A new season is starting in unusual and challenging circumstances. Our hopes for the success of Tottenham Hotspur on the pitch are as strong as ever, but this time set in the context of a public health crisis that is far from over. And so our first wish is for everyone’s health and wellbeing.
In these most unusual circumstances we wanted to check back in with established friends, and take the chance to introduce ourselves to new ones.
THST is an independent organisation that aims to ensure a fan perspective is considered by THFC. We are a formally constituted, democratic, not-for-profit, membership organisation recognised by the Club and the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA). We are run on a day-to-day basis by an elected Board of 10 volunteers. Under the terms of our constitution, no Board member is permitted to receive any benefit for their work.
We hold elections to the Trust Board once a year, along with an Annual General Meeting in which members can examine our work and finances. Our annual reports and our verified accounts can be found in the AGM section of our website. The home page contains a list of our recent achievements.
We deal with matters directly affecting Spurs supporters off the pitch. We question and challenge overall Club strategy when necessary, but we do not get involved in discussions about individual transfers, players, managers or tactics. Our work focuses on improving the match day experience for match going fans: ticketing, safety, stewarding, transport, catering, policing, fixture scheduling and broadcast, safe standing to name a few of the areas we cover. We also look to improve the sustainability and governance of the wider game and are strong advocates for fan representation at Club Board level. And we attempt to achieve solutions that are in the best interests of as many Spurs supporters as possible.
With no fans allowed inside grounds, you might think we’ve put our feet up. You’d be mistaken! Since football shut down, we’ve been discussing a number of issues with the Club including how and when season tickets and memberships for the coming season should be paid for; ticketing mechanisms for limited capacity games; practical plans for a phased return of fans to stadiums; seat moves and the transfer of season tickets. We have continued to represent a number of individual fans in disputes with the Club, and to access legal advice when necessary.
We are proud to have achieved some important victories for fans in the last few months. We persuaded the Club to drop plans to take full payment for 2020/21 season tickets as originally scheduled in March. We fed extensively into the process the Club announced for renewing season tickets. We instigated and played a leading role in a national campaign to ensure fans could watch their team on TV while we are prevented from returning to stadiums.
Our most high-profile success was helping to persuade the Club to reverse its decision to cut staff wages at the start of lockdown. In response to some of the strongest expressions of opposition to a Club decision by our members and the wider fan base we’d ever seen, we focused criticism, sought clarification, outlined alternatives and eventually got the decision reversed – thus avoiding serious and lasting damage to the Club’s reputation.
Our approach was singled out by the BBC and several media outlets for being measured and effective, and this is a stance we continue to adopt. Some would like us to shout more loudly and campaign more aggressively. But our focus is on outcomes, not grandstanding. We want the best for the Club and its fans and we believe that is achieved through an informed approach and by building relationships.
We meet regularly with the Executive Board of THFC and maintain day-to-day contact with senior Club staff. We are represented on Haringey Council’s Safety Advisory Group and the Metropolitan Police Fan Advisory Group. We are regular members of the supporter delegation at meetings with senior Premier League executives. Our co-chair, Kat Law, is a member of the Football Supporters’ Association National Council and was the first female supporter representative on the FA Council. THST is also an affiliate member of the FSA and a member of Football Supporters Europe.
We support two nominated charities, Prostate Cancer UK and Haringey-based mental health charity Studio 306 Collective. Our team of cyclists has raised over £125,000 for PCUK and we’ve also raised thousands for Studio 306 through quiz nights and other events. During lockdown we raised £2,250 by donating all new membership fees plus donations to Meals for the NHS.
Membership is open to all and the basic level of Associate membership is free. Full membership, which gets you a vote in our annual elections at our AGM and the opportunity to stand for election yourself, plus a number of other benefits including access to our online Forum, costs £10 a year, £5 for pensioners. Under-16s have free full membership.
This is going to be a challenging season, with some tough decisions ahead as the game adjusts to the effects of the global crisis. Our experience and knowledge of both THFC and the fan movement will help us continue to clearly articulate the supporter view to both the Club and wider football authorities, and to take leadership positions on behalf of our members in these fluid and unpredictable circumstances. Join us to ensure fans have as strong a voice as possible in these unprecedented times.
