Welcome once again to the Attis Arena for our home game with Southport and a warm welcome to any visiting Sandgrounders fans making the trip.

Invitations to vote for the Iron Trust player of the month award for March will be going out after today’s game. This will be the last opportunity to vote as the April football calendar is not a full month and we hope to present our trophy at the last home game verses Peterborough Sports on Easter Monday. Thank you to all those Trust members who take the time to vote each month.

We had a successful stall at last weekend’s Community Day held by the club signing up new members and selling our latest football card. The card has only 13 boxes left at £2 per go. The prize is one of the 125-year orange scarves which sold out well before Christmas. Trust membership is now over 1,100. Join us; it’s only £10 for life.

The Iron Trust holds £12000 worth of shares having purchased £2000 just recently. Our members voted that their preference for any funds raised was the purchase of shares hence we keep a float of £4000 and any amount over that is converted to shares. 

A night shift on the blast furnaces prevented me from going to Kidderminster away so I listened in on Radio Humberside. The programme included a half time interview with Bernard Griffin our Irish friend from Donegal who set up Irish Iron 30 years ago. This season has seen a record £3000 raised by Irish Iron and a record membership of 183. The only criteria to join is a love of all things Iron. It costs £10 for the season including exclusive badge and membership card and all monies raised go back to the club via sponsorship.

Rumours circulated very quickly last weekend about the club becoming involved with FC100000.com. The Trust sought clarification from the club and along with Iron Bru and Iron Hour were invited to a meeting with Michelle, Roj, George, Ian (via video link) Matt and Andy Butler at the Attis Arena on Monday. The club board had already agreed not to proceed prior to our meeting but gave us the chance to air our views and that of our members.

Last time out verses Chester we had a fantastic crowd which broke the National North attendance record and created a brilliant atmosphere on the day. Let’s keep that going this afternoon by backing Andy and the team.

Up the mighty Iron 

Tony Gosling 

Chair of the Iron Trust.