October 2004 News
Latest - 29/10/04
On Thursday 28th October 2004 at 8.30pm a five man team of representatives from the 'Rest in East' campaign group met with members of the Board of Directors from Glentoran Football Club in the Stormont Hotel Belfast. This meeting afforded the 'Rest in East' campaign the opportunity to inform the officials present of the reason behind the group's formation and of it's objectives.
The representatives of Glentoran Football Club (including Chief Executive Tom Dick and Chairman Stafford Reynolds) highlighted their desire to exhaust all options available to Glentoran F.C. with regards to the ground move, and re-inforced the financial pressures the Club operates under on a day to day basis.
The meeting was both cordial and productive.
We have informed the Board of our intentions and they have responded favourably. They have asked that our Campaign conduct it's dealings with various groups and the local press eloquently and positively. We feel that this we have done to date and will continue to do so. To this end our Campaign will begin this weekend in earnest when formal contact will be made with various bodies and individuals.
We have highlighted many groups and organisations within East Belfast whom we now intend to lobby. These include, Community workers and groups, churches, business people, Belfast City Council, the South and East Belfast trust, East Belfast DCU of the PSNI, senior citizens organisations (Age Concern, Engage Concern etc), Disability groups, local councillors, MLAs, MPs and MEPs.
Rest in East have also requested an opportunity to address the 'Inner East Forum' and received a positive reponse with a provisional meeting date already in hand.
Please continue to follow the Rest in East campaign through our website and if you can offer any assistance or experience it will be greatly appreciated.
As a footnote we would like to extend an invitation to any female supporters or supporters with disabilities to become involved with the Rest in East campaign. We feel that the broader the spectrum of support we can utilise to find an ideal home for all, the more chance we have of ultimate success.
Rest in East
Latest - 28/10/04
REST in EAST raising the profile of the Glentoran plight yet again, with even more press coverage of our search for pastures new. This is just the beginning, once tonight's meeting with the Glentoran Board of Directors has taken place it is the groups intention to increase momentum considerably, and raise the campaign to a new level. We WILL need the help of ALL Glentoran fans in the coming weeks and even months, so please keep looking in. Read the cuttings from todays East Belfast Observer - HERE & HERE
Latest - 24/10/04
A third meeting of the Rest in East group took place today, Sunday 24th October 2004. We are delighted to report that Glentoran Chief Executive Tom Dick has relayed that our Board of Directors look forward to meeting with the Rest in East Group next week (time and venue to be agreed). Rest assured we will update supporters on any developments.
The following people attended today's meeting: Stephen Henderson, Tim Peck, David Blanchflower, Sam Robinson, Brian Dawson, Jim Welsh, Billy Cully, John Moore, Ian Boyd
The group would once again like to thank all those supporters who have sent messages of support/made contact with us, and once again seek to re-assure each and every one of you.
Glentoran FC - Le Jeu Avant Tout.
Latest - 22/10/04
Preliminary talks have now taken place with the Board re a meeting with the Rest in East group, if all are in agreement it is hoped the two bodies can get together at a proposed date next week.
Latest - 21/10/04
Latest - 20/10/04
Very encouraging to see that Glentoran FC are now releasing progress updates on the Official site.
Latest - 19/10/04
Correspondence has now been received back from Glentoran FC following their Board meeting on Monday night past - the entirety of which we have published below together with our reply.
I must say it is also welcoming to note the possibility of unafilliated supporters opinions now to be taken on board. We shall keep you updated on events, and thank you all once again for your continued support.
