Trojans Clubhouse Development - a message from Trojans Chairman Mike Watts

The Trojans Clubhouse Replacement

Can I ask that you carefully consider the attached document. “My Sport, Our Club, One Goal”

I am sure we all want a clubhouse we can be proud of; a safe and pleasant space for all of our members, their families, friends and guests. Equally important is that the club house is a profitable asset, not a burden, generating ongoing investment for our sport sections and members.

In short, our clubhouse is central to both our member offer and our future viability.

We are rapidly approaching a key decision point regarding the replacement of our ageing clubhouse facility. A decision that members will be asked to take once your board of directors has finalised a recommendation from the best information available to it in May. An important consideration is that we need to start the construction soon or risk losing some of the hard-won grants already secured.

To progress we urgently need to evaluate how much in one-off and regular donations we can achieve from a member’s appeal while also working to secure further funding and new income sources.

What is my immediate ask

Can you make or do you know someone who would make a one off or regular donation to our club and this amazing cause for our community?

We have already secured several generous member pledges but appreciate not all are in a position to give a large lump sum or similar. However, if you are and would like to do so, then please let me know via email or for lesser amounts donate now via our form.

If thinking about a smaller or regular donation here are some ideas of where you might pitch that.

• Regular donations of say £5 a week “a buy the club a regular drink concept” would require just 200 people to secure c £50000 pa. This could materially underpin regular income that could service borrowing, while we secure other income opportunities we’re working on.
• Parents or friends of the club might like to become affiliate members (non-playing, non-voting) current fee £25pa
• Grandparents or those thinking about inheritance planning might consider a gift of say £250

All donations are ringfenced solely for the purpose of delivering the new club house. If you don’t want to give money but would be prepared to loan the club funds, an indication of this at this point would also be most useful. We are actively exploring a few lending opportunities and will finalise the offer to members in light of that soon.

With a fair wind we will start work this summer and have emerging and usable new facilities by next spring. So, get ready to book your place for the celebrations soon.

Thankyou in anticipation of your support for our great club, and here’s to another 150 years of thriving Trojans

Yours in friendship and sport

Mike Watts President & Chair of the Board of Directors