Football Supporters’ Federation
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2016
17th July 2016
Wembley Stadium, London
Contents
AGENDA...... 3
Motions received for debate by the main assembly...... 4
Draft Minutes of the FSF Annual General Meeting 2015 ...... 8
Nominations for Directly Elected National Council Members ...... 18
Tim Hillyer ...... 18
Ally Simcock ...... 19
Roy Bentham ...... 21
Vince Alm ...... 22
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Peter Daykin ...... 23
Martin O’Hara ...... 25
Ian Byrne...... 26
Billy Grant …...... 28
Carroll Clark ...... 29
Colin Whittle …………………………………………………………………………...30
Standing Orders ...... 32
AGENDA
Football Supporters’ Federation Annual General Meeting 2016
Delegates are encouraged to arrive as early as possible to ensure the AGM can start on time at 10.30 am. Note that the times stated below are approximate and may be adjusted as necessary by the Chair.
10.30 am Chair’s welcome & introduction
10.45 am Adoption of Minutes for FSF Annual General Meeting 2015 and matters arising
11.00 am FSF AGM elections
- Chair’s explanation of format of elections
- National Council election; Introduction of nominees
- Election of directly elected National Council representatives
11.30 am Adoption of accounts & financial report
11:45 am The remainder of the meeting will be spent discussing the FSF Annual Review and motions submitted.
12:45 pm Any other business
13:00 pm Close
Neil D. Springate
Secretary
Football Supporters’ Federation
Motions received for debate by the main assembly
The following motions and amendments to motions have been received for debate during the Annual General Meeting 2016 and are listed in the order received.
Neil D. Springate
Secretary, Football Supporters’ Federation
11th July 2016
Motion 1
Motion regarding the Independent Football Ombudsman
Proposed: Richard Knights
Seconded: Dave Kelly
This meeting believes the arbitration process should have the confidence and trust of fans.
We note the concerns raised by various supporter groups about the independent Football Ombudsman.
We call for the following-
1) A wider selection of Ombudsmen that reflect the diversity of fans.
2) An Advisory Panel that is chosen by fans and the football authorities.
3) A mediation process that meets with aggrieved fans, not just the club.
4) The IFO to monitor adjudications and to report back on compliance by clubs.
Motion 2
Motion regarding ATOS
Proposed: Dave Kelly
Seconded: Roy Bentham
This meeting notes that the Premier and the Football League fixtures are organised under contract by Atos Origin. This is the same company whose healthcare division was responsible, from 1998 - 2015, for Work Capability Assessment for the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). In August 2015, statistics from the Department of Work and Pensions revealed that 2,380 people had died between 2011 – 2014, soon after being found fit for work through disability benefit assessments. We note that in 2014, the DWP negotiated an early exit from the existing contract with the Atos, after raising concerns about the quality of its work.
We therefore call on the FSF to organise a meeting with the relevant football authorities and request that the contract for fixtures is withdrawn from Atos.
Motion 3
Motion regarding the Johnstone's Paint Trophy
Proposed: Ian Byrne
Seconded: Simon Magner
We note with concern the proposal to enter Premiership B teams into the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. We believe this is a trial run to prepare the ground for entering Premiership B teams into the Football League. This will destroy community involvement in football.
Motion 4
Motion regarding the FSF North West Region
Proposed: Simon Magner
Seconded: Roy Bentham
This meeting calls for the North West Region of the FSF to be re-established.
Motion 5
Motion regarding investment into grassroots football
Proposed: Dave Kelly
Seconded: Ian Byrne
This meeting calls on all supporter’s groups to back the campaign for more investment into grassroots football, the starting place for every football player. Grassroots football is going through very difficult times at the moment with many kids and adults walking away from the game, mainly due to the cost and poor facilities, this at a time when there has never been so much money at the top of the tree, especially with the Premier League's new £8.2Bn TV deal.
In 1999 there was a Task Force Agreement that the Premier League would contribute 5% of its TV rights to grassroots football, this has never been the case. It has only ever been 1% or less. Millions of pounds of investment didn't make it back to grassroots football. 5% of the New Premier league TV deal would see over £400m coming back into grassroots football, this would go a long way towards improving facilities and coaching.
