the-tomlinson-ryan-trust
25th June 2014#FansUnited: Louis and John have a big idea. . .
One Direction's Louis Tomlinson and former Chairman John Ryan have teamed up to create an ambitious new Trust at Doncaster Rovers Football Club.
Doncaster born-and-bred, the lifelong fans now have the opportunity to secure the future of 'Donny' and take the club to the next level.
To do that they have a big idea: to bring together football, music and crowdfunding fans through Crowdfunder to do something quite special in the South Yorkshire community they were brought up in.
Doncaster Rovers have had unprecedented success on and off the pitch over the past decade, rising from the Conference into the Championship and winning their first major trophy before relocating to the magnificent 15,231-capacity Keepmoat Stadium.
The club has also played at Wembley and Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium, and beaten Manchester City and Aston Villa along the way.
But this summer Donny are preparing for life in League One, the third tier of English football, after a dramatic relegation in the final seconds of the 2013-14 season.
Now Louis and John want to take Doncaster Rovers back to the Championship, and build a club capable of reaching the Premier League.
Most importantly, they want to make sure the local community has a club to support and enjoy for generations to come.
What the Trust will do:
The Tomlinson Ryan Trust has been established to support and develop Doncaster Rovers Football Club with the following objectives:
- To enable the club's supporters to obtain direct ownership of up to 5% of Doncaster Rovers
- To achieve Premier League status as a realistic sporting objective by careful promotion, support, finance and investment via its holding company
- To prioritise capital spend so that DRFC can build a high quality playing squad
- To protect the club against financial failure in the future by excellent financial management
- To expand the Doncaster Rovers supporter base in the UK and international markets
- To invest capital wisely so that Doncaster Rovers continues for future generations to enjoy
- To embrace and support youth development and sports activities generally
- To support charitable and schools initiatives locally, nationally and internationally
- Grow the Doncaster Rovers brand within a global market.
It's easy! How YOU can show your support
It's so simple to show Louis and John your support. Follow this easy steps:
- Watch the video at the top, and read the page - find out what Louis and John will do with your support.
- Next, check out the exclusive rewards down the right-hand side of this page.
- Pick the reward you want simply by clicking on it.
- Then follow the easy steps to complete your pledge!
Working together - the sky's the limit
Louis and John have a vision to create an ambitious new Trust to secure the club’s position at the heart of the local community in which they grew up.
Louis is one fifth of One Direction and has supported his hometown club since an early age.
Last year he fulfilled his boyhood dream when he signed for Donny on a non-contract basis and made his reserve team debut against local rivals Rotherham United. As a teenager he was a member of the waiting staff in the hospitality boxes before he found stardom which he fondly remembers in the pitch video.
Businessman John Ryan first watched Donny well over 50 years ago and oversaw the club’s most successful era as Chairman, joining the club in 1998. The 64-year-old has also pulled on the red and white hoops, becoming the oldest player to appear in professional football 11 years ago in a match against Hereford United.
They’ve done their bit to get the Trust up and running and now they’re turning to you, the crowd, to join them in an exciting new adventure. The more money they raise, the further the club can go - the sky really is the limit!
Cast an eye over the exclusive rewards down the right-hand side of this page to find out how you can get involved.
There's something for everyone, and more will follow so keep coming back and follow @CrowdfunderUK for the latest from the project.
Louis Tomlinson: "It's a big step."
"For me, this is all about the football, the community and restoring the excitement and desire to making Doncaster Rovers the most exciting club to play for in Yorkshire," said Louis.
"I grew up in Doncaster and have felt the love for football run through the town, it's for that reason that I have a real personal passion to make Doncaster Rovers a success story. I want to see the Doncaster Rovers' supporters get the club the success it deserves.
"This is a big step which I believe will open up opportunities to provide a very, very exciting future for the club and its supporters."
John Ryan: "An exciting moment."
“By setting up the Trust, launching the crowdfunding campaign with crowdfunder.co.uk, and putting our own money in, we are making it clear to Doncaster Rovers supporters, and the general public, that we are planning to give the club the support and resources it needs."
"As its previous Chairman I am still totally committed to developing an exciting future for the club. The objectives of the trust provide a roadmap to make the club an even greater success.
"I am very pleased to join forces with Louis to make this happen. It’s an exciting moment for Doncaster Rovers."
I live in the US. I am older - there really are quite a number of us - and a One Direction fan. I donated to the Fund because I am so impressed with Louis reaching back to help his community and showing his love of the Rovers. He is a young man who has helped many charities and I wanted to help him.
29th June 2014