The Hereford United Supporters Trust held it’s Launch Party on August 29th, 2013 at the Starlite Rooms at Hereford United. Over 200 fans attended the event that had guest speakers in the likes of club legends Gareth Davies and Colin Addison, and Kevin Rye of Supporters Direct.
The Trust completed it’s inaugural elections on November 14th at Radfords Bar at Hereford United. Seven members were elected to form the first Trust Board, with Chris Williams taking the role as the inaugural Chairman.
HISTORY
In April 2013 a group of Hereford United supporters announced that they were seeking interest from fellow supporters in forming the Hereford United Supporters Trust. As published in the Hereford Times and on Bulls News, the press release noted the various financial crises at the club throughout its 89 year history, and how a supporters trust can benefit a football club and its supporters.
The first phase was to gauge interest in attending an open meeting among the supporters, to which the Steering Group received great backing through email and Twitter, and the decision was taken to hold an open meeting to discuss the formation of the Trust. The Steering Group enlisted the help of Supporters Direct and representatives from other supporters trusts, and on 23 May 2013 over 100 Hereford United supporters met at the Richmond Club in Hereford, to hear the proposals for and vote for or against a Supporters Trust.
The meeting which was chaired by Trevor Owens, had an overwhelmingly positive outcome and was notable for a passionate speech by former player Gareth Davies. And so it was agreed to form a Supporters Trust. Video footage from the Hereford open meeting can be viewed on YouTube. Just click the YouTube icon at the bottom right hand corner of the website.
With the assistance of Supporters Direct, the Trust became a Financial Conduct Authority regulated Industrial and Provident Society in late July 2013. The Launch Party was held on August 29th, 2013 in the Starlite Rooms at Hereford United, with the first Trust Board elected in November 2013.
Membership of HUST grew rapidly during the troubling times at the end of the 2013/14 season. While just under 400 members were registered by April 2014, more than 700 had signed up when the Trust took a vote to boycott Hereford United, and more than 900 had joined by the time of the first AGM in September 2014. While membership slipped following the AGM, it surged past the 1,500 mark in the days after Hereford United were liquidated in the Royal Courts of Justice on Friday, December 19th, 2014.