
April 2014
April's summary from THST, which includes updates on:
1. Meetings:Annual General Meeting, THST Board Meeting, THFC THST Board to Board Meeting, Football Supporters’ Federation
Meeting
- Stop StubHub Campaign
- Season Ticket Price Freeze
- Away match categorisation
- FA Cup allocations
3. Safe Standing Survey
4. Y Word Update
5. Mount Snowdon Climb
1. Meetings
Annual General Meeting
THST announced the date for the completion of its Annual General Meeting.
This is scheduled for Wednesday 30th April 2014 at Nabarro LLP, Lacon House, 84 Theobald’s Road, London WC1X 8RW from 7pm.
Here, the audited accounts for the previous financial year will be presented.
All full members have been contacted by email and we urge as many to attend the meeting as is possible. We must sign off the accounts if we are going to be able to carry on the work we are doing.
THST Board Meeting
The first meeting of the new THST Board took place on Tuesday April 22nd. Here, responsibilities for the forthcoming year were agreed, amongst a busy agenda. Full minutes will be shared shortly.
THFC & THST Board to Board Meeting
THST will meet with the THFC Board on Tuesday 13th May to discuss key topics and concerns from both the previous campaign and the season ahead. This meeting is rescheduled from 17th March.
We are finalising the agenda for this meeting and welcome suggestions from members, also.
Football Supporters’ Federation Meeting
THST was represented at the FSF update meeting on 15th April in Blackfriars. It was an interesting evening with plenty of healthy debate around the key campaign issues under the Away Fans Matter banner, including Twenty’s Plenty. THST tweeted key take out from the meeting on our @THSTOfficial feed on the night, too.
2. Ticketing
Stop StubHub Campaign
THST was delighted by THFC’s announcement of an end to flipping on the platform, as this was one of the Stop StubHub coalition’s main areas of concern. Confirmation of the change in Terms and Conditions came with the Season Ticket Renewal packs earlier this month.
THST continues to push for a price cap on the site in the short term and an end to the commercial partnership altogether by this time next season.
Our wish for a national, ethical ticket exchange scheme remains the long term goal and we remain in close contact with the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust, who are doing sterling work in this area at present, also.
Season Ticket Price Freeze
Following a year of sustained dialogue with THFC around the area of ticketing, THST was pleased with the announcement that Season Ticket and Match Day prices will be frozen for the forthcoming season.
The decision to increase the age for concessions to 18 from 16, following lobbying by THST, was also very much welcomed.
Away match categorisation
A coalition of Trusts from the ‘Big 6’ clubs are working together to lobby for an end to away match categorisation which sees fans of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur pay significantly more to watch their teams on the road than fans of teams outside of the ‘Category A’ bracket. Data is being accumulated to illustrate the price differentials across the division and the case will then be presented to the Premier League over the summer.
FA Cup Allocations
THST is one of a number of Trusts who have requested a joint meeting with the FA Challenge Cup Committee to discuss away allocations and Cup Final allocations. We await a response to our request for a meeting initially and the opportunity to present our case to a wider audience subsequently.
3. Safe Standing Survey
Survey findings will now be presented to the THFC Board during the rescheduled Board to Board meeting on 13th May 2014. Results will be published as soon as possible following this presentation.
4. The Y Word
Following the CPS decision to discontinue criminal proceedings against the three Spurs fans arrested for using the term ‘Yid’ last Autumn, THST remains in close contact with the defence team and is awaiting clarification on the positions of the Met and the FA following the collapse of the case.
Melanie Cooke, lead defence counsel and Alison Gurden, Barrister for the ‘Tottenham 3’, attended the Kick It Out debate on this topic in Manchester in early April, representing THST’s position and interests on the night.
We have also received a response to the Freedom of Information Request for the Community Impact Assessment regarding the use of the term 'Yid'. This will be posted on our site by the end of the month,
5. Mount Snowdon climb
At the invitation of Wrexham Supporters’ Trust, two volunteers will be climbing Mount Snowdon on 29th June to raise money for THST. We are incredibly grateful to Gary Parker and Ryan Lewis for stepping forward to take up the challenge. Full details can be viewed here:
/thst-updates/fundraiser-mount-snowdon-climb.aspx
Please make every effort to sponsor Gary and Ryan and to publicise the links.
Keep an eye on our social media feeds and website for updates.
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