The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust notes that the Club and the Metropolitan Police are investigating a specific incident that occurred during Saturday’s match against Manchester City.
The Trust condemns all racist abuse whether it is aimed at players or supporters. There is no place for it in the game.
Clearly due process needs to be followed and we will comment further after the conclusion of the investigation in to the incident.
Welcome to the ‘Autumn 2018’ newsletter. We hope you are enjoying the season so far. It certainly looks like Maurizio has hit the ground running, and long may it continue. This edition highlights some of the good work that has been carried out by the Trust, particularly the important meetings with the club and the Premier League. Of course, we also reflect on the great response to our annual survey.
You can download the newsletter and read it here:
Supporter representatives from every top-flight club, including the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust recently met with Premier League executives to discuss a range of issues impacting match-going fans.
The meeting took place under the auspices of the Football Supporters Federation on 11th October and was attended by Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore and other league officials.
Fan representatives from every Premier League club attended the meeting, drawn from the FSF’s network of democratically structured trusts and supporter groups, as well as some fanzines and activists. Supporters Direct also attended.
This was the fifth meeting between fan organisations and the Premier League which followed Government recommendations on fan engagement. The first took place in July 2016.
Future meetings will take place on a bi-annual basis with the next one due to take place in Spring 2019.
The results of the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Annual Survey are now available and can be downloaded here.
We’d like to thank all of you who participated in the survey held between Mid-April until the end of May this year. It is arguably one of the most important activities the Trust is involved with on your behalf. It is an important barometer of our concerns, issues and views on the Club and in addition the results feed in to the motions you vote on at the AGM which in turn become CST policy for the year ahead.
We will be meeting with the Club in November to discuss the survey results in detail and any concerns and issues arising.
The key points and highlights are as follows:
Once again thanks for your support.
David Chidgey
Chairman, Chelsea Supporters Trust
The results of the recent Chelsea Supporters Trust Board election and the voting on each CST Motion, as proposed in the AGM of 12th August have now been released.
With 10 candidates standing for the 9 Board places available, a full election was required rather than an affirmative vote. The following 9 candidates receiving the most votes were duly elected:
Cliff Auger; David Chidgey; Henry Fowler; Paul Hay; David Johnstone; Theresa Magee; Robert Palmer; Chris Rayburn; Dan Silver;
We trust the membership will extend a warm welcome to new Board members Paul Hay, Theresa Magee and Robert Palmer and to the returning Board members as well.
The first meeting of the new Board was held on Tuesday October 2nd where David Chidgey was re-elected to serve his third year as Chairman. Paul Jeffrey will remain in position as Secretary. The Board agreed to co-opt the following to the Board: Tim Rolls; Stuart Kinner; Ramzi Shammas; Isabella Hislop; Lucy Caton and Debs Coady.
In addition, we have now received the results of the voting for the Motions from the Board.
In short these are as follows (votes in favour in brackets):
Full details of the Motions can be found here
As you can see every Motion proposed by the Board has been backed positively with each motion being passed by over 90 % of the votes cast
This gives the new Board a very strong mandate from the membership going forward on the supporter issues that affect them most.
To all of our members who took part in the AGM, the election of the Board and for voting on the Motions, many thanks. This democratic process is exactly what sets the Chelsea Supporters Trust apart in that we are answerable to the membership and we work on the issues mandated by the membership.
The next CST Special General Meeting will be held on Saturday 20th October at 15:30 pm (after the Chelsea v Man Utd match) at The Atlas Pub (upstairs) 16 Seagrave Road London SW6 1RX
The Venue
The venue for the SGM is the upstairs Bar of The Atlas Pub in Seagrave Road, 15 minutes’ walk from Stamford Bridge and close to West Brompton underground station. Attendance at the meeting is open to paid up voting members of the Trust only. Membership to the CST costs £5 per year and includes a free pin badge. You can sign up easily from our website and we accept payment by credit or debit card or via PayPal. We hope as many of you as possible will attend in person but as there is limited space available, to avoid disappointment, please confirm that you will be attending by emailing membership@chelseasupporterstrust.com
Unable to Attend?
With thanks to the Chelsea FanCast, overseas members or those unable to attend in person will be able to listen to the meeting live and interact online at www.mixlr.com/chelsea-fancast. Minutes and a podcast of the SGM will be available following the meeting.
AGENDA
Special Guest: Henry Winter, Chief Football Writer of The Times
Henry Winter is chief football writer of The Times. A five-times winner of football journalist of the year in England, Henry is a Ballon d’Or judge and in 2018 covered his eighth World Cup finals.
