NOW CORDERY BAGS BARNSBY

Steve Cordery, manager of Ryman League Division One South club Staines Town, has added yet another piece to his jigsaw with the signing of highly-rated Kingstonian defender Peter Barnsby.

Barnsby (pictured) partnered another of Staines' new signings, Matt Flitter, at the heart of the K's defence and formed a formidable partnership, leading to him being called on standby for the National Game squad by manager Paul Fairclough.

Barnsby, 25, is well-known to Cordery having played under him at Hampton & Richmond Borogu before joining Kingstonian in June 2001.

Meanwhile, having impressed in the recent friendly matches, two of last season's Academy players Dean Pitcher and Jon McDonald, have been put on contracts for the new season.

Supporters' Trust movement hits the century mark

Football fan power has reached another important landmark as Supporters Direct confirmed the existence of the 100th democratic Supporters' Trust.

Ipswich Town 1st, became the 100th Supporters Trust to be registered. Supporters Direct was launched in March 2000. Supporters Direct is a government-funded organisation responsible for assisting in the formation of democratic, inclusive Supporters' Trusts to give fans a stake in their football clubs. Almost 50 Trusts have a shareholding in their club, whilst 30 Trusts have a supporter-elected director sitting on the board of directors. At Chesterfield, Lincoln City, York City, AFC Wimbledon and Enfield Town, the Supporters' Trust actually owns the football club outright.

Brian Lomax, Managing Director of Supporters Direct, said: "It is obviously a very important landmark and a very proud moment for Supporters Direct. It proves that we are achieving our aims of furthering supporter influence and ownership at football clubs, and also demonstrates that the loyalty of football fans is now being used as a collective strength, whereas before, it was exploited as a weakness.

"We not only congratulate the Ipswich Town Supporters' Trust, but all the Trusts who are working hard to make a difference on behalf of fans and the communities which their football clubs serve."

Carl Day, Chairman of Ipswich 1st, said: "It is great news and a real landmark. We feel that democratic supporter influence is very important at our football club, and it is clearly becoming a bigger part of the footballing landscape.

"We are extremely grateful to Supporters Direct for all the assistance they are giving us, and we would not be where we are now without their support."

Week 30 - Drawn 25/07/03

5000 K.4412 H/House W/Sale

500 AB3380 J Ryan

200 HH1481 W Adams

200 W.5875 D Haskayne

100 YY0926 D Etheridge

100 K.6360 J Hindmarsh

100 U.4068 E Oliver

100 J.3143 M Hucken

100 C.6817 Mr & Mrs Perry

100 C.6131 A & M Thomas

100 K.3901 H/House W/Sale

50 S.0620 S Callaghan

50 AF2217 S Burton

50 N.5013 D Lundy

50 HH0567 Mrs Sanderson

50 F.6774 K Norwood

50 J.0722 G Faulkner

50 CC0907 Mrs Copass

Plus over 400 other prizes each week, see full result sheet for details.

Promoter G. Warburton. Reg with the Gaming Board

THE WORK CONTINUES

The K's Trust has had a hugely encouraging week as it moves ever closer to taking control of Kingstonian FC. Last Wednesday the Trust took control of a match for the first time, and with the help of several willing volunteers was able to oversee the home friendly with AFC Wimbledon which passed with no problems. The attendance of 1,417 was slightly down on some estimates, but through the generosity of those present the Trust earned more than enough to pay the rent for the season.

The evening prior to the match saw the Executive of Kingston Council agree to the transfer of the second Kingsmeadow lease to AFC Wimbledon, which paves the way for control of Kingstonian FC to pass to the Trust. This must happen by 1st May 2004, but negotiations are already underway to bring this to fruition sooner.

Meanwhile Sunday saw the first K's Trust Bar-be-que, which was organised by manager Kim Harris and which was attended by most of the first team squad. Well over 100 people turned up, lots of money was raised, several new members joined the Trust and everyone enjoyed their day at the Old Cranleighans.

The Trust has also been working hard to ensure that the supporters of Kingstonian will be better informed on events at the club. An open forum will be held as soon as the situation involving the CVA and control of the club has been resolved, and the Surrey Comet has agreed to carry a "K's Trust News" column every Friday to allow the Trust to reach out into the local community. A page in the matchday programme will also be set aside for a similar column - both of which will be written by one of the Board members.

