THE FSA. ANNUAL REVIEW 2018_2019 CONTENTS 04. ABOUT THE FSA 08. TV & THE FA CUP 12. COMMUNITY OWNED CLUBS 16. TICKET PRICES 18. CLUBS IN CRISIS 22. INTERNATIONAL 24. AWARDS 2018 26. AWAY FANS SURVEY 28. SUPPORTER LIAISON OFFICERS 29. SUPPORTER ENGAGEMENT 30. FANS FOR DIVERSITY 34. STAND UP FOR CHOICE 36. CASEWORK: FAIRCOP 40. NON-LEAGUE 42. FSA NETWORKS 44. EUROPEAN SUPER LEAGUE 46. #ICYMI Editor – Michael Brunskill Editorial team – Liam Thompson, Garreth Cummins STRENGTH COMES IN NUMBERS... The FSA’s Annual Review 2018-19 has benefited from the contributions of Amanda Jacks, Andy Walsh, Anwar Uddin, JOIN THE FSA AT THEFSA.ORG.UK Ashley Brown, Christine Seddon, Dave Pennington, Debs Dilworth, Jane Hughes, Kat Law, Kevin Miles, James Boyes, Lily Brunskill (and The Crystal Gems), Malcolm Clarke, Maria Horner, Martin Cloake, Matt Walder, Nicola Hudson, Nina Donkin, Paul Corkrey, Peter Daykin, Richard Irving, Roger Ellis, Tom Greatrex, Vicki Haddock, and many others who we should have remembered, some of whom probably even deserved a namecheck. Oh, and all at Solution Group including the work experience kids (even the feral ones). All images via PA Images unless otherwise stated. 2 | The FSA Annual Review 2018_19 The FSA Annual Review 2018_19 | 3 GET INVOLVED The FSA is by fans, for fans - we couldn’t deliver results without the countless hours invested by our volunteers across the country, throughout the leagues. If you are passionate about one of our campaigns, lead a fans’ group, or think you have skills we can put to use, then get in touch. ABOUT THE FSA. Malcolm Clarke, Chair Tom Greatrex, Vice chair Kevin Miles, Chief executive ON THURSDAY 22ND NOVEMBER Malcolm Clarke (Chair, the FSA) - Tom Greatrex (Vice chair, the FSA) - Kevin Miles (Chief executive, the SUPPORTERS MET IN CENTRAL Malcolm is a Stoke City and York Tom co-founded Fulham Supporters’ FSA) - Kevin was appointed FSA chief City fan who is one of our two fan Trust and was chair of Supporters executive having previously held the LONDON TO FINALISE THE MERGER representatives on the FA Council. Direct. He was a Labour/Co-op MP and same position at the FSF. He oversees OF THE FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS’ Malcolm was chair of the FSF is chief exec of the Nuclear Industry our staff team, the long-running FEDERATION AND SUPPORTERS DIRECT throughout its existence and has Association. Tom is also a fan rep on England Fans’ Embassy service, and INTO ONE ORGANISATION - AND THE a big interest in reforming football the FA Council with special interest in sits on Kick It Out’s Professional governance and power structures. good governance and fan ownership. Game Guidance Group. FOOTBALL SUPPORTERS’ ASSOCIATION (FSA) WAS BORN. THE FSA IS THE NATIONAL, League, the EFL, National League, As secretariat to the All Party OUR CONSTITUTION MISSION STATEMENT: DEMOCRATIC, REPRESENTATIVE and the FA, as well as a whole host Parliamentary Football Supporters of other organisations within football Group, we have strengthened the voice BODY FOR SUPPORTERS IN such as the Professional Footballers’ of fans within Parliament in We are an inclusive, independent, ENGLAND AND WALES. Association (PFA). recent years. democratic organisation working with supporters, governing bodies, leagues We are the leading advocates for Football is for all and we work closely Our casework helps hundreds of fans and clubs to drive positive change in supporter ownership, better fan with organisations such as Kick It every year who feel they’ve been football through supporter engagement engagement, cheaper ticket prices, Out and Level Playing Field to ensure poorly treated by their clubs, stewards, at every level of the game. We nurture the choice to stand at the match, that core belief is happening in the or police. We give those fans a voice, and develop supporter networks at protecting fan rights, good governance, real world. We have supported the the best possible advice, and even local, national and international levels, diversity, and all types of supporter establishment of scores of BAME and legal support. working with supporters’ trusts, clubs empowerment. LGBT fans’ groups over the past few and individuals to initiate and support seasons. We pioneered the concept of Fans’ campaigns on issues of concern to The breadth of work is huge and Embassies and have helped fans of football supporters, encouraging good difficult to sum up in a paragraph or We are founder-members of Football both the England and Wales men’s governance, supporter representation two, so we hope this Annual Review fills Supporters Europe (FSE) who national teams at tournaments across on club boards, community-ownership that role in showcasing our work across represent supporters across the the planet. We are proud to have and sustainable stewardship of football the football season. continent and heavily involved in the replicated this service, for the first time, clubs. A commitment to diversity organisation, with two members who at the Women’s World Cup 2019. underpins all of our activity and we As the national organisation we