Friends of the Blues

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

Big thanks for to all of you who have joined this week. It is going really well. We also have more prizes on the way.
The geographical spread of membership continues interest me. We are strong to the south with Maulden & Luton having new joiners, whilst Ashwell in Hertfordshire seems a hotbed of Blues support, but winner this week is King's Lynn!! So our spread is now from the North Sea coast to Hartland in Devon. We are very strong to the south & east.
Out of county our membership is about 270 degrees of GR, with still not a peep from Northamptonshire. That is not to say that we don't have fans over there. I know a couple of season ticket holders who live 100yards from Franklins Gardens. They never miss a match at GR and never attend FG.
If you are going to join the fund, dont forget, the mid-August deadline for the Jersey trip draw with the team.
The Scottish trip will be drawn in early December to allow attending the Stirling, match in January.
Andy Cobley is a new joiner despite being incapacitated with an horrendously bad back. We wish him a quick recovery.

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

A couple of weeks now till the draw for the Jersey trip. Two persons will be travelling and staying with the team. So if you are joining The Friends of the Blues,it is best to do it before the draw.
Thanks go to new members Nigel & Elaine Rudgard who are donating two mounted and framed prints, signed if you wish, up to A3 in size as prizes for the fund.
They would be the winners choice from the pictures on Nigels website- frontrow.photium.com/ They would be available at the beginning of December (nicely in time for Christmas) and at the end of the season.
I think that is quite a prize. Thank you Nigel and Elaine.

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

Another half a dozen generous new members in the post today. They include yet another from out in Huntingdonshire. It is certainly a hotbed of support.
Jim Beaumont of Putnoe has joined and has also donated two more prizes for the pot.They are a £50 voucher to spend at Debenhams, and another £50 for the new Waitrose in Goldington Rd. Top man.
Good luck to the Blues in Salles this weekend. Great train journey to Bordeaux and a lovely place to visit. Good luck with Pau!

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

Hats off today to FoB member Bob Eaton. Along with two other chums he has become the player sponsor for Ben Cooper. In addition he has donated a prize to the Friends fund. It is lunch for four at Nos's Nosh. That is in addition to the pairs of meals that Nos has already donated. Bob a former referee is seen at every home match in front of the stand in his wheelchair. Unhidden by his beard, Bob always has a smile on his face. He is a top man.
Thanks also to Premier Beauty of Chiltern Avenue. They have given Friends member Hayley Clark, a voucher for a beauty treatment to put into the prize fund. Thank you both.
If you are coming to the Saracens match on Friday night you will see that the players gym has now virtually doubled in size, and has new equipment.The unpainted exterior wall represents the growth. This is the first visible manifestation of the contribution the fund will make to the club.This will benefit the players and their performance now, and in years to come. Paddy Hogben was putting some players through a session in there this morning.
Lastly, don't forget to get your forms in before 15th August for the Jersey trip draw.

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

There is still time to get your forms in, to be eligible for the Jersey trip draw. Please get them to Rawlinson Pryde Accountants in Goldington Rd or to the Club Offices.
There are several new members this week amongst them club stalwart Peter Kimber and also Lucy Howe of Cranfield.We also have our first first new members from Northampton. Welcome to Mr & Mrs Vass. Great to have you on board.
For those of you who like a curry, I am hopeful of clinching prizes from a major Bedford Indian restaurant shortly.
I hope to announce the Jersey trip winner on Friday night at the Cardiff game. Sounds like poor old Guesty will have to speak up.

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

Good news- two curry houses on board now. The Asia Lounge 66 High St Bedford & Alamin Tandoori Restaurant of Tavistock St.Thank you to them
The draw for the Jersey trip is coming up shortly (Live on Sky).
New members are still arriving including OBM & IRB official Wayne Andrews who has become President of the Dubai branch of the Friends of the Blues. Any representations about struggling to use any of the prizes won will be met with short shrift and an invitation to pay UK tax. Seriously though, welcome on board Wayne. Good luck with the Dubai Sevens and with the Blues fans coming out to see you for it!

