I’m cheesed off. I probably shouldn’t write this column until I’ve calmed down. Then again why should I waste an opportunity to speak out about something.
The Imps gained a valuable point at Exeter last weekend and could – not should – have come away with all three. We had a makeshift back line after the break but were still the better side against opponents who would have gone above us if the’d nicked it. Any point in an away fixture in League One, in my view, is a good one. That result kept us in the play-off places.
But no, that’s not good enough for some fans. ‘That’s an hour and a half of my life I won’t get back’ one posted. There were others in a similar vein. Poor game, missed chances, should do better…blah blah blah.
I’m not sure what supporters expect and, in saying that,  I’m fully aware the ones offering criticism are a tiny but entitled minority. ‘I’m entitled (sic) to my opinion’ is the cry.
It is so hard to win games and hold a high position in the table at the level we’re competing at. It’s hard for the chairman, the directors, the staff, the coaches, and of course the playing staff.  One of them, Paudie O’Connor, gets battered every week winning headers and leading by example. He’s not the most robust looking guy when you look at him but he plays like he’s a man mountain. Very few strikers get the better of him. He’ll have travelled back from Devon – very uncomfortably no doubt – pleased we got something from the game and quite right too. 
Our Trust has thousands of members and we’re out there every week talking to supporters about the club. Thankfully just about all of them realise the challenges there are plying your business up in the third tier of English football. It’s such a shame one or two publicly dismiss the work that’s put in because a game isn’t a classic and we haven’t won easily.
In football as in life you don’t always get what you want. It’s no bad thing to remember that when the final whistle blows.

with thanks to the Lincolnshire Echo

with thanks to the Lincolnshire Echo

Without being complacent our Trust, like the club, seems to be enjoying a reasonably successful time at the moment. Our position in the club is solid with us now holding the important Fans’ Share, our membership amounting to around 6000, and with two of our board sitting on the club board of directors. 
In terms of the latter, Phil Scrafton is now fully registered as a club director and has impressed in the way he’s approaching this important role.
We looked to ‘future plan’ as the Fan Led Review moved towards the more formal Football Governance Bill, and as a result we’ve got some new people on board keeping us old Trust stalwarts on our toes.
Emma Crellin is a well-known Imps fan and has had a successful career in marketing. She’s now our joint Fan Engagement Lead where we look to serve our members well, at the same time as enhance the club’s award-winning work in making our supporters genuinely feel part of the club they so avidly follow. 
It must be an interesting time in the Crellin household. Emma’s husband is a keen Carlisle United fan and their fortunes are in stark contrast to those at the LNER stadium. Next to bottom in League Two their Trust chair recently put out a statement refuting claims made against him and his colleagues. He says they’ve been accused of being a closed shop, they don’t communicate, they’re too close to the club, they make bad decisions, and are in it for the perks. Phew.
From what I can see Carlisle United Supporters Trust do stuff pretty much exactly like we do – honorably, openly, and properly. It just goes to show that anger over bad footballing times can cloud the judgement of those who lash out.
So future planning is important. The good times are great but we have to be ready for if and where they’re not. It’s what the club does, and it’s what your Trust does too. If you want to know a bit more on this or any other Trust matter, then seek us out in the Fan Village. This column tries to keep you up to speed but you can’t beat a face to face natter to get our messages out.

with thanks to the Lincolnshire Echo.

Whilst it’s still the EFL close season, we can now say with great enthusiasm that the Imps will soon be in action. This month in fact. Their first friendly is on Friday 12th against Preston North End. However it takes place in Spain, and it’s early August before we’ll be at the LNER stadium for a home fixture, with Arsenal U21s coming to town. That’s only less than a month away though.  
The club figured very highly in the EFL Family Excellence Awards coming top in League One and third overall. Our Trust gang like to think we contributed to that a little bit by what we provide on a match-day in the Fan Village.
Since we opened our very professional RICT Pod at the start of the year we’ve had much more opportunity to put on things that both help and entertain Imps fans. The marquee we had was OK but trapping your fingers during its erection and holding it down in high winds were risks we could do without. Our new base is now kitted out inside with display shelving and a counter, with the electrics we need being installed next. As such we can now do even more in the hours leading up to a home fixture.
We have a heritage remit that’s up to now included our online museum and the installation of plaques to recognise iconic Lincoln City landmarks. 
Starting with the Gunners game we’ll have a new initiative – a mini-exhibition in the pod – this time featuring the great man Keith Alexander. There’ll be a number interesting items on show all relating to Keith and his time here. This will be available for the first few home games so come and have a look. Further interesting features like this will be put on throughout the season. 
Fan engagement is a golden thread running through all that our Trust does, and our Fan Village actions are a part of that. You can meet the people that take your views direct into the club itself, there’s freebie items for younger supporters, collectible programmes are available to browse through, we run competitions with decent prizes, you can join the Trust if you haven’t already, and there’s much more. 
And to let you into a secret….we do all this because it’s good fun. What better before the contest kicks off than banter, talking about all things Lincoln City, and friends meeting up. 
When the new season starts come along to the Fan Village for a beer and a burger and bring them to the Trust Pod to see us and what we have to offer. You’ll be very welcome.