I had a really good day on Saturday. Met lots of lovely people and it was interesting to see what was going off around the country. I would definitely recommend going if you get the chance next year and I've got a very long list of people to email - both for support and for future collaboration.
The following is a brief report from what I can remember:
Workshops:
Away fans matter –
This session stressed the importance of completing the Away Fans Survey and the value in having quantifiable evidence of away fans’ experiences so that improvements can be made – particularly at Football League level where, if away fans don’t travel, the home fans aren’t necessarily going to be sitting in the empty seats they leave. The information is offered to the SLOs of each club, but as stated in the session, clubs don’t always ask for it.
It was mentioned that fans groups can request the information about their own clubs and we will be doing this to take to the next SLO meeting. A lot of people will say “sod the away fans” but every empty seat in that away end is lost revenue and you have to look at it from the alternative point of view – I am an away fan for as many games as I'm a home fan – and would hope that the clubs I visit are doing their utmost to make our experience a positive one.
“Only 4% of fans cite their likelihood of winning as a deciding factor in travelling to away games.”
Informal SLO meeting –
I sat in on the informal SLO meeting after lunch with reps from Crewe Alexandra, Doncaster Rovers, Barnsley, Tottenham Hotspur, a few others whose clubs I didn’t catch. As the fan Chair for the SLO meetings at United, it was interesting to hear of the initiatives and problems faced by other SLOs and the support available from both the FSF and Supporters Direct.
One major issue raised was that there is still a lot of work to do with both the staff within clubs and the fans to communicate what an SLO is and what the role stands to achieve.
The SLOs representing London clubs have regular, informal meetings to share best practice and this was mooted as an idea for other regional areas to take on board and arrange, the Yorkshire area being a prime example.
Both SD and the FSF have asked that SLOs keep them in the loop with regards to initiatives and “wins” so that these can be publicised to bring about greater awareness of the role.
Making fans heard –
This was of particular interest as the role and remit of Safety Advisory Groups was discussed. For those unaware, the SAGs are groups comprised of all “stakeholders” involved in the licencing of football grounds – from local council H&S officers to club safety officers as well as the Police and Fire Brigade. The decisions made at these meetings can have a massive effect on the matchday fan experience and were set up as a recommendation of the Taylor Report. However, the Taylor Report also stated that these SAGs should liaise with fans and yet in many cases, Sheffield Council being one of them, these meetings are conducted in secret. There are many examples where this is not the case – from this afternoon’s workshop alone; fans from Portsmouth, Watford, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are all involved in their SAG meetings.
I have asked at the Club SLO meetings whether it would be possible for me to sit in on the Sheffield Council SAG meetings as an observer and was given a “we’ll ask… but” response. I don’t think this is the Club’s decision to make and I wish to ensure that the issues raised by fans are actually making it to these supposedly public meetings.
Dale Haslem from the Manchester United Supporters’ Trust has had massive success with not only contacting their own SAG, but the relevant SAGs for their away match hosts – gaining concessions when travelling to both White Hart Lane and Anfield. He’s offered me any support I need to get this sorted in Sheffield.
The outcome of the workshop is that Supporters’ Direct are going to try and quantify how many fans do have representation at their SAG and how many (like us!) do not to try and standardise the access throughout the country.
Also mentioned was the importance of the local Police/Club Liaison Officer – and this is a relationship that we’re yet to cultivate and one we will be chasing up. Chief Superintendent of Merseyside Police Carl Krueger spoke of his experiences of policing Merseyside derbies and how utilising fan contacts can have more of an effect than speaking to the local press.
Closing remarks:
There was an absolutely fantastic speech from Andy Walsh who is the CE of FC United of Manchester. I hope it was recorded as I can’t possibly do it justice but he talked about the power we have as fans as long as we realise it and that we are the only constant in any football club.
One thing I jotted down to take up with our United is the fact that they, as a “raggy arsed non-league club” (his words… not mine!) are a living wage employer. The Club no longer employ their catering staff, and I don’t think the stewards are directly employed, but I would be interested to hear the Club’s stance on the prospect of a living wage as a pillar of the local community.
Comments:
I think today made me realise two things.
Firstly, how lucky we are as a group of fans to have had years of relative stability in terms of how we as a fanbase are treated. We’ve not faced the problems of fans of Manchester United in having to set up their own club to support, or Portsmouth in having to take ownership of their club, or Blackpool and their ongoing issues. And in some ways, I think that’s made us complacent. I think it’s important that, while we may not need it now or (hopefully!) ever, we put in place the foundations of a strong supporter group which is as united as possible to hold the club’s owners to task were they to ever try and pull a trick like, for instance, Hull City. As it stands, we and other fan groups have a very open and constructive dialogue with the club and I would say that, on balance, I trust the current individuals involved with the custodianship of the club. But ultimately, the club belongs to us and it is important that we act to safeguard it.
Secondly, and this is linked to the first point, it’s how insular we are. There are good people out there, whose experiences of following their clubs mirror ours, who are doing good things. But that we never hear about them. To my knowledge, I was the only person from Sheffield in attendance. One Brentford fan I spoke to had set off at 5am this morning to get to Manchester. Liverpool and Everton fans were there in large numbers. We’re all quick to complain about things – ticket prices, lack of standing, Police treatment etc. - but perhaps more people ought to try and get involved to do something about it!
