Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust (THST) meeting with Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF)

As part of THST’s commitment to represent Spurs fans at a national level, members of the THST Board met with The Football Supporters’ Federation in April 2013 to discuss on-going campaigns.

---

MINUTES
Wednesday 17th April 2013
6.15pm
The George, 40 Liverpool Street, London EC2M 7QN
 
THST Board:
Darren Alexander (Joint Chairman)
Katrina Law (Secretary, Ticketing & Safety)
Football Supporters’ Federation: Amanda Jacks 
 
1 Introduction to THST

• Background
• Immediate aims: to reopen membership and relaunch as a relevant, effective
  union for Spurs fans
• Long-term goals: to sustain a significant dialogue with THFC and to
  represent Spurs Supporters on every issue that affects their experience of or
  relationship with THFC

2 Safe standing

• Update from AJ on current FSF campaign
• Update on lobbying and attempt to move Early Day Motion (EDM) through
  parliament
• AJ encouraged all supporters to pressure their local MPs
• THST confirmed plans to meet with Haringey Council with respect to how the
  Safe Standing Campaign affects THFC's current planning application for the new
  stadium
• THST to organise a demonstration from Jon Darch of the Safe Standing
  Roadshow, preferably in N17 on a match day, to gauge interest, particularly from
  those groups for whom it is suggested all-seater stadia are the preferable
  option (i.e. women and children)
• More information can be found at:  http://www.fsf.org.uk/petitions/support-safe-standing/

3 Twenty's Plenty – Away ticket price capping

• Awaiting response from the Premier League with respect to the combined
  FSF/Supporters Direct (SD)/Joint Trusts’ Away Fans Charter regarding conditions,
  fans seating location, allocation and pricing following PL meeting on 11th April
  2013
• FSF continues to campaign hard and will provide 1,000 flyers for
  distribution by THST at the upcoming Wigan away fixture
• AJ encouraged fans to support this campaign by signing the petition which
  can be found at http://www.fsf.org.uk/petitions/20plenty/
• AJ also encouraged all travelling fans to complete the FSF away game survey
  subsequent to each away trip which can be found at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/away-fans

4 ‘Bubble’ matches

• THST offered support to the FSF Watching Football Is Not A Crime campaign. A
  ‘bubble’ match is terminology for when the option of independent travel is
  removed from away fans by the police
• AJ advised that the FSF is awaiting a test case which qualifies for legal
  aid to question the legality of such operations
• THST and AJ agreed that this situation is highly unlikely to ever directly
  effect Tottenham Hotspur. However, it was agreed that, in line with THST’s
  recent decision to work with FSF/SD/other trusts on football-wide issues, it is
  appropriate to lend support on this matter
• More on this subject can be found at http://www.fsf.org.uk/campaigns/watching-football-is-not-a-crime/

5 Policing and stewarding

• On the back of recent ejections, bans and membership suspensions, AJ offered
  her support on any police forum moving forward
• AJ praised Tottenham Hotspur for the club’s pioneering stance in moving from
  a police led approach to a steward centric model. However, this is reliant on
  all stewards receiving thorough training and being given the opportunity to make
  common sense decisions wherever possible

6 AOB

• THST enquired about registering for affiliate membership of the FSF. AJ
  undertook to provide the necessary paperwork forthwith

   Meeting concluded at 7.25pm