Updates on:
1. THST AGM and Annual Report
2. THST Q1 Board Meeting
3. ‘King Ledley’ Mural
4. Fans on the Board
5. Ticketing meeting with THFC
6. Catering at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
7. COVID-19 measures after Plan B
8. Match planning for Chelsea and Arsenal games
9. ‘Rent Boys’ chant
10. Antisemitism
11. Finance and Property Working Group update
12. Standing in the stadium
13. Tottenham Foodbank update
14. Antwerp Arms February offer
15. Marine FC
16. Soap dispensers at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
17. Hillsborough Law Now Campaign
18. Football to Amsterdam 2022
19. Cycling to Spurs
20. Business and Community Liaison Group meetings
21. THST Forum
1. THST AGM and Annual Report
2. THST Q1 Board Meeting
3. ‘King Ledley’ Mural
4. Fans on the Board
5. Ticketing meeting with THFC
6. Catering at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
7. COVID-19 measures after Plan B
8. Match planning for Chelsea and Arsenal games
9. ‘Rent Boys’ chant
10. Antisemitism
11. Finance and Property Working Group update
12. Standing in the stadium
13. Tottenham Foodbank update
14. Antwerp Arms February offer
15. Marine FC
16. Soap dispensers at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
17. Hillsborough Law Now Campaign
18. Football to Amsterdam 2022
19. Cycling to Spurs
20. Business and Community Liaison Group meetings
21. THST Forum
Welcome to our first newsletter of 2022. There’s a lot to report but we know the focus for most fans will be on what, if anything, happens in the transfer window. It will close as we send this newsletter out, and we’re sure that if things don’t go as some people want, we’ll hear plenty about it. All we can say is that there’s always a lot of rumour and supposition around at this time of year, and that establishing facts is usually more difficult than sloganising on social media. Sometimes we need to remember we all want the Club to succeed.
1. THST AGM and Annual Report
The start of the year has been dominated by preparations for our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 16 February. As a Community Benefit Society, registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, holding a formal AGM each February is a central requirement of our constitution, and ensuring as many of our members as possible take part in the process is vital to the long-term health of the Trust.
Ahead of each AGM, one third of the Trust Board resign with those Board members permitted to seek re-election by the membership, if desired. This year Anthoulla Achilleos, Adam Bailey, Rachel Martin and Pete Haine have resigned their posts with the first three seeking re-election to the Board.
Pete Haine has decided to step down from the Trust Board after five years and we thank him sincerely for his hard work and valuable contribution, including as Society Secretary during that period. Board member Kevin Fitzgerald will also be stepping down at the AGM after seven years of service. Kev made a huge impact on our community and charity work, raising over £150,000 for Prostate Cancer UK alone, along with leading our sustainability work as a passionate cyclist. We wish both Kev and Pete all the very best for the future.
Given this movement, three new places were made available on the Trust Board. Three nominations were received and Henry Ellis, Koonal Shah and Simon Sullivan will therefore be elected to the Trust Board should the membership ratify their appointments at the AGM.
All Life and Full members are encouraged to use their votes on the above resolutions either in person at the AGM on Wednesday 16 February or by Proxy vote in advance of the meeting. Proxy votes need to be submitted by 6pm on Friday 11 February either by email or by online survey. Full details can be found on the dedicated AGM page of our website.
Once the Proxy voting period has closed, we’ll be contacting Full and Life members yet to vote to register for the online AGM and we’ll circulate relevant meeting access codes thereafter. We look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible to the meeting from the comfort of your own homes once again, especially those usually prevented from attending by geography!
We’ve also been busy writing our Annual Report, detailing the work we’ve undertaken over the last 12 months. This is currently with our designer, Justin Ford of Hubert and Ford, and we’ll publish ahead of the AGM. Be sure to read as it’s a great summary of our work over the year. And it answers the age-old question of “What has the Trust ever done for me?”, too!
2. THST Q1 Board Meeting
The first Board Meeting of 2022 took place on the evening of Monday 24 January via Zoom video conference. Planning for the AGM on 16 February took centre stage, along with discussion around our ongoing conversation with the Club’s Board around embedding fan engagement at Tottenham Hotspur FC. Regular updates were provided on membership numbers and finance, marketing statistics and website performance.
There was an update on the Mural project following the highly successful unveiling of the Ledley King collaboration with MurWalls at the Tottenham Community Sports Centre, an update on the recent catering meeting and increase in F&B pricing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a discussion on how the government’s decision to remove all COVID restrictions will affect match-going football fans, and what mitigations we as a Trust should be lobbying for on behalf of our most vulnerable members.
Work is underway to finalise two side policies to accompany our Trust Rules, and the property and finance sub-group reported on its recent investigations into ENIC’s property portfolio. There’s more on this later in this newsletter. We also had an update on our finance experts’ analysis of the Club accounts, and we hope to have this published in the coming week or so. A recap on our partnerships with the Tottenham Foodbank, Antwerp Arms and Studio 306 Collective were also covered.
Work remains varied and busy across every aspect of the off-field fan experience. A handover is ongoing to cover Pete and Kevin’s workstreams post AGM and the first meeting of the new Board is scheduled to take place on Monday 21 February to agree positions and responsibilities for the coming year.
3. ‘King Ledley’ Mural
Hopefully the majority of you will by now have seen the massive Ledley King tribute mural on the side of the boxing gym at the Tottenham Community Sports Centre, (opposite the No 8 pub).
We were fortunate to have been able to interview Ledley before and after the project and can report that he was truly humbled and honoured by this stunning fan-led tribute. The mural received extensive media coverage and was a real feel good story. It’s also been well received by the local community, and by the overwhelming majority of fans.
We are hoping that this is the first of many more Spurs murals in the immediate vicinity of the stadium. They are a fantastic way of connecting the Club, the local community and our fanbase. If any individuals or any fan group want to look at any mural projects then please contact Rob White via his Trust email address (mailto:rob.white@THSTOfficial.com) to discuss further. We’ve already had some contacts from overseas fan groups wanting to contribute, and we’d encourage everyone to get in touch and help to create something special that is led by fans and really encompasses the character of the Club.
The project has been a major piece of work for the Trust, and others involved in it. In total, the work has taken about 18 months to bring to fruition. What’s been particularly pleasing is that, after much noise was made in many quarters about the lack of visible Club history around the stadium, we were able to demonstrate how to deliver something tangible. A special mention must go to Board member Rob White who put untold hours into the practical effort of making something happen.
To learn more about what has gone into this project, read this story. Artists Murwalls video is also essential viewing.
4. Fans on the Board
Since the publication of the Fan-Led Review’s recommendations on fan involvement in the running of our clubs, we have been discussing how this could work in practice. We’re in regular contact with colleagues throughout the supporter movement, and we’ve also had a number of conversations with senior representatives of THFC.
