Help the Hatters Article for Torquay Programme (28 Nov 09)

HELP THE HATTERS CHRISTMAS PARTY – DATE CHANGE

Please note that the date of the Help the Hatters Christmas Party has been brought forward 24 hours to FRIDAY 11th DECEMBER. All other arrangements remain as previously advised.

The event will be held at the Bungalow Club next to the Railway End, with doors opening at 19:30 (entrance £5). There will also be a huge raffle with excellent prizes, with all funds raised being spent on our various activities that support the Club.

Rodger Wylde’s band Fracture will be headlining, but as you all know, Rodger is getting on a bit now, so there will also be a disco to make sure he gets a breather whenever he needs it.

We have arranged a late bar, and there is bound to be a sprinkling of special guests, so why not join us and get the weekend off to an early start ahead of County’s huge clash with promotion chasing Charlton?

[picture of Rodger / Fracture strutting their stuff]

UPDATE FROM MANOR FARM

Things are really sparking down at the Training Ground. Help the Hatters have recently purchased the materials required by Stockport College students to undertake important work on the electrics. As you know, the students work under the supervision of college staff, and are honing their skills down at Manor Farm, and leaving a lasting legacy for our beloved club.

The relationship between Stockport College, the Club and ourselves, is really looking like one which can endure for a long time to come. The students get the practical experience they just can’t acquire in a classroom environment, and the Club is getting high quality work undertaken which doesn’t cost a penny, as Help the Hatters provide all of the materials required.

If you have missed any of our programme articles, you can now find an archive of the season so far on our website at www.helpthehatters.co.uk.

DID WE MENTION THE LOTTERY?

Don’t forget that we want you to sign up for the County Bond Weekly Draw with us, Help the Hatters. Then, not only can you rest assured that you are providing direct financial support to the Club, who invest the money in the Centre of Excellence, you can also be certain that the commission generated is also invested back into the Club, even the money payable when your number is drawn out as a winner.

So please visit our website (www.helpthehatters.co.uk) and sign up for the Lottery today. It is our aim to become the largest Lottery agent supporting Stockport County.

Help the Hatters Article for Exeter Programme (21 Nov 09)

We must start by thanking Pure FM for their excellent, and extensive, recent coverage of Help the Hatters, updating the Borough of Stockport about our achievements and upcoming events.

Hopefully, you can still catch the podcast of the broadcast from Friday 6th November via their website www.pureradio.org.uk. How fortunate County are to have a bone fide community radio station following their every move. It really helps to raise the profile of the Club right across the Borough, and to emphasise what a vital part of the community the Club is. County must be the envy of every other Club in the land.

Surely it won’t be long before a new owner takes over and taps into assets like Pure FM and Help the Hatters, restoring the Club to its former glory?

The podcast included recognition from Gary and the backroom staff as to the difference that Help the Hatters has made to their day-to-day job through completion of the offices and accommodation down at the training ground at Manor Farm.

Gary has personally thanked us, and this, together with his public endorsement, gives us a really big lift, and the energy to keep going under very difficult circumstances.

Other highlights from the podcast included news that the Club is saving thousands a week in security and hotel costs now that Manor Farm has been restored by Help the Hatters, updates on our partnership with Stockport College, and confirmation that we raised in excess of £10,000 from car boot sales during 2009.

If you have missed any of our programme articles, you can now find an archive of the season so far on our website at www.helpthehatters.co.uk.

In the meantime, here is a nice picture of the new kitchen we installed at the Training Ground using the money we raise.

{PICTURE OF KITCHEN}

DID WE MENTION THE LOTTERY?

Don’t forget that we want you to sign up for the County Bond Weekly Draw with us, Help the Hatters. Then, not only can you rest assured that you are providing direct financial support to the Club, who invest the money in the Centre of Excellence, you can also be certain that the commission generated is also invested back into the Club, even the money payable when your number is drawn out as a winner.

So please visit our website (www.helpthehatters.co.uk) and sign up for the Lottery today. It is our aim to become the largest Lottery agent supporting Stockport County.