THST Board
12 September 2020
THST is an independent organisation that aims to ensure a fan perspective is considered by THFC. We are a formally constituted, democratic, not-for-profit, membership organisation recognised by the Club and the Football Supporters’ Association (FSA). We are run on a day-to-day basis by an elected Board of 10 volunteers. Under the terms of our constitution, no Board member is permitted to receive any benefit for their work.
We hold elections to the Trust Board once a year, along with an Annual General Meeting in which members can examine our work and finances. Our annual reports and our verified accounts can be found in the AGM section of our website. The home page contains a list of our recent achievements.
We deal with matters directly affecting Spurs supporters off the pitch. We question and challenge overall Club strategy when necessary, but we do not get involved in discussions about individual transfers, players, managers or tactics. Our work focuses on improving the match day experience for match going fans: ticketing, safety, stewarding, transport, catering, policing, fixture scheduling and broadcast, safe standing to name a few of the areas we cover. We also look to improve the sustainability and governance of the wider game and are strong advocates for fan representation at Club Board level. And we attempt to achieve solutions that are in the best interests of as many Spurs supporters as possible.
With no fans allowed inside grounds, you might think we’ve put our feet up. You’d be mistaken! Since football shut down, we’ve been discussing a number of issues with the Club including how and when season tickets and memberships for the coming season should be paid for; ticketing mechanisms for limited capacity games; practical plans for a phased return of fans to stadiums; seat moves and the transfer of season tickets. We have continued to represent a number of individual fans in disputes with the Club, and to access legal advice when necessary.
We are proud to have achieved some important victories for fans in the last few months. We persuaded the Club to drop plans to take full payment for 2020/21 season tickets as originally scheduled in March. We fed extensively into the process the Club announced for renewing season tickets. We instigated and played a leading role in a national campaign to ensure fans could watch their team on TV while we are prevented from returning to stadiums.
Our most high-profile success was helping to persuade the Club to reverse its decision to cut staff wages at the start of lockdown. In response to some of the strongest expressions of opposition to a Club decision by our members and the wider fan base we’d ever seen, we focused criticism, sought clarification, outlined alternatives and eventually got the decision reversed – thus avoiding serious and lasting damage to the Club’s reputation.
Our approach was singled out by the BBC and several media outlets for being measured and effective, and this is a stance we continue to adopt. Some would like us to shout more loudly and campaign more aggressively. But our focus is on outcomes, not grandstanding. We want the best for the Club and its fans and we believe that is achieved through an informed approach and by building relationships.
We meet regularly with the Executive Board of THFC and maintain day-to-day contact with senior Club staff. We are represented on Haringey Council’s Safety Advisory Group and the Metropolitan Police Fan Advisory Group. We are regular members of the supporter delegation at meetings with senior Premier League executives. Our co-chair, Kat Law, is a member of the Football Supporters’ Association National Council and was the first female supporter representative on the FA Council. THST is also an affiliate member of the FSA and a member of Football Supporters Europe.
We support two nominated charities, Prostate Cancer UK and Haringey-based mental health charity Studio 306 Collective. Our team of cyclists has raised over £125,000 for PCUK and we’ve also raised thousands for Studio 306 through quiz nights and other events. During lockdown we raised £2,250 by donating all new membership fees plus donations to Meals for the NHS.
Membership is open to all and the basic level of Associate membership is free. Full membership, which gets you a vote in our annual elections at our AGM and the opportunity to stand for election yourself, plus a number of other benefits including access to our online Forum, costs £10 a year, £5 for pensioners. Under-16s have free full membership.
This is going to be a challenging season, with some tough decisions ahead as the game adjusts to the effects of the global crisis. Our experience and knowledge of both THFC and the fan movement will help us continue to clearly articulate the supporter view to both the Club and wider football authorities, and to take leadership positions on behalf of our members in these fluid and unpredictable circumstances. Join us to ensure fans have as strong a voice as possible in these unprecedented times.
THST Board
12 September 2020
RSS Feed
