Farewell Message from CPST
FAREWELL
This is a farewell message as this website will close during November 2023.
The Crystal Palace Supporters’ Trust was set up in 2000 at a time of crisis when many Palace fans feared for the survival of their beloved club with the uncertainties of Administration. It was founded with a view to raising sufficient funds to purchase a stake in the club on behalf of supporters and there was much activity and hard work undertaken by fans. It was one of the first Supporters’ Trust of its kind and it was a model that others followed as the Trust movement grew.
Thankfully, CPFC was taken out of Administration in 2000 by Simon Jordan. During the following 10 years the owner declined to engage with the Trust though we were able to build positive relationships within the club. These were to prove useful when the Club went into Administration again in 2010.
During the 2010 Administration we met with the Football League, local politicians, the CEO of Croydon Council as well as the club’s Administrator. Unlike in 2000, the idea of purchasing a stake in the club was unlikely due to the numbers involved. However, the stadium, that had been under third party ownership, was also under Administration, adding to the crisis facing the club. Therefore, if we were able to raise significant funds, securing the future of Selhurst Park was a clear consideration.
During that period of Administration, the Trust sponsored a Palace home match and covered the costs of two overnight stays for Palace’s FA Youth Cup squad as they progressed in the competition and had to travel north in consecutive rounds of the cup.
All fears of the club ceasing to exist were removed when CPFC 2010 took the club out of Administration and negotiated a deal to purchase Selhurst Park in the process, famously assisted by Palace fans protesting outside Lloyds Bank HQ in London.
The new owners were happy to engage with the Trust and following a couple of meetings with Steve Parish, the Trust was set the task of identifying a potential site for a new training ground. A huge amount of work went into that project and a site was identified as a strong contender and was visited several times by club officials. In the end the opportunity of purchasing the existing training ground in Copers Cope Road was taken by the club. The club has since purchased a site across the road from the first team training ground and has built a superb facility for the Academy.
We have had the pleasure over the years of welcoming various key figures from the club to attend our Annual General Meetings, giving Palace fans the opportunity to ask questions and get an insight into club decisions. Our guests included Roy Hodgson, Ray Lewington, Dougie Freedman, Paddy McCarthy, Gary Issott, Richard Shaw, John Salako and Lennie Lawrence.
In recent years the Trust Board has reduced in size to the point where, maintaining the Trust, and meeting the often-onerous regulations that apply to Supporters’ Trusts, became increasingly difficult. With further resignations last year of key Board members, the decision was reluctantly taken to end the Trust.
A huge thank you to the founders of the Trust and all those that have actively participated in the Trust committees and activities over the years and to all Trust members for their support.
The membership was approached earlier this year about the Trust funds and thanks to all those that responded and were content for the proposal that charitable donations be made to the Palace for Life Foundation and the Crystal Palace Supporters Childrens’ Charity. These donations will be undertaken.
Most recently the Trust has focused on its representative role with the club, meeting on a regular basis, and in other forums on behalf of Palace fans.
This representation will continue with a new Palace fans’ organisation – the Crystal Palace Independent Supporters’ Association – CPISA. All Palace supporters whether in the UK or abroad are welcome to join. This is to help build a strong and inclusive supporters’ organisation that champions and advocates on behalf of Palace fans and provides a voice communicating with the club and other relevant organisations on matters related to Palace supporters. CPISA will also engage with the Football Supporters’ Association on national football issues. Membership of other Palace fan groups does not preclude membership of CPISA.
For more information and to join the CPISA mailing list please see the website www.cpisa.co.uk Alternatively if you do not have access to an email address please write to CPISA, Dell House, Rockshaw Road, Merstham, RH1 3DD. Thank you.
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