We believe the failure, yet again, of our national team is due to lack of investment into grassroots football. Our FA would sooner spend £757M on a stadium we struggle to fill. The FA also spent £105m on St Georges Park. The Grassroots Football Campaign calls for more financial support from the FA and the Premier League to go back into the roots of our game.
Motion 6
Motion regarding "affordable football"
Proposed: Ian Byrne
Seconded: Dave Kelly
We note the excellent campaign organised by the FSF to make "affordable football" a reality,ultimately ensuring the beautiful game acknowledges the contribution made by travelling supporters.
We call on the FSF to campaign to ensure that all clubs have an away ticket allocation, if they require it that reflects their size and stature, irrespective of competition or stature of game.
Motion 7
Motion regarding pyrotechnics and laser pens
Proposed: Crystal Palace Supporters' Trust
Seconded: Tony Roome
This meeting, whilst recognising the excitement created for some football supporters by the use of pyrotechnics and laser pens, calls on the National Council to develop a prevention strategy in the interests of the health and well-being of all supporters, players and others attending football matches.
Motion 8
Motion regarding governance of the game in England
Proposed: Blackpool Supporters’ Trust
Seconded: Tangerine Knights
Football supporters need to be able to directly influence the governance of the game in this country. Direct ownership of clubs and the recent recommendations of the Expert Working Group are all useful beginnings but until supporters have direct representation at the highest levels of governance, the impact we are able to have will always be limited.
Therefore, this AGM resolves:
1) To lobby the FA Premier League to add two independent directors to the FAPL board who represent the supporters, one to be elected by the FSF and one to be elected by SD.
2) To lobby the English Football League to add two independent directors to the EFL board who represent the supporters, one to be elected by FSF and one to be elected by SD.
3) To lobby the Football Association to add two independent directors to the FA board of directors to represent the supporters, one to be elected by FSF and the other to be elected by SD.
Draft Minutes of the FSF Annual General Meeting 2015
The 2015 AGM of the FSF was held on Sunday 19th July at Mercure Hotel, Manchester Piccadilly, as a part of the Supporters’ Summit jointly organised by the FSF and Supporters Direct.
The meeting opened at 11.14 am with an attendance of approximately 60 delegates.
1. Chair’s Welcome & Introduction
Malcolm Clarke, FSF Chair, opened the meeting and welcomed delegates.
He paid tribute to a number of FSF activists who had died within the previous year: Graham Bleanch, Ken Malley, Jeff Mortimer, Brian Phipps and Sara Watts, and a minute’s applause was held to celebrate them.
It was reported that apologies for absence had been received from Ian Byrne, Raj Chandarana, Peter Daykin, Jenni Hutchinson, Fiona McGee and Trevor Wood.
2. Adoption of Minutes from Previous General Meetings
The minutes from the previous general meeting, held in 2014, were presented to the meeting. It was proposed by Ian Todd and seconded by Paul Corkrey that these be adopted, and this was carried nem con.
3. FSF AGM Elections
Election of Directly Elected National Council Members
Malcolm Clarke reported that 18 nominations had been received for 14 vacancies as Directly Elected National Council Members and so an election would be held. He informed the meeting that listed one candidate, Lindsay Fox, had withdrawn from the elections, and he introduced the remaining 17 candidates to the meeting one by one, as below:
· Roy Bentham, proposed by James McKenna and seconded by Dave Kelly
· Ian Byrne, proposed by Jay McKenna and seconded by Dave Kelly
· Manny Dominguez, proposed by Mike Thompson and seconded by Rick Duniec
· Rick Duniec, proposed by Martin O’Hara and seconded by Paul Keat
· Jenni Hutchinson, proposed by Rosalind Thompson and seconded by Anita Hola
· Dave Kelly, proposed by Simon Magner and seconded by Richard Knights
· Fiona McGee, proposed by Billy Grant and seconded by Becky Gamester
· Simon Magner, proposed by Dave Kelly and seconded by Richard Knights
· Michael Martin, proposed by Norman Watson and seconded by Colin Whittle
· Steven Powell, proposed by Arsenal Independent Supporters’ Association and seconded by Peter Daykin
· Michael Martin, proposed by Norman Watson and seconded by Colin Whittle
· Steven Powell, proposed by Arsenal Independent Supporters’ Association and seconded by Peter Daykin
· Tony Roome, proposed by Leyton Orient Fans Trust and seconded by Pam Wilkins
· Ally Simcock, proposed by Port Vale Supporters' Club and seconded by Ian Barnett
· Gemma Teale, proposed by Billy Grant and seconded by Michael Brunskill
· Ian Todd, proposed by Sunderland SA (London) and seconded by Jon Keen
· Dave Tomlinson, proposed by Michael Brunskill and seconded by Allan Galley
· Roisin Wood, proposed by Anwar Uddin and seconded by Hash Piperdy
· Trevor Wood MBE, proposed by John Browne and seconded by Chris Paouros
Malcolm formally thanked the four NC members who were not standing for re-election for their past activities: Raj Chandarana, Laura Fleck, Leviathen Hendricks and Jon Keen.