Help the Hatters Article for Norwich Programme (31 Oct 09)

UPDATES FROM THE TRAINING GROUND

All of our hard work at Manor Farm is starting to pay dividends, with Gary now making full use of his new office (a picture next programme – I really mean it this time), and loan players staying, which is so much better for them, not to mention the cost savings to the Club.

Some of the rooms still need some final touches, so if you are a joiner who fancies getting involved, please get in touch via our website.

The level of involvement of the college students who are honing their skills down at Manor Farm has really ballooned in recent weeks. There are gardeners, painters, decorating, bricklayers and many more, all learning their trade down there, and of course the Club benefits as the steady improvement of the training facilities continues apace.

[PICTURES OF THE COLLEGE STUDENTS AT MANOR FARM]

RODGER WILL CHEER US UP

We wanted to hold some sort of party night before the end of the year, mainly to try and cheer everyone up, but also to keep our funds ticking over. So, step forward the legendary Rodger Wylde, who has offered his band Fracture to do a gig for us.

A provisional date of Saturday 12th December has been agreed, so keep that evening free and watch this space for more information.

WE’VE GOT EVEN MORE BIG IDEAS

We’re trying to find a venue for a tabletop sale (think car boot, indoors, with no cars or boots) early next year in order to provide the car booters to stratch their itch over the winter. Full details as soon as we have them.

Preparations are also already underway in respect of our 2010 Car Boot Sales, and we must acknowledge the important role that our Patron Councillor Helen Foster-Grime plays in respect of persuading the Council to allow us to use the old Booth Street Depot to stage such events.

DID WE MENTION THE LOTTERY?

Don’t forget that we want you to sign up for the County Bond Weekly Draw with us, Help the Hatters. Then, not only can you rest assured that you are providing direct financial support to the Club, who invest the money in the Centre of Excellence, you can also be certain that the commission generated is also invested back into the Club, even the money payable when your number is drawn out as a winner.

So please visit our website (www.helpthehatters.co.uk) and sign up for the Lottery today. It is our aim to become the largest Lottery agent supporting Stockport County.

Help the Hatters Article for Millwall Programme (17 Oct 09)

HELP THE HATTERS REACH THE PARTS…..

We don’t just help the Hatters. Sometimes we help other people as well. So, when a charity called ReachOut! contacted us over the summer (there was one, honestly) to see if we could arrange access to County’s training facility at Manor Farm, we were very pleased to be able to assist.

ReachOut! is a voluntary mentoring programme, formed over 15 years ago, which now provides one on one mentoring sessions with a young adult for hundreds of youngsters every week. Their mission is to inspire young people aged 8 and over to learn new skills, broaden their horizons, aim high and be the best they can be.

All we had to do was arrange access to Manor Farm for ReachOut! over the summer, and they did the rest, i.e. made full use of the training facilities, providing mentoring sessions for youngsters that were a bit different.

These mentoring relationships are built around encouraging good citizenship, teamwork, problem-solving and a creating can-do attitude. Sound familiar? It should do, that pretty much sums us up - Help the Hatters.

You can find out more about ReachOut! via their website at www.reachoutuk.org where there are details about how to get involved as a mentor, which will be of particular interest to you if you are a university student.

EXCELLENT FINAL CAR BOOT OF THE YEAR

Our final Car Boot of the year saw over 100 vehicles with their boots flung wide open, literally selling everything from manhole covers to home made toys, not to mention heaps of bric-a-brac.

As you know, these events have been very successful, and this was no exception, raising over £1,500 for us to spend on Manor Farm, as we strive to provide County with a training facility that is the envy of many other clubs.

During the day, a bucket collection in aid of Leukaemia Research was undertaken, and the funds raised are to be presented to Carl at the earliest opportunity.

DID WE MENTION THE LOTTERY?

Don’t forget that we want you to sign up for the County Bond Weekly Draw with us, Help the Hatters. Then, not only can you rest assured that you are providing direct financial support to the Club, who invest the money in the Centre of Excellence, you can also be certain that the commission generated is also invested back into the Club, even the money payable when your number is drawn out as a winner.