At the moment, everything in the FLR findings is a recommendation. Supporter groups are pushing for some measures to be legislated for, something that would resolve any ambiguity around certain proposals. But for now, clubs and supporter groups are being urged to embrace the spirit of the recommendations and agree structures that deliver on them. The structure, remit and powers of the proposed Independent Regulator for English Football (IREF) will, obviously, have much bearing on what is eventually agreed at each club, and the role and function of the IREF is something that needs legislation.
Discussions so far at THFC have looked at who would sit on a Supporter Board (SB) and how they would be elected, how terms of office and elections would work, and what the remit of the SB would be. There will also be separate discussions on how the proposed Golden Share, covering issues such as team name, shirt colours, stadium location and competitions played in, will work. We are looking at how to embed representative structures in THFC’s Articles of Association, and Memorandums of Understanding to underpin the relationship between supporter bodies outside the SB, including THST, and the Club.
You can read more detail about our response to the FLR recommendations, and find a link to the ideas we put forward for embedding fans’ voices at the heart of Club governance, on our website.
We don’t intend to provide a running commentary on discussion of every point. When there is a clear framework to put in front of people, we will ask our members whether or not they endorse it and make our own recommendation. We are, understandably, getting a lot of questions about what is happening with fan representation on the Board. And we understand the slow pace of progress is going to be frustrating for many. But changes to governance structures are legally and practically complex, and time has to be taken to get them right. The intention is to have something in place by the beginning of next season, which means work will continue over the next few months and plans can be presented for approval in late spring or early summer.
We’ll keep you updated through this newsletter and our website.
5. Ticketing meeting with THFC
The Trust ticketing team of Katrina Law and Anthoulla Achilleos, along with Trust co-chair Martin Cloake, met with THFC’s Head of Ticketing Ian Murphy and Supporter Liaison Officer Levi Harris for a ticketing update on 20 January 2022. Club reps were rightly extremely proud of the new 3D Virtual Venue platform which had launched that morning.
Ticketing has been an extremely busy area this month and we were keen to cover off outstanding questions relating to postponed matches, Cup games, Concessions, Ticket Exchange, Ticket Share, Away ticketing and Digital ticketing in addition to the upcoming Season Ticket renewal period. Here’s what you need to know.
Season Ticket renewals: We lobbied for the minimum of a price freeze for the 2022/23 season considering the financial realities facing many supporters and the level of pricing already in place at THFC. We lobbied for the reintroduction of the first two cup games back into the package, interest free payment plans, and for a renewal deadline after the end of the Premier League season together with reassurances around the management of the seat relocation process and the Season Ticket waiting list. The Club will issue information on all of the above in due course.
Postponed home games: Following the postponement of the North London Derby earlier in the month, we asked for clarity on how those who’d sold or bought from Ticket Exchange or gifted or received through Ticket Share would be managed. We lobbied for those who had sold via TEX for the original fixture to have as many chances to purchase a ticket for the rescheduled fixture as possible, be that via a priority purchase window on TEX or via the purchaser being able to return to the seller should they no longer be able to make the rescheduled match.
We also lobbied for the recipients of Share to be able to return their gifted tickets to the original donor, should they wish. We stressed the need for the Club to offer refunds for fans who bought from TEX and now can’t make the match, with those tickets then going back into the general pool if the original seller does not want to buy the ticket back. Once the date for the NLD is confirmed by the Premier League, THFC will communicate their agreed and final process for the above in detail.
Cup games - Concessions: We asked for an explanation of why the Club had removed Senior concessions and Young Adult concessions from recent League and FA Cup games. It was confirmed that this is a policy decision by the THFC Board, who consider Cup prices to be sufficiently discounted already, thus negating the need to offer further discounts for OAPs and Young Adults. They are keen to encourage the attendance of Juniors, hence honouring that concession, but will not be offering a Senior or YA discount at domestic cup games moving forwards.
THST is on record as championing concessions as a point of principle in recognition that certain demographics have less available income than others. We intend to challenge this decision from both an ethical and commercial angle and would love to hear from Seniors or Young Adults who will be affected by it.
Cup games - Ticket Share: We’d received complaints from ticket holders trying to use Ticket Share for the Chelsea home cup game who were unable to do so as a result of purchase parameters in place for a ‘High Risk’ match. Only members on the THFC database when the draw was made were eligible to buy tickets for the match, hence tickets could only be shared with people meeting the same criteria. THST argued there was an inconsistency with the policy around guest tickets, whereby up to three could be purchased by a ST holder or eligible member, with no database history. The theory being the purchaser would be at the match and would take responsibility for their guests.
We argued that the person gifting the ticket via Ticket Share would also be responsible for the behaviour of their guest under ticketing terms and conditions, and that the restrictions should have been lifted on that occasion. THFC agreed to revisit the decision ahead of any future ‘High Risk’ cup game and confirmed that Ticket Share will open without restrictions for the upcoming FA Cup Fourth Round tie v Brighton.
Booking fees: THST had submitted a paper on booking fees in advance of the meeting, with THFC undertaking to respond in writing. There is a lack of transparency around how, when and why booking fees are applied that needs clarifying. We’ll update fully as soon as we receive the Club’s response.
Digital Ticketing: We asked for an update on digital ticketing, which appeared to be much improved from the start of the season. THFC commented that the main issues remaining were with new visitors unfamiliar with the process, particularly those who had received tickets via Share and had little idea how to download those in advance of the game. The Club’s technical partner, Fortress, was pushing out more regular automatic updates and the Club had increased communications around how to manually refresh tickets in wallets.
Please check to make sure you don’t have a block on auto updates in your Settings if you are experiencing recurring problems with tickets updating.
THST asked that the Club investigate a break in the chain on auto updates following a transaction on TEX or use of Ticket Share. THFC asked for fans experiencing technical problems to flag with the Ticket Office so they can record all glitches and look to rectify those.
It’s very important to make a note that current digital passes will be valid for next season, so don’t delete those after the last home game of the season, please!
Away Ticketing: THST asked if there was any move towards digital ticketing for away games. It was likely that THFC would be amongst those trialling the technology at selected games in the 2022/23 season. This will be a major move towards cutting down on ticket re-sales and touting, with casual passing on of away tickets continuing to be a major source of irritation to many.
Standing areas: Following a few complaints around the Morecambe match, we were keen to ensure that families with Juniors were aware that the front (and back) of the South Stand were licenced standing areas and, as such, might not be suitable for children who’d struggle to see the game. THFC has now installed a pop up on the ticketing site for any seats purchased in a standing area, clearly notifying the purchaser that fans will be standing in that block, with a tick box to acknowledge they have read and understand the message.
