The opportunity to become a shareholder in the Trust followed a short film presentation charting the path of the Trust to date, then a Question and Answer session hosted by Sammy Douglas from the East Belfast Partnership.

We would again like to thank Billy Stephens and the Staff at the Park Avenue Hotel for their generosity and assistance, and Gil Irvine for his technical expertise at such short notice.

The following subjects amongst others were visited by the meeting:

• The vision for the Community Trust?

• The connection between Rest in East and the GCT?

• The issue of voting in line with Trust policies at AGMs?

• Financial support for the parent Club through the work of the Trust?

• What the relationship will be between the Trust and the Board of Directors?

• Do all Trusts follow a similar model?

• Will the Trust seek to employ staff to assist with the workload?

• Will the Trust create a” skills” database to be utilised for GCT projects?

• What sort of projects could the Trust engage in?

• And the timescale in relation to a first meeting between the GCT and the Board of Glentoran Football Club.

This is not a definitive record of the issues discussed but gives a flavour of the evening. Chairman for the evening Sammy Douglas gave his assurance that the East Belfast Community would work hand in hand with the GCT in making the concept a success. This followed on the back of cross party political support again expressed before the meeting.

Some extremely pertinent views and observations were expressed all with an air of optimism with regards to the role supporters should now play in the Community that exists at Glentoran.

Much is made of the importance of “Community” in modern society and after 125 years of existing right in the heart of East Belfast our Community, the Community which has evolved around Glentoran Football Club is at last starting to find its feet.

Our Community is old, our Community is young, it is Protestant, it is Catholic. Our Community is male, our Community is female, both able bodied and also with disability. Our Community stretches beyond the parameters of East Belfast and unites on a weekly basis from every social background. With the formation of the GCT our Community now has a voice.

The task of reconnecting East Belfast to its Football Club, and involving supporters in the regeneration of Glentoran begins now. Be a part of it - sign up for the GCT today.

Evolution not Revolution