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This Saturday football fans across the country are expected to take advantage of a break in Premier League and Championship fixtures to get along to their local grassroots side and back Non-League Day.

Former New Zealand international rugby league player, Robbie Paul, has been confirmed as one of a number of guest speakers attending the first ever Supporters Direct Rugby League Conference, Rugby League: An Alternative Future.

• Fans and Club work in partnership to promote supporter ownership in Arsenal
• Innovative scheme bucks trend of supporters having no direct involvement in biggest Premier League clubs
• Shared Influence, Shared Ownership, Share Values

After many months of hard work, and one or two false starts, Hendon Football Club Supporters Trust is delighted to announce that it has taken control of Hendon Football Club from its previous owners.

Supporters Direct is pleased to announce its first ever rugby league conference, to be held on Saturday October 9^th 2010 at the historic George Hotel Huddersfield.

For immediate release

The Yeltz Trust was formed as a response to the catalogue of disasters at the football club we support, the long term aim being to ensure the survival of senior football in Halesowen and providing a safety net should problems arise again either in the short or long term. It is true that in the opinion of the Yeltz Trust Board the preferred model for a football club is one of supporter ownership, however we have clearly stated many times that the survival and progress of the football club we support is our main priority regardless of ownership.

Saturday saw AFC Telford United defeat FC United of Manchester 2-0 at the New Bucks Head, and Scarborough Athletic clinch the SD Shield by beating reborn Merthyr Town by the same scoreline.

If you want to relive the moment, head over to Telford's official site and Scarborough Athletic's homepage

You can also see the pics via A Seadog's Blog.

Scaroborough Manager Brian France (fifth from left) and players celebrate with former Boro Chair, Simon Cope (centre)

In March 2010, FC United of Manchester announced that it would be building its own ground and community facilities in Newton Heath, Manchester.

The ground will be a landmark development that truly embraces community needs as well as putting fans in control. With a 5000 capacity, large terraced end, community sports facilities and a multi-function community club house facility, the development should stand as a beacon of good practice that will show how football can be run in the interests of its fans and its communities.

The introduction of a new UEFA licensing requirement from season 2012/13 for all clubs to have an operating Supporter Liaison Officer (SLO) marks an important new chapter in club to supporter relations and emphasizes how important this relationship is considered.

National supporters’ organisation the Football Supporters’ Federation (FSF) has announced that Shami Chakrabarti, director of Liberty, will speak at their annual conference which takes place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday, July 24^th.

Runcorn Linnets FC are looking forward to their first ever game at the Millbank Linnets Stadium this coming Saturday, 17th July, when Witton Albion are the visitors. The building of the new stadium has been completed in around 5 months and the club is extremely grateful for the support of Halton Borough Council and the Football Stadia Improvement Fund in helping this project become reality. The club would also like to place on record its gratitude to the fans who contributed so much, both to the project fund, and in practical help.

Supporters Direct in Scotland, the collective voice of supporters' trusts, have passed on their congratulations and best wishes to their members, the Stirling Albion Supporters Trust, after the Forthbank fans agreed a deal to take ownership of the First Division club.

The Development Manager, James Proctor said, “The Stirling Albion Supporters' Trust are breaking new ground in taking the first club in Senior Scottish Football under supporters ownership. We congratulate them on that achievement and wish them well in the running of the club. They will no doubt look to the successes seen at Exeter City, Scarborough and Brentford among others in England for ideas and inspiration.”

Proctor added, “We have experience in Scotland in helping supporters re-establish Clydebank and Gretna as Football Clubs and I am sure the learnings from these cases will be of interest to the Stirling group as well.”

VeneziaUNITED, the newly formed supporters' trust of FC Unione Venezia was officially launched on 30 June; with the evening being declared an overwhelming success. Over 200 fans from a variety of backgrounds made effective use of their democratic rights by approving the trusts manifesto, its constitution, and voting in the members of the first board of directors.

Launch of Venezia United

Today saw the launch of the Social and Community Value of Football Report at Supporters Direct’s Annual Conference, A Better Vision for Football. You can download the Summary Report, and you can also download an interim pdf version of the full report.

The report shows the positive – and negative – affect that clubs and their attitude, actions and behaviour can have on football clubs.

The report, undertaken by researchers, was commissioned in 2008 because we identified a need to move from more ethical or moral arguments for increased supporter influence at clubs to ones based upon evidence. We also wanted to understand better exactly if and where the added value from supporter ownership is derived so we could use this in practical terms when supporting our supporter controlled clubs.

Rochdale Hornets, the only co-operatively run club in professional rugby league are aiming for a top three finish and a potentially lucrative play-off spot in Co-operative Championship One this season, only 18 months after reforming.

Rome, 27 May - At a meeting in Rome, in the headquarters of EUR S.p.A, the Roma Supporters' Trust "MyRoma" was formally inaugurated with the objective of creating the first effective Italian Supporters' Trust here in the Italian capital.