Impact of COVID restriction removals on Ticketing: THFC agreed to loosen the operational policies on several aspects of their ticketing function during times of COVID. For example, Ticket Exchange would previously only have opened on a sell-out of a Premier League game only. The Club agreed to open a minimum of 48 hours ahead of every game regardless of sales numbers in recognition of the realities of COVID isolations and the general level of uncertainty that accompanied the pandemic.
It is highly likely this will now revert to previous operational patterns, considering the Government has now declared COVID as being ‘over’. We continue to make the point that enough notice needs to be given before any change in operational policy on TEX or Ticket Share comes into practice, given tickets were purchased under the revised T&C’s. TEX opened on a sell-out or at the Club’s discretion before the pandemic.
The Club is also working with the Premier League around next steps regarding COVID certification, although it is anticipated the League will follow government guidance on the need for proof of vaccination, testing and mask wearing, in particular. We also asked for input into further discussions around the handling of vulnerable supporters following the removal of all COVID restrictions.
6. Catering at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
We are very disappointed to see that the prices of food and drink at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are increasing for the second time this season and we have made our feelings about this clear to the Club. We have also written to them to ensure that the forthcoming end to the government’s reduction in VAT for the hospitality industry won’t result in a further hike, especially as we haven’t noticed any direct benefit to supporters from the reduced VAT rate.
We understand that globally costs have increased enormously. We know that the impact of Brexit on supply has been highly detrimental in many ways, including financially. We also understand that the pandemic has meant that labour patterns have changed and that the Club, along with everyone else has felt the brunt of these price hikes.
However, an on average 7% increase at a time when supporters are facing huge financial pressures of their own feels excessive and untimely. Most of us have already incurred costs from matches we have been unable to attend due to the rapid pre-Christmas rise in the Omicron variant, and the inability to sell our tickets on ticket exchange due to falling demand. The Club has also removed the much-valued cup concessionary rates for Young Adults and Seniors.
At a time when supporters are already getting anxious about a perceived lack of investment in on pitch matters, a price hike like this in time for the North London Derby felt insensitive in the extreme.
We have asked the Club to look at finding ways to serve more affordable food options via the mobile hawkers and to ensure that they are available throughout the stadium. We have also urged THFC not to impose any further price rises this season and to absorb any further increases themselves.
We know how hard the catering team work to get it right, but these price hikes make it increasingly likely that supporters will shop around for affordable match day experiences. It’s in all of our interests to keep the prices down, build up the pre and post-match atmosphere in the stadium and enable all supporters to enjoy the full benefits of the ground.
7. COVID-19 measures after Plan B
The Prime Minister’s decision that the COVID crisis was over put football in another difficult position, and fan groups were asked for views by the Premier League.
We said that our stance had always been Public Health First based on factual, scientific evidence, and that football should ask for any available scientific justification for lifting the Plan B restrictions to be shared. We also recognised that football would find it difficult to maintain measures preventing the spread of COVID if they had been lifted everywhere else, although of course the requirement to wear masks on the London transport system remains.
Our concern now centres on the effect of lifting all measures on supporters in more vulnerable categories, or supporters who are close to vulnerable people. We have asked for the game, and clubs in particular, to continue to recognise the issues facing people in those categories when making decisions about ticketing.
While we all need to start resuming the activities we once took for granted, we also hope supporters will continue to recognise the issues still facing many people and take decisions based on evidence and consideration for others.
8. Match planning for Chelsea and Arsenal games
We had meetings ahead of both the Chelsea Carabao Cup away tie and the home Premier League game against Arsenal, with representatives of the Clubs, supporter groups and the police to discuss issues including the approach of police and stewards, entrance and exit from the ground and various other issues. These meetings are valuable to clubs and fans in helping communications, and in promoting an understanding of how everyone is approaching the game. In the event, the game against Arsenal did not go ahead after our opponents were given permission not to turn up until they had a team they were comfortable with fielding. We note the subsequent Premier League rule change around COVID postponements.
9. ‘Rent Boys’ chant
Following our Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea, and ahead of the Premier League game at Stamford Bridge, we were made aware that the Crown Prosecution Service had designated the term ‘rent boys’ as a homophobic hate crime, and that fans using the term would be liable to arrest and prosecution. Such moves almost inevitably lead to much ‘whataboutery’ and wilful misinterpretation, so we’re setting out our stance here for the record.
Once we were aware of the CPS position, and THFC informed us of its intention to raise the issue with fans attending the game, we had a responsibility to make the facts clear and to help ensure our fans were aware of them. We did so in a short statement on our website. That included a request to fans to read the statement published by our sister organisation the Proud Lilywhites.
Our view has always been that while we don’t believe the chant is intended as a homophobic insult, the fact that LBTGQ+ fans find it insulting must be a reason to stop using the term. As the Proud Lilywhites themselves say: “Whilst we are certain that most fans don’t sing this with any intent to make LGBTQ+ fans, feel uncomfortable, ostracised, or demeaned, the impact it has on us shouldn’t be underestimated.”
This should be reason enough for fans to stop using the term. But we also think that, not for the first time, the heavy-handed approach of the CPS has not helped, and that the attempted criminalisation of offence leads down a dangerous path. We continue to believe, and will continue to advocate, an approach that focuses on education rather than sanction.
10. Antisemitism
We were contacted by a number of supporters following the posting of a Tweet on the official Chelsea FC Twitter account during our away Premier League game at Stamford Bridge that many saw as antisemitic. We passed on fan reaction to THFC and asked that CFC be made aware of it, and also asked that CFC provide an explanation and apology.
CFC said the Tweet in question was posted innocently but was removed once the interpretation of the wording was realised and apologised for any offence it caused. Those fans who contacted the Club or Trust directly received a reply from CFC, which we are publishing in full here:
“Thank you for getting in touch and taking the time to share your concerns. The feedback of all supporters, whether positive or critical, is always appreciated and taken into consideration as much as possible.
Chelsea Football Club is proud of its track record in fighting discrimination in all its forms and as result of our positive work in this area we realise the impact that discriminatory language can have.
The post you refer to was published innocently in relation to the gathering pace and heat of the match, but was deleted as soon as we realised the use of the word ‘gas’ was being misinterpreted. The post was in no way meant to offend, however, we apologise for any offence it may have caused.
We will be redoubling our efforts to ensure that all staff remain fully educated and aware of all sensitivities around language that could be considered discriminatory or offensive.
Chelsea Football Club stands against all forms of discrimination and we have long campaigned to end the use of discriminatory language that is offensive to the Jewish community. In 2018, we launched the ‘Say No to Antisemitism’ campaign to raise awareness and educate our players, staff, fans and the wider community about antisemitism.
As part of those efforts, a mural at Stamford Bridge remembers victims of the Holocaust, our men's and women's teams have invited Holocaust survivors to visit players and share lessons from their experiences, the Club has taken fan groups on an educational visit to Auschwitz, and our “Final Whistle on Hate” fixture in Boston at the end of the 2018/19 season raised funds for organisations such as the World Jewish Congress, the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Holocaust Educational Trust.