Week 29 - Drawn 18/07/03

2000 T.5051 B Smith

500 LL5919 M Wray

200 B.2201 S Kirkham

200 G.1547 J Bell

100 B.4668 R Gandhi

100 T.2454 M Ambrosio

100 CC2517 M Bradshaw

100 FF4865 Mrs Race

100 K.6917 D Catchpole

100 BB0674 A Manford

100 T.0413 A Cole

50 R.2453 Mrs Alsworth

50 E.2947 Mrs Jackson

50 A.3632 T Burchell

50 B.0469 Mrs Macintosh

50 B.6420 J Nicholas

50 V.6951 L Woodburn

50 AC1828 F Davidson

Plus over 400 other prizes each week, see full result sheet for details.

Promoter G. Warburton. Reg with the Gaming Board

Rejoined Aldershot in December 2002 just six months after leaving The Rec, following short spells at Grays Athletic and St Albans City. Originally joined Aldershot in 2000-01 from Dagenham & Redbridge and made an immediate impact scoring 17 goals from 23 starts and 10 sub appearances. In 2001-02 "Staff" was the club's top scorer with 30 goals from 42 starts and 7 sub appearances. He became the first player to score a competitive hat-trick at St Mary's Stadium with his three goal burst in the 2002 Hampshire Cup Final against Havant & Waterlooville. Counts Brighton, Welling and Yeovil among his former clubs. Non stop workrate and willingness to chase and harrass defenders. He is a fast and agile striker who is an incredibly good header of the ball for a player of his height.

Council brokers lifeline for Ks

Kingston Council looks set to approve a plan that will secure the long-term future of Kingstonian Football Club in the Royal Borough.

The Council has been negotiating with Mr Khosla, the Chairman of Kingstonian and AFC Wimbledon over the transfer of a (second) lease, relating to land on the perimeter of the Kingsmeadow ground.

The terms have now been agreed by all parties and will be considered by the Council's Executive Committee on Tuesday 15 July. The terms of the transfer include:

* Staged payments of 100,000 that the Council will use for the sole benefit of the new K's Trust.
* The opportunity for the supporter-led Ks Trust taking over the club this year, if conditions are met.

In a separate deal between Mr Khosla and AFC Wimbledon it is understood that Kingstonian will also have the security of a low rental payment for the ground, which could be more than paid through income from an annual friendly match against AFC Wimbledon.

It is hoped that the deals will secure the status of the club in the Ryman Premier League and enable the Trust to draw a line under problems experienced by the club off the field.

Bruce McDonald, Kingston Council Chief Executive said, "This deal achieves the objectives set by the Council, namely to ensure the survival of K's and to back the K's Trust as the way forward for the Club.

We have worked hard to help broker a deal that will ensure that Ks continue to flourish in the Royal Borough. All parties wish the club every success in the future."

Roger Hayes, Executive Member with responsibility for sport said, "K's are an important part of the tradition of Kingston. We are delighted to have been able to help in keeping them at Kingsmeadow.

We are also delighted that in future they will be run by local supporters as a community based organisation."

Newly elected Chairman of the Ks Trust, Mark Murphy said: "This is excellent news for all supporters of Kingstonian and it means that we now have a golden opportunity to make a success of this club.

The agreement focuses on the need for the Trust to openly demonstrate that we can do the job, and in these times when the governance of football is being given long-overdue scrutiny, that is only right and proper.

"We are very grateful for the tremendous support given to the K's Trust by the council during this difficult time and are delighted that they have given us this opportunity.

We will do all that we can on behalf of our members who so recently elected us to make Kingstonian Football Club something of which they, the town, and the borough, can be proud."

Week 28 - Drawn 11/07/03

2000 C.1514 J Pagan

500 Q.1024 A Huzzey

200 BB5232 M Smethurst

200 F.3965 J White

100 H.3660 A Whiteside

100 KK3219 S Smith

100 HH5601 M Wood

100 N.5405 Mrs Curtis

100 PP0081 J Newsam

100 AD2585 Mrs Withycombe

100 V.3537 Mr Cragg

50 TT1004 J Turner

50 V.5081 L Mackie

50 W.1894 Mrs Shiels

50 F.5458 Mrs May

50 E.3501 R Kemp

50 E.0832 Mrs Troy

50 AG3598 M Dyche

Plus over 400 other prizes each week, see full result sheet for details.

Promoter G. Warburton. Reg with the Gaming Board

KINGSTON COUNCIL AND KINGSMEADOW STADIUM

Kingston Council have published a paper (entitled "Kingsmeadow Stadium") ahead of a meeting of the Executive on Tuesday 15th July when approval is requested to assign the perimeter (second) lease on Kingsmeadow Stadium to AFC Wimbledon. The paper contains fantastic news for supporters of Kingstonian, as well as for the newly elected K's Trust Board.

