Fan Power and Democracy in British Football

1
Fan Power and Democracy in British Football

• Dr.Malcolm Clarke
• Chair, Football Supporters Association

2
The First 100 years

• 1880s to 1980s
• Supporters clubs raising money for football club
• No representation in return

3
Leicester City

• We have, neither by word or deed, encroached on
  the business of the football club. Our business
  is to support them through thick and thin. We are
  not recognised by the club directorate but they
  know we are organised and prepared to help at a
  moments notice
• 1948

4
National Federation of Football Supporters Clubs

• Founded 1927
• To help not hinder
• Encouraged a supportive relationship to the club
  as well as the team
• Achieved change to Lotteries law in 1956
• Clubs abused the relationship

5
Ipswich Town -1967

• We have paid for everything on the football
  groundthe stands,the offices and the dressing
  roomsWe have never tried to dictate their
  policy..but..tried to look after our own
  business. That is perhaps where we have gone
  wrong..Without warning, a notice appeared in the
  press saying that they no longer recognised our
  Supporters Club and a new one had been formed..We
  went to the Boardroom and were given our notice -
  the secretary and myself after 31 and 35 years
  service. We were not thanked..

6
1980s - things begin to change

• Heysel disaster
• Bradford tragedy
• Hooliganism
• Fans have poor image

7
1985 - FSA arrives

• Started in Liverpool after Heysel
• National individual membership
• Present a positive image of fans
• Represented fans views as fans not club reps
• Pro-active approach
• Well-developed arguments

8
FSAs achievements

• Articulate expression of fans viewpoint
• Rule changes on refunds, away supporters
  allocations, FA Cup Final tickets
• Campaign against ID cards
• Campaign for safe standing
• Fans embassies
• Contribution to Task Force

9
1990s - ISAs

• Independent Supporters Associations
• Club based but independent
• Different from traditional supporters clubs
• Campaigning for change and accountability
• Often on specific issues
• Big and small clubs

10
Examples of ISA issue campaigns

• Fulham/QPR 1986 - fighting a merger
• Tottenham 1991 - facing bankrupcy
• West Ham 1993 - bond scheme
• Brighton 1995 Chester 1998 - club survival
• Manchester United - 1998 - Murdoch buy-out
• Newcastle United -1999 - Save Our Seats

11
IMUSA

• Anti-Murdoch
• Skilled use of media
• International alliances
• Role of internet
• Links with shareholders
• Political influence
• They won !!

12
INUSA

• Save Our Seats
• Corporate Cleansing
• Went to Court
• They lost but
• Change of culture ??

13
Small Clubs ISAs

• Rogue owners Brighton Doncaster
• Incompetent owners Chester
• ISAs often successful

14
1990s - Media Changes

• Arrival of phone-ins 606
• Consumer programmes
• Fans views are sought
• Fanzines and national magazines
• Internet

15
Fanzines

• Club based
• Unofficial and independent
• Often several at same club
• Technology made it easier
• Mixture of humour and campaigning
• Campaigns based around them e.g Voice of the
  Valley

16
Internet

• Rise of newsletters and web sites
• Only one Arthur Bottom
• Every day
• Derided by Chairman but now the club contributes

17
Taylor report

• 1990 - after Hillsborough
• Introduced all-seater stadia
• Stopped I.D cards
• Highly critical of how the game is run
• Recommendations on pricing and fans involvement
  have been ignored

18
1990s - Big changes

• 1992 - Premier League breakaway
• Wealth gap between clubs widening
• Massive TV income increases and more broadcasting
  platforms
• More clubs becoming plcs
• Brands not football clubs
• Media part-ownership of clubs
• Importance and influence of European competitions

19
Threats to the game

• Accessibilty to live games
• Massive price increases at the top
• The pastime of the better-off
• Separation of the elite clubs
• Loss of traditions of the game

20
The Labour Government

• 1995 - Labours Charter for Football said-
• Need more equitable pricing policies
• Support fans on football bodies and their views
  listened to
• One Supporters National Organisation
• Labour will set up Task Force

21
The Task Force

• Set up 1997, chaired by well-known Conservative
  politician
• Toured country and took evidence
• Unanimous reports on Racism, Disability issues
  and Football in the Community
• Divided report on the key commercial issues
• Majority report with 63 recommendations

22
Fans case for regulation

• Clubs are monopoly providers
• Not just a business - important to the community
• Already much football-specific legislation
• Incompetence/corruption in some clubs
• FA failed to fulfil its historic role

23
Task Force outcomes

• 5 TV income to grass-roots
• Supporters Direct
• The Independent Football Commission

24
Supporters Direct

• Establishment of supporters trusts to own shares
• Supported by the Government with financial and
  other advice
• Fans on the Board - Northampton, Bournemouth
  Luton
• A growing movement

25
The IFC

• Recently announced
• Applications closing date tommorrow
• Potential for real influence - but only if the
  Chair and members want to use it

26
The Future ?

• Some signs of hope for fans
• New regimes at FA and PL
• Changed attitude at some clubs e.g New Icelandic
  owners of Stoke set up fans forum
• The IFC
• Supporters Direct
• FSA, Nat Fed ISAs coming together through
  CoFS
• But many threats and not much time to act