Thank you again for taking the time to write in to the Club and we appreciate your understanding in relation to this matter.”
11. Finance and Property Working Group update
Board member Michael Green has completed his review of the Club’s financial statements for the 2020-21 season. Despite the severe impact of the pandemic, which has affected all football clubs, THFC’s finances still appear to be relatively healthy and a full season with the stadium open to fans will restore some stability. Nevertheless, our analysis will show areas for improvement including the importance of qualifying for at least the Europa League, boosting commercial income and improving transfer market activity. The full analysis will be published in the coming days.
The success of the Club in gaining planning permission for its Printworks development (819-827 High Road, currently the properties either side of the Royale venue) has increased scrutiny over the Club’s property development activity. Our concern is to ensure that resources are not diverted from the football operations into property. This is partly covered in our analysis of the financial statements, but our next step will be to take a deeper dive into the financial statements of the Club’s various property subsidiary companies as well as commencing discussions with the Club over its property development strategy generally. THST’s Finance and Property Working Group will report back in due course.
12. Standing in the stadium
A month on from the start of licensed standing areas in a limited number of top-flight grounds, including at our stadium, things are going well. We’ve been told by the stadium stewarding team that there have been no issues relating to standing in any of the areas with rail seating, and that there has been a drop in the number of complaints about people either standing or sitting.
Feedback from other clubs tallies with this, and provides a factual counter to some of the alarmist nonsense being peddled in some quarters. Safe standing is a sensible, practical result of years of lobbying and research, and is proof that supporter campaigning works.
13. Tottenham Foodbank update
After a brief stay at the N17 Arena, the Tottenham Foodbank van will be returning to the Tottenham Community Sports Centre, opposite the No 8 pub, for one match day a month for food donations. Keep an eye on our social feeds for clarification of nominated home games and, as always, please give what you can.
UK-based fans not attending games can still help to support the foodbanks at any time by texting COYSFOODBANK and any donation amount to 70085. To donate £10, text COYSFOODBANK 10, for example. Anything you can afford would be hugely appreciated.
Those living overseas or unable to use a text donation service are encouraged to donate via Tottenham Foodbank's crowdfunding page.
14. Antwerp Arms February offer
The Antwerp Arms will be continuing with its discount offer of a 10% reduction on all food from the menu and all drinks – on match and non-match days – for February. This offer is for all full and life members on the production of a Trust badge. Badges can be obtained at the pub on match days from Pete Haine or Kevin Fitzgerald. Please email Pete in advance at mailto:pete.haine@THSTOfficial.com if you’re planning on popping along to collect a badge.
15. Marine FC
Pete Haine represented the Trust pitch-side at our FA Cup third round tie against Morecambe when officials from Marine FC formally thanked our Club and its fans for the help given at last year’s behind-closed-doors FA Cup game at Marine. Over 30,000 Spurs fans purchased £10 tickets for the match despite not being able to attend, and Spurs fan sites also ran fundraisers to help the Crosby-based Club.
16. Soap dispensers at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Experience dictates that some bright spark will copy this section of the newsletter and claim on social media that it is proof we focus on the wrong things, but while we fully recognise it’s an issue far below, for example, the conduct of Club transfer policy on fans’ lists of concerns, it’s nonetheless an issue that has been raised by a good number of people.
Soap dispensers in the stadium toilets are regularly empty, and we’re being increasingly informed of taps not working either. This has been raised with stadium management and we’re told there is an issue with some of the central piping system. We’ve urged the Club to fix this as soon as possible. With the need for regular hand-washing still being emphasised as a way to control the spread of the coronavirus, the need to make sure fans don’t have to play soap and water roulette should be obvious.
This issue is one of a number of complaints we are getting from match-going fans that suggests the attention to standards for General Admission fans is slipping a little. Please keep giving us your feedback, positive as well as negative.
17. Hillsborough Law Now campaign
We were the first Supporters’ Trust to back calls for the establishment of a Hillsborough Law. The law would impose a duty on all public officials to be truthful at inquiries into public tragedies, and would give the families affected access to adequate resources to support their pursuit of justice, and you can find more details in the story we published online.
We were keen to back the call not just because it is the right thing to do, but because Spurs fans have a special connection with the events at Hillsborough in 1989. One of our own fans was among those who died that day, and many of our fans were caught in a crush at the same stadium at the 1981 semi-final. The experiences of our fans at that game against Wolves led many to submit evidence to the inquiry into what happened eight years later.
The call has also been backed by Liverpool, Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion football clubs, and we’ve formally asked THFC to add their backing. The Club’s Board is considering the request.
18. Football to Amsterdam 2022
Our Cycle On You Spurs team will be setting off from the Olympic Velodrome on Friday 10 June 2022, arriving at the Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam the next day.
It’s not too late to add a challenging and rewarding goal to your New Year’s resolutions. Sign up now and you have four months of training to be ready to go. Our 30-strong team is composed of riders of all abilities and experience on all levels of roadworthy bikes.
We will also be launching a fundraising drive at the start of March. To date our team has raised over £37,000 for June’s ride, bringing our grand total since 2015 to £150,000, all donated to Prostate Cancer UK. This is largely down to the efforts of each rider and their friends and families backed up by Trust members and friends. For our March drive, we will be aiming at the wider Spurs family. Join the team or make a donation today.
19. Cycling to Spurs
The number one issue for cyclists wanting to ride to home games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium remains the provision of secure match day storage racks. Visit the Trust Forum (Match day travel/cycling to Spurs) or email kevin.fitzgerald@THSTOfficial.com and make your views known.
20. Business and Community Liaison Group
With the return of a full suite of capacity events at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the importance of this group for relationships between the Club and the local community will grow. There’s a big push now to reinvigorate the group, so:
21. THST Forum
Our Forum is a resource for full members of the Trust to discuss a wide range of, in the main, off pitch matters. Members can raise questions, see what others are discussing and join in.
This month we’ve been talking about the most recent increase in catering prices, as well as the changes in rates of VAT over the last 12 months. We’ve been discussing ticketing as always, but with a particular emphasis on some of the issues around the plethora of late match cancellations and their impact on supporters. These include transport and travel, and the difficulties around what happens if you’ve transferred your ticket on Ticket Share or Exchange because you couldn’t make the original fixture, e.g. due to COVID, but would really want to attend on the rearranged date. We’ve been able to share the progress made so far with the Club’s ticketing team.
We’ve also had updates on cycling to matches – your first-hand accounts are really helpful when we are lobbying the Club for further storage facilities. And, of course, we also welcome your feedback on the introduction of safe standing and how effectively the areas are being stewarded.
The THST Forum is open to full and life members of the Trust. Full and life members should to apply to join through the link on our site, and set yourself up an account. We should emphasise that Trust membership alone doesn’t give you automatic access to the forum, you need to register via the link.
