Statement re GCT "Culture Kicks" Open Day 2nd August 2008
12th July 08
It is with great reluctance that the Glentoran Community Trust Board have decided to withdraw our input to the “GCT Culture Kicks – Colours of the World” Glentoran Open Day of Saturday 2nd August 2008.
It should be added this decision was not taken without due and proper consideration of all the participants, but we feel it best to withdraw from the event now rather than at the final hour, and revisit the possibility of hosting something similar at a later date.
Organisation of the day has been beset with difficulties from the very outset, some of which we have outlined below to give you some insight as to why we have taken this difficult decision.
Agreement was made ‘provisionally‘ with Glentoran FC to host the “Open Day” as far back as April 2008, but more importantly, the actual ‘green light’ from GFC to proceed with organising the event for August 2nd wasn’t given until 18th May. This delay proved crucial in our attempt to secure funding from the ‘Good Relations Dept’ at Belfast City Council, as despite receiving a warm response from the department at an early meeting in April, we couldn’t proceed with a funding application until we were assured of a fixed date and venue. By the time we then received an acceptance from all parties to participate, we had missed the deadline for funding.
We decided to proceed nonetheless.
By early June the participating teams in the IFA’s “Unity Cup” had grown to such that a single day at the Oval was no longer going to be sufficient to host the event, especially if we were to have the pitch free by 2.00/2.30 for Glentoran’s game with Dundela (or whoever). The Unity Cup usually consists of a tournament of 4 teams (two semis and a final), but the interest generated with the event now being staged at the Oval had swelled the competing teams to 12. Sides from Poland, Nigeria, Lithuania, China, Glentoran, and a World 11 would all now have to compete in knockout stages, forcing us to then arrange 1st and 2nd round games at Victoria Park in the 2 weeks prior to the Oval finale!
News just reaching us in late June that Glentoran’s friendly with Dundela had now been switched to Wilgar Park the very same day only served to add to the frustration.
The draw for the Glens UEFA Cup venture was to prove yet another setback. The ‘away’ leg of our tie in Liepāja, Latvia on the 31st July and the travel involved was going to prove challenging to say the least. The timescale just wasn’t there. We had promised fans the Glentoran teams availability to mingle and sign autographs at the Oval on August 2nd, but with the best will in the world, asking the players to make the arduous trek home from Liepāja on Friday night, then expect them to turn up at an open day in the Oval next day, before heading off to Wilgar Park for a match …? That and the fact a number of fans will also still be in transit, including some of ourselves here on the GCT Board.
The release then on Wednesday of details of a “Fun Day” at Paul Leeman’s Testimonial game on 19th July is also worthy of note. When agreeing with Glentoran FC to the organisation of the August 2nd “Open Day” we were not made aware of any plans by Paul’s Benefit Committee or Glentoran FC to host such a diverse array of entertainment at the Oval just 2 week before. Had we known at that time, or indeed subsequently been kept informed by the relevant parties, it would have had major bearing on the GCT Boards decision-making process, given the well publicised type of day we had in mind with FREE admission for August 2nd.
We certainly have no intention of entering into competition with the Glentoran Captain or his fundraisers.
These are but a few of the many unforeseen obstacles and challenges that have arisen since April of this year.
In closing.
Individually each of these above issues would most likely not have proved terminal to the GCT “Culture Kicks” Open Day of August 2nd. Indeed, together they are not wholly insurmountable. The GCT Board however have always strived in the past to deliver as professional a service as possible in each of our initiatives, the old adage “if something is worth doing it’s worth doing right”. But there are times when it is wiser to step back, take stock, and reassess a situation rather than stumble headlong in the hope that all will go well. On this occasion unfortunately, we feel that there are just too many variables and unknown factors to confidently proceed with a successful event as planned on August 2nd.
We regret the disappointment to all those Glentoran fans who were looking forward to what had the potential for such an enjoyable day out at the Oval, especially for the young, but would ask for your continued patience and understanding under very difficult circumstances.
We have however already spoken to the many organisations who would have been taking part on August 2nd, and indeed intend seeking a re-scheduling or hosting of a similar event at the Oval later this coming season. We will of course keep you all informed of any developments.
Thank you all once again for your continued support
GCT Board | 