So please visit our website (www.helpthehatters.co.uk) and sign up for the Lottery today. It is our aim to become the largest Lottery agent supporting Stockport County.

Help the Hatters Article for Southend Programme (3 Oct 09)

WHO ARE YA, WHO ARE YA?

With two home games in the space of five days, it’s hard not to bore you with the same old news over and over again. So, rather than do that, let’s remind you all what Help the Hatters is all about.

Help the Hatters exists to provide practical support to County, particularly in respect of creating and maintaining facilities that will help sustain the Club into the future, e.g.

 maintaining and upgrading of the Manor Farm training facility
 supporting Stockport County’s Centre of Excellence
 encouraging / supporting junior supporters

What motivates us here at Help the Hatters is our collective desire to see County survive and thrive for generations to come. We all willingly volunteer our spare time to further the aims of the group and provide direct practical support to the Club.

We only hold meetings when we can’t avoid it, and most of the group are generally engaged in actually doing practical things, such as working down at Manor Farm, helping to run one of our famous giant car boot sales, or selling t-shirts on matchday (home and away).

We strive to be self-sufficient, so funds are raised in order to buy the things we need, e.g. to kit out Manor Farm. We never gift money to the Club, that’s not our game at all. What we are about is spending money on the Club, with the Club’s blessing of course.

In short, we want our efforts to be a lasting legacy, irrespective of how many owners come and go over the years. It doesn’t matter to us who owns County, we are about supporting the Club, not the owner.

All of the above sounds a bit dry really doesn’t it. I forgot to mention that we have a great laugh together in pursuit of our aims. If you would like to get involved with Help the Hatters, please contact us via our website www.helpthehatters.co.uk, particularly if you are the young energetic type. Oh, go on then, you oldens can get in touch as well.
 
DID WE MENTION THE LOTTERY?

Don’t forget that we want you to sign up for the County Bond Weekly Draw with us, Help the Hatters. Then, not only can you rest assured that you are providing direct financial support to the Club, who invest the money in the Centre of Excellence, you can also be certain that the commission generated is also invested back into the Club, even the money payable when your number is drawn out as a winner.

So please visit our website (www.helpthehatters.co.uk) and sign up for the Lottery today. It is our aim to become the largest Lottery agent supporting Stockport County.

Help the Hatters Article for Hartlepool Programme (29 Sept 09)

PARTNERSHIP WITH COLLEGES ESTABLISHED

Help the Hatters are delighted to announce that we have entered into partnership with colleges in the Borough of Stockport, for the mutual benefit of Stockport County and the colleges in question.

At present, students studying for National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs), undertake most of their practical work at college. This sometimes means that walls are built by trainee bricklayers, only to be dismantled; rooms are decorated by trainee decorators, only to be decorated over; and water appliances plumbed in, only to be deplumbed.

Well, from now on, these students will get the opportunity to put their skills to use at County’s training facility down at Manor Farm (under the supervision of college staff), where the results will form a lasting legacy of their efforts.

All the materials required are provided by Help the Hatters, so understandably, the colleges are delighted as it doesn’t cost them a penny. The students are also over the moon as they get more than just a photograph as a souvenir of their efforts, i.e. they get to see their end result stay in use for the benefit of all at Manor Farm. Far more satisfying.

So, there is now the potential for student landscapers, joiners, plumbers, electricians, builders, roofers, plasterers and bricklayers all to get stuck in at Manor Farm and improve their skills. With colleges providing the manpower, and Help the Hatters providing the materials, we are really looking forward to a mutually beneficial relationship.

Once the ownership issues at the Club are resolved, Help the Hatters are hopeful that maintenance work at Edgeley Park of benefit to Stockport County can also be undertaken in a similar fashion.

DID WE MENTION THE LOTTERY?

Don’t forget that we want you to sign up for the County Bond Weekly Draw with us, Help the Hatters. Then, not only can you rest assured that you are providing direct financial support to the Club, who invest the money in the Centre of Excellence, you can also be certain that the commission generated is also invested back into the Club, even the money payable when your number is drawn out as a winner.

