Motions 2018-19

11th October 2018 David Chidgey Leave a comment

During the election process of the Chelsea Supporters Trust the Board submit to the membership a number of issues which arose in the 2017/18 season and/or were raised in a review of the results of the Annual survey completed in May 2018.

The background to a number of these issues, and details of progress in the past twelve months, can be found in the 2017/18 Chelsea Supporters Trust Annual Report.

The membership then vote on each motion and they become the stated policy of the board for the next 12 months and provide us with a mandate to work towards achieving these aims on behalf of the membership.

These are the motions which were all successfully passed in the recent CST elections.

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.

Events, Meetings, News

Special General Meeting with Special Guest, Henry Winter

10th October 2018 David Chidgey Leave a comment

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

Introduction
Chairman’s Report
Updates on progress and actions regarding motions passed at AGM (Working Group Reports): –

- Annual Survey (David Chidgey on behalf of Ramzi Shammas)
- Supporter Issues (Cliff Auger/Tim Rolls)
- Community (Cliff Auger)
- Safe Standing (Henry Fowler)
Members Q & A
- An opportunity for members to ask the Board questions on issues of concern to them
Any Other Business

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

News

Chelsea Megastore Survey

4th October 2018 Lucy Caton Leave a comment

With the Fans’ Forum due to meet with Nike on October 17 to discuss what we see as the poor range of merchandise available in the Chelsea Megastore, we are asking you to give us your thoughts on the subject. Members should have already received an email inviting you to respond, but in case you did not receive it. You can reply by clicking this link:

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CST_megastore

Your views are important so that the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust representative can pass on the input we receive from you to the club. Please help us by answering the following questions – your opinion counts!

Please respond by the end of Sunday 14th October so we can collate your views in time.

Elections, Meetings, News

Annual General Meeting 2018

7th August 2018 David Chidgey Leave a comment

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 16^th 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 19^th of August 2018 at the Hollins Suite, West Stand, Stamford Bridge, Fulham Road, London, SW6 1HS.

AGENDA (please see accompanying notes for further information)

1. 1. 1. Welcome and apologies
    2. Chairman’s Report – overall report on Trust issues and accounts (to be circulated, with accounts, to members by email in advance of the meeting)
    3. Secretary’s Report
    4. 2018 Annual Survey – summary of results
    5. Board Elections
    6. Motions from the CST Board
      6.1 Board Elections
      6.2 Approval of 2017/18 Accounts and Use of Independent Examiner
      6.3 Chelsea Supporters Trust affiliations
      6.4 The Future of Stamford Bridge
      6.5 The Future of Chelsea Pitch Owners
      6.6 Safe Standing
      6.7 Atmosphere Concerns
      6.8 Ticket Pricing and Availability
      6.9 Fixture Scheduling
      6.10 Membership of Safety Advisory Group
      6.11 Ticket Touting
      6.12 Stakeholder Engagement
      6.13 Football in the Community
      6.14 Club Heritage
      6.15 Supporters Club Ticket Allocations
    7. 6.16 Supporter Liaison Office
    8. 6.17 Supporter Safety
    9. Any Other Business
    10. Close

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 20^th 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):

Paul Hay
Theresa Magee
Chris Rayburn
David Chidgey
Robert Palmer
Henry Fowler
David Johnstone
Isabella Hislop
Cliff Auger
Dan Silver

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

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

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

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

Motion 17. Supporter Safety

Elections, Meetings, News

Advance Notice of Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2018-19 and Notification of Board Elections

4th July 2018 Lucy Caton Leave a comment

Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Advance Notice of Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2018-19

By order of the Chelsea Supporters Trust (CST) Board, notice is hereby given, that it is the intention of the CST to hold an AGM and an election for the board of the society for the 2018/19 season.
The AGM will take place on the weekend of 18/19 August 2018. The date will be confirmed once fixtures scheduled for that weekend are announced. The AGM will take place on the alternate day to the Chelsea fixture. The venue for the AGM will be The Hollins Suite, Stamford Bridge.
The agenda for the meeting, along with motions to be voted upon, will be announced no later than Monday 6^th August 2018.
A number of motions will be put forward by the Board. There is also an opportunity for members to propose motions from the floor. A person wishing to propose a floor motion must:
1. Be a fully paid-up member of the Chelsea Supporters Trust;
2. Send the motion in writing by email to secretary@chelseasupporterstrust.com by no later than 2300 BST on Friday 3^rd August 2018;
3. Ensure that the motion is seconded by two (2) paid-up members of the CST. The names and email addresses of the proposer and the seconders must be included in the email;
4. All motions from the floor must be in accordance with the aims and objectives of the CST and must not act to the detriment of the CST.

