Jags Trust – Partick Thistle Supporters' Association

PTFC have a fantastic offer to get families back watching football in a friendly, fun environment.

For our game v Livingston on Saturday 3rd December we are offering the chance for adults bringing 2 or more kids to the game to get in for £10.

Yes £10 in total for an Adult with 2 kids.

All we would ask is that you register at www.ptfc.co.uk (so that we can inform you of all the great kid friendly activity we’ll be having over the rest of the season) by filling in and printing one form per child or printing it out blank forms to fill in later, take it to Firhill and exchange for a £10 Adult ticket. The forms received will go into a half time draw with some amazing prizes up for grabs.

On the day there will be face painting, giant slides, PTFC Balloons, and our Stadium slingshot will be firing PTFC Merchandise into the crowd at half time.

So let’s put the fun back into football and get kids to Firhill. If your a member of a local football team, BB Company, Scout Group, Primary: Secondary School, Girl Guides or any other group why not all get together and come along to Firhill on Saturday 3d December.

You’ll have a great day out and might even win a fantastic prize.

Following on from our recent annoucement to continue to sponsor the Manager’s page in the programme, we are pleased to announce another sponsorship deal with the club.

We will be sponsoring the away shirts of both Paul Cairney and David Rowson for the coming season.

Members should keep their eyes open near the end of the season to find out how they can be in a chance of winning the signed tops!

The Jags Trust are pleased to announce that starting this Saturday against Ross County, we will once again be able to sponsor the Manager’s page in the matchday programme.

This is the third consecutive year we have been able to support the club in this manner and we are also hopeful that we will be able to announce another sponsorship deal within the coming days.

The Hunt for Red (& Yellow) October!

We’ve often bemoaned the fact that the only visual record we have of our glorious League Cup triumph lasts just over twenty three minutes and that no full recording of the match survives. Few, however, know the story which shows that were it not for the dogged persistence of one fan, we wouldn’t even have that and could only relive the day with the brief clips of the goals (four real ones and Dalglish’s off-side effort) which survive!

While paranoia is usually a trait attributed to those who collected runners-up medals that day, Jags’ fans eager to revisit (on an almost unhealthily regular basis) the delights of 23/10/71 were left struggling, courtesy of a string of mishaps which suggested that having witnessed the majestic victory, we were to be blighted by a Tutankhamen type curse when it came to reruns.

The match was filmed (for those of a younger vintage, it’s what came before video tape and digital recording) by BBC Scotland, Scottish Television and the Celtic Film Club.

For reasons which are not difficult to comprehend, the third of the trio discarded their footage, indeed it was suggested that it didn’t even reach the developer and went straight into the bin before they even left Hampden Park!

BBC Scotland’s recording mysteriously disappeared in the early eighties, or at least that was their response to several written and verbal approaches by the fan obsessed with getting the ultimate memento of that day of days.

So that left the STV version, well actually it didn’t since their response to an initial enquiry was that it had been destroyed in the fire which gutted the Hope Street studios.

The minor flaw in that argument could be exposed without needing the wits of Sherlock Holmes since the fire, which tragically claimed the lives of two firemen, took place in 1969, two years before the match!

Ultimately it transpired that the film, both the unedited and the 23 minute broadcast version had been lost – and apparently remains so to this day.

From the depths of the mind however was dredged the memory of a night in the old Firhill Club (now the area filled by the club offices) when Davie McParland gave a showing of the edited highlights, a version presented to him as a souvenir by STV.

Unfortunately, on a variety of levels given that he had led us to our greatest triumph of the modern era, Davie’s departure from Firhill was less than amicable and it was perhaps understandable that approaches about the recording were fruitless for a few years.

Ultimately, however, a chance meeting at a dinner in the late lamented Albany Hotel afforded another opportunity for an approach and, coming from one of the Firhill 12, the fans who followed Thistle on mind-expanding and wallet-emptying two-week pre-season trip to Sweden in 1972, Davie Mac agreed to lending his version to let it be immortalised on a more modern medium.

A visit to his pub in Milton of Campsie resulted in the reel being rescued, just in time, from a damp cellar where the acetate based film was already showing signs of deterioration.

Transferred on to video, with copies made for friends, family and Firhill, it has since been moved on to DVD, even to digital versions now and will be centre piece of tonight’s celebrations.