Dear Ian
Thank you very much for your email.I am pleased to relay to you the good wishes of the Board of Directors to your committee for your "lobbying" for Glentoran to remain in East Belfast. The Board of Directors are of a like mind. There was a working party set up by the Board approx 2 yrs ago with a sole purpose of the Ground Move. The group is made up of 3 Directors an Architect and a Project manager. Some of the work of this committee would not be suitable for the public domain yet and would need to remain confidential in commercial terms as you would be aware of. If you felt that a meeting with your committee or indeed to open it up as a fans forum meeting to involve those outside your group would be helpful then we would be happy to oblidge. Let me know what your feelings is on this. The same model as the PA fans forum to include representatives from all supporters clubs and the from the unafilliated supporter. I am sure we could accomodate several hundred supporters in the members lounge in the Oval. Thanking you for all you hard work and we will be pleased to hear of any progress your group has made in the meantime.
Looking forward to hearing from you at your earliest convience
Regards
Tom Dick CE
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Dear Tom
Thank you very much for your prompt reply and the good wishes passed from you and your colleagues, it is very much appreciated.
At this early stage of the 'Rest In East' campaign, we do indeed feel that an early meeting of our Committee, yourself and Board members would be helpful, in order that we may best establish exactly what progress has been made, and how we may be of assistance.
To that end we would take up your offer of a meeting at your earliest convenience.
We do take on board your remarks re 'commercially sensitive' material, and assure you it is not our intention to compromise either yourself or Glentoran Football Club.
We are also encouraged to hear that you are now considering consultation of a much wider fan base. If you feel it would be useful to arrange such an event, 'Rest in East' would be delighted to receive an invitation to attend.
The Project Group outcome as you rightly state was not released to the general public. Therefore we are not in a position to make further comment.
We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Very Best Wishes
Ian Boyd
Secretary
REST in EAST
Latest - 17/10/04
On Sunday 17th October 2004 a second meeting of the "Rest in East" campaign group took place at the Stormont Hotel Belfast. Those present and offering support were Jim Welsh, John Quinliven, Sam Robinson, Ian Boyd, Eddie Gaw, David Blanchflower, Brian Dawson and Philip Stevenson. John Moore attended in his capacity as Glentoran Gazette Programme Editor in the hope that he can convey the aims of the group to a wider range of supporters than that reached by the internet alone. This is by no means an exhaustive list of those involved in the groups inception. Many other individuals and groups have offered their support over the weekend and it is hoped to have several others involved in the weeks to come. The appeal for assistance continues. If you think that you might have a specialist ability which you can bring to the table. please let us know. Today's meeting was extremely positive and productive. We have taken up offers of legal assistance, financial assistance and advice along with information on the workings of local government and community groups.
We are now in a position to meet with the Board of Directors of Glentoran Football Club and formally offer our assitance as a Supporters Group. In the interests of expediency we have tonight e-mailed the Chief Executive of Glentoran Football Club seeking a suitable date for us to meet up with Board representatives. This offer will also be followed up by letter.
A copy of the e-mail text is posted below. We will in turn inform you of all correspondence received in response.
'For the attention of Mr Tom Dick, Chief Executive, Glentoran Football Club.
Following on from our informal approach to the Glentoran Board of Directors,and as a result of Sunday's second meeting of the "Rest in East" campaign group, we are now in a position to offer you the opportunity to meet with a number of the Group's representatives. To this end it is hoped that you will raise the matter at Monday evening's (18/10/04) Board meeting and inform us of a suitable date. To allow those interested in the "Campaign" to follow it's progress we will in turn post the date of the meeting on the "Rest in East" website.
I look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience.
Ian Boyd.- Secretary
Rest in East
15/10/04
Informal approaches have now been made with Officialdom at Glentoran FC. In light of the many offers of help received after yesterday's press release, the group have asked Chief Executive Tom Dick for time to re-structure, before requesting consultation with the Board, hopefully early next week.
More information will be made available here after a first full meeting of the Action Group this weekend.
Please be patient.
Once again our aim - to exhaust all avenues in an attempt to keep Glentoran Football Club resident in East Belfast. If our attempt fails, then so be it, we'll have to go elsewhere - but we are going to try!
Remember, we are still open to offers from anyone who thinks they may be able to help or highlight our cause in any way - this is about us all.