Want to Back the Bid? You can be part of BT and England 2018 official supporters' photo flag at www.2018.BT.com

And alongside current and former England strikers - Peter Crouch and World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst - you too can put your face on the official supporters' flag to mark your support.

Business in the Community has announced five new CommunityMark achievers for 2010. The achievers are Anglo American, Brentford Football Club, Heineken UK, Lend Lease and LSI Architects.

The CommunityMark is the UK's only national standard that publicly recognises excellence in community investment. It was developed by Business in the Community and first launched in 2008. It is endorsed by the government and HRH Prince of Wales. There are a total of 34 CommunityMark companies ranging from leading banks and retailers, to energy providers, professional services firms and small businesses.

Tuesday 11 May 2010

Download and read the Report pdf

Manchester United tops a new Football Secrecy League published today by international development agency Christian Aid to highlight the secrecy offered by tax havens, and its potential for harm.

Labour's Sports Manifesto talks about the need to 'Work with national governing bodies to improve the financial governance of professional sport and to ensure greater supporter involvement in professional clubs, making it easier for Supporters Trusts to buy stakes in their clubs.' More on Pages 3 and 10 of the document.

The Conservatives want to 'reform the football governance arrangements so co-operative ownership models can be established by supporters, as part of a wider package of reform of football finance and governance.' More on Pages 1, 5  & 6 of the document.

Do you like football games on Mondays at 9 pm or on Tuesdays at 5.30 pm? Do you have to take one or even more days off work frequently to watch your beloved team? Have you ever organised costly travel, but in the last moment the match was postponed by the professional league? Are you in favour of 5 different kick-off times for five matches for one match day?

Supporters that cheer for their teams inside the stadia all over Europe share the same experiences that very often make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, for them to follow their team due to kick-off times in modern football that were made mostly for TV but not for us, the fans.

For more, head over to the Football Supporters Europe website

Following the close of nominations in the 2010 elections for the Supporters Direct Board, nominations have been received.

Looking for Eric filmaker Ken Loach is speaking at the first day of the two-day Supporters Direct Annual Conference 2010 at The Institute of Engineering & Technology (IET London: Savoy Place) on Saturday 12^th June and Sunday 13^th June.

Take me to registration

The major political party manifestos have been published, and for the first time ever, football - and in particular, the supporters' trust agenda - are featured.

The Labour and Conservative Parties have now launched their more specific sports manifestos. The Liberal Democrats have not developed any further policy on football issues other than what has already been featured on our site.

Read more about the specific Sports Manifestos, and read more about what supporters' trusts are doing over the General Election period.

Kick It Out, football's equality and inclusion campaign, has teamed up with Philosophy Football for the launch of a video called 'I am England.'

Nominations are now being sought in the annual election to the Board of Directors' of Supporters' Direct. Following the resolution passed at the AGM in 2009, from the end of the AGM 2010 the number of elected seats on the Supporters Direct Board will increase from 9 to 12. Therefore in this annual election there are 6 available seats.

The decision on whether to remove the Rugby League Challenge Cup from the list of protected events for free-to-air TV coverage has been delayed until after the General Election.

Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust Chairman Tim Hartley and board member Anthony Wedlake have met potential Cardiff City Football Club investor Dato' Chan Tien Ghee (TG).

FC United of Manchester has announced plans to develop a football ground in Newton Heath, Manchester - the birthplace of Manchester United.

In a display of solidarity by both old enemy Wrexham and former Conference Club Wimbledon, exiled Chester fans will be staging a fund-raising collection at the AFC Wimbledon v Wrexham match on Tuesday March 30, as part of City Fans United's plans to build a new club in their home city.

As the debate around football club ownership intensifies, new research conducted by Co-operatives UK has today revealed that fans want to take control at both Manchester United and Liverpool - and could afford to do so.

Decision day looms for Rugby League's most historic competition, the Challenge Cup, as the public consultation on whether the competition should remain on the list of protected events for free-to-air TV coverage closes today.

A JOINT STATEMENT FROM CARDIFF CITY SUPPORTERS' TRUST and CARDIFF CITY SUPPORTERS' CLUB

Despite being granted a 56-day stay of execution in the High Court last week, it appears that Cardiff City Football Club's future is once again on a knife edge.

Cambridge Fans United's bold scheme to buy-back The Abbey Stadium from Bideawhile for the benefit of the Club, fans and the wider community received a huge boost yesterday with news of a single confirmed pledge of £250,000. There have now been in excess of 600 individual pledges - taking the running total at this moment to in excess of £1M with more pledges coming through all the time.

The Mersey Vikings Wheelchair Rugby League team launched with a bang this weekend with three hugely successful events organised by Trust in Widnes - the supporters trust made up of Widnes Vikings supporters.

