Minutes of the meeting

I have the book so if you or anyone wants to sign it feel free to conatct me,in tilbury most days,07929 752 748.

I signed the book on the night, but my son who is a supporter wishes to sign the book, where would he be able to do this?

welshexileddocker wrote:Really glad to see that its Barry Wilson (not Williams ) involved in the proposed new set up. Barry was a superb Chairman and I am really delighted he wishes to become involved. Can I please ask if any of the officials present at last nights meeting will be involved with the meeting with the F.A. due to take place next week. Any feedback will be appreciated.

The only one presant will be Mark Southgate

Really glad to see that its Barry Wilson (not Williams ) involved in the proposed new set up. Barry was a superb Chairman and I am really delighted he wishes to become involved. Can I please ask if any of the officials present at last nights meeting will be involved with the meeting with the F.A. due to take place next week. Any feedback will be appreciated.

IN CHESTER WE TRUST

Thanks very much for the superb minutes supplied. It has opened my eyes as to what the present situation is and I very much hope the F.A. decide to let you all carry on in the manner proposed in the minutes. At the end of the day its Tilbury FC that counts and not people with their own agenda.
I await the outcome of the F.A. meeting and look forward to reading on the Forum exactly the way forward and who - putting Dockers first - is to take the club forward.

Please see below minutes from the meeting held at the Ship Public House on Thursday 20th March.
Thank you to everyone that took part and attended.

Minutes of a meeting held at the Ship Inn, Little Thurrock, at 8pm on Thursday, May 20th 2010.
To discuss affairs surrounding Tilbury Football Club.

Present on the ‘top table’: Paul Tandy, Graham Chester, Tony Leary, Mark Southgate.
Minutes taken by Neil Speight, Editor, Essex Enquirer.
Also present, Michael Casey of media agency YourThurrock.com and 29 interested individuals, many who are subscribed members of Tilbury FC Supporters Club.
Meeting audited by the independent landlady of the Ship Inn.
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The meeting began with a short address by Graham Chester who outlined the circumstances over the past two seasons, leading up to his dismissal as manager of Tilbury FC.
Several questions from the audience related to the circumstances leading up to his dismissal but Mr Chester deferred to Mr Southgate to give an explanation of events.

Mr Southgate told the meeting that he had been contacted by Ryman League chairman Mr Alan Turvey on April 24 to be advised that the FA had expressed concern over events surrounding the club’s administration.
Mr Southgate said he was then contacted by the FA’s Lee Champion of the 26th with regard to meetings held by Tilbury FC in 2008 during which the trustees of the club had been designated as directors of the club. He was informed that as far as the FA were concerned that in September 2008 club members had agreed that the club’s structure would see one individual receive 70% of its assets and three other individuals 10%. These individuals were reportedly the club’s trustees.
Paperwork submitted to the FA suggested that Mr Southgate had been present at this meeting – and at a subsequent meeting. Mr Southgate told the meeting he had been at neither, indeed he was in Florida when the first meeting took place.
Mr Southgate told attendees at the meeting at the Ship that the FA were concerned by this unusual development as only one other member club of the FA, Chelsea FC, had a similar shareholding dispersal.
Mr Southgate said that within 48 hours of the FA intervention, he, Mr Tandy and Mr Chester and his staff were summarily dismissed by club chairman Robbie Nash.

General discussion then took place about the circumstances outlined by Mr Southgate with a succession of questions asked by the audience and largely answered by Mr Southgate, with intervention from Mr Chester.
During these questions, Mr Neil Speight was asked about press coverage of the issue and also of allegations by Mr Nash that he, as a former Tilbury manager, was carrying a grudge against the club which meant he was instigating unfair coverage. Mr Speight responded by outlining the circumstances of his involvement with the club previously and said that he bore the club no animosity after being sacked and indeed that he had provided the club with a programme for the following season and had supported the club wherever possible.

Further questions and general discussion took place, with a statement from a former club chairman Mr Barry Wilson outlining his involvement with the club and the fact that he believed he was still a trustee of the club.

Mr Chester informed the meeting that agreement had been reached with the Port of Tilbury regarding potential support and sponsorship for the forthcoming season, based on a new and clearly audited restructuring of the club. Port of Tilbury MD Mr Perry Glading had indicated he was willing to stand as a trustee of any new club structure if required. Mr Chester said that other potential sponsors for the coming season had been identified, subject to the club continuing under his management with the support of the Supporters’ Club.

Mr Southgate detailed what he considered to be the current situation of the club in that use of its FA share had been suspended pending the outcome of an investigation into the club.

Discussion then took place about retaining the club’s existing playing staff, with Mr Chester explaining that most of the current playing squad had indicated they would await an outcome on the club’s future before making a decision on their future. Mr Chester made it clear he held no personal animosity against Mr Paul Vaughan, appointed manager by Mr Nash, and said that if things went contrary to his expectations, he nevertheless wished Mr Vaughan well and that the club’s playing future was more important than individual circumstances.

Members of the audience were then asked if they would support a ‘shadow’ club administrative structure which would be implemented if the FA decided in favour of the fans’ alliance.

It was agreed on a series of unanimous votes that provisionally Mr Southgate would be chairman, Mr Barry Wilson vice-chairman, Mr Paul Tandy secretary and that a committee would be set up to support them.
Mr Speight agreed to serve on the committee after being asked following a unanimous vote and supporters club members then discussed the issue and nominated Messrs Martin Snashall and Ted Heath to serve as their representatives within a new club structure. They would be the minimum representation from supporters with others to be elected and members of the audience volunteered to undertake a number of other jobs at the club including ground maintenance, turnstile operating and match stewarding. Those present agreed to work to finding a structure that would mean the club’s bar could continue as a commercial operation, with any recompense due to the current social club operator to be a priority. It was recognised that, despite recent differences, Mr Nash had made a significant contribution to the club and that this should be formally acknowledged.

The meeting concluded with agreement of a statement to head a fans’ petition to the FA, which would be opened to others not present at the meeting, but returned for presentation to FA officials at the forthcoming meeting at Tilbury FC.
The statement read:
We, the undersigned, believing we are members of Tilbury FC, nevertheless commit to continue or sign up as new members of Tilbury FC for the coming season and in perpetuity and will actively support the elected committee of the club to continue as a members club and full member of the FA.

Those present signed the petition, which was witnessed and ‘closed’ on the night by the Ship landlady. The book will be reopened for signing by other interested parties.

The meeting closed at 9.30pm.