Formed in 2003, the ‘Berwick Rangers Supporters Society’ (to give it its official name) has many active members. We exist to promote football in the local community and to secure the long term future of Berwick Rangers Football Club.
Please take the time to have a good read through this section of the website, we are sure you’ll agree that the Supporters Trust movement is the way forward for both football clubs and supporters alike.
History
The history of Berwick Rangers Football Club stretches back 136 years. Throughout that period there have been highs and lows, but there has always been a club. A supporters’ trust cannot guarantee greater success but works to ensure the club continues for the benefit of the community and the next.
What is a Trust?
Over a few years Supporters’ Trusts have been formed in most Scottish and English Clubs. Some of these have been in response to a financial crisis at their clubs, where the very existence of the club has been at stake, but others have been set up to help ensure that the club remains democratic and community-run. Most of these organizations have been formed with the assistance of a public funded body – ‘Supporters’ Direct in Scotland ‘ – set up to support the creation and continuance of these grass roots societies.
However, since Berwick Rangers FC is operated on a share basis, it is easy to see how a few determined individuals could wrest this structure away. A Supporters Trust works to ensure that this does not occur.
A Supporters’ Trust is an organization formed by fans to strengthen the bonds between the club and the community, and to represent the interests of the community in the running of the club. It is a non-profit making Industrial & Provident Society and is answerable in law, thereby ensuring it is run in a legally responsible manner. For legal reasons it is called the Berwick Rangers Supporters Society Limited, but we all know it as the Berwick Trust. We have quickly become one of the largest shareholders in the club, and will work towards obtaining more. It can also hold shareholder’s proxies for the AGM of the club, should any motion be proposed that is against the benefit of the fans and community.
Although the trust is independent of the Supporters Club we look to work together on future projects.
Owners
The Trust is owned and run by YOU, the members. Each person has one vote and they elect a Board to manage the Trusts affairs. Important decisions are taken at General Meetings where every member has a single vote regardless of how much they have given to the Trust. Any member can stand for election to the Society Board at the AGM.
Guidance
Every Trust has a set of rules that it must follow and will be under the guidance off the Government sponsored body ‘Supporters Direct in Scotland ‘. The rules make it clear that the Trust must be run for the benefit of the community and that no individual can outvote any other. Nobody is paid, or receives expenses, from Trust funds.
A monthly fee of between £2 – £10 will be charged for trust membership.
Your Reward
By joining the Trust you’ll show that you agree that Berwick Rangers Football Club’s future needs to be safeguarded and believe that supporters can play a responsible role in the running of the club. You’ll show that you believe that the club is an important asset that should be run for the benefit of the community. You will jointly own shares in the club and your financial contribution will be used to buy shares and benefit the club. Like over 100 sets of supporters throughout the UK, you’ll be agreeing that collectively we can ensure that the club is run democratically.
If you have any questions regarding the Trust and how the committee run it, do not hesitate to get in touch.