Farnborough Supporters Trust

We seem to be fated with our Race Night which, due to the rescheduling of the away match at Banbury means our latest date of January 19 will have to be postponed once more. We'll update you when we feel confident again!

FaST Programme notes – Oxford

Many thanks to everyone who gave so generously to the bucket collection on Saturday in memory of Richard Walden and for a charity of his family’s choice. The charity selected was Frimley Park Hospital and we are able to send them a cheque for a rounded-up sum of £300

The 50/50 draw at the Nuneaton match was won AGAIN(!) by John Coakley whose ticket 10315 won him  £89. John was good enough to donate £20 of his prize to the Ground Development Fund. Pat and John's efforts with the buckets gathered an excellent £103.20.The £40 Platinum Lounge 'Guess the Crowd' prize was won by Chris Baltzer with a guess of 1177. The actual attendance was 1180. The Oxford 50/50 draw raised £112 for the winner – another fantastic result.

PRE Development

The stand has sprung back to life in the past week and it is worth reminding everyone that your donations to FaST since it was formed have resulted in an extraordinary total of around £75,000, of which £23,000 has been raised specifically towards the PRE development. The most recent cheque for £4,000 was presented to Simon Hollis last week. We are planning a major new fund-raiser to launch as early as possible in 2010, but meanwhile here are the two currently running:

FaST Race Night

The new date for the Race Night is Tuesday January 19, in the Platinum Lounge. Doors open 7.00pm, first of eight races is at 7.30 and there will be full upstairs bar service throughout. All races are now sponsored, but there will an opportunity to buy remaining horses and jockeys and have the chance to win a CD of your choice.

Buy a paver

We plan to place our next order of pavers for the Walk of Fame inside the turnstiles early in the New Year. So, if you want your name, or that of a friend, your company, or any other (very) brief message, you have until January 1 to place your order for this phase. Don’t worry though – the scheme will be continuing

Away travel and insurance

Full details of away travel appear on the web site and are regularly updated. Remember too that the prices quoted are for a part-full coach and will go down as the bookings go up! Here as a reminder, are the next three:BEDFORD, Saturday December 19, Coach leaves - 11:30 am, FaST members £16; Non-members £18; Under 16 £9

 BASHLEY ,Saturday December 26, Coach leaves - 11:30 am, FaST members £15; Non-members £17; Under 16 £8. STOURBRIDGE, Monday December 28, Coach leaves - 10:30 am, FaST members £21; Non-members £23; Under 16 £11. We have recently been double-checking on our insurance for away travel, and coach travellers will be pleased to know we are fully covered for postponement or abandonment of matches, travel disruption (accident or breakdown) and personal accident…..so you can travel cheaply, with confidence and in comfort!    

Enjoy today’s game and COME ON YOU YELLOWWSSAA!!

David Hughes

http://www.farnboroughtrust.org.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , phone 01276 28354, fax 01276 24595

It is more than appropriate that our FA Trophy opponents today are Newport County, another of several clubs who like us, benefitted from the great football played by the man whose passing both teams are honouring today – Richard Walden. Today’s bucket collection will go to a charity of the choice of Richard’s family so please give generously.

Fellow FaST Board member Garry Ward remembers Richard well, and adds these words:-

“Richard Walden a true Boro legend who was probably the classiest, most solid and consistent player that ever donned the right back shirt for Farnborough Town FC. A true leader respected by his team mates and who led by example in captaining the side on many occasions in his 5 year term at the club. 

His first game for Boro was in August 1982 following a distinguished Football League career spanning 17 years and 656 appearances. What a coup for Ted Pearce to sign such an experienced player and form another part of the vital puzzle making up a team ready for promotion to the Isthmian Premier. This was achieved in 1984/85 and then consolidation in the Premier Division. Richard not only produced reliable and consistent defensive performances from his right back berth but these were characterised with his regular forays down the right wing and penetrating crosses which often led to a Boro goal. In fact, Richard possessed a fine shooting ability himself and scored 35 goals in his 217 appearances partly due to his welcome sideline of clinically putting away penalties. He always kept a cool head in the most pressurised circumstances.  

His three League clubs were Aldershot (1964-75 - 405 apps 16 goals), Sheffield Wednesday (1976-77 - 100 apps 1 goal) and Newport County (1978-81 - 151 apps 2 goals). He was managed at both Sheffield Wednesday and Newport County by Len Ashurst who referred to him on one occasion at a post match press conference after a particularly fine performance as a 'Rolls Royce' of a full back and this description was to stay with him for the rest of his career.

It is also a little known fact that Richard created history in the professional game when he became the first player to be the subject of the Tribunal system when he was transferred from Sheffield Wednesday to Newport County in 1978.

Richard gave many good memories to all of us who had the privilege to watch him.

FaST Race Night, Pavers, A reminder that the new date for the Race Night is Tuesday January 19 in the Platinum Lounge. Doors open 7.00pm, first of 8 races is at 7.30. Also the closing date for the next batch of pavers is January 1,2010 – application forms at FaST table. Last Saturday’s bucket collection raise £103.20, the 50/50 draw brought £89 for the winner, and Guess the Crowd for Wealdstone & Chippenham totalled £54.

Enjoy today’s game and COME ON YOU YELLOWWSSAA!!

David Hughes

http://www.farnboroughtrust.org.uk This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , phone 01276 28354, fax 01276 24595