Henry is one of the most respected football journalists writing today and has always championed supporters’ issues. With a deep love for the game, he inherently understands both supporters importance to the game as a whole and the hardships they increasingly endure in modern football, ruled by big business and money.
Henry also walks the walk as well as talking the talk, evidenced by his engagement with football supporters on twitter and his reading of football fanzines, cfcuk among them.
In short, Henry ‘gets it’ and we are delighted to have him as our special guest at our SGM. We’ll be talking to Henry about his experiences writing about football for over 20 years; the relationship between football supporters and the football press; why supporters issues are so important to the future of the game as well as his thoughts on Chelsea past and present.
Close
It is anticipated that the formal meeting will end by 17.30/18.00 at the latest.
Chelsea Supporters’ Trust
Making your voice heard
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 2018
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Chelsea Supporters Trust will be held at 14:00 on Sunday 19th August 2018 in the Hollins Suite, Millennium Reception, West Stand, Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road, London, SW6 1HS.
All members are welcome to attend the AGM but we must have confirmation that you will be attending no later than 10.00 pm on Thursday 16th August as Chelsea FC require us to provide a list of attendees for security. If you turn up without having confirmed your intention to attend by the time above you will not be admitted to the meeting.
To attend the AGM Members need to have paid their annual membership subscription. If you are unsure whether you are paid up or think that your membership has lapsed please check by emailing membership@chelseasupporterstrust.com
Light refreshments will be provided.
Directions to the Hollins Suite can be downloaded here.
The agenda is reproduced below and can also be downloaded here.
The standing orders for the AGM can be downloaded here.
Candidate manifestos are available to download here.
The draft accounts and annual report will be circulated to members by email in advance of the meeting.
Chelsea Supporters Trust 2018 AGM
Registered office 11, St. Catherine’s Road, Winchester, Hampshire SO23 0PP
Registered with the FSA: 31940R
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Chelsea Supporters Trust will be held at 14:00 on Sunday 19th of August 2018 at the Hollins Suite, West Stand, Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road, London, SW6 1HS.
AGENDA (please see accompanying notes for further information)
By order of the CST board Paul Jeffrey, Secretary
ACCOMPANYING NOTES TO THE AGENDA
Voting
No voting will take place at the AGM itself. Instead, voting for both the board elections and motions raised at the AGM will take place in the two weeks following the conclusion of the AGM. The voting will take place online through SurveyMonkey. On the next working day following the AGM (Monday 20th August 2018), members will receive an email containing a unique link to SurveyMonkey where they will be able to vote in the Board elections, and in favour or against motions raised at the AGM. Voting will close on
Elections
The board elections will be contested as there are 10 candidates standing and 9 positions available. Individual positions on the board will be agreed by the board following completion of the election process. Voting will take place online in the 2 weeks preceding the AGM. By agreement of the candidates, the contents of a candidate’s manifesto are their sole representations. The candidate manifestos can be found at appendix 1 to this document and here [LINK]. They will also be available online for the duration of the election process. The manifestos will not be read out at the AGM, however, should a candidate wish to clarify any of the contents of the manifesto, they will be given the opportunity to do so.
Motions from the Chelsea Supporters Trust Board
Motion 1. Board Elections
As per paragraph 8.2 of the CST Election Policy, the highest placed candidates in terms of total votes as equal to number of places available for election declared by the Board shall be deemed elected. There are 10 candidates standing for 9 positions on the Board. The 9 candidates to receive the most votes will be elected.
The prospective Board Members are as follows (in random order):
Motion 2. Approval of 2017/18 Accounts and Use of Independent Examiner
The Chelsea Supporters Trust accounts for the year ended 31/5/18 are approved. Provided revenue remains below £100,000 p.a., in line with accepted practise the Chelsea Supporters Trust Board should continue to appoint an independent examiner at the end of each financial year, rather than an auditor.
Motion 3. Chelsea Supporters Trust Affiliations
The Chelsea Supporters Trust should continue to affiliate to Supporters Direct and the Football Supporters Federation, work with these organisations as appropriate to further the interests of Chelsea supporters, and football supporters in general and take part in national and local campaigns as deemed appropriate.
Motions 4-17 are submitted to the membership following issues which arose in the 2017/18 season and/or were raised in a review of the results of the April 2018 membership survey. The background to a number of these issues, and details of progress in the past twelve months, will be contained in the 2017/18 Chelsea Supporters Trust Annual Report, to be circulated to voting members in advance of the AGM.