Should the Executive approve the request, a payment of 100,000 will be made to the K's Trust in two tranches: one of 40,000 on 1st April 2004 and the remaining 60,000 on 1st September 2005.

The agreement also stipulates that the FA registration must pass from Kingstonian Football Club Limited (in administration) to Kingstonian FC Limited, and that control of the new limited company must pass to The K's Trust for a nominal payment, with no outstanding debts or liabilities.

The transfer must take place by 1st May 2004 at the latest, but will be earlier if the Trust can fill three conditions: the appointment of a Board; the appointment of a Chairman and Company Secretary; and approval of a business plan for the period until 1st May 2004.

Newly elected Trust Chairman Mark Murphy said: "This is excellent news for all supporters of Kingstonian and it means that we now have a golden opportunity to make a success of this club. The agreement focuses on the need for the Trust to openly demonstrate that we can do the job, and in these times when the governance of football is being given long-overdue scrutiny, that is only right and proper.

"The fact that the Trust will receive 100,000 over the next two years should give confidence to all of our supporters that we will be around for the foreseeable future. We do however need to ensure that all of the good work that has been begun by the Trust continues. We cannot be complacent, and we must ensure that we continue to sell season tickets, sell sponsorship and raise attendances. In short, we must aim to fund the club without needing to use this additional money.

"We are very grateful for the tremendous support given to The K's Trust by the council during this difficult time and are delighted that they have given us this opportunity. We will do all that we can on behalf of our members who so recently elected us to make Kingstonian Football Club something of which they, the town, and the borough, can be proud."

The council paper is available here.

ELECTION RESULTS AND SEASON TICKET PRICES

The first Society Board of The K's Trust has now been elected. A process which began in May concluded with the announcement of the nine people who shall form the first Board at a meeting on Monday night at Kingsmeadow. The nine - in order of votes received - are: Mark Murphy, Gary Ekins, Robert Blevin, Micky King, Simon Murray, Karen Deadman, Andrew Carberry, Richard Atkinson and Sandra Winters.

The remainder of Monday's meeting saw some of those who set up the trust inform the members of their work so far. They were delighted to reveal reduced admission for the coming season, with all prices being reduced by one pound, with a further pound off those for under 16s. These reductions have been mirrored in season ticket prices, and the trust is calling on all regular supporters to purchase season tickets to show their faith in the trust and the club.

Spokesman Gary Ekins said: "Mr Khosla has said that he will hand over control of the club once the trust has proved that it can do the job, and selling season tickets is one simple way of showing him that we can do it. Regular supporters will save money in the process, so we hope that as many people as possible will buy a season ticket. We also hope that by reducing the admission prices, more people will be able to come along to see Kingston's senior football club."

Season ticket application forms will be available at the ground at next Wednesday's (16th July) friendly versus AFC Wimbledon. The match is for the "Kingsmeadow Challenge Cup" and will be the first outing for The Dons at their new home ground. This match should prove to be hugely popular, so supporters are urged to make their way to the ground as early as possible ahead of the 7.45pm kick-off.

The K's Trust have been compiling a booklet commemorating over a century of meetings between Kingstonian and Wimbledon, which will go on sale at the Kingsmeadow friendly. All proceeds from the booklet will go to The K's Trust. Board Member Mark Murphy has been trawling through back issues of the Surrey Comet with the help of staff at Kingston's Local History Room on Richmond Road to compile the booklet.

He said: "The story of K's v Dons encounters is a fascinating one for football followers at all levels. The two teams built up an intense local rivalry over the years and thousands of people used to flock to games at both Richmond Road and Plough Lane. I hope that supporters of both Kingstonian and AFC Wimbledon will enjoy reading the book as much as I've enjoyed researching it."

Week 27 - 4/7/03

2000 AN1127 Mrs K Hanrahan

500 D.0654 Mr G Holmes
200 S.3926 Mrs Banon
200 T.6399 Mr J Fyall

100 A.0850 P. Simone
100 M.0611 Mr G Clark
100 AA2412 Mrs Warne
100 QQ4480 Mrs J Roxby
100 Y.3798 I Marlow
100 AB0826 Mrs D Littleberry
100 P.4767 J. Manning

50 D.0994 Kath Blake
50 A.5109 Mrs Falkowski
50 Y.3465 Mrs B Edge
50 Y.0252 Mrs C Baines
50 D.6247 P Penfold
50 S.1351 P. Turley
50 B.5317 Mr L Ustian