To JOIN the Trust, please register here. To UPGRADE from free Associate Membership of the Trust to Full membership, please click here.
If you’re already a Full or Life member of the Trust, click here to register for our Forum.
MEDIA
Podcasts
Last Word On Spurs 2/1/22
Print
King Ledley Mural
Giant Ledley King mural unveiled to ‘open new chapter’ in Tottenham history
Tottenham legend King 'humbled' by mural
The making of a mural
Arsenal Postponement
THST admit ‘surprise’ at Arsenal postponement
Derby postponement ‘due to poor Arsenal squad management’
Premier League integrity in question
Broadcasting of games
Complaints about kick-off times a reminder to broadcasters who bemoaned lack of fans last season (£)
THST Board
31 January 2022
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1. THST AGM and Annual Report
The start of the year has been dominated by preparations for our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 16 February. As a Community Benefit Society, registered under the Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014, holding a formal AGM each February is a central requirement of our constitution, and ensuring as many of our members as possible take part in the process is vital to the long-term health of the Trust.
Ahead of each AGM, one third of the Trust Board resign with those Board members permitted to seek re-election by the membership, if desired. This year Anthoulla Achilleos, Adam Bailey, Rachel Martin and Pete Haine have resigned their posts with the first three seeking re-election to the Board.
Pete Haine has decided to step down from the Trust Board after five years and we thank him sincerely for his hard work and valuable contribution, including as Society Secretary during that period. Board member Kevin Fitzgerald will also be stepping down at the AGM after seven years of service. Kev made a huge impact on our community and charity work, raising over £150,000 for Prostate Cancer UK alone, along with leading our sustainability work as a passionate cyclist. We wish both Kev and Pete all the very best for the future.
Given this movement, three new places were made available on the Trust Board. Three nominations were received and Henry Ellis, Koonal Shah and Simon Sullivan will therefore be elected to the Trust Board should the membership ratify their appointments at the AGM.
All Life and Full members are encouraged to use their votes on the above resolutions either in person at the AGM on Wednesday 16 February or by Proxy vote in advance of the meeting. Proxy votes need to be submitted by 6pm on Friday 11 February either by email or by online survey. Full details can be found on the dedicated AGM page of our website.
Once the Proxy voting period has closed, we’ll be contacting Full and Life members yet to vote to register for the online AGM and we’ll circulate relevant meeting access codes thereafter. We look forward to welcoming as many of you as possible to the meeting from the comfort of your own homes once again, especially those usually prevented from attending by geography!
We’ve also been busy writing our Annual Report, detailing the work we’ve undertaken over the last 12 months. This is currently with our designer, Justin Ford of Hubert and Ford, and we’ll publish ahead of the AGM. Be sure to read as it’s a great summary of our work over the year. And it answers the age-old question of “What has the Trust ever done for me?”, too!
2. THST Q1 Board Meeting
The first Board Meeting of 2022 took place on the evening of Monday 24 January via Zoom video conference. Planning for the AGM on 16 February took centre stage, along with discussion around our ongoing conversation with the Club’s Board around embedding fan engagement at Tottenham Hotspur FC. Regular updates were provided on membership numbers and finance, marketing statistics and website performance.
There was an update on the Mural project following the highly successful unveiling of the Ledley King collaboration with MurWalls at the Tottenham Community Sports Centre, an update on the recent catering meeting and increase in F&B pricing at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a discussion on how the government’s decision to remove all COVID restrictions will affect match-going football fans, and what mitigations we as a Trust should be lobbying for on behalf of our most vulnerable members.
Work is underway to finalise two side policies to accompany our Trust Rules, and the property and finance sub-group reported on its recent investigations into ENIC’s property portfolio. There’s more on this later in this newsletter. We also had an update on our finance experts’ analysis of the Club accounts, and we hope to have this published in the coming week or so. A recap on our partnerships with the Tottenham Foodbank, Antwerp Arms and Studio 306 Collective were also covered.
Work remains varied and busy across every aspect of the off-field fan experience. A handover is ongoing to cover Pete and Kevin’s workstreams post AGM and the first meeting of the new Board is scheduled to take place on Monday 21 February to agree positions and responsibilities for the coming year.
3. ‘King Ledley’ Mural
Hopefully the majority of you will by now have seen the massive Ledley King tribute mural on the side of the boxing gym at the Tottenham Community Sports Centre, (opposite the No 8 pub).
We were fortunate to have been able to interview Ledley before and after the project and can report that he was truly humbled and honoured by this stunning fan-led tribute. The mural received extensive media coverage and was a real feel good story. It’s also been well received by the local community, and by the overwhelming majority of fans.
We are hoping that this is the first of many more Spurs murals in the immediate vicinity of the stadium. They are a fantastic way of connecting the Club, the local community and our fanbase. If any individuals or any fan group want to look at any mural projects then please contact Rob White via his Trust email address (mailto:rob.white@THSTOfficial.com) to discuss further. We’ve already had some contacts from overseas fan groups wanting to contribute, and we’d encourage everyone to get in touch and help to create something special that is led by fans and really encompasses the character of the Club.
The project has been a major piece of work for the Trust, and others involved in it. In total, the work has taken about 18 months to bring to fruition. What’s been particularly pleasing is that, after much noise was made in many quarters about the lack of visible Club history around the stadium, we were able to demonstrate how to deliver something tangible. A special mention must go to Board member Rob White who put untold hours into the practical effort of making something happen.
To learn more about what has gone into this project, read this story. Artists Murwalls video is also essential viewing.
4. Fans on the Board
Since the publication of the Fan-Led Review’s recommendations on fan involvement in the running of our clubs, we have been discussing how this could work in practice. We’re in regular contact with colleagues throughout the supporter movement, and we’ve also had a number of conversations with senior representatives of THFC.
At the moment, everything in the FLR findings is a recommendation. Supporter groups are pushing for some measures to be legislated for, something that would resolve any ambiguity around certain proposals. But for now, clubs and supporter groups are being urged to embrace the spirit of the recommendations and agree structures that deliver on them. The structure, remit and powers of the proposed Independent Regulator for English Football (IREF) will, obviously, have much bearing on what is eventually agreed at each club, and the role and function of the IREF is something that needs legislation.
Discussions so far at THFC have looked at who would sit on a Supporter Board (SB) and how they would be elected, how terms of office and elections would work, and what the remit of the SB would be. There will also be separate discussions on how the proposed Golden Share, covering issues such as team name, shirt colours, stadium location and competitions played in, will work. We are looking at how to embed representative structures in THFC’s Articles of Association, and Memorandums of Understanding to underpin the relationship between supporter bodies outside the SB, including THST, and the Club.
You can read more detail about our response to the FLR recommendations, and find a link to the ideas we put forward for embedding fans’ voices at the heart of Club governance, on our website.