Arthur Montford’s epic comments are all there with much upgoing of heads, a few stramashes and – my personal favourite – with Jimmy Johnstone leaving the field “Celtic are down to twelve men!”

Judge for your-self the decision of the referee not to take any action against Jinky when he savagely raked his shin down Ronnie Glavin’s studs!

It might not be the full magnum opus, but at least the key moments are there to be savoured by those lucky enough to have been present on the day and by those who will, for decades to come, be bored rigid by tales which grow in the telling but which never need to exaggerate either final score or the magnitude of Thistle’s finest hour in living memory.

1971 – What a Sensation

Hope you got a ticket for the hottest show in town?

Tickets available from Firhill £15 (still on sale at the time of going to print)

For all things Red & Yellow, be there to celebrate one of Thistle’s greatest victories, tonight – 22 October 2011 – at Hampden Park.

Supporters Direct, Scotland

SD has been provided with a funding package sufficient to take them through to March 2012.

In the next six months SDS aims to build on the work completed thus far with 30 supporter’s trust and to develop a Scottish Football Supporters Network to promote effective and productive dialogue between football fans, Government, football authorities, clubs, communities and other public authorities.

The Scottish Government has taken a greater interest in supporter behaviour at and around football matches and SDS is represented at all meetings of Joint Review Group (JAG) chaired by Neil Doncaster SPL Chief Executive.

The remit of this group, convened in March 2011, is to report on and discuss progress on the 41 proposals produced.

We await developments with interest.

Morag McHaffie

On October 23^rd 1971, eleven men in the colours of Partick Thistle produced arguably the greatest ever shock result in the history of Scottish Football. A result that prompted legendary Scottish football commentator, Arthur Montford to famously declare; “What a Sensation, it’s 4-0 Thistle”.

In the 1971 League Cup Final at Hampden Park a predominately young, universally exciting Partick Thistle side humbled Jock Stein’s previously all-conquering Celtic team by four goals to one.

On Saturday October 22^nd 2011, almost exactly 40 years to the day of Thistle’s greatest ever triumph, the venue is once again Hampden Park for a celebration of that truly sensational result.

This though will be no staid look back at one of the Club’s yesterdays. Rather it will be a celebration in true sense of the word, and not just of that famous result, but a celebration of Partick Thistle Football Club in general as well. A night for all Thistle fans; young and old to enjoy. All kids that attend the event will be given something to help them celebrate each of the four goals with.

This will be a night of colour (red and yellow obviously), music, laughter and, of course, football. So dig out your scarfs, flags and banners so clear your throats, the bars which will be open should help with that, and get ready to raise the roof in celebration of Partick Thistle. This is the only party in town – make sure you don’t miss it.

Please see the below link for further information on how to buy tickets and for more details of the planned events taking place.

http://www.ptfc.co.uk/fans/1971

We would like to thank those members of the Jags Trust who participated in the consultation process, asked questions and expressed their views, verbally, by email and/or by attending the meeting on 5 October.

On reviewing these responses, the Jags Trust Board found that there were strong views both for and against  the “Special Resolutions” being tabled at the EGM of PTFC Ltd.

For this reason the Jags Trust Board decided that the most appropriate action was to abstain at this evening’s EGM.

Jags Trust Members

The trust is seeking to canvass members’ views on the resolutions being submitted for a forthcoming EGM of PTFC Ltd.

A consultative meeting of members is being held between 7 – 8 pm on Wednesday 5 October 2011 in Maryhill Community Central Halls, 304 Maryhill Road.

The Jags Trust will take the soundings from their members on the evening, or, if you are unable to attend, in writing to (M McHaffie, 1/1, 99 Somerville Dr, Glasgow G42 9BH) or by email to chair@jagstrust.co.uk

Meet the Manager

Jackie McNamara advised that as he left Glasgow Green at half time the score against Raith Rovers was 0-0 and they(RR) had a number of their first team players involved.

A steady stream of questions came from those sitting in the auditorium and none seemed to faze Jackie as he responded in an open and candid manner.

He felt that competition raises standards and supported by the new training facilities at Glasgow Green, his coaching team, sports scientist and new sited TV cameras to offer various angles and improved analysis he hopes the standard will rise. Training is arranged into condensed 90 minute slots to mirror match time and some players do return in the afternoons to hone their skills. All the players are supported to attend college one day per week. The summer training camp “was an eye opener for some of the boys noting the discipline of those going to war”. It allowed the management to monitor the player’s food intake and exercise regime to raise the fitness levels.

