The Supporters Summit takes place in Manchester (Mercure Hotel, Piccadilly) on Saturday 18th July 2015 (10am-4.45pm), organised by the Football Supporters’ Federation and Supporters Direct.
The free event attracts fans from across the UK who will debate football’s big issues and seek to influence the game for the better. FIFA Question Time will see the future of the game’s governing body debated – how can fan-pressure can be brought to bear on Blatter and co?
There’ll be separate sessions on ticket prices (looking at Twenty’s Plenty), different ways to football success (with FC United and Merthyr Town), fan engagement/ownership, away fan experiences and diversity/challenging discrimination.
FSF Chief Executive Kevin Miles said: “This is a great opportunity to get involved, express fan power and make a difference. On the back of a huge top-flight media deal, we want to see ticket prices brought down and wealth spread throughout lower league and grassroots football.”
Meanwhile FIFA Question Time gives the audience the chance to debate and question our panel on the future of FIFA. What influence can UEFA exert on FIFA? Is Platini part of the problem? What can national FAs do? What role to fans have in that?
FIFA Question Time will be followed by sessions on:
- #ShareTVWealth/Twenty’s Plenty – Ticket prices protests show no sign of abating with the Premier League’s £5.14bn domestic media deal a 70% increase on the previous package. How can fans ensure some of this money is spent reducing ticket prices and supporting lower league/grassroots football? Find out more about the FSF’s #ShareTVWealth and Twenty’s Plenty
- The Expert Working Group on Football Supporter Ownership and Engagement was launched by the Government in 2014, to try and remove barriers to ownership and engagement. The full report is due in November – both the FSF and SD sit on the panel – and this workshop will look at progress to date.
- ‘Another way’ – a different route to success will look at clubs who dance to their own rhythm. Merthyr Town and FC United of Manchester both won promotion this season, but they’ve won as many accolades for their performances off-the-pitch as on it. SD look at how off-field success can translate into a winning first team.
- How can we continue to improve things for away fans? While prices are important they aren’t the only hurdle for away fans who are also at the sharp end when it comes to allocations, policing and the cost of travel. This is your chance to question Supporter Liaison Officers and find out more about the FSF’s Away Fans Survey.
- Fans for Diversity is the FSF’s joint campaign with Kick It Out which tackles perceived barriers to live football. The campaign has established schemes to encourage young Asian fans along to matches, promote disability football and cultural events between supporter groups.
- Pride in Football – The LGBT fans’ movement continues to grow and, in 2014, a national network was established for the first time under the Pride in Football banner. Find out more about that work.
- Making fans heard – Countless decisions are taken throughout the season that affect fans – whether it be kick-off times, heavy-handed policing or reduced ticket allocations. We want to see more fans engaged with Safety Advisory Groups, influencing things for the better.
Not registered yet? Email events@fsf.org.uk
Don’t forget to let us know your thoughts, comments or issues in our all new Wigan Athletic Fans Message Board and Forum, there is now an area for an open forum with the Supporters Liaison Officers
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