News from trusts

England & Wales
Football

Mission and History

Mission Statement

"Our goal is promote sustainable spectator sports clubs based on supporters' involvement & community ownership"

What do we do?

Supporters Direct campaigns for the wider recognition of the social, cultural and economic value of sports clubs
Sports clubs and competitions are increasingly being put at risk by short-term vested interests, poor financial management and inadequate standards of governance; we are the UK's leading body working to ensure that clubs are run responsibly and are financially sustainable
Supporters Direct aims to create the conditions in which supporters can secure influence and ownership of sports clubs
Supporters Direct provides guidance and support to groups in more than 16 countries throughout Europe
Supporters Direct promotes the value of supporter ownership to sports fans, empowering them to set up supporters' trusts or become members of existing trusts
Supporters Direct is a community benefit society, owned by its members

Our History

1999 SD arises from 3rd Report of Football Taskforce in 1999. Announced at Labour Party Conference 1999. Officially launched January 2000 and begins work in October 2000
2000 Originally based at Birkbeck College with ‘research contract' underpinned by 3-year funding from Reduced Pools Betting Duty
2001 Original Business Plan envisages 50 successful outcomes. Becomes clear demand massively exceeds expectations; Brian Lomax becomes full-time MD in June whilst Andy Burnham MP becomes Chair.
2002 SD gets funding for two-year extension of work to Scotland. Glasgow office opens
2003 SD arrangement with Birkbeck brought to an end. SD leaves Birkbeck for new offices in Bowling Green Lane, London in April. In August, SD converts to an IPS, Brian Lomax retires in August after illness, with Dave Boyle made Acting Managing Director.
2004 SD within two-days of being shut-down before funding until March 2007 is confirmed. Phil Tooley made Acting Part-Time Managing Director in April. Phil French appointed new CEO in autumn, arriving in post in May 2005.
2006 SD move from to share office space at Sport England.
2006 Scottish funding renewed for further two years
2006 English funding increased from April 2007
2006 UEFA announce project to investigate potential for Trusts in Europe
2007 European Feasibility Study begins
2008 Year's sponsorship by Virgin media announced
2008 Phil French leaves to join the DCMS as a Special Advisor
2008 Dave Boyle is appointed as CEO.
2009 Funding from the RFL confirmed to expand SD's work with rugby league trusts