful first Football League Trust conference, its General Manager Dave Edmundson said, "This conference has been an excellent way to finish off an outstanding first 18 months for the Trust. Hopefully, it will also inspire everyone in the room to continue building on that progress.
"I was particularly delighted that the Culture Secretary could be here to recognise the contribution being made by club community and youth development programmes. I am grateful for the ongoing support that his department give to the Trust and I very much look forward to continuing that positive partnership with his successor Ben Bradshaw."
www.football-league.co.uk/page/FLTrustNewsDetail/0,,10794~1689945,00.html
More than 200 representatives from Football League clubs, their community and youth development departments and partner organisations gathered at Doncaster Rovers' Keepmoat Stadium last week, for the first ever Football League Trust conference.
The conference gave delegates the opportunity to share ideas and best practice with their colleagues from other clubs, attend workshops on some of the key aspects of their work and hear presentations from invited guest speakers.
These included Culture Secretary Andy Burnham MP, on what proved to be his last day in the position before his move to the position of Secretary of State for Health in last week's cabinet re-shuffle.
Burnham took the opportunity to praise the work being done by clubs in their local communities since the formation of the Trust in 2008. "Football has a fantastic story to tell and we should all resolve to tell it locally and nationally, I pay tribute to The Football League Trust for the impact it has made," he said.
In looking back on the changes in the relationship between football clubs and government during the last decade Burnham said, "It's been a massive sea-change in ten years and confidence has built on both sides. Back in 1999 it was not an easy thing to convince any part of the statutory system to invest in a football club.
"The work we have been talking to Lord Mawhinney at The Football League about, regarding improving financial governance is an important part of that story. The more that Football League clubs show they are well-run, trustworthy partners then that government money, from whatever source, can continue to come."
The Minister also took the opportunity to outline the Government's vision for the role that Football League clubs can play in their local area.
He said, "Clubs are on a journey and are moving back towards their communities. I honestly believe that we could see football club community programmes becoming the main provider of sport in local authority areas.
"My department has an ambition to get two million more people active by the London Olympics in 2012. We all know it is football that has the extra reach to help make that happen."
In reflecting on a successful first Football League Trust conference, its General Manager Dave Edmundson said, "This conference has been an excellent way to finish off an outstanding first 18 months for the Trust. Hopefully, it will also inspire everyone in the room to continue building on that progress.
"I was particularly delighted that the Culture Secretary could be here to recognise the contribution being made by club community and youth development programmes. I am grateful for the ongoing support that his department give to the Trust and I very much look forward to continuing that positive partnership with his successor Ben Bradshaw."
www.football-league.co.uk/page/FLTrustNewsDetail/0,,10794~1689945,00.html