We don’t intend to provide a running commentary on discussion of every point. When there is a clear framework to put in front of people, we will ask our members whether or not they endorse it and make our own recommendation. We are, understandably, getting a lot of questions about what is happening with fan representation on the Board. And we understand the slow pace of progress is going to be frustrating for many. But changes to governance structures are legally and practically complex, and time has to be taken to get them right. The intention is to have something in place by the beginning of next season, which means work will continue over the next few months and plans can be presented for approval in late spring or early summer.
We’ll keep you updated through this newsletter and our website.
5. Ticketing meeting with THFC
The Trust ticketing team of Katrina Law and Anthoulla Achilleos, along with Trust co-chair Martin Cloake, met with THFC’s Head of Ticketing Ian Murphy and Supporter Liaison Officer Levi Harris for a ticketing update on 20 January 2022. Club reps were rightly extremely proud of the new 3D Virtual Venue platform which had launched that morning.
Ticketing has been an extremely busy area this month and we were keen to cover off outstanding questions relating to postponed matches, Cup games, Concessions, Ticket Exchange, Ticket Share, Away ticketing and Digital ticketing in addition to the upcoming Season Ticket renewal period. Here’s what you need to know.
Season Ticket renewals: We lobbied for the minimum of a price freeze for the 2022/23 season considering the financial realities facing many supporters and the level of pricing already in place at THFC. We lobbied for the reintroduction of the first two cup games back into the package, interest free payment plans, and for a renewal deadline after the end of the Premier League season together with reassurances around the management of the seat relocation process and the Season Ticket waiting list. The Club will issue information on all of the above in due course.
Postponed home games: Following the postponement of the North London Derby earlier in the month, we asked for clarity on how those who’d sold or bought from Ticket Exchange or gifted or received through Ticket Share would be managed. We lobbied for those who had sold via TEX for the original fixture to have as many chances to purchase a ticket for the rescheduled fixture as possible, be that via a priority purchase window on TEX or via the purchaser being able to return to the seller should they no longer be able to make the rescheduled match.
We also lobbied for the recipients of Share to be able to return their gifted tickets to the original donor, should they wish. We stressed the need for the Club to offer refunds for fans who bought from TEX and now can’t make the match, with those tickets then going back into the general pool if the original seller does not want to buy the ticket back. Once the date for the NLD is confirmed by the Premier League, THFC will communicate their agreed and final process for the above in detail.
Cup games - Concessions: We asked for an explanation of why the Club had removed Senior concessions and Young Adult concessions from recent League and FA Cup games. It was confirmed that this is a policy decision by the THFC Board, who consider Cup prices to be sufficiently discounted already, thus negating the need to offer further discounts for OAPs and Young Adults. They are keen to encourage the attendance of Juniors, hence honouring that concession, but will not be offering a Senior or YA discount at domestic cup games moving forwards.
THST is on record as championing concessions as a point of principle in recognition that certain demographics have less available income than others. We intend to challenge this decision from both an ethical and commercial angle and would love to hear from Seniors or Young Adults who will be affected by it.
Cup games - Ticket Share: We’d received complaints from ticket holders trying to use Ticket Share for the Chelsea home cup game who were unable to do so as a result of purchase parameters in place for a ‘High Risk’ match. Only members on the THFC database when the draw was made were eligible to buy tickets for the match, hence tickets could only be shared with people meeting the same criteria. THST argued there was an inconsistency with the policy around guest tickets, whereby up to three could be purchased by a ST holder or eligible member, with no database history. The theory being the purchaser would be at the match and would take responsibility for their guests.
We argued that the person gifting the ticket via Ticket Share would also be responsible for the behaviour of their guest under ticketing terms and conditions, and that the restrictions should have been lifted on that occasion. THFC agreed to revisit the decision ahead of any future ‘High Risk’ cup game and confirmed that Ticket Share will open without restrictions for the upcoming FA Cup Fourth Round tie v Brighton.
Booking fees: THST had submitted a paper on booking fees in advance of the meeting, with THFC undertaking to respond in writing. There is a lack of transparency around how, when and why booking fees are applied that needs clarifying. We’ll update fully as soon as we receive the Club’s response.
Digital Ticketing: We asked for an update on digital ticketing, which appeared to be much improved from the start of the season. THFC commented that the main issues remaining were with new visitors unfamiliar with the process, particularly those who had received tickets via Share and had little idea how to download those in advance of the game. The Club’s technical partner, Fortress, was pushing out more regular automatic updates and the Club had increased communications around how to manually refresh tickets in wallets.
Please check to make sure you don’t have a block on auto updates in your Settings if you are experiencing recurring problems with tickets updating.
THST asked that the Club investigate a break in the chain on auto updates following a transaction on TEX or use of Ticket Share. THFC asked for fans experiencing technical problems to flag with the Ticket Office so they can record all glitches and look to rectify those.
It’s very important to make a note that current digital passes will be valid for next season, so don’t delete those after the last home game of the season, please!
Away Ticketing: THST asked if there was any move towards digital ticketing for away games. It was likely that THFC would be amongst those trialling the technology at selected games in the 2022/23 season. This will be a major move towards cutting down on ticket re-sales and touting, with casual passing on of away tickets continuing to be a major source of irritation to many.
Standing areas: Following a few complaints around the Morecambe match, we were keen to ensure that families with Juniors were aware that the front (and back) of the South Stand were licenced standing areas and, as such, might not be suitable for children who’d struggle to see the game. THFC has now installed a pop up on the ticketing site for any seats purchased in a standing area, clearly notifying the purchaser that fans will be standing in that block, with a tick box to acknowledge they have read and understand the message.
Impact of COVID restriction removals on Ticketing: THFC agreed to loosen the operational policies on several aspects of their ticketing function during times of COVID. For example, Ticket Exchange would previously only have opened on a sell-out of a Premier League game only. The Club agreed to open a minimum of 48 hours ahead of every game regardless of sales numbers in recognition of the realities of COVID isolations and the general level of uncertainty that accompanied the pandemic.
It is highly likely this will now revert to previous operational patterns, considering the Government has now declared COVID as being ‘over’. We continue to make the point that enough notice needs to be given before any change in operational policy on TEX or Ticket Share comes into practice, given tickets were purchased under the revised T&C’s. TEX opened on a sell-out or at the Club’s discretion before the pandemic.
The Club is also working with the Premier League around next steps regarding COVID certification, although it is anticipated the League will follow government guidance on the need for proof of vaccination, testing and mask wearing, in particular. We also asked for input into further discussions around the handling of vulnerable supporters following the removal of all COVID restrictions.
6. Catering at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
We are very disappointed to see that the prices of food and drink at The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are increasing for the second time this season and we have made our feelings about this clear to the Club. We have also written to them to ensure that the forthcoming end to the government’s reduction in VAT for the hospitality industry won’t result in a further hike, especially as we haven’t noticed any direct benefit to supporters from the reduced VAT rate.