Jackie felt that some young players “get it all too soon” which is not always helpful and that’s why they go out on loan because they miss out on Reserve football nowadays.

Yes confidence of players can be affected and fans do get on their backs but he tells them they need to get on with it and encourages them to focus on the game and not read Forums.

Personally “love my job”. Not happy with performances since the start of the season “Berwick was a sickener”; Infuriating to play well and get nothing or even when we get all 3 points some players don’t stick to the plan. It can be frustrating but strive not to take my work home with me.

On that note the meeting was drawn to a conclusion. Thanks to Jackie for giving his time and wished him a safe journey back to Edinburgh and thanks to all members who attended the AGM and Meet the Manager.

Morag McHaffie

Chairperson

Please see below for a round of the action from this year’s AGM.

The Jags Trust AGM, 1 September 2011, Maryhill Community Central Halls.

The business meeting followed the recognised formal agenda

• Apologies and previous minutes
• The Society Board report (a copy will be made available on the JT website)
• Chairperson Report – touched on the social events; outcome of 3 meetings with David Beattie since last AGM and plans for future events (a copy will be made available on the JT website
• Audited Accounts – increase in membership, income/expenditure including sponsorship of managers page (a copy will be made available on the JT website)
• Outcome of Election – Welcome to Alan Limond, Gary Gentles, Paul Devine and Douglas Rimmer (Treasurer) and thanks to Fiona and Donald whose appointment continues for a further season. Thanks to those who were co-opted to the JT Board during the last year Bob and Norman and to Maggie for completing her 4 years as Treasurer and keeping us informed and financially prudent. Thanks to Ian Kelly, independent scrutineer for election process.

There followed a briefing from the Trust Board on matters associate with the forthcoming EGM of PTFC Ltd, after which members questions and opinions were sought.

A copy of the proposed Articles of Association was collected from Firhill (it was noted that it was not included in the papers sent out for the EGM) and it had been crossed referenced with the existing Articles and Table A and with various model documents available for companies to highlight the differences.

The Jags Trust had, through Supporters Direct Scotland, subsequently taken legal advice from a lawyer with wide experience in football matters

The Jags Trust put their concerns into the public domain for their membership and Jags fans in general in a flyer circulated prior to Saturday’s match with Queen of the South and emailed to all members for whom addresses were held.

“Conflict of Interest”

Most Thistle fans are all aware that some Directors at Firhill are Directors of both PTFC and Propco and also of companies providing other services to/for the club.

Legal advice – The best option would be for the directors of the Club to be different to the property company (Propco) but that is not practical.

(There are two types of conflict of interest “situational” exists by virtue of an existing situation and is ongoing and must always be considered while it exists and “transactional” may only appear when a particular transaction is proposed and disappears once that transaction has been dealt with).

Special resolution 1 is asking shareholders to allow independent directors (those who are not also directors of the company that owns the ground) to authorise situational conflicts of interest, and this would include the conflict that the directors who are also directors of the company that owns the ground have. Under the 2006 Act the directors must not put themselves in a position that gives rise or could give rise to a situational conflict unless they’ve got authorisation to do so.

The special resolution 2 & 3 are required in order to actually adopt the proposed new articles.

Is there an obligation under the proposed Articles of PTFC Ltd to hold an AGM?

Legal advice – Under the new Companies Act 2006 there is no longer a requirement to have an AGM. Existing Articles, whether it was mentioned or not all companies had to hold an AGM.

Do they need to change the Articles?

Legal advice – The Club is not obliged to change its Articles it can carry on as it does at present.

You cannot draft Articles that contravene the law, and if an article purports to do so it will be invalid. Proposed Articles of Association, Clause 1 does not remove the application of Companies Act 2006, section 303.

Questions from the floor followed:

Have you spoken to the press?

An individual opinion was expressed The Trust should have done so and had missed an opportunity?

No we have not spoken to the press.

It is the view of the JT Board that this matter should be resolved without reference to the press. The JT position is to seek a resolution, not to provoke a conflict.

Another member commented that the press found it a non-story.

Another member raised the matter of the Aitken Suite?

The drink is excessively priced and it used to be that the profit went to PTFC. Does it still?