have sit on FSE’s Committee (Kevin Miles oppose all forms of discrimination or regular contact with the Premier and Paul Corkrey). violence in relation to football. You can download our constitution: www.bit.ly/fsa-constitution 4 | The FSA Annual Review 2018_19 The FSA Annual Review 2018_19 | 5 OUR STRUCTURE NATIONAL COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVES: Chair Malcolm Clarke Vice chair Tom Greatrex Premier League Katrina Law (Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust), Dave Pennington AGM (Manchester United Supporters’ Trust) and Dave Kelly (The Blue Union). Championship Geoff Bielby (Hull City Supporters’ Trust), Rick Duniec (Leeds United Supporters’ Trust), and Teddy Bellamy (Millwall Supporters’ Club). EFL 1 & EFL 2 Antony Wilkinson (Blackpool Supporters’ Trust) and Roger Ellis (Sky Blue Trust). National Game Rob Street (Billericay Town Supporters Society), Richard Tomkins (Hereford United), Simon Cope (Scarborough Athletic). Supporter-owned clubs Neil Le Milliere (Exeter City Supporters’ Trust), OUR Tim Hillyer (Dons Trust), Nick Duckett (FC United of Manchester). CHAIR AND VICE CHAIR Fans for Diversity Chris Paouros (Proud Lilywhites), Malcolm Hirst (Port Vale Supporters’ Club) STRUCTURE and Shin Aujla (Apna Albion). PREMIER CHAMPION- Associate organisations Ally Simcock (Pint of Vale), David Michael (My Old Man Said), LEAGUE SHIP and Dave Tomlinson (Sandbach Travelling Alex). Individual representatives Christine Seddon, Fiona McGee, Kristine Green, Martin O’Hara, Peter Daykin, and Steve Powell. Networks are entitled to three elected representatives and the responsibility is with those networks to fill the positions. See more on FSA networks under Network Engagement. Nine members are elected from the NC to make up the board ASSOCIATE INDIVIDUAL alongside the chair and vice chair. The Board: Ally Simcock, Chris Paouros, Dave Pennington, Fiona McGee, Malcolm Clarke, MEMBER MEMBER Martin O’Hara, Peter Daykin, Roger Ellis, Tim Hartley, Tim Hillyer, and Tom Greatrex. REPS NATIONAL REPS COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP All tiers of membership are embedded Open to all fans. in our structure, weighted towards LEAGUE 1 NATIONAL affiliate members who receive more & LEAGUE 2 GAME AFFILIATE MEMBERSHIP positions on our National Council and THERE ARE THREE CATEGORIES more votes at the AGM - five per group For supporters’ groups who fulfil as opposed to one vote per individual OF MEMBERSHIP FOR THE FSA key criteria relating to constitution, member or associate group. FAN/ AND THEY ARE ALL FREE: affordability, independence, COMMUNITY FANS FOR democratic structure, annual Policy is set primarily at the AGM OWNED DIVERSITY accounts and diversity policy. CLUBS JOIN THE FSA: following democratic processes although the National Council can WWW.THEFSA.ORG.UK ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP make interim policy if required during For entities such as regional or non- the gap between AGMs. While the democratic supporters’ groups such networks can set up campaigns they as atmosphere groups, club-based can’t unilaterally set policy - that must fan forums, fanzines, or digitally be done at the AGM or via the based collectives. National Council. BOARD CONTACT: FSA Board ine members elected b the Email: [email protected] ational Council plus the chair and vice chair Phone: 0330 44 000 44 Address: 1 Ashmore Terrace, Stockton Road, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear, SR2 7DE Elected at AGM Selected b networks 6 | The FSA Annual Review 2018_19 The FSA Annual Review 2018_19 | 7 TV THIS SEASON’S FA CUP WAS traditional Saturday 3pm kick-off time. “THIS HAS GONE TOO FAR AND IT IS THE FIRST UNDER A NEW SIX The remaining 22 games were spread TAKING AWAY SOME OF THE MAGIC across the weekend, starting with YEAR INTERNATIONAL TV DEAL Tranmere Rovers vs Tottenham on OF THE FA CUP. REPORTEDLY WORTH £820M TO Friday evening and ending up THE FA - AND ITS EFFECTS BECAME with Liverpool away to Wolves on THE FA CUP THIRD ROUND ON CLEAR IN THE THIRD ROUND. the Monday night. SATURDAY AFTERNOON IS ONE OF THE ENDURING TRADITIONS OF A TV selections were compounded by WONDERFUL COMPETITION. TO HAVE & THE Normally one of the highlights of the compressed timescales between the footballing calendar, the third round draws - for example, Grimsby Town FEWER THAN A THIRD OF THE 32 was fragmented to meet the needs fans were unable to get back from MATCHES KICKING OFF AT 3PM ON their late-Saturday kick-off against of broadcasters in various territories SATURDAY IS BOTH EXTRAORDINARY across the world. Crystal Palace. This denied many Mariners the chance to see their team AND VERY SAD.” The headline result was that only in what could have been the biggest FSA chair Malcolm Clarke 10 of the 32 ties were played at the game of their season. FA8 | The FSA Annual Review 2018_19CUP The FSA Annual Review 2018_19 | 9 TV HELL 2018-19Spurs were initially picked by Sky TV: GOING TO GET WORSE ONE STEP FORWARD, Sports to play Manchester City at home BEFORE IT GETS BETTER TWO STEPS BACK on Sunday 27th October.