We understand that globally costs have increased enormously. We know that the impact of Brexit on supply has been highly detrimental in many ways, including financially. We also understand that the pandemic has meant that labour patterns have changed and that the Club, along with everyone else has felt the brunt of these price hikes.
However, an on average 7% increase at a time when supporters are facing huge financial pressures of their own feels excessive and untimely. Most of us have already incurred costs from matches we have been unable to attend due to the rapid pre-Christmas rise in the Omicron variant, and the inability to sell our tickets on ticket exchange due to falling demand. The Club has also removed the much-valued cup concessionary rates for Young Adults and Seniors.
At a time when supporters are already getting anxious about a perceived lack of investment in on pitch matters, a price hike like this in time for the North London Derby felt insensitive in the extreme.
We have asked the Club to look at finding ways to serve more affordable food options via the mobile hawkers and to ensure that they are available throughout the stadium. We have also urged THFC not to impose any further price rises this season and to absorb any further increases themselves.
We know how hard the catering team work to get it right, but these price hikes make it increasingly likely that supporters will shop around for affordable match day experiences. It’s in all of our interests to keep the prices down, build up the pre and post-match atmosphere in the stadium and enable all supporters to enjoy the full benefits of the ground.
7. COVID-19 measures after Plan B
The Prime Minister’s decision that the COVID crisis was over put football in another difficult position, and fan groups were asked for views by the Premier League.
We said that our stance had always been Public Health First based on factual, scientific evidence, and that football should ask for any available scientific justification for lifting the Plan B restrictions to be shared. We also recognised that football would find it difficult to maintain measures preventing the spread of COVID if they had been lifted everywhere else, although of course the requirement to wear masks on the London transport system remains.
Our concern now centres on the effect of lifting all measures on supporters in more vulnerable categories, or supporters who are close to vulnerable people. We have asked for the game, and clubs in particular, to continue to recognise the issues facing people in those categories when making decisions about ticketing.
While we all need to start resuming the activities we once took for granted, we also hope supporters will continue to recognise the issues still facing many people and take decisions based on evidence and consideration for others.
8. Match planning for Chelsea and Arsenal games
We had meetings ahead of both the Chelsea Carabao Cup away tie and the home Premier League game against Arsenal, with representatives of the Clubs, supporter groups and the police to discuss issues including the approach of police and stewards, entrance and exit from the ground and various other issues. These meetings are valuable to clubs and fans in helping communications, and in promoting an understanding of how everyone is approaching the game. In the event, the game against Arsenal did not go ahead after our opponents were given permission not to turn up until they had a team they were comfortable with fielding. We note the subsequent Premier League rule change around COVID postponements.
9. ‘Rent Boys’ chant
Following our Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Chelsea, and ahead of the Premier League game at Stamford Bridge, we were made aware that the Crown Prosecution Service had designated the term ‘rent boys’ as a homophobic hate crime, and that fans using the term would be liable to arrest and prosecution. Such moves almost inevitably lead to much ‘whataboutery’ and wilful misinterpretation, so we’re setting out our stance here for the record.
Once we were aware of the CPS position, and THFC informed us of its intention to raise the issue with fans attending the game, we had a responsibility to make the facts clear and to help ensure our fans were aware of them. We did so in a short statement on our website. That included a request to fans to read the statement published by our sister organisation the Proud Lilywhites.
Our view has always been that while we don’t believe the chant is intended as a homophobic insult, the fact that LBTGQ+ fans find it insulting must be a reason to stop using the term. As the Proud Lilywhites themselves say: “Whilst we are certain that most fans don’t sing this with any intent to make LGBTQ+ fans, feel uncomfortable, ostracised, or demeaned, the impact it has on us shouldn’t be underestimated.”
This should be reason enough for fans to stop using the term. But we also think that, not for the first time, the heavy-handed approach of the CPS has not helped, and that the attempted criminalisation of offence leads down a dangerous path. We continue to believe, and will continue to advocate, an approach that focuses on education rather than sanction.
10. Antisemitism
We were contacted by a number of supporters following the posting of a Tweet on the official Chelsea FC Twitter account during our away Premier League game at Stamford Bridge that many saw as antisemitic. We passed on fan reaction to THFC and asked that CFC be made aware of it, and also asked that CFC provide an explanation and apology.
CFC said the Tweet in question was posted innocently but was removed once the interpretation of the wording was realised and apologised for any offence it caused. Those fans who contacted the Club or Trust directly received a reply from CFC, which we are publishing in full here:
“Thank you for getting in touch and taking the time to share your concerns. The feedback of all supporters, whether positive or critical, is always appreciated and taken into consideration as much as possible.
Chelsea Football Club is proud of its track record in fighting discrimination in all its forms and as result of our positive work in this area we realise the impact that discriminatory language can have.
The post you refer to was published innocently in relation to the gathering pace and heat of the match, but was deleted as soon as we realised the use of the word ‘gas’ was being misinterpreted. The post was in no way meant to offend, however, we apologise for any offence it may have caused.
We will be redoubling our efforts to ensure that all staff remain fully educated and aware of all sensitivities around language that could be considered discriminatory or offensive.
Chelsea Football Club stands against all forms of discrimination and we have long campaigned to end the use of discriminatory language that is offensive to the Jewish community. In 2018, we launched the ‘Say No to Antisemitism’ campaign to raise awareness and educate our players, staff, fans and the wider community about antisemitism.
As part of those efforts, a mural at Stamford Bridge remembers victims of the Holocaust, our men's and women's teams have invited Holocaust survivors to visit players and share lessons from their experiences, the Club has taken fan groups on an educational visit to Auschwitz, and our “Final Whistle on Hate” fixture in Boston at the end of the 2018/19 season raised funds for organisations such as the World Jewish Congress, the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Holocaust Educational Trust.
Thank you again for taking the time to write in to the Club and we appreciate your understanding in relation to this matter.”
11. Finance and Property Working Group update
Board member Michael Green has completed his review of the Club’s financial statements for the 2020-21 season. Despite the severe impact of the pandemic, which has affected all football clubs, THFC’s finances still appear to be relatively healthy and a full season with the stadium open to fans will restore some stability. Nevertheless, our analysis will show areas for improvement including the importance of qualifying for at least the Europa League, boosting commercial income and improving transfer market activity. The full analysis will be published in the coming days.
The success of the Club in gaining planning permission for its Printworks development (819-827 High Road, currently the properties either side of the Royale venue) has increased scrutiny over the Club’s property development activity. Our concern is to ensure that resources are not diverted from the football operations into property. This is partly covered in our analysis of the financial statements, but our next step will be to take a deeper dive into the financial statements of the Club’s various property subsidiary companies as well as commencing discussions with the Club over its property development strategy generally. THST’s Finance and Property Working Group will report back in due course.