So please visit our website (www.helpthehatters.co.uk) and sign up for the Lottery today. It is our aim to become the largest Lottery agent supporting Stockport County.

Pick up a programme at the Southend game for news of our work with a local charity. Sometimes, Helping the Hatters is just about joining up all of the dots.

Help the Hatters Article for Leyton Orient Programme (19 Sept 09)

WHAT WE EARNS WE SPENDS

What a success our Giant Car Boot Sale was on Bank Holiday Monday. We raised over £2,000! Or, as our infamous Chairman commented, “two large….very nice that”.

One of the things about the Car Boot events that we really like, is that we are largely raising money from a group of people not typically associated with County, i.e. not off you poor County supporters who have a constant queue of worthy County-related causes at your door.

Hopefully, through these articles, you are starting to appreciate what we are all about here at Help the Hatters. The money we raise doesn’t hang around in our Bank Account too long. We like to spend it! The money raised on Bank Holiday Monday has already been spent on carpets, furniture and fittings for the Training Ground down at Manor Farm near Timperley.

There will be some nice pictures for you next time.

ONE MORE FOR THE ROAD

In view of the fantastic success of our last Giant Car Boot Sale, we have decided to squeeze in one more this year - on Sunday 27th September. Call Angela on 07536 092 206 if you want to be a seller. Prices are £10 for cars and £15 for vans.

Once again, the event will be on Booth Street backing onto Edgeley Park. If you live locally, please try to visit the event. Entrance is free, and the more punters we can attract, the higher the demand for pitches at future events.

You will be amazed at the variety and value of goods on offer and there will also be on site catering, including ice cream. Don’t delay your visit until the afternoon though, as car boot events tend to wind down from about 1pm.

DID WE MENTION THE LOTTERY?

Don’t forget that we want you to sign up for the County Bond Weekly Draw with us, Help the Hatters. Then, not only can you rest assured that you are providing direct financial support to the Club, who invest the money in the Centre of Excellence, you can also be certain that the commission generated is also invested back into the Club, even the money payable when your number is drawn out as a winner.

So please visit our website (www.helpthehatters.co.uk) and sign up for the Lottery today. It is our aim to become the largest Lottery agent supporting Stockport County.

News of our new partnership with Stockport College, our work with a local charity, and of a planned table top sale in the programme for the Hartlepool match.

If we all keep helping the Hatters, surely we will succeed.

Help the Hatters Article for Southampton Programme (29 Aug 09)

HELPING COUNTY NEEDN’T BE A LOTTERY

Help the Hatters want everyone to sign up for the County Bond Weekly Draw. All profits directly benefit County’s Centre of Excellence and are a key source of revenue for the Club.

But, we don’t want you to just sign up on-line or with any old agent, we want you to sign up with us, Help the Hatters.

Lottery agents and canvassers are paid commission, both on their sales and also on any winnings should the numbers of those they have signed up be drawn as winners any week.

If you join the Lottery through Help the Hatters, the commission payable is sent direct to us, and we then spend it on County, e.g. on improving the training facilities at Manor Farm.

So, not only can you rest assured that you are providing direct financial support to the Club, who invest the money in the Centre of Excellence, you can be certain that the commission generated is also invested back into the Club, even the money payable when your number is drawn out as a winner.

Help the Hatters organise many fund raising events to provide the funding for our projects, but the Lottery is fast becoming a vital, reliable and consistent source of funds, which makes it a lot easier for us to get things done.

So please visit our website (www.helpthehatters.co.uk) and sign up for the Lottery today. It is our aim to become the largest Lottery agent supporting Stockport County.

GIANT CAR BOOT BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY

Don’t forget to call Angela on 07536 092 206 if you want to be a seller at our Giant Car Boot on Monday 31st August at Booth Street. Prices are £10 for cars and £15 for vans.

If you live locally, please try to visit the event. Entrance is free, and the more punters we can attract, the higher the demand for pitches at future events.

