OTR Ltd - Trust Vote

[Andy_H]

I think Rob Baxter's family own a fair bit of land round there.

Rob's Uncle - Paul - was school friends with my brother at QES and, certainly at that time, the Baxter family farmed out beyond Eggesford. You might be right but.........

 

[Colesman Ballz]

In the 1970s there was talk of building a stadium for football rugby and speedway out near Bramford Speke.
Maybe that's what they are still talking about.

It would probably have required snorkeling gear, as most of the flat land around there is very much part of the Rjver Exe floodplain !

 

[Gordon Dale]

I’ve been a continuous member of the Trust since 2003, so obviously support it and its purpose.
That said I don’t know anywhere near as much detail of its history as many others on here.
A recent Senior Reds meeting with David Treharne was helpful in going towards addressing that for me though.
I do like that our club is owned by the Trust and I still think the benefits it brings outweigh the potential restrictions that may also mean in relation to our growth and development.
But when you see what’s been achieved in recent times e.g. the significant improvements to SJP (with more planned), the incredible facility at the training ground (including securing it’s freehold) and of course most importantly the steady progress on the pitch (and the success of our women’s team) it’s testament to everyone who’ve been involved with the Trust and Club over the past 20 years or so.
Especially those who’ve been so generous with the financial investments and time.
We now have an opportunity to improve our situation further by acquiring a substantial area of land and property in and around the stadium.
I can’t see any sensible reason not to proceed as recommended by the Trust.
I appreciate that there are some issues to be resolved further down the line but if the chance is there now and we have the means to bring the assets currently owned by OTR under Trust/club control I say do it.
What we’ve got and where we are now is like a dreamland compared to the early 2000s.
I know perhaps some more recent supporters get fed up by some of us who’ve been around longer talking like this and I understand and agree with others who are vigilant in their scrutiny of the Board’s activities.
But it can often take almost completely losing something you love to really appreciate how much it means to you.

Thank you Bridgy for your thoughtful and very well reasoned post . The OTR situation was always going to have to be resolved . Fortunately the Trust is now in a much better place financially to put in place another 'key' building block to better secure the club's future.

 

[Grecian Max]

I’ve been a continuous member of the Trust since 2003, so obviously support it and its purpose.
That said I don’t know anywhere near as much detail of its history as many others on here.
A recent Senior Reds meeting with David Treharne was helpful in going towards addressing that for me though.
I do like that our club is owned by the Trust and I still think the benefits it brings outweigh the potential restrictions that may also mean in relation to our growth and development.
But when you see what’s been achieved in recent times e.g. the significant improvements to SJP (with more planned), the incredible facility at the training ground (including securing it’s freehold) and of course most importantly the steady progress on the pitch (and the success of our women’s team) it’s testament to everyone who’ve been involved with the Trust and Club over the past 20 years or so.
Especially those who’ve been so generous with the financial investments and time.
We now have an opportunity to improve our situation further by acquiring a substantial area of land and property in and around the stadium.
I can’t see any sensible reason not to proceed as recommended by the Trust.
I appreciate that there are some issues to be resolved further down the line but if the chance is there now and we have the means to bring the assets currently owned by OTR under Trust/club control I say do it.
What we’ve got and where we are now is like a dreamland compared to the early 2000s.
I know perhaps some more recent supporters get fed up by some of us who’ve been around longer talking like this and I understand and agree with others who are vigilant in their scrutiny of the Board’s activities.
But it can often take almost completely losing something you love to really appreciate how much it means to you.

I don’t think there’s anyone on here who didn’t experience the bad times such as the early 2000s as you mention, it’s exeweb not TikTok

 

[Bridgy 81]

I don’t think there’s anyone on here who didn’t experience the bad times such as the early 2000s as you mention

I know.
That’s why I didn’t mention it.
I said “perhaps some more recent supporters”.

 

[elginCity]

Re speculation on the purchase price of SJC - there must also have been a heck of a lot of costly work required to make it fit for its intended purpose. Believe St James school vacated the building back in 1961, unsure whether or not it was ever bought or used by anybody else before OTR buying it in '98. If not, you can imagine the state of it.

 

[Oldsmobile-88]

Believe St James school vacated the building back in 1961, unsure whether or not it was ever bought or used by anybody else before OTR buying it in '98.

It was used as a annex of Bishop Blackall Girls School until the late 1980s

 

[SaintJames]

Re speculation on the purchase price of SJC - there must also have been a heck of a lot of costly work required to make it fit for its intended purpose. Believe St James school vacated the building back in 1961, unsure whether or not it was ever bought or used by anybody else before OTR buying it in '98. If not, you can imagine the state of it.

I hope someone can fill in the blanks because I'm sure the school was in use in the early 80's? I was an apprentice groundsman at the club in 1983 and I'm convinced I used to look over the wall at the back of the cowshed and hear goings on. If not then I really had some vivid dreams back then

edit Olds you have saved my sanity

 

[Boyo]

It was used as a annex of Bishop Blackall Girls School until the late 1980s

It was part of Exeter College in the 90s, I think. My brother had some lessons there.

 

[tea stand]

It was used as a annex of Bishop Blackall Girls School until the late 1980s

I remember some lovely girls from Bishop Blackall school back in the day!