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

Prior to the match last night, Matt Rawlinson & I conducted the draw for the Jersey trip. Up till now I have been unable to contact the winner who I believe to be on holiday abroad. I wish to tell them before I announce their name.
However the winning FoB member is a female season ticket holder from south west Bedfordshire. Well done to her. I will be looking to draw the Scottish trip prior to Christmas.
A big shout from me for FoB member NOS Thomas. Nos who has also donated quite a few prizes to the fund, is recovering from an operation. Best wishes to you Nos for a speedy recovery. Hope to see you soon.

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

However the winning FoB member is a female season ticket holder from south west.

Must be Devon Lady Very Happy

Devon Lady · Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 700 Location: UK

old school · Joined: 31 Aug 2009 Posts: 142

Bernie

Ypu will need to be up early in Jersey as Devon Lady likes early posts. Still you can enjoy a spot of Osprey watching together there - assuming they have any

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

OS,Early start no problem, normally watching Buzzards at 5 am. Bit of a dilema with the fixture, Shelford are playing Lanson that day, probably not far between Jersey and Launceston as the osprey flies, but still a bit difficult to do. I am however sending my brother-in-law as my representative to the good old bailiwick, so long as he can get his visa stamped. I expect there will be a lot of support for Bedford from the OBM and OB resident tax evading community.

Devon Lady · Joined: 30 Jul 2009 Posts: 700 Location: UK

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

I am pleased to be able to reveal that season ticket holder Ann Beal is the winner of the Jersey trip. Well done Ann. Enjoy Jersey.
Only a couple of weeks till the season starts. Five members will be drawn before each home league match giving them the choice of a player to score them a try and gain a chance in the £1,000 draw. One of those will become the match ball sponsor and two others get a choice from the prize list.
The Scotland hotel stay will be drawn in early December to allow combining it with the Stirling match.
Plenty of good reasons to join.

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

Thank you to all this weeks new members. Well over ten this week! It really is going very well. A special mention to Brendan Burke who has become our first player to come on board. My old mates David "Higgo" Higgins and "Gonzo"Jennings have also joined although their primary concern will remain whether the ball goes in the deep fat- fryer, of the half way line eatery. I would imagine they will be keen to win beer at The Cricketers.
We will be conducting the draw for Saturday's match later today. Hayley & Martin Clark already know they are one of winners.They were the first to join. They have selected their player, but I we need to know if Mike has picked him first.
They have also chosen their prize. The £50 Waitrose voucher donated by member Jim Beaumont. Thanks Jim.
So the full draw later and when I have the team sheet we will be off. I could be ringing you.

Howard Travis · Joined: 27 Jun 2012 Posts: 77

Here are the results of the draw. There will normally be just five but this week we also have the Clarks, who were the first new members and got a prize for being so. All get the choice of a player & some also a prize.
Martin & Hayley Clark have chosen the Waitrose £50 voucher
The five winners for this weeks match are.
Dr John & Penny Hood who become match ball sponsors for tomorrow's game & get a signed ball.
Brian Harrison has taken a meal for two at The Asia Lounge. He says he has been before, and it is very good.
John Gooch who has taken David Gunner's Aberdeen Angus beef. No mustard needed there then.
Chris Ashworth- wins eight pints of Brains in The Cricketers PH. Mrs Ashworth wont see him till Monday.
Martin Stonecliffe- player choice only.
Each winner has chosen a player and will be hoping their man can score tomorrow. If they do they will go into the £1,000 draw at the season's end.
You will be interested to know, I'm sure that two have chosen James Stephenson & three have gone for Josh Bassett. One winner remains incommunicado. If he remains so, I will choose a player for him.
Exciting stuff tomorrow then- if you have a player. Congratulations to all.
If you want to get involved grab a form from the Followers Hut or the Shop. In December we have the draw for the three night stay in a top hotel in Scotland. We have many more prizes and the "guess the gate competiton" which I will keep open till September ends.

HAVE YOUR SAY!