Appointment of FSF President
Malcolm informed the meeting that National Council had recommended that the Federation no longer appoint a President to replace the outgoing president, Monica Hartland, whose term of office had expired. This, together with a vote of thanks to Monica for her past service, was agreed by the meeting.
Election of FSF Chair
Martin O’Hara, Deputy Chair, took the chair for the election of the FSF Chair. As there was only one candidate, Malcolm Clarke was re-elected to the role unopposed.
4. Adoption of Accounts & Financial Report
The accounts and financial report of the FSF were presented to the meeting by the Treasurer.
The adoption of accounts and financial report was proposed by Steve Powell and seconded by Tony Roome, and carried nem con.
5. FSF Motions
Motion 1
Motion regarding Governance of FIFA
Proposed: Arsenal Independent Supporters’ Association
Seconded: Rick Duniec
Football supporters across the globe are dismayed at the corruption and incompetence at the top of football’s world governing body FIFA. It is time for the voices of supporters to be heard.
This AGM resolves:
1) To welcome the announcement by FIFA president Sepp Blatter that he will stand down;
2) To call for supporters and their organisations to write to FIFA’s sponsors calling on them to demand an independent commission to propose changes to FIFA’s statutes ensuring robust safeguards against corruption;
3) To call for supporters and their organisations to write to FIFA’s sponsors calling on them to demand an independent commission to propose changes to FIFA’s statutes ensuring transparent and fair elections and transparent governance;
4) To support changes to FIFA statutes incorporating the highest standards of transparency, accountability and effective safeguards against corrupt practices and a requirement for such transparency and probity as a condition of FIFA affiliation and recognition by continental confederations and national associations.
Steven Powell, proposer, spoke in favour of this motion.
In the following discussion, Tim Hillyer asked the FSF to provide a list of addresses to which supporters could write as outlined in part 2.
The motion was carried unanimously.
Motion 2 & Motion 3 (Discussed together)
Motion 2 - Motion regarding Protection of Club Heritage.
Proposed: Hull City Supporters’ Trust
Seconded: Andy Mills
The Federation recommends that the Football Association amends its Rules such that a specific and binding rule is put in place to protect the heritage aspects of its football clubs, including but not limited to the club’s playing name, the club’s playing kit colours, the club’s badge and the club’s nickname. Changes to any aspect of a club’s heritage will be permitted within the new Rule, but only after a fair, clearly worded and unambiguous ballot has been conducted amongst a reasonable spread of supporters – which could comprise any or all of the club’s season ticket holders, the club’s supporters club(s) members and/or the club’s Supporters’ Trust members.
Motion 3 - Motion regarding Protection of Club Heritage – Media Assets.
Proposed: Hull City Supporters’ Trust
Seconded: Andy Mills
The Federation recommends that the Football Association amends its Rules such that the club’s media assets use only the club’s playing name, playing kit colours, badge and nickname as determined by the proposed new Rule as set out in Motion 2, in so far as the name, colours, badge or nickname are deemed necessary to identify the club in any media asset. The media assets that relate to the amended Rule will include, but not be limited to, the club’s name in the matchday magazine, affiliated team names (junior teams, ladies teams, etc); the club’s websites; the club’s social media sites and usernames, the club’s press, radio, TV and online advertisements; the club’s press releases; and the club’s stadium signs and banners. The use of a club name other than the registered playing name on a media asset will be prohibited, and subject to a sanction to be determined by the appropriate FA committee.
Chris Cooper, HCST chair, spoke in favour of both motions 2 and motion 3, and these motions were seconded by Andy Mills.
Malcolm Clarke, reported that the National Council of the FSF supported this motion, although there were some worries about the practicality of protecting a club’s nickname.