Friends of the Blues

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

Dear Supporter,

By joining this scheme you will be known in future, as a “Friend of the Blues”. You will donate to a fund that helps your Rugby Club. We give because we want the club to benefit, but we could all do with a bit more fun and that is what I have tried to create. I want the members to get far more enjoyment out of their donations, with little spent on running costs and the chance to get a bit more back with quite a few quality sponsored prizes.

Prior to each home league match I will draw the names of five members of the fund and I hope you will be one. I will then contact the winners. Two will win a prize, from the selection available in the prize pool at that time. (An example list is attached).

All five will also be able to choose a player for the match who you think is likely to score a try. Probably not a prop! If your player scores, you will be entered into the draw for £1,000 at the end of the season.

One person will also become the match ball sponsor. Announced by Sam at kick-off. There is no cost to the winner, and he or she will also receive a ball signed by the team.

It has been decided that 50% of the funds will go to a project of the Captain & Players choosing. As a result James Pritchard has decided that for the coming season the money will be spent on an extension to the gymnasium and, if we raise enough, a new scrum machine.

How much is it going to cost? Well first of all to save money and administration costs we’d like every member to pay monthly by standing order.

To be open to as many people as possible there will be a minimum entry level of £7 a month. However we would very much appreciate higher donations per month if you feel that you can do this. For the minimum you will get an entry to all draws. We will give greater entries, pro rata, for figures above the minimum.

For members of Friends of the Blues there will be an end of season soiree, where you’ll meet and socialise with all the players. Various players and coaches will speak and the major £1,000 draw will take place. We also have plans for more entertainment on that night so watch this space!

That night we will also announce the winner of “the guess the average attendance at GR for league matches”. You will be asked to enter your educated guess before the season starts. There will be a cash prize for that and other prizes to be won on the night.

If you return your standing order by 15th August you will be entered into a prize draw to win a trip for two for two nights (flights & hotel) to Bedford’s match in Jersey on Saturday 29th September 2012.

If you wish to join us and take part please fill in the standing order form, your generous support is much appreciated. All forms should be posted to:

Friends of the Blues
Argent House
5 Goldington Road
Bedford
MK40 3JY

Thank you so much & COYB.

Howard Travis
HOWARD TRAVIS

Current Friends of the Blues Prize Pool:

Pairs of International tickets for England matches at Twickenham

A match in a Hospitality Box or hospitality in the marquee, where available.

Away trips of your choice for two, with the Followers including lunch allowance.

Train, travel & Pub Tour of Richmond pre London Welsh or Scottish with Howard Travis (or without)

Meals for two pre match @ Nos’s Nosh at every home match

Meals for two pre match @ Santaniello’s Pizzeria

Meals for two pre match @ Victoria Arms Wilden

Free Beer @ the Cricketers Arms (8 Pints Max per match) 88 in total

Match Ball Sponsorship including free Ball signed by the team

Blues merchandise & items signed by the team

Friends of the Blues – Can you or your company help the fund by donating a prize to the pool to support the fund?

Support the Blues whilst gaining welcome goodwill and publicity on match days as Sam announces your donations to the crowd along with the lucky winners!

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

I am glad to say that I personally signed up, our first new member last night.
I am also pleased to say that the club has given the fund additional prizes of pairs of tickets, to the match of the winners choice. So you could be bringing some friends - hopefully friends for whom Goldington Rd on match day will be a new experience.
More prizes will be announced shortly to add to the present list. If you win, you pick the prize, you want.
Remember. If you get your standing order in by 15th August you could be travelling with the team to Jersey for a two night break in September.

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

When entering the guess the average crowd competition. It might help you that the average for last season's 11 regular season home league matches was 2641. It is those matches that we are counting. Keep a note of your guess when submitting your calculated guess.

Bernie McGee · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 1486 Location: Bedford

2 less home games next season Trav, does it inlcude friendlies and the fireworks display?

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

Bernado- Regular season RFU Championship matches. Pre-play off. Not B&I Cup and does not including fireworks, people clearing snow, military tattoos, car boot sales or dossers sleeping in the back of the stand.

Bernie McGee · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 1486 Location: Bedford

Clear and concise. Thank you. Any chance of a 1/2 time kicking competition for a BMW?

Bernie McGee · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 1486 Location: Bedford

sorry I forgot Very Happy

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

No Bernie. No. That is no. Take it as negative. Certainly not. No................... ..and Bernie ..yes I am sure.

Bernie McGee · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 1486 Location: Bedford

Thank you Trav, I think I get the message. No BMW then Shocked

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

Congratulations to Hayley & Marin Clark of Putnoe who are a our first new Friends of the Blues. So startled were we by the speed of their response, that we have awarded them Prize Winning status for the first match v. Moseley (in addition to the regular no.) So they will get a choice of the prizes & a player for the match, to score them a try. If he does they are in the £1,000 draw.
Additionally like all members they could win the trip to Jersey with the team. However Martin & 12 year old son Charlie (who is a scrum half with the Junior Blues) have already booked to travel. Will Mum be travelling with the team to join them?
All prize winners will be announced here.

GUINNESS JOHN · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 452

Is anyone else having problems downloading a form ? I keep getting a runtime error message.

PutnoeBlue · Joined: 02 Nov 2006 Posts: 639

Mr Guinness-- the form is in PDF .....
I can e-mail you a converted version if you like--- send me a blank e-mail to martin.d.clark@bt.com and I'll ping you a word version back if you still having grief...

charleyboy · Joined: 14 Aug 2006 Posts: 459 Location: Bedford

GUINNESS JOHN · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 452

Thanks charleyboy, my popups been blocked for quite a while ! but I now have my form.

Bernie McGee · Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 1486 Location: Bedford

my popups been blocked for quite a while !

There is medication available you know,

HAVE YOUR SAY!