You will be amazed at the variety and value of goods on offer and there will also be on site catering, including ice cream. Don’t delay your visit until the afternoon though, as car boot events tend to wind down from about 1pm.

PICTURE (car boot)

We still have a few copies on the excellent Hatters Independent Supporters Club Yearbook. With the essential away travel guide, player profiles, the impossible quiz and statistics galore, this is a must-have companion and will last you all season. So contact us via our website (www.helpthehatters.co.uk) if you want to grab one of the last copies (priced at just £2).

Help the Hatters Article for Carlisle Programme (18 Aug 09)

GREAT PROGRESS DOWN AT THE FARM

With back-to-back home games, we thought we would show you the progress we have made at the Training Facility down at Manor Farm.

PICTURES (Manor Farm before Help the Hatters)

PICTURES (Manor Farm after Help the Hatters)

Once again, we offer our sincere thanks to everyone that has mucked in over the summer, and look forward to working with you again this season.

Don’t forget to call Angela on 07536 092 206 if you want to be a seller at our Giant Car Boot on Monday 31st August at Booth Street. Prices are £10 for cars and £15 for vans.
 
We still have a few copies on the excellent Hatters Independent Supporters Club Yearbook, so contact us via our website (www.helpthehatters.co.uk) if you want a copy.

Don’t forget to sign up for the Cash Bonanza Lottery. Not only does this provide financial support directly to the Club, but if you sign up via Help the Hatters (see www.helpthehatters.co.uk) the commission is paid to us, which we then also spend on County.

Help the Hatters Article for Bristol Rovers Programme (15 Aug 09)

GIANT CAR BOOT EVENT MONDAY 31st AUGUST

Please can we urge all County fans to support our next Giant Car Boot, which will be held at Booth Street (backing onto Edgeley Park) on Monday 31st August (free entrance).

This will be the 4th Car Boot that we have held, and each one has been bigger and better than the one before, raising the funds needed to help us convert the Training Facility at Manor Farm into a Premiership standard facility for the players and staff of Stockport County.

Due to anticipated high demand for pitches, sellers are urged to book as soon as possible by calling Angela on 07536 092 206. Prices are £10 for cars and £15 for vans.

It’s free entry for everyone, so why not spend a couple of hours on Bank Holiday Monday seeking out that bargain at our Giant Car Boot. The variety of sellers at previous events has been truly amazing, and we will also have food, drink and ice cream available.

Today saw the launch of this season’s Yearbook, the excellent annual offering from the Hatters Independent Supporters Club. The Yearbook includes player profiles, the famous away travel guide and other excellent articles. This year, Help the Hatters are helping HISC sell the Yearbook, so if you haven’t managed to get hold of a copy, please get in touch via our website, www.helpthehatters.co.uk

As you know, County supporters have just endured one of the most worrying summers in the Club’s history. However, this did not distract Help the Hatters from cracking on with achieving our goal, namely the creation and maintenance of facilities and services that will help sustain the Club into the future.

The money we raise through our socials, shirt sales and car boot events is not gifted to the Club, nor does it just sit in a bank account. Funds raised, are currently being spent on carpets, furniture, lighting and basic tools such as a vacuum cleaner for the Training Facility at Manor Farm.

PICTURE (Club presentation to Help the Hatters)

We would like to sincerely thank everyone who supported us both practically and emotionally during the summer, which encouraged us to keep the faith and to continue to pursue our goals. There are too many to name here, but you know who you are.

The fact that we kept going through such adversity is something that we are very proud of, and surely bodes well for the future. What has been achieved to date is truly remarkable, and we hope to showcase our work at Manor Farm shortly through an Openday.

Finally, please can we encourage all County supporters to sign up for Cash Bonanza Lottery. Not only does this provide financial support directly to the Club, but if you sign up via Help the Hatters (see www.helpthehatters.co.uk) the commission is paid to us, which we then spend on County, so everybody wins.

Don’t forget to buy the Carlisle programme, as we will be publishing photos from Manor Farm.

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