The supporters of Cardiff City were relieved to hear the club has been given a further 56 days by the High Court to clear its outstanding tax debts. However, fans were also alarmed to hear the Bluebirds described as "plainly insolvent" by the barrister representing Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs.

It's difficult not to notice the MUST campaign to change the ownership of Manchester United. It's been hitting the headlines as it sailed past the 40, 50, 60 and 70 thousand mark.

At 11.12am this morning, City Fans United were made aware that Chester City FC’s 125 year history had come to an end in the High Court of Justice, with the Liquidation of the company owned by the Vaughan family.

CFU acknowledge that this day was inevitable based on the huge debts that were built up in such a short space of time by the previous owners. Now is the time to look forward, and begin a new era for football in Chester.

City Fans United will be making a further statement on the announcement shortly.

Yesterday, Football Supporters Europe and Supporters Direct met with UEFA to further improve the dialogue between them.

05/03/2010  
Cambridge Fans United (CFU) Press Release  
For immediate Release  

Cambridge United fans bid to Buy Back the Abbey  

The Cambridge United Supporters’ Trust, Cambridge Fans United (CFU) has unveiled a bold plan to buy back the Abbey Stadium – for the whole community, and they’re asking for the whole town to pull together to achieve it in record breaking time!

Over 1,000 people have now signed up to Supporters Directs Keep the Cup Free for All campaign, which aims to keep the Rugby League Challenge Cup on the list of protected free-to-air TV events.

Trust statement 02/03/10

The Trust is delighted to welcome Paul Hart as manager of Crystal Palace and wish him every success in his new role. It is particularly pleasing to welcome back Dougie Freedman, a strong supporter and member of the Trust, and John Pemberton back to Selhurst Park.

In amongst all the stories at clubs that we document here; of the creaking structures at Liverpool and Manchester United caused by foolish over-borrowing; falls from grace caused by egos at Chester and Kings Lynn; or collapses at Portsmouth caused by...well, a variety of things really, it's easy to forget what so often comes out the other end after all the heartache and hard work. We've got so many good stories to tell, of clubs saved, reborn, brought back from the brink.

Nick Spencer, Telegraph journalist and Exeter City fan has chronicled the journey that the Club has been on from the dying days of the regime of Lewis and Russell (not to mention Michael Jackson, Uri Geller and the Green Cross Code Man), through to the second promotion under supporter-ownership.

Equally Exeter City through-and-through, Nic Mimmack, reviews Never Say Die...

Since Chester City were expelled from the Football Conference on Friday, there have been a number of rumours circulating about the future of football in Chester, specifically a number of misunderstandings about CFU's work towards the reformation of the Club.

The board of the Cardiff City Supporters’ Trust understands and shares the frustration that many Bluebirds fans are feeling as a result of the club’s current predicament. Our beloved football club appears to be in a precarious position with a High Court appearance scheduled for next week, various bills remaining unpaid and sources of future income seemingly already exhausted.

The Supporters Trust is concerned with many of the recent statements and decisions that have been made and taken by the AFC Bournemouth Board.

Fans are once again being asked to risk their money by paying for their season tickets well in advance and many supporters are concerned by the spending of season ticket revenue which is normally allocated to close season.

FSF OPEN INVITE

Vibe Bar, London, Thursday March 4th, 7pm

'Sit Down, Shut Up: Are Football Supporters Discriminated Against?' is the FSF's free Question Time-style debate and gives match-going fans the opportunity to tell it how they see it to an expert panel of journalists, police, prosecutors and civil-liberty solicitors (see Notes to Editors).

· Fed up with over-zealous police?

· Tired of doormen dressed up as ‘stewards'?

· Disgusted with clubs criminalising their own supporters?

Portsmouth City Football Club Limited has today confirmed that it has entered into administration. Although this brings an initial nine point deduction it does give the club the opportunity to rebuild.

On Saturday 27th February, before our home game against North Ferriby United, FC United will host a supporters' rally aimed at putting supporter ownership at the very centre of the debate on the future of the game.

Alongside our own speakers, guests will include Guardian journalist David Conn, representatives from Schalke FC, Supporters Direct and IMUSA. Two other high profile European sides have also been invited and we await their confirmation. It is also hoped that groups from English clubs affected by the escalating debt in the game, will be in attendance.

Football is at a critical juncture, with the need for clear leadership and regulation never more evident. An alternative model of how the game is structured has never been more needed with supporter ownership absolutely fundamental to that model.

FC United is part of that debate, an example of that alternative and with our guests and friends that will join us on the day we aim to make the point that supporter ownership is the only way forward.

Join us on the 27th.

12 noon, Gigg Lane Social Club - Free Entry

Please note that we expect that the rally will be finished for 1.30 and that CYCM will be open as usual straight after it does.

There is also no reason at this stage to expect the match will be postponed, but it should be noted that the rally will go ahead regardless.

Chester Fans furious at the way in which a Danish group are frustrating their efforts to give their city a club to be proud of have hit back...