12. Standing in the stadium
A month on from the start of licensed standing areas in a limited number of top-flight grounds, including at our stadium, things are going well. We’ve been told by the stadium stewarding team that there have been no issues relating to standing in any of the areas with rail seating, and that there has been a drop in the number of complaints about people either standing or sitting.
Feedback from other clubs tallies with this, and provides a factual counter to some of the alarmist nonsense being peddled in some quarters. Safe standing is a sensible, practical result of years of lobbying and research, and is proof that supporter campaigning works.
13. Tottenham Foodbank update
After a brief stay at the N17 Arena, the Tottenham Foodbank van will be returning to the Tottenham Community Sports Centre, opposite the No 8 pub, for one match day a month for food donations. Keep an eye on our social feeds for clarification of nominated home games and, as always, please give what you can.
UK-based fans not attending games can still help to support the foodbanks at any time by texting COYSFOODBANK and any donation amount to 70085. To donate £10, text COYSFOODBANK 10, for example. Anything you can afford would be hugely appreciated.
Those living overseas or unable to use a text donation service are encouraged to donate via Tottenham Foodbank's crowdfunding page.
14. Antwerp Arms February offer
The Antwerp Arms will be continuing with its discount offer of a 10% reduction on all food from the menu and all drinks – on match and non-match days – for February. This offer is for all full and life members on the production of a Trust badge. Badges can be obtained at the pub on match days from Pete Haine or Kevin Fitzgerald. Please email Pete in advance at mailto:pete.haine@THSTOfficial.com if you’re planning on popping along to collect a badge.
15. Marine FC
Pete Haine represented the Trust pitch-side at our FA Cup third round tie against Morecambe when officials from Marine FC formally thanked our Club and its fans for the help given at last year’s behind-closed-doors FA Cup game at Marine. Over 30,000 Spurs fans purchased £10 tickets for the match despite not being able to attend, and Spurs fan sites also ran fundraisers to help the Crosby-based Club.
16. Soap dispensers at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Experience dictates that some bright spark will copy this section of the newsletter and claim on social media that it is proof we focus on the wrong things, but while we fully recognise it’s an issue far below, for example, the conduct of Club transfer policy on fans’ lists of concerns, it’s nonetheless an issue that has been raised by a good number of people.
Soap dispensers in the stadium toilets are regularly empty, and we’re being increasingly informed of taps not working either. This has been raised with stadium management and we’re told there is an issue with some of the central piping system. We’ve urged the Club to fix this as soon as possible. With the need for regular hand-washing still being emphasised as a way to control the spread of the coronavirus, the need to make sure fans don’t have to play soap and water roulette should be obvious.
This issue is one of a number of complaints we are getting from match-going fans that suggests the attention to standards for General Admission fans is slipping a little. Please keep giving us your feedback, positive as well as negative.
17. Hillsborough Law Now campaign
We were the first Supporters’ Trust to back calls for the establishment of a Hillsborough Law. The law would impose a duty on all public officials to be truthful at inquiries into public tragedies, and would give the families affected access to adequate resources to support their pursuit of justice, and you can find more details in the story we published online.
We were keen to back the call not just because it is the right thing to do, but because Spurs fans have a special connection with the events at Hillsborough in 1989. One of our own fans was among those who died that day, and many of our fans were caught in a crush at the same stadium at the 1981 semi-final. The experiences of our fans at that game against Wolves led many to submit evidence to the inquiry into what happened eight years later.
The call has also been backed by Liverpool, Everton and Brighton & Hove Albion football clubs, and we’ve formally asked THFC to add their backing. The Club’s Board is considering the request.
18. Football to Amsterdam 2022
Our Cycle On You Spurs team will be setting off from the Olympic Velodrome on Friday 10 June 2022, arriving at the Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam the next day.
It’s not too late to add a challenging and rewarding goal to your New Year’s resolutions. Sign up now and you have four months of training to be ready to go. Our 30-strong team is composed of riders of all abilities and experience on all levels of roadworthy bikes.
We will also be launching a fundraising drive at the start of March. To date our team has raised over £37,000 for June’s ride, bringing our grand total since 2015 to £150,000, all donated to Prostate Cancer UK. This is largely down to the efforts of each rider and their friends and families backed up by Trust members and friends. For our March drive, we will be aiming at the wider Spurs family. Join the team or make a donation today.
19. Cycling to Spurs
The number one issue for cyclists wanting to ride to home games at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium remains the provision of secure match day storage racks. Visit the Trust Forum (Match day travel/cycling to Spurs) or email kevin.fitzgerald@THSTOfficial.com and make your views known.
20. Business and Community Liaison Group
With the return of a full suite of capacity events at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the importance of this group for relationships between the Club and the local community will grow. There’s a big push now to reinvigorate the group, so:
- Meetings will take place once every two months from February onwards
- Members will have the opportunity ahead of each meeting to put forward agenda points for discussion
- Agenda points should relate only to stadium/ event day operations and the associated Local Area Management Plan
21. THST Forum
Our Forum is a resource for full members of the Trust to discuss a wide range of, in the main, off pitch matters. Members can raise questions, see what others are discussing and join in.
This month we’ve been talking about the most recent increase in catering prices, as well as the changes in rates of VAT over the last 12 months. We’ve been discussing ticketing as always, but with a particular emphasis on some of the issues around the plethora of late match cancellations and their impact on supporters. These include transport and travel, and the difficulties around what happens if you’ve transferred your ticket on Ticket Share or Exchange because you couldn’t make the original fixture, e.g. due to COVID, but would really want to attend on the rearranged date. We’ve been able to share the progress made so far with the Club’s ticketing team.
We’ve also had updates on cycling to matches – your first-hand accounts are really helpful when we are lobbying the Club for further storage facilities. And, of course, we also welcome your feedback on the introduction of safe standing and how effectively the areas are being stewarded.
The THST Forum is open to full and life members of the Trust. Full and life members should to apply to join through the link on our site, and set yourself up an account. We should emphasise that Trust membership alone doesn’t give you automatic access to the forum, you need to register via the link.
To JOIN the Trust, please register here. To UPGRADE from free Associate Membership of the Trust to Full membership, please click here.
If you’re already a Full or Life member of the Trust, click here to register for our Forum.
MEDIA
Podcasts
Last Word On Spurs 2/1/22
King Ledley Mural
Giant Ledley King mural unveiled to ‘open new chapter’ in Tottenham history
Tottenham legend King 'humbled' by mural
The making of a mural
Arsenal Postponement
THST admit ‘surprise’ at Arsenal postponement
Derby postponement ‘due to poor Arsenal squad management’
Premier League integrity in question
Broadcasting of games
Complaints about kick-off times a reminder to broadcasters who bemoaned lack of fans last season (£)
THST Board
31 January 2022
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