Chelsea Supporters’ Trust Notice of Election

The Board Election will coincide with the CST Annual General Meeting which will occur on the same date.
Voting for the election will commence in the form of an online poll following the close of the AGM and will continue for two weeks thereafter.
The election will be overseen by an independent Electoral Management Group (EMG) consisting of the CST Secretary, a member of the CST and an independent representative. For details on election policy, please contact the Trust Secretary by emailing secretary@chelseasupporterstrust.com.
There will be nine (9) positions to be elected onto the Trust Board. Candidates will be elected without portfolio and the Board, once elected, will decide on the positions to be held by each elected Board Member.
A person wishing to stand for election must:
1. Be a fully paid-up member of the Chelsea Supporters Trust;
2. Be nominated by one other fully paid-up member of the CST;
3. Complete a nomination form correctly and accurately, following the guidance outlined on the form;
4. Submit a candidate statement which will serve as a manifesto and be circulated to all members of the CST eligible to vote;
5. Return the nomination form and candidate statement no later than 2300 BST on Friday 3^rd August 2018. Any nomination forms returned after this time will not be admitted.

Decisions over the validity of nominations shall be a matter for the EMG. Any decision by the EMG not to accept a nomination as valid will be notified to the candidate as soon as practicable, whereupon the candidate may, if appropriate, take steps to rectify the situation.
The decision of the EMG is final. Any complaints made to the EMG concerning the result of the election must be made no later than three working days after the close of the poll. Any complaint after this time shall not be admissible.

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

News

Making Your Voice Heard, Over Land, Sea and Parliament!

8th June 2018 Lucy Caton 1 Comment

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/

News

Joint Statement from Chelsea Supporters Trust  and Manchester United Supporters Trust

18th May 2018 Lucy Caton Leave a comment

F.A. Cup Final Ticket Prices

On Saturday our loyal fans will be supporting their teams at the FA Cup Final. Most will already have provided their support at more than 20 games over the season and some will have done so at up to 50 games across the country and in Europe. All will have invested a considerable chunk of their hard earned income in their loyalty and passion.

Regrettably the majority of those fans will be paying an outrageous £115 or £145 for their tickets, courtesy of an unprecedented imposed price hike of over 30%. At a meeting with a delegation of supporter groups from the then semi-finalist clubs in April the FA told us that it’s immediate financial commitments precluded it from revisiting prices for this season’s final, but agreed to undertake a further review for next season.

From next season the FA’s coffers will be boosted significantly by a ‘transformative’ new broadcasting deal for the FA Cup itself, as well as new improved deals with major sponsors. While most of this will rightly be invested into grass roots football, it is not unreasonable for a small element of that windfall to be invested in the regular fans whose vocal and visual support creates the spectacle that those broadcasters and sponsors have invested in.

On Saturday our respective supporters will be fierce rivals, but after the match, whoever wins, we will be united with all supporter groups in holding the FA to account to set an example as the game’s regulator, and to consult with us to reinstate and preserve a fair deal for fans.

Chelsea Supporters’ Trust

Manchester United Supporters’ Trust

News, Statements

FA Cup Ticket Price Protest

15th May 2018 David Chidgey 6 Comments

We are The Shed and the Chelsea Supporters’ Trust are planning a visual protest at The FA Cup Final to show our disgust at the ticket prices.

When The Chairman of The FA is presented on the pitch, shortly after ‘Abide with Me’, to shake hands with dignitaries and officials, we urge all supporters turn their backs on the pitch until he has left the pitch.

We urge supporters of both teams to take part and spread the word, to help create a powerful visual protest against FA Cup Final ticket prices and show that collectively we can collaborate, make a point and take action.

This year has seen a substantial increase in ticket prices compared with last season’s final, with the largest allocation of tickets (category 2) increasing in price by 35%.

We urge all those attending the game to take part and help get the message across to The FA that, as football supporters, we are against blatant profiteering at the expense of the supporters and treating us contemptuously as cash cows.

We have had enough and it needs to stop.

News, Statements

FA Cup Final Ticket Pricing

14th May 2018 David Chidgey 3 Comments

Chelsea Supporters will be looking forward to the FA Cup Final on May 19^th; a competition in which we have been very privileged to be at the conclusion of many times over the last 20 years.

However, while the team may have fought long and hard to get there, the supporters have had to dip their hands in their pockets repeatedly during an arduous season, arguably an even greater commitment.

Coupled with season ticket renewals in the middle of May to the tune of (on average) £800, the prospect of paying up to £145 for a FA Cup Final ticket is the straw that breaks the camel’s back.

While we certainly do not hope that this is Chelsea’s last visit to a FA Cup Final for the foreseeable future, this must be the last time the FA gets away with such extortionate ticket prices.

In April, the FA met with Supporters’ Trusts from all four semi-finalists and agreed a number of concessions for the Final including reductions in prices for concessionary tickets; a commitment to review the pricing of tickets behind the goals and introducing an accessibly priced family area going forward and keeping future ticket prices in line with inflation.

However, we believe that this is too little, too late and does not go far enough.

The FA Cup Final remains a very special occasion for football supporters, as a chance to see their team triumph in the most historic club competition in football. While demand always exceeds supply; no supporter able to go should be priced out of the Final.

The FA’s specious argument that the pricing reflects the fact that it is one of the most prestigious events in the sporting calendar and that every penny of profit is reinvested in to the grass roots of the game is subterfuge for blatantly profiteering from the very people whose interests they should serve: the loyal supporters who support the game week in, week out.

The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust, together with the other Supporters’ Trusts, vows to keep the pressure on the FA by any means possible, until the FA agree to change their pricing policy and make ticket prices affordable to the long suffering and ordinary supporter.

We have been taken advantage of for long enough and it’s time for this to stop.

David Chidgey, Chairman, Chelsea Supporters’ Trust

News

Chelsea FC invites fans to a Club organised trip to Auschwitz

12th May 2018 David Chidgey Leave a comment

Chelsea Supporters Trust logo

As part of the Club’s ongoing ‘Say No to Antisemitism’ campaign, Chelsea FC are inviting fans groups to join the Club’s trip to Auschwitz on 5 June.

The trip is free of charge and open to all members of the Chelsea Supporters Trust. However, please note that due to the layout of the site there is limited accessibility at the Auschwitz Museum.

The Club would particularly welcome applications from fans aged 18-30 and all attendees would need their own valid travel insurance. The Club will also be extending the invitation to members of Chelsea staff.

Timings are to be confirmed however the trip will depart from Gatwick early on the morning of the 5th returning to Gatwick from Poland the same evening. The Club can arrange transport from Stamford Bridge upon request.

The trip is an important part of the Club’s work tackling Antisemitism. Space, however, is limited and in the event of oversubscription the Club will allocate spaces accordingly. The deadline for applications is Tuesday 15th May.

Should you be interested in participating in this trip please contact Simon Taylor at Chelsea (simon.taylor@chelseafc.com) and copy in membership@chelseasupporterstrust.com to confirm you CST membership, with your:

Name
Date of birth
Passport number

The aim of the Chelsea Supporters Trust is to bring the voice of Chelsea supporters, in the UK and overseas, to the attention of Chelsea Football Club.

Chelsea Supporters Trust

Motions 2018-19

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Annual General Meeting 2018

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Advance Notice of Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2018-19 and Notification of Board Elections

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Making Your Voice Heard, Over Land, Sea and Parliament!

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Joint Statement from Chelsea Supporters Trust  and Manchester United Supporters Trust

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FA Cup Ticket Price Protest

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FA Cup Final Ticket Pricing

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Chelsea FC invites fans to a Club organised trip to Auschwitz

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The aim of the Chelsea Supporters Trust is to bring the voice of Chelsea supporters, in the UK and overseas, to the attention of Chelsea Football Club.