Motion 4. The Future of Stamford Bridge
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Board notes that the Stamford Bridge redevelopment project has been put on hold indefinitely. The CST board is mandated to continue to work with the club and other relevant stakeholders to ensure a commitment that supporters are at the centre of any further discussions about the future of the ground and that supporter opinion is properly and openly taken into account, with particular emphasis on the continued enjoyment of the match day experience, facilities and ticket pricing going forward.
Motion 5. The Future of Chelsea Pitch Owners
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Board re-affirms its support of and commitment to the aims and importance of the Chelsea Pitch Owners (CPO) in the continuation of Chelsea Football Club at its home, Stamford Bridge. With recent developments relating to the postponement of the development of a new ground on the site of Stamford Bridge, the ‘Board’ actively encourages all members of the ‘Trust’ to buy shares and become a Chelsea Pitch Owner, to safeguard its long-term future. It is mandated to continue to work with the CPO board, and other appropriate bodies, to ensure that the CPO remains relevant to future generations of supporters and to encourage the increasing accessibility of shares to supporters of all ages and backgrounds to expedite this.
Motion 6. Safe Standing
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Board congratulates the work of the Football Supporters Federation and other Supporters Trusts in the developments around the introduction of safe standing this year. The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Board is mandated to continue to support and contribute to the united effort of fans groups to see the introduction of safe standing in the top three tiers of English football. With particular emphasis on Chelsea the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Board is mandated to press the Club to take a leading role in the support of safe standing and to introduce safe standing sections at Stamford Bridge as soon as is practicable, in line with national developments on the introduction of pilots for safe standing.
Motion 7. Atmosphere Concerns
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Board is mandated to continue to work with the club and other supporters groups looking to improve the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, as appropriate and to encourage the club to continue dialogue with supporters in respect of ‘singing sections’, flag and banner displays and other supporter driven initiatives to encourage atmosphere in the ground.
Motion 8. Ticket Pricing and Availability
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Board is mandated to pursue the issue of fair ticket pricing and ticket allocation for home and away, as well as matters including, but not limited to, rearranged fixtures, away fan travel and stewarding/policing, through whichever channels they deem appropriate. These channels include, but are not necessarily limited to, Chelsea FC; the Premier League; the Football Association; relevant television companies; other Supporters Trusts; the Football Supporters Federation and Supporters Direct.
Motion 9. Fixture Scheduling
Due to the increasing cost and inconvenience to match going supporters caused by the short notice of Premier League games rearranged to suit the television companies, more notice needs to be given for such rearrangements, published announcement deadlines need to be strictly adhered to and the potential for away supporters to use public transport should be a key consideration when compiling fixtures and anomalous fixtures (e.g. midweek trips to the other end of the country) need to be minimised or eradicated.
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Board is mandated to work with the Football Supporters Federation, other supporter’s trusts and appropriate bodies, inside and outside football, to vigorously campaign for supporter impact to be a key criterion when Premier League fixture schedules and television picks, are drafted.
Motion 10. Membership of Safety Advisory Group
The Safety Advisory Group (SAG) is a statutory council-led committee set up under the Safety of Sports Grounds Act 1975. The Chelsea SAG has representation from the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, Metropolitan Police Service. British Transport Police, London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, London Ambulance Service, St John’s Ambulance Service, the Sports Ground Safety Authority and Chelsea FC. It meets twice a year to discuss relevant issues with regard to Chelsea Football Club. After representations to the local council in late 2015, the Chelsea Supporters Trust now have the opportunity to review the SAG agenda, submit items for discussion and review the meeting minutes. The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Board believe, while this is progress, there is no valid reason whatsoever why full membership should not be granted and are mandated to push for this.
The Chelsea FC SAG Terms of Reference can be downloaded here
Motion 11. Ticket Touting
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Board is mandated to use its involvement with the relevant authorities with a view to reducing the activities of ticket touts in the Fulham Broadway area before Chelsea home games and to participate in campaigns designed to achieve this. It is also mandated to work with organisations represented on the SAG to assist in educating potentially vulnerable groups in the perils of purchasing tickets in this way, or through using unofficial on-line ticketing organisations.
Motion 12. Stakeholder Engagement
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Board has made some progress since its inception in terms of building relationships with relevant stakeholders at a local and national level. The board is mandated to build on this work and to develop relevant effective working relationships with Chelsea FC; Hammersmith and Fulham Council; Local Members of Parliament; Metropolitan Police Service; British Transport Police; Premier League; Football Association; relevant broadcasting organisations; the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and other bodies as deemed appropriate. Where deemed to be more effective (e.g. with the Premier League, FA, broadcasting organisations and DCMS), these relationships are to be built working in conjunction with other supporters trusts or other appropriate organisations.
