Trusting In Us

The past twelve months has seen the Shrimpers Trust further enhance its involvement in Southend United's Youth Department.

Following on from the early success of sponsoring the travelling costs of Joel Ledgister, a promising winger, and Reiss Noel, a commanding centre-half, soon after Ricky Duncan's return to the club in 2005, last summer saw the Shrimpers Trust commit a sum of £5,000 in each of the following two seasons to help finance the highly-successful European Tour Programme.

The Trust then made an additional commitment early in 2008 in order to see their logo emblazoned on the front of the Under-18s' shirts until May 2009. This team has also reached notable heights, finishing inside the top four in both of Duncan's first two campaigns in charge and defeating Academy outfits Derby County and Stoke City in an historic run to the last sixteen of the F.A. Youth Cup last term.

Monthly Shrimpers Trust SUFC Youth Team Player of the Month awards are handed out on the Roots Hall pitch throughout the season, with the winners automatically nominated for the Tom Grace Memorial Shield for the Youth Team Player of the Year at the organisation's End of Season Review evening.

Three members of the Trust committee have recently been elected onto the Youth Development Association committee, which helps to monitor funds raised through the Blues Lottery for the Centre of Excellence.

Trust spokesman Robert Craven said, "The Shrimpers Trust is delighted to help Ricky Duncan and his backroom team produce the future stars of Southend United. The progression of the likes of Franck Moussa and Charles Ademeno in Ricky's short time at the club shows that there is a great deal for supporters to be positive about, and that fans can have an influence in shaping the team of tomorrow."

The Trust's backing for Southend United does not end there though, and money raised from this season's Quid-a-Goal initiative will go towards the Southend United Community & Educational Trust team headed by Steve Goodsell. In the past, we have also committed large sums of money from this scheme to Club Physiotherapist John Stannard, whilst last season we helped Paul Brush complete his FA Pro-License with the donation of £1000.

The value of the Trusts contribution to the Club was echoed by the Clubs
Director of Commercial Services, Garry Adamson:

"Since I came to the club I have really enjoyed working with the Trust. Not only do they do a good job in representing supporter views, their support of the Youth Department is extremely important to us."

"For example, this extra cash helps us to buy the latest equipment which helps the players develop and also helps to attract youngsters to come to Southend. We hope to continue our positive relationship for years to come which will help us towards our aim of playing academy football in the short term."