Press Release - 24th August 2001

Trust make first historic donation to the club

ERIN Trust are delighted tomorrow to be making the first of what will be many donations to the club, as Trustees Lawrie Reilly and Lloyd Quinan hand over a cheque at the half time interval. The cheque - for several thousand pounds - is only a fraction of the tens of thousands the Trust have raised since inception, and is being partly donated to the manager and his scouting fund - and partly to buy a block of shares in the club to be held in trust by the Trust.

The remainder of the monies raised to date - well over £10,000 - is being invested in a high interest savings account to generate further SAFE income for the Trust.....in effect using a portion of the money to make guaranteed extra income. This long term investment system is part of the Trust's strategy to see subscriptions generate even more income for the club.

Presenting the cheque on behalf of the Trust on the Easter Road pitch at half time during the match between Hibernian and champions Celtic, are Trustees Lawrie Reilly and Lloyd Quinan, whilst Forth 1 presenter, Grant Stott, will oversee proceedings. A draw of the Trust membership was also made to allow one lucky member to be present at the donation handover - the winner was Frank Sweeney of Edinburgh.

Speaking on the eve of the presentation, Trustee Dave Shanks said

"I am absolutely delighted to see the Trust make its first donation to the club. We have grown steadily and promisingly in our first year of operation and it is the fruit of our labour and enthusiasm that we see today. Part of the money will be used by the manager to scout for players such as the ones he brought to the club this close season, whilst the remainder - around £2000 -will be used to buy the Trust's first block of club shares".

Trust Spokesperson, Jillian Binnie also commented "We have been pleased with our progress thus far but we are also keen to continue that progress. We are the most established supporters Trust in the country - even outdoing the Celtic Trust, the organisation attached to our opponents on Saturday. We are showing the Old Firm the way - and we want to keep it that way! The more Hibs fans who join us, the stronger we will become, the bigger voice we will have, the more money the manager will have".

ERIN Trust IS the most advanced and prominent supporters Trust in Scotland, even figuring in the Hampden Scottish Football Museum as one of the exhibits. Its membership continues to grow every month and with the kind help of corporate sponsors they have thus far been able to keep every penny they have collected from fans for donations to the club. Prominent members, of course, include Alex McLeish, Lloyd Quinan, Keith Wright and Malcolm McPherson.

If you would like more information from the Trust - or want to be part of it - please contact us at PO Box 70 70 70, Edinburgh, EH6 8WE. Alternatively, email us at secretary@erintrust.org