Motion 13. Football in the Community
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Board is mandated to participate in and support appropriate activities designed to promote football, Chelsea FC and its supporters in the community local to Chelsea FC. This could, for example, take the form of charitable work or through supporting specific supporter based campaigns as they arise.
Motion 14. Club Heritage
Building on the Brompton Cemetery Chelsea Graves project, the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Board is mandated to work with the club, club historian Rick Glanvill and other appropriate bodies/individuals to identify appropriate projects to reflect and enhance the club’s heritage.
Motion 15. Supporters Club Ticket Allocations
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Board has had representations from supporters clubs in the UK and abroad with regard to the perceived unfairness of the ticket allocation by the club to different categories of supporters club. They are mandated to work with affiliates, and other supporters clubs.
Motion 16. Supporter Liaison Officer
In the UEFA Supporter Liaison Officer (SLO) Handbook, the SLO role includes the following responsibilities: being a bridge between the fans and the club; informing supporters of club decisions and communicating the fans’ point of view to the club; and building relations with fan groups and initiatives as well as with police and security. At many Premier league and Football league clubs the role is independent and effective, seen as representing the supporter perspective in dialogue with the club.
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Board firmly believes that a fully-independent SLO, with no conflict of interest, representing supporter interests and no other, is essential in properly fulfilling the UEFA remit and optimising effective supporter dialogue. The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Board is mandated to continue dialogue with the club, and other appropriate bodies, to encourage Chelsea FC to look at making the SLO position independent in line with other Premier League clubs.
Motion 17. Supporter Safety
The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Board is mandated to engage in dialogue with the club to ensure that the safety of our supporters traveling abroad is adequately considered and of an appropriate level. By doing so we hope to allow shared experiences from other supporters’ trusts from their trips to similar locations so that lessons can be learnt on issues such as travel arrangements, ticket collection, policing, stewarding, security, as well as access and egress of stadium.
Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Advance Notice of Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2018-19
Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Notice of Election
Completed nomination forms should be returned to the Chair of the EMG via email secretary@chelseasupporterstrust.com or by post to
Chair of Electoral Management Group, Chelsea Supporters’ Trust, C/O 11 St. Catherine’s Road Winchester Hampshire SO23 0PP
No signatures are required if emailing, but name and email address of both candidate and nominator must be stated and it must be sent from same email address as the one registered on the candidate’s CST membership record.
Related Downloads: CST election nomination form 2018-19 Election Policy 2018
On Wednesday 6 June, Chelsea Supporters Trust joined other trusts from across the EFL and Premier League to discuss safe standing with Labour’s Shadow secretary for Sport, Dr. Rosena Allin-Khan MP.
Whilst the Labour party traditionally has not held a pro safe standing stance, over the last few months it has been undertaking a consultation of fans groups, safety experts and clubs.
This meeting culminated in the end of the consultation, culminating in Labour announcing today at QPR’s stadium, that it will be in favour of safe standing in football.
Henry Fowler, member of the Chelsea Supporters Trust board and campaign lead for safe standing welcomed this commitment from the Labour Party.
“For many years Chelsea Supporters Trust and others have led the way in this debate, including surveying supporters on safe standing annually since 2013.
In 2014, we surveyed members solely on safe standing and 96% said they were in favour. Over the last four years this percentage has stayed between the low 80s to mid 90s in favour of seeing safe standing at Stamford Bridge. We welcome Labour’s support, joining others in Westminster, to help pressure the government into introducing safe standing soon.”
Many supporters representatives agree it is vital that clubs have the autonomy to consult with fans about the best way to further safe standing and appreciate that we must work with the government in their recently announced review into the all seater stadium policy.
Chelsea Supporters Trust chairman, David Chidgey said
“The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust welcomes this encouraging news for the campaign for safe standing. The majority of supporters clearly want safe standing, as do many clubs, but in order for it to become reality the Government need to be persuaded. Political engagement with and support for safe standing is therefore vital in order for this to happen. The Chelsea Supporters Trust will continue to do everything we can to represent supporters views about this important issue with the hope that safe standing can be accommodated in stadia as soon as possible”
There has never been a better time to join the CST and be part of a fans group that makes your voice heard.
You can join today as a voting member for £5 via: https://chelseasupporterstrust.com/cst-membership/registration/
