- Visas for Qarabag away
- Subsidised train travel for Everton away
- Football To Amsterdam
- Match security at White Hart Lane
- Belgian magazine interview
- Asian fan's student dissertation
- Ground share: The Telegraph
- Ground share: Sky Sports
- Ground share: International Business Times
- Transfer funds during stadium development: HTC
1. Support for the new stadium
THST wrote formally to Haringey Council in support of the planning application for the Club’s new stadium, outlining why supporters wanted to see the project go ahead. The letter, together with other responses and details of the plans, can be read here.
2. THST Members' Meeting - 14 October
Our third quarter members’ meeting was very productive. We changed the format so there was no guest speaker and instead concentrated on discussing some of the key issues we’re facing and what our response to them should be. A full report of the meeting is on the Trust website. We’re encouraged by the success of this meeting, and we hope to see an even bigger turnout from members in future.
3. Twenty's Plenty national weekend of action
THST took a joint Football Supporters Federation/THST banner calling for a £20 cap on away ticket prices to the Liberty Stadium, Swansea on Sunday 4 October as part of the national weekend of action across the Premier League. We met Swansea supporter reps for a joint picture outside the ground, and displayed the banner in the away end. We were hoping to stage a more eye-catching action but, as we said in our last newsletter, the arrangements we had agreed were changed by Swansea officials at the last minute
4. Olympic Stadium Coalition
THST continues to participate in the 14-strong fan Trust coalition seeking greater transparency over the deal between the LLDC and West Ham United for the Olympic Stadium. Along with the other 14 club Trusts involved, we are concerned the deal involves a level of taxpayer subsidy that compromises fair competition with other football clubs.
Requests made under the Freedom of Information Act have led to more details being revealed after the coalition accused the LLDC of “running scared of the taxpayer”.
Information on the campaign can be found at the coalition website, which also carries more detail about the campaign’s aims and latest press releases. Progress on the various requests lodged under Freedom of Information legislation can be seen here, together with the latest documents released. The coalition is currently examining the latest information.
5. Policing meeting ahead of the North London Derby
THST has been invited to send reps to the policing meeting ahead of the away match at Arsenal on Sunday 8 November. This will take place at New Scotland Yard on Friday 6 November with members of THST, equivalent Arsenal fan groups, the Football Supporters Federation and both Clubs present. THST is keen to ensure our fans are not treated disproportionately following the behaviour of some Arsenal fans at White Hart Lane in September.
It’s important that fans are recognised as involved parties in such meetings so we are encouraged by the invitation and will communicate key messaging across social media and our website as soon as we can after the session.
Other
6. Visas for Qarabag away
THST was approached by Trust members at the end of August enquiring as to whether THFC would consider paying for Visas for fans travelling to Azerbaijan for the Europa League group stage tie against Qarabag. Celtic had organised Visas for a previous visit to Baku. At the time of writing, THFC was talking to the Azerbaijan Embassy. However, with the application window now open, fans are advised to arrange their own Visas and THFC will communicate as soon as is possible should there be any movement on this. THST will continue to prompt for updates, also.
7. Subsidised rail travel for Everton away
THST has asked THFC to explore the possibility of running a chartered train service from Euston to Liverpool on Sunday 3 January for the away match at Everton. With train fares c £70 at the time of writing and limited options in terms of the Virgin schedule back into London after the match, this is something we believe would be of benefit to our supporters. Once again, Tottenham Hotspur has been selected to play on the evening before the majority of the country returns back to work on Monday 4 January, so any assistance in transporting our fans home would be welcomed by THST. We remain in contact with the Club regarding options and will ensure any news is communicated as soon as is possible.
8. Football to Amsterdam
Men United, the football supporting wing of Prostate Cancer UK, runs an annual fundraising bike ride from London to Amsterdam each summer. In 2016, the ride will leave the Olympic Park on 3 June, arriving 145 miles later in Amsterdam on 5 June. Following a Men United evening featuring a Q&A with Martin Jol, Trust Board member Kevin Fitzgerald signed up to take part in the ride and we are looking for a Spurs team to join him. You need a roadworthy bike, the experience of a commuting cyclist and a reasonable level of fitness. You must raise £500 by next March and to aim for £1,000 by June. You can find out more and you can register here or email kevin.fitzgerald@thstofficial.com
9. Match security at White Hart Lane
Trust Board members are keeping up to speed with the way security works on match days at White Hart Lane. To date, we have witnessed the operation at the Manchester City and Liverpool matches and will be taking in the Aston Villa and Newcastle games. This experience includes attending the briefing of senior stewards, observing the cascading of this briefing to the 400 plus match day stewards, the away fans entrances and then match and crowd viewing from the control centre, where we meet the Police Commander and other officers.
10. Belgian magazine interview
A journalist from Belgian football magazine Sport Voetball spoke to co-chair Martin Cloake ahead of the club’s game with Anderlecht in an interview looking at the history between the two clubs, THFC’s relationship with its fans and local community, and the influence of the current crop of Belgian players in the side.
11. Asian fan's football dissertation
We were contacted by a research student wanting to speak to fans of Asian heritage about their experience at Premier League games. We put a call out via our Twitter account for any interested fans to contact stangeorge94@hotmail.co.uk
Media
Telegraph on ground share
Sky sports on ground share
HTC Sport on transfer funds during stadium build
Hotspur America podcast featuring Martin Cloake and Katrina Law
International Business Times on ground share
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