Unable to answer that question

Previously David Beattie confirmed yes that the profit did go to PTFC Ltd.

What’s the end game?

Since we have not been part of the decision making process since June 2010 or in dialogue and debate with the Club Board, we could not say.

Discussion took place about shareholdings, and the purchase and sale thereof.

Poll voting and Proxy forms were distributed with the original material for the AGM – 75% of those attending and voting is required to pass the Special Resolutions.

The Jags Trust has 1,000,000 shares 11% of issued shares.

The proxy for Eddie Prentice, 1,000,000 shares, was placed with Morag McHaffie, Jags Trust Chairperson, and lodged with the company secretary Helen Muir by closing date 30 August 2011 – voting “against” the motions.

Therefore that totalled 22% of the total issued shareholding.

In summary, the feeling of those Jags Trust members present at the AGM was that there had been insufficient information provided and no engagement with the Trust, or as far as we are aware with other shareholders and stakeholders in PTFC Ltd and, in conclusion, that passing the Special Resolutions at this meeting did not appear to be in the best interest of the football club.

Representatives attending the EGM will approach the meeting in a constructive manner but will urge the Club to step back from taking a decision on 2 September and to adjourn the EGM to allow for an informed and inclusive debate on the proposals, their objectives and the possible implications of the proposed resolutions.

M McHaffie, Chairperson

Please see below for notes relating the the club EGM, which took place on Friday 2nd September.

David Beattie, Chairperson, welcomed shareholders to the EGM, introduced the Directors present and invited the company’s legal representative to explain to those present the reasons for the Special Resolutions:

P Pignatelli of DLA Piper commented that:

• There were no hidden agendas or concerns because the Directors are already bound to look after the company and not break the law
• The proposals emanated from changes to the Companies Act 2006
• The Club, wished to streamline their Articles as at present they work from 4 different documents
• “Conflicts” – Under the Act were not really a concern as directors “cannot take advantage” as they could be sued if they did.

He said he had read various websites and, in his time as a corporate lawyer, he had not seen such interest or concern over what he described as merely a “housekeeping exercise”.

Mr Pignatelli also advised shareholders that the PTFC Board had been keen to include additional rights for shareholders in their proposals.

Questions from the shareholders followed:

Why was the EGM at 10am on a weekday, a time very inconvenient for many shareholders and contrary to agreement reached at the last AGM of the Club?

Mr Allan quoted from the minutes of the AGM stating that it was AGMs which were to be held in the evenings and not EGMs. After much debate the Board of PTFC Ltd would have it written into the Articles of Association that all future shareholders meetings would be in the evening to permit as many stakeholders as possible to attend.

Why not post out all documentation, including proposed Articles?

Too costly; Accessible at Firhill

Why not circulate through email?

Individual’s details not available

As shareholders continued to seek clarification the questions continued, including:

There would be no requirement under the proposed Articles to hold AGMs of shareholders.

It was indicated that AGMs could still be held.

After further debate, the PTFC Board undertook to bring forward a resolution to include the need for AGMs at the next AGM.

Why did we need a “Conflicts of Interest” Motion?

The Board stated that they could not consult the shareholders for every decision, for example purchasing McGhee’s pies or toilet rolls etc.

Directors had been urged to consider a formal Code of Conduct or a Sub-Committee of Independent Directors to Review/Approve “Conflict Situations”.

“This was dismissed as impracticable”

What alternatives had been considered and discarded before deciding on the Special Resolutions

No response was given

Why did discussions not take place with shareholders and other stakeholders prior to EGM?

The Directors felt the EGM was offering the time and place for debate and dialogue to take place.

Many of those present, including representatives of the Jags Trust, urged that, rather than have what would inevitably be a divisive vote, the Board should adjourn the EGM and consult widely on the proposals, their potential implications and the reasons for their being brought forward at this time.

It was again stressed on various occasions that such consultation should be with shareholders and stakeholders i.e. fans, those with a lifelong emotional as well as financial commitment to PTFC.

The Board, however, rejected all of these proposals and called for the vote to be taken.

It should be noted that The Board of PTFC Ltd required to secure the support of 75% of those “shareholders present” voting in the room.

All three Special Resolutions were defeated by show of hands and without recourse to the polling of proxy votes.

Morag McHaffie

Chairperson