‘Government Expert Group’ wants to hear from you
Supporters Direct has been working behind the scenes with the DCMS and English football authorities to bring about the long awaited Expert Working Group (EWG); one of the key recommendations from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)2011 Select Committee Football Governance Inquiry.
The Expert Working Group members are Supporters Direct, Football Supporters Federation, The Football Association, The Premier League, The Football League, The Football Conference, DCMS, Portsmouth (Pompey Trust) Supporters Trust (Expert Witness member of Group), Swansea (Swans Trust) Supporters Trust (Expert Witness member of Group), Wrexham Supporters Trust (Expert Witness member of Group), AFC Wimbledon (The Dons Trust) Supporters Trust (Expert Witness member of Group)
The purpose of the EWG is to identify solutions to current barriers preventing greater collective supporter share ownership of football clubs, and explore the greater facilitation of supporter engagement and involvement in the governance and running of football clubs.
Supporters Direct welcomes FA Chairman’s second report
Supporters Direct has welcomed the second report of the Greg Dyke’s Commission into the future of the England Team, in a letter sent to FA Chairman Greg Dyke.
In it, Chief Executive Robin Osterley, welcomed Dyke’s approach to the issues, particularly following SD’s recent meeting with the organisation and its partner the FSF. The letter also specifically welcomes the development of Football Hubs, centred around Artificial Grass Pitches (APG), making the point that its experience of fostering and developing clubs, supporters’ trusts and communities could be valuable in establishing them.
SD also specifically welcomed the desire to ensure that the focus on creating more coaches, and a better, streamlined coaching system with executive control by The FA, was ‘central to dealing with the problem’.
New IOC standards must lead to clean up of global sports events, say leading NGOs, Unions and Supporters' groups
The International Olympic Committee (IOC)’s announcement of new standards around Olympics events must set a high benchmark for the world of sport to clean up its act on human and labour rights and ensure major sporting events are free from corruption, say leading non-governmental organisations (NGOs), trade unions and supporters’ groups ahead of a key IOC meeting in Monaco next week.
In a joint letter to IOC president Dr. Thomas Bach this week – signed by Amnesty International, FIFPro – World Players’ Union, Football Supporters Europe, Human Rights Watch, the International Trade Union Confederation, Supporters Direct Europe, Terre des Hommes International Federation and Transparency International Germany – the organisations highlight the importance of adhering to the universal fundamental ethical principles in the Olympic Charter to prevent human rights abuses and lack of transparency in major sports events like the Olympic Games.
More, on the Supporters Direct website.
England and Wales News
FC United of Manchester – new youth branch established
FC United of Manchester has set up a new FC United of Manchester 1830 Supporters Branch, a result of a young supporters’ survey, which was targeted at the young fans of the club in September.
The survey was completed by over 150 people, and showed that young members were interested in increasing the number of the next generation of FC United fans.
For more information on the FC United 1830 branch email them at 1830branch@fc-utd.co.uk.
QPR – Stadium consultation commences
QPR fans are being asked for the views on the club’s plans for a new 40,000 seat stadium at Old Oak Common in Willesden. The new £200m ground would be part of a £14 billion development of industrial and railway land, three miles from Loftus Road.
The proposal includes new homes, offices and retail outlets, as well as the new stadium, which would be the 14th in Rangers’ history.
But the current owners of Old Oak, used car dealership and one-time QPR sponsor Cargiant, whose managing director Tony Mendes is a QPR season ticket holder, have denied discussing the deal with QPR. Their plan for the site includes housing and community facilities, as described in the Greater London Authority vision for the area.
You can read more about the work of QPR 1st, the supporters’ trust for QPR fans, via their website.
Bradford City Fire Disaster: 30th. Anniversary Commemoration
The 30th Anniversary of the Bradford City Fire Disaster occurs on May 11th. 2015. Fifty-six supporters lost their lives in the fire, of whom two were supporters of Lincoln City, Bradford City’s opponents in 1985. 258 other supporters were injured on that day, many with serious burns.
The official Commemoration will take the customary forms, with a service of civic remembrance in Centenary Square, Bradford, on Monday May 11th. A minute’s silence will be observed at Bradford City’s ground, Valley Parade, before the last home game of the regular season, versus Barnsley on Saturday April 25th. 2015. A bucket collection will be taken on behalf of the University of Bradford Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit (PBSRU) at the same game. The annual Memorial Football Tournament for young people will be held in Bradford on Easter weekend, April 5-6th. and other memorial events and activities are planned, leading up to May 2015 and beyond